Become Reacquainted with John Denver

The Snohomish Library will host a special program of John Denver’s music on New Year’s Eve, at 3:00. Musician Bryan Stratton will guide us through the life and music of this gifted and socially conscious man, on the 66th anniversary of his birth.

We know what a remarkably talented song writer Denver was, with top-selling albums and many awards for his music. What is less well known is that his lyrics honestly “reflect the conscience of a concerned citizen.” Denver actively served on national and international commissions studying world hunger, in addition to supporting many environmental organizations. He was awarded the Presidential “World Without Hunger” Award as well as the Albert Schweitzer Music Award “for a life’s work dedicated to music and devoted to humanity.”

Denver once stated in an interview with Rolling Stone "I don't mind if {critics} call me the Mickey Mouse of rock." Whether or not that’s how you’ve thought of him, join us to learn more about this giving man and jam with the sing-along!

Eileen - Snohomish Library

The Pursuit of Happiness

Once again we’re counting down the days until a new year begins. And once again many of us are planning to make resolutions for the coming year, resolutions to make us healthier, wealthier, smarter, more successful, and in short – to make ourselves happier. This age-old search for making our lives better has spawned countless “self-help” books, which are well-represented in the Sno-Isle collection. Why not resolve to read a book or two on happiness during the first months of 2010? Perhaps one of the following will strike your fancy:


The Ultimate Happiness Prescription: 7 keys to joy and enlightenment, by Deepak Chopra, describes how to experience joy in spite of the unique challenges of today's world.


The author of Happiness from the Inside Out: the art and science of fulfillment, Robert Mack, uses examples from his own compelling life story, describing the three main aspects of a happy life and then revealing the habits that make people happy.

Creating Your Best Life: the ultimate life list by Caroline Ada Miller, suggests that assembling a goal-setting list may be more beneficial than making New Year’s resolutions!

The message of Live Your Bliss: practices that produce happiness, by Terry Cole-Whittaker, is that we are perfect as we are, and already have everything we need to manifest our dreams – we just need to recognize it and claim it!

Those of you who perhaps don’t trust the happy Pollyanna-ish hype might find the following more to your liking:

Against Happiness: in praise of Melancholy, by Eric G. Wilson

The Positive Power of Negative Thinking, by Julie K. Norem

Bright-sided: how the relentless promotion of positive thinking has undermined America, by Barbara Ehrenreich

Stumbling on Happiness, by Daniel Gilbert

Whether you’re a “glass half full” or “glass half empty” sort of person (and whether you make resolutions or not!), have a wonderful 2010, and enjoy your personal pursuit of happiness. Hopefully your search will bring you in to one of the Sno-Isle Libraries, where you will find friendly library staff to help you on your quest.

Happy New Year from all of us!

Debbie - Snohomish Library

Calling All Local Artists and Collectors!

Each month, the Snohomish Library features the artwork of local artists on the walls of the library, and in the two lobby display cases. Currently, we have digital prints of Hawaii hanging in the library, one display case full of railroad memorabilia and one case full of books and items all about cold weather drinks like coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

We are currently taking requests for the 2010 schedule of art. If you or someone you know is interested in sharing art or collections at the library, we want to know!

There is a lot of artistic talent in Snohomish. By displaying artwork at the library, thousands of people will see your talent, and you will receive free publicity for a month. Or, instead of art, maybe you have a collection of something special that we could all enjoy.

During this past year our displays have included a turtle collection for Earth Day, quilts, Bakelite items, and artifacts celebrating both National Historic Preservation Month and the 150th anniversary of the City of Snohomish.

Do you have something you would like to share with your community? Call the Snohomish Library at 360-568-2898 or email jforman@sno-isle.org to find out more about this opportunity.

We hope to hear from you!


Jennifer - Snohomish Library

A view from the inside

I’m a chef. I am perfectly comfortable working with knives and fire, but I’ve known for years that it’s not what I want to do for the rest of my life. I made the decision about three years ago that it was time for a change and applied to the University of Washington’s Information School to pursue my Master’s degree in Library and Information Science. I am now a week and a half away from graduating and am about ready to take a deep breath and enter the world of professional librarianship.

Working as an intern at the Snohomish Library has allowed me to add practical experience to the theory learned during my course work. First, let me say this: There is no substitute for experience. Standing at the Information Desk fielding questions from people of all ages and walks of life about every subject I could imagine required me to think creatively and quickly, to smile and be patient, and to draw from an ingrained service perspective to do my absolute best each and every time.

I can compare it to the restaurant world. Like a hostess, the librarians at the desk smile and are happy to greet each person who approaches. Like an accomplished server, the librarian can multi-task and take care of multiple patrons at a time, without losing focus or forgetting what each really desires. Like a good cook, a librarian can decipher what a patron asks for and translate it into a bite (or entire meal!) of information that the patron can consume. I am really not trying to simplify the process; most people have experienced eating in a restaurant and have no trouble expecting excellent service and a tasty product. However, I have found that people are still sometimes hesitant to approach the Information Desk to ask a question.

This is the one thing that I’d like to share about my experiences as an intern at the Snohomish Library. Take advantage! Use the library as a space, as a resource, as the place to go when you don’t know something. And take advantage of the librarians and staff. Ask for book recommendations, help with homework and job searches. Take advantage of the people who are here to serve you and the tools that they have and the knowledge they draw from. Sit at one of the computers or tables and expect excellent service and a quality product. Enjoy the atmosphere. Treat it like your favorite restaurant, where you are recognized and appreciated. And don’t worry, you never have to tip!

Leah - Snohomish Library Intern

Drinking Green Tea in Japan

I just returned from two weeks in Japan. In a June blog entitled Green Tea, I had written about my decision to return with my mother to the land where we were both born. The first photograph is me in front of the Kyoto Prefectural Library, the first public library in Japan. Below is a photograph of my home town, Tokyo, as viewed from the Tokyo Tower.

My daughter joined us on the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto. Her book for her sojourn in Japan was Eat, Pray, Love: one woman's search for everything across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert. It is peeking out from behind her box lunch.

My book of choice was Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. This children's book was made into an animated movie by Hayao Miyazaki. He also created the movie My Neighbor, Totoro, and at this shop we found an array of stuffed animals from that movie.

My mother and I visited a tea shop in the part of Tokyo where my family lived when I was a baby. This is also the tea shop where my godmother bought her tea. Every six months she sent us tea from this shop until she passed away last year. I shipped ten packages of tea to Washington from this shop to continue the tradition.

Below is a photograph of my mother and her sister walking together. We visited the neighborhood where they grew up and saw the spot where their house once stood before it burned during the war. So many memories flooded back as they tread the paths they knew from decades past. We met with aunts, uncles, and cousins.

And finally my mother and I drank green tea together for the first time in the country where we were born.

Tomi - Snohomish Library

Thanksgiving Tool Kit

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and many families and friends will gather to eat turkey, watch football, and most importantly, give thanks. If you're hosting the meal this year or traveling to be with someone who is, here are ideas to make your day even more enjoyable than the last. Think of it as your Thanksgiving Tool Kit!

Keep the kids busy with a hand print turkey craft or coloring page.
http://holidays.kaboose.com/thanksgiving/

Need a last minute recipe for the infamous green bean casserole?
http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Holidays-and-Events/Thanksgiving/main.aspx

Interesting Thanksgiving facts for that inevitable lull in conversation.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/pdf/cb09ff22_thanksgiving.pdf

For your introspective guests, provide quotes at each place setting.
http://www.thanksgiving-day.org/thanksgiving-day-quotes.html

Survival tips for that long plane or car ride.
http://www.travelsense.org/TIPS/HOLIDAYTRAVEL.cfm

Creative ways to use all of the leftover turkey.
http://www.bhg.com/holidays/holiday-slide-shows/thanksgiving/fresh-ideas-for-leftover-turkey/


Happy Thanksgiving!

Jen - Snohomish Library

A Second Helping of Books

Anyone who knows our library staff knows that food is close to our hearts. So, I don’t think it’s out of line to talk about food again!

I’ve been interested in growing my own food for many years and am very intrigued with eating local, so have recently been trying more with fall/winter/spring vegetable gardening. My husband and I joined a CSA (community supported agriculture) last winter and asked specifically for the northwest box so we could eat local as well as see what real farmers in our region are able to produce during these less-than-ideal growing seasons.

So, these winter boxes have included a lot of root crops, many of which I’ve never eaten. They have inspired me to make lots of soups, including a very nice roasted vegetable borscht.

Here are some books which I’ve been reading as part of this process:

Eliot Coleman. The Winter Harvest Handbook. Coleman has made a science of how to continue to harvest crops over the winter. Although he is a commercial producer, his tips are very applicable to any gardener.

Solomon, Steve. Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades. A classic by the founder of Territorial Seeds.

Smith, Alisa and J.B. MacKinnon. Plenty : eating locally on the 100-mile diet. Can you imagine trying to preserve and store produce in a tiny apartment in Vancouver? This couple did!

Kingsolver, Barbara. Animal, vegetable, miracle : a year of food life. This family moved from Tucson to rural Virginia to eat locally. Kingsolver is quite preachy, but the relation of the family’s experience is fascinating.

What are you all growing in the winter, here in the Pacific Northwest?

Eileen - Snohomish Library