LIBRARY BUZZ:
Library announcements, programs & event highlights, related links, librarian comments
January 1 Library Closed
The book store opened December 4 with an official new name of the BOOK CELLAR. Congratulations go to two people, Tripp Bamie and Linda Goslin, who submitted the same name and won the naming contest. Come visit often since new things are arriving daily.
Hours:
Monday-Thursday 11:30-1:30, 3:30-5:30 and 6:30-8:30 pm
Friday 12:00-4:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday 2:00-4:00 pm
They will be closed from December 24-January 1 and will re-open on January 2
For more information visit our website Used Book Shop Info
Our volunteers help in countless ways and we are delighted to honor them by hosting an annual THANK YOU RECEPTION for which the staff makes or provides all food and beverages. In 2007 hundreds of dedicated volunteers contributed more than 9,000 hours to the library and we are on target to reach nearly 10,000 this year. What an extraordinary level of support! Our volunteers help in many ways, including: teaching computer classes, conductin language groups and classes, editing and mailing the library newsletter, conducting the Book Sale (now operating the new Book Shop!), planning and managing the Garden Tour, processing new books and audio-visual materials, performing with Readers Theater, helping with library operations such as sorting and shelving books and videos, making posters and other graphics, performing data entry, assisting with children's programs, and so much more. In addition, volunteers serve on the Library Board and the Friends of the Library. We are grateful for all the volunteers who contribute so much to the life of the library. Thank you!
So many delicious dishes were served at the Volunteer Reception but we want to share with you a recipe provided by our staff librarian, Holly Visnesky. The MEATBALL APPETIZER received rave reviews from just about everyone and is very easy to make.
We are indebted to all our volunteers and appreciate their dedication and hard work. It truly makes our library not just a good library but a great library. One volunteer group that you have seen outside the library, bending down and getting dirty is our garden group who devote hours to pulling weeds, mulching, planting and turning the grounds into one of the most beautiful places in Mt. Lebanon. Our dedicated gardeners are, Gurney Bolster, David Fenton, Bernice Gourley, Agnes Lenckos, Valerie Locante, Eileen Lovell, Ray Olmo, Roy Simmons, Nancy Smith, Mary Beth Thakar and Naomi Wheeler. They would love to have others join the group and invite anyone interested in gardening to contact Nancy Smith, chair of the Garden Committee at 412-344-0234 or mistflower@verizon.net. Gardening at the library is good exercise, makes you feel terrific and is a great way to meet people.
EVENTS:
Jan 12 7-8:30 pm
Answers to tough college admissions questions and financial aid procedures. All high school students and parents are welcome.
Children's Chess Lessons
Jan 17, 24, 31, Feb 7, 14, 21 10-11 am
Chess lessons for children entering first grade and up. This is a six-week course and participants must attend all 6 sessions.
Pre-registration is required. Contact the Children's Library. Chess Tournament scheduled for the following Saturday, Feb 28th.
Handwriting Analysis
Jan 19 7-8:30 pm
Discover more about yourself after having your handwriting analyzed. Should be a fun and interesting evening.
Caldecott Celebration
Jan 24 2-3 pm
Come join in the fun of voting and for your choice of the best illustrated children's book of the year and illustrate a poem to be displayed in the library. Click for more details.
Sunday Fun-Days at the Library
Jan 25, Feb 1, 8, 15, 22 2-3 pm
Fun programs on Sunday afternoon for children ages 3 and up and their families. These programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Follow the link for more details.
Chinese New Year 
Jan 26 3:15-4:30 pm
Chinese New Year Celebration for Middle and High School students. Learn about the holiday, do a craft or two and eat lots of pot stickers!
Tai-chi
Jan 27 7-8:30 pm
Demonstrations, participation of gentle exercises and benefical information.
LIBRARY TIPS:
A Quick Review of the 2008 Library Tips
Specific tips on how to get the most out of your library.
• Ask Here PA Service
• Change Font Size of Web Pages displayed in Internet Explorer 6
• Changing from Office 2003 to Office 2007(tutorial included)
• Children's Books about ‘Things That Go
• Children’s Library Audio Ideas
• Google Public Calendar for the Children’s Library
• Playing DVD Movies and Music on CD at the Library
• Searching our Databases: Home Improvement Reference Center
• Searching for Title
• The Card is the Key to Unlocking your Library’s potential
LIBRARY BYTES:
Helpful databases, web related information
Frost/Nixon
Tony-nominated 'Frost/Nixon'; starring Stacy Keach and Alan Cox opened at the Benedum Center early this month coinciding with the release of the original Watergate tapes. Ron Howard’s new film "Frost/Nixon," based on Peter Morgan’s award-winning play, is opened December 5th stirring interest in the original interview and subsequent commentaries. Sir David Frost’s 1977 interview was a candid and historic meeting which gripped a nation reeling from the Watergate scandal. The original tapes from November and December of 1972 were released to the public on December 2nd and can be listened to in their entirety at the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum website at: http://nixon.archives.gov/index.php. In addition to the play, other collections of interest include the DVD Frost/Nixon: The Original Watergate Interviews and Frost’s commentary Frost/Nixon: Behind the Scenes of the Nixon Interviews.
Database Corner
The Health Finder Database
We have a great database available to all patrons in the Allegheny county related to Health and Fitness. To reach the database from our webpage click on InfoJunction: look at the group of databases under Websites by Topic and click Health Information. There are many great sites to investigate but for this month we are focusing on HealthFinder a government based site that answers health, fitness and nutrition questions. You will be able to track you physical activity, calculate your current fitness level to determine if you are getting enough exercise, view the personal nutrition planner, assess your food intake and much, much more. This is one site you will definitely want to visit often because of the vast amount of information.
We have included a link to the Federal Government’s first-ever Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. They describe the types and amounts of physical activity that offer substantial health benefits to Americans. This is a great way to start your new year. http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/default.aspx
Improving Your Mind and Body Resources
Tutor.com-Live Homework Help
Students: Need a little extra help in school? We have the answers! Beginning December 1, 2008, Mt. Lebanon Public Library is providing Tutor.com-Live Homework Help, a free online service generously funded by the Friends of Mt. Lebanon Public Library.
LIBRARY BOOKS: 1. American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by John Meacham 92 JACKSON Andrew 1. Dear American Airlines by Jonathan Miles MILES Jonathan This Month's Film Movement Feature HAVE A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR! JANUARY CALENDARS: NEXT MONTH'S PREVIEW:
Mt. Lebanon Public Library’s
TOP TEN Fiction Books and TOP TEN Non-Fiction Books
provided by Cynthia Richey, Mt. Lebanon Library Director
TOP TEN NON-FICTION BOOKS
2. The Sun and the Moon: The Remarkable True Account of Hoaxers, Showmen, Dueling Journalists and Lunar Man-Bats in Nineteenth-Century New York by Matthew Goodman 974.7103 G65
3. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch 158 P37
4. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer 821.17 C5
5. Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron 636.800929 M96
6. Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and what it says about us) by Tom Vanderbilt 629.283 V35
7. Animal Life (American Museum of Natural History) by Charlotte Uhlenbroek 591.5 A53
8. Promised Land: Thirteen Books That Changed America by Jay Parini 810.935 P36
9. Rome 1960: The Olympics That Changed the World by David Maraniss 796.48 1960 M36
10. Roads to Quoz by William Least Heat-Moon 917.3 H41r
TOP TEN FICTION BOOKS
2. The Eleventh Man: a novel by Ivan Doig DOIG Ivan
3. Fine Just the Way It Is: Wyoming Stories 3 by Anne Proulx PROULX Anne
4. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Baros SHAFFER Mary Ann
5. His Illegal Self by Peter Carey CAREY Peter
6. Miracle at Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith MCCALL SMITH Alexander
7. Netherland by Joseph O’Neill O’NEILL Joseph
8. The Road Home by Rose Tremain TREMAIN Rose
9. The Wednesday Letter by Jason F. Wright WRIGHT Jason F.
10. What I Was by Meg Rosoff ROSOFF Meg
December 2008 Release 
First-run, Award-winning, Independent Films on DVD
Too many great films are never released widely, despite critical acclaim and major awards. Millions of film fans across the country never get the chance to see them. Click here to access our Film Movement selection and discover the best foreign and independent films available in our library.
Complete Information on our Current Events
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January Calendar of Events
Chess Tournament
League of Women's Voters Luncheon