A Treasure and a Mystery in the Basement

February 16, 2011

At the end of this month, the Evanston Public Library’s South Branch location will be closing. The basement at South Branch is where older or less popular books are shelved, and all of these books have to dealt with. Some are being sent to other Evanston locations, some donated, some added to our book sale, […]


Another Fantastic Site!

February 16, 2011

The British Council, an international organization whose motto is “Learn, share, connect worldwide,” promotes the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people around the world. One of its many resources is Contemporary Writers, a database of UK, Commonwealth, and Republic of Ireland writers to which it adds new names each month. A page comprising a biography, a […]


WBEZ Jazz Collection for Sale This Thursday

February 14, 2011

Dick Buckley, WBEZ’s  jazz DJ for many years, passed away last year. His entire music collection of over 8,000 items will be auctioned off this Thursday at Leslie Hindman’s auction house in Chicago. Buckley was a walking font of musical knowledge, which he clearly enjoyed sharing on the air. It seems this sale and gathering […]


Future of Bookstores Large and Small

February 11, 2011

A recent update on the status of  Borders‘ finances  reflects an uncertain future. Despite the massive loan  obtained several days ago (and  noted here)  from GE, the chain  may be headed toward bankruptcy. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.         On the bright side I found an article about a small independent store […]


“Tent Life: Haiti,” Optimism a Year After the Earthquake

February 10, 2011

Among the different ways people have been marking the anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti, this book seems more hopeful than some. The several dozen photos in Tent Life: Haiti offer a close-up look at the resilience  of the Haitian people. The website for the book itself is also worth seeing. Shira S.


Incredible “Shrinking” Library Resources

February 10, 2011

The lowly golf pencil–essential tool of library jotters–seems to be a victim of cutbacks and money-saving programs. When I cracked open a fresh, new box of Dixon brand pencils to re-stock the patron PC stations, I sensed something wrong. Sure enough, when I compared a new pencil to one from an older batch, the new […]


Fantastic Fiction is a Fantastic Site!

February 9, 2011

So, the patron has just discovered British author Kate Atkinson, and wants to have a tidy list of everything she’s written, when it was published, a short annotation about each book, an author profile,  and, oh, yes, a photo of Atkinson would be nice, too. Then there’s that other writer, John Grisham, who’s written tons and tons. […]


New Selections for Black History Month, 2011

February 8, 2011

In recognition of this February’s Black History Month, the library has created bibliographies of recent releases in various genres–fiction, history, society and culture, arts and entertainment, biography and memoir, and home and family life. While exploring these new offerings, you’ll be using the preview version of our new library catalog, so we hope you’ll enjoy “test […]


See Great Art Without Leaving Home

February 8, 2011

Armchair travelers will love Google’s new site where you can go to 17 museums around the world, click on artwork, and zoom in or out to get close-ups of brushstrokes, etc. The reviewer of this NYT article says the web site is still a work in progress, with glitches and not-so-good representations in some cases, but […]


What Book Groups Read in 2010

February 8, 2011

Reading Group Guides–the online community of reading groups–is polling its users to create a list of the most popular choices for book groups last year. It’s easy to participate and become eligible to win 12 copies of a book for your book group. The deadline for participation is February 21, 2011. While you’re visiting this site, explore […]


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