September 2010

  • Find out about migraines and more at the Medical Lecture Series

    The Medical Lecture Series is back for a 5th season! This time, we have even more exciting topics and start with talking about migraines on Wednesday, October 6. The series will deliver the most recent medical research and innovations by world leading medical professionals from UW Medicine right here in Seattle. It is free of… Continue reading

  • Seattle’s Bungalows

    On Saturday and Sunday, I had the pleasure of representing the Library at Historic Seattle’s Bungalow Fair, an annual gathering of enthusiasts of bungalows and the Arts and Crafts Movement. Continue reading

  • Staff Faves: Coming-of-age stories

    Durable Goods, Joy School and True to Form by Elizabeth Berg Immerse yourself in the mind of plucky Katie Nash, the 13-year-old Army brat with a poetic soul who shares wry observances of her world of tan lines, junk food and bad hair. Set in the late 50’s and early 60’s, this trilogy is told… Continue reading

  • Compassion and empathy

    “May you live in interesting times.” This phrase is most often said as a curse, and I am of the opinion that we are now living in interesting times. Many people around us have lost their jobs. Some have lost their homes as well. In these times, it is often difficult to deal with the… Continue reading

  • Science Insight – Science Databases

    Gale Science in Context (formerly The Science Resource Center) is a one-stop science database for all your science-related research needs. This in-depth, curriculum-oriented, resource focuses on key concepts taught in school classrooms, including… Biology Chemistry Earth and Environmental Science Health and Medicine Math and Technology Physics and Astronomy In addition to these six major subjects,… Continue reading

  • Design in Depth lecture series starts September 28

    A perfect opportunity to explore dimensions of design arrives this fall with the first three programs in an exciting six-part series featuring internationally recognized experts in architecture and industrial, interior and landscape design. The series, Design in Depth: Solving Problems with Design, is co-sponsored with the Seattle Architectural Foundation.The range and variety of topics are… Continue reading

  • Urban Self-Reliance Series at the Capitol Hill Library

    These days, living in the city is about sustainability and self-reliance: using less and doing more. In response, the Capitol Hill Library will be hosting a series of programs that will focus on practical, sustainable and affordable urban living. These free DIY workshops will help you learn how to grow and preserve your own food,… Continue reading

  • Great graphic novels for kids

    Is your child hooked on graphic novels, comics, and manga? They are not alone! Here are some recommended titles for your young graphic fans. Stinky by Eleanor Davis Perfect for younger readers, this graphic novel has plenty of kid humor. Stinky loves his muddy, mucky, smelly swamp just the way it is, so when a kid… Continue reading

  • Wife-Approved Comics

    Growing up in my household, if you became ill my dad would bring you home a comic book. A random Archie from the grocery store.  After a time us kids even had a little collection going. But then one day I had an alarming epiphany about Archie.  The stories were always the same and the… Continue reading

  • September Question of the Month: an irregular series

    The reference librarians at Seattle Public Library are pretty darn amazing. They don’t know everything, instead they know where to find everything. As part of an irregular series of posts we salute the talented and dedicated reference staff at your local library. Names and other identifying information have been removed from the questions we showcase.… Continue reading

  • Future Fedoras: Detective Sci-Fi

    Hard boiled detectives aren’t only found in the pulps and can also be found on many a planet in the science fiction galaxy and fantasy universes. The uniform changes slightly between gumshoes, but the quick patter, ability to take a punch, and cynical streak of unbendable morality is consistent, even if it is in a galaxy far, far,… Continue reading

  • Noir Fiction

    Tomorrow night the Seattle Art Museum kicks off the 33rd annual festival of After Midnight: The Film Noir Cycle.  These shows sell out fast, but if you can’t get a seat or want to read some noir fiction, come to the Fiction Department at the Central Library and check out our display. Noir fiction: a novel or mystery which features… Continue reading

  • Stories without words

    Have you ever read a story without words? It sounds a little strange at first, but I highly recommend exploring wordless picture books with your pre-readers and beginning readers. So don’t hog all the fun, let them read you a story for a change! These books are great for one-on-one readings and small groups so… Continue reading

  • Small Business Books Made Easy

    Seattle has always been a center for entrepreneurship and many people recently have decided to start their own small business to beat the recession. Maybe you want to rethink your business strategy, put down that deposit for a Seattle business license or just sort through ideas you’re considering. If  you find yourself confused over the… Continue reading

  • Science Insight – Secrets of Human Success

    Our latest edition of Scientific American (August 2010) contains a special report titled “Origins” that details  “the untold story of our salvation,”  also known as ‘Secrets of Our Success.”  No, it’s not about key leadership success secrets, nor is it about succeeding in business.  It’s about how once humans almost went extinct, yet … we made… Continue reading

  • My Day at the California Academy of Sciences

    It’s been two years since the grand opening of the new home of the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. I got the chance, finally, to explore this magnificent natural science museum and research center. It was just as well that I couldn’t go sooner because the lines are shorter now.  … Continue reading

  • Dinosaur News

    For creatures that went extinct 65 million years ago, there has been a surprising amount of dinosaur news in the last few years.  In fact, it seems like pretty much everything I knew as a child about dinosaurs is wrong!  First, Brontosaurus turned out not to be a unique species, or at least that’s not… Continue reading

  • New Podcast Series: Seattle Biblio Café

    Looking for some good books to read? Want to know what librarians are reading? Then tune in to a new podcast series started by a group of Fiction librarians called Seattle Biblio Café. This short podcast — about the same time as a coffee break — features  librarians talking about books they’ve read recently. Take a coffee break… Continue reading