March 2011

  • Nightstand Reading: Kerry Colburn and Jen Worick

    We asked local authors Kerry Colburn and Jen Worick to share their nightstand reads with us! Being asked about our nightstand reads is like being asked to choose between children … but we will for the sake of SPL. Jen’s nightstand: After reading A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, which I loved, I went on… Continue reading

  • Poetry in Fremont

    In April our minds turn to poetry. This coming Saturday, April 2, the Washington Poets Association and The Seattle Public Library will bring three wonderful poets to read at the Fremont Branch Library: Joan Swift, Dennis Caswell, and Peter Pereira… Here are their thoughts as April approaches. Joan Swift says of poetry: At night, while trying… Continue reading

  • Planning for Fundraising – a class at the Central Library

    Whether you are researching grants for a nonprofit organization to fund a new program or scholarships for undergraduate or graduate studies, The Seattle Public Library’s Foundation Research Center can be of assistance.  The center, located at the Central Library in the Business, Science, and Technology Department on Level 7, is a partnership between the library… Continue reading

  • Seattle readers chime in with nonfiction book suggestions

    “If you could suggest one book to someone who thinks nonfiction is boring, what would it be?” we asked readers last Wednesday on our Library’s Facebook page. And – wow, what an incredible response. Within minutes we had dozens of suggestions; by the end of the day we had 136 comments. And even though we did say… Continue reading

  • Sit Down with Stand-Ups

    My colleagues inform me that March is the official month of mirth, a more depressing concept I truly cannot think of. Despite my enormous reservations with such a frivolously joyful demarcation (what next, Cake and Presents Day?!?), I resign myself to acknowledging such trivialities in my role of public servant. So here we are. Mirth.… Continue reading

  • Alvin Ailey’s Revelations

    From Revelations to Cry, a Kinetic Mopal of Been Here and Gone, Come and Get the Beauty of It under a Hot Blood Burning Moon, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is heading towards Seattle on a Caverna Magica of Days Past, Not Forgotten.* The company will grace the stage of the 5th Avenue Theatre on… Continue reading

  • Books by People You’ve Probably Never Heard of, Part III

    It’s hard out there for young writers. The only houses that will house them are small, indie enterprises full of energy but lacking funds, and readers are scared by untested virtue. Be scared no longer sovereign readers! I will test your books for poison. Eat up! Richard Yates by Tao Lin What’s in a name?… Continue reading

  • Be Your Own Hero

    I’m currently riding the wave of anticipation. One of my most beloved childhood spots is making a comeback. The Southgate Roller Rink in White Center is currently undergoing renovation and is slated to open in April! I’ve already decided to have my birthday there and it will be the go to activity for my nieces and me…and I… Continue reading

  • March Question of the Month: an irregular series

    I’m doing geneological research and had trouble browsing the 1910 Census records due to insufficient information. The city of Lanark, Montana in 1910–what county was it in? what Township & Enumeration District was 1910 Lanark, Montana considered to be in? Hello, and thank you for using our Ask a Librarian service.   Your request for information… Continue reading

  • Books By People You’ve Probably Never Heard Of, Part II

    It’s hard out there for young writers. The only houses that will house them are small, indie enterprises full of energy but lacking funds, and readers are scared by untested virtue. Be scared no longer sovereign readers! I will test your books for poison. Eat up! The Orange Eats Creeps by Grace Krilanovich There is… Continue reading

  • Books with green covers, literally

    A favorite and fun library display to do is one which is literally a rainbow of covers. Library staff go on the search for books with covers in primary and other major colors. These finds are displayed on book easels. Then the serendipitious time happens with people pausing, contemplating, oohing and chuckling. Keeping in mind that the St. Patrick’s Day holiday is this week, I asked… Continue reading

  • Staff Faves: The Lovers and The True Deceiver

     The Lovers by Vendela Vida Yvonne returns to Datca, Turkey, the place where she and her late husband, Peter, honeymooned twenty-eight years ago. As soon as she settles in a large, empty mansion where she’s staying for her vacation, a week that was supposed to be a restorative good time proves to be the same… Continue reading

  • Librarians select Top 20 Teen Novels

    After some spirited discussion, our Teen Services Librarians whittled down an admirable list of contenders to get to the Top 20 Teen Novels of the 21st Century. Then they decided to take it one step farther: Each Monday they feature one of the titles over on our Push to Talk blog, where there’s a bit… Continue reading

  • Books by People You’ve Probably Never Heard of, Part I

    It’s hard out there for young writers. The only houses that will house them are small, indie enterprises full of energy but lacking funds, and readers are scared by untested virtue. Be scared no longer sovereign readers! I will test your books for poison. Eat up! The Really Funny Thing About Apathy by Chelsea Martin… Continue reading

  • Who Was Here First?

    “In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” That was the little mnemonic we used to remember the exploits of Christopher Columbus when I was in grade school. What an amazing voyage that must have been. I take nothing away from those brave sailors. That is, except their claim to being here first. If not Columbus and… Continue reading

  • Seattle Picks: Short Classics

    We’re often asked for suggestions of shorter classics. Sometimes the reader has an assignment where the teacher or professor says “read a classic” and leaves it wide open. Sometimes the reader wants to explore classics, but feels a little intimidated. And sometimes the reader just wants a book that doesn’t weigh a lot. Our Short Classics booklist is one of… Continue reading

  • History Gone Missing

    Once upon a time, I was a history major and I think I stay pretty current, historically speaking.  One day, not too long ago, I realized that I had basically missed an entire era and civilization.  Byzantium – hummm, wasn’t that some sort of precursor to the Ottoman Empire.  Decadent and short lived right?  Wrong.  In… Continue reading

  • Let me tell you a story

    In March of 2005, I sat down in front of a crowd in our auditorium and read them a story about a man planning to poison his wife. Six years later, our regular lunch hour program Thrilling Tales: A Storytime for Grownups is still going strong on the first and third Mondays of every month,… Continue reading