PCL's Annual Summer Celebrity

Mark your calendar and save the date for PCL's 2010 Annual Summer Celebrity: Carol Higgins Clark! This special event will be held on Wednesday, June 9th at 7 pm in the Parkland High School auditorium. Reservations are requested - 610-398-1361 Ext. 13.

This is the fourth year of a unique event that brings the community up close and personal with celebrities. Past speakers have included Anna Quindlen, Andrew Gross and J.A. Jance.

Carol Higgins Clark is the author of twelve previous bestselling Regan Reilly mysteries and coauthor of five bestselling holiday suspense novels with her mother, Mary Higgins Clark. Also an actress, Carol lives in New York City.

Check out her latest book, Wrecked, and make a reservation for this one-of-a-kind event today!

Da Vinci Science Center

Celebrate science at the Da Vinci Science Center! Located on Hamilton Boulevard in Allentown, PA, the Center strives to "inspire the exploration, understanding, and appreciation of science through curiosity, creativity, and imagination." The Center features various camps, events and exhibits such as the Little Learners Lab, The Fossil Wall, and Watts Up? Of note this month is the 20th anniversary of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. This event will be saluted on its anniversary date of April 24th at the Center's 12th annual Science Hall of Fame Awards program. This year's keynote speaker is former NASA Astronaut Winston E. Scott; click here to learn more about this pioneering American. Visit NASA's site on the Hubble Space Telescope to learn fascinating facts such as these:

*Hubble completes one orbit around the Earth (crossing over the same longitude line) every 96 minutes. Its speed is approximately 8 km per second (5 miles per second.)
*On August 11, 2008 the Hubble Space Telescope completed its 100,000th orbit.
*Provided that Hubble passes closely enough overhead, it is relatively dark, and the skies are clear enough, Hubble can be seen with the naked eye.
*The farthest objects Hubble has seen are galaxies well over 12 billion light years away.

Final NLW Trivia Answers

Saturday's Answers:

13. According to USA Today, what was the best-selling book of 2009?
a. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
b. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney
c. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
d. Going Rogue by Sarah Palin

- The Lost Symbol came in at #5, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw was #7 and Going Rogue was #10. Click here for USA Today's complete list of the best-selling books of 2009.

14. According to the American Library Association, what was the most frequently challenged book or series of 2009?
a. Internet Girls series (TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R) by Lauren Myracle
b. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
c. Twilight Series (Twilight; New Moon; Eclipse; Breaking Dawn) by Stephenie Meyer
d. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

- To Kill a Mockingbird was #4, the Twilight series came in at #5 and My Sister's Keeper was #7. Click here for the American Library Association's complete list of the Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2009.

Thanks for taking the trivia challenge and supporting libraries!

NLW Trivia Finale

Yesterday's Answers:

11. Which book begins with the following line: "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
a. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
b. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
c. The Stranger by Albert Camus
d. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

- Click here to learn more about this classic novel.

12. The Parkland Community Library circulates video games for which systems?
a. Wii and PS3
b. Wii and XBox 360
c. PS3 and XBox 360
d. None of the above

- PCL circulates a variety of video games for both Wii and Playstation 3. Stop by the library to check one out today!

Final Questions:

13. According to USA Today, what was the best-selling book of 2009?
a. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
b. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney
c. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
d. Going Rogue by Sarah Palin

14. According to the American Library Association, what was the most frequently challenged book or series of 2009?
a. Internet Girls series (TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R) by Lauren Myracle
b. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
c. Twilight series (Twilight; New Moon; Eclipse; Breaking Dawn) by Stephenie Meyer
d. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Today is the final day of National Library Week. Thanks for celebrating libraries - the heart of the community! Check back on Monday for the final trivia answers and more library news.

Friday's NLW Trivia

Yesterday's Answers:

9. This person was the model for a librarian action figure.
a. Laura Bush
b. Melvil Dewey
c. Nancy Pearl
d. Jessamyn West

- According to Nancy Pearl's website "The New York Times calls her 'the talk of librarian circles.' Readers can't get enough of her recommendations while bookstores and libraries offer standing room only whenever she visits. Since the release of the best-selling Book Lust in 2003 and the Librarian Action Figure modeled in her likeness Nancy Pearl has become a rock star among readers and the tastemaker people turn to when deciding what to read next." Click here to learn more about this famous librarian and here to read her blog.

10. Which actor/actress has not played a librarian on TV or in a movie?
a. Rachel Weisz
b. Noah Wyle
c. Donna Reed
d. Emily Deschanel

- Rachel Weisz played librarian Evelyn Carnahan in both The Mummy and The Mummy Returns.
- Noah Wyle played librarian Flynn Carsen in the made-for-TV movies The Librarian:Quest for the Spear, The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines and The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice.
- At one point in the movie It's a Wonderful Life, Donna Reed's character, Mary Hatch, is employed as a librarian.

Today's Questions:

11. Which book begins with the following line: "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
a. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
b. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
c. The Stranger by Albert Camus
d. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

12. The Parkland Community Library circulates video games for which systems?
a. Wii and PS3
b. Wii and XBox 360
c. PS3 and XBox 360
d. None of the above

Check back tomorrow for answers and the final NLW trivia questions!

Thursday's NLW Trivia

Yesterday's Answers:

7. Which children's book author was also a librarian?
a. Tomie DePaola
b. Jan Brett
c. Eric Carle
d. Beverly Cleary

- According to Scholastic.com, Beverly Cleary graduated from junior college in Ontario, California and the University of California at Berkeley. She then entered the School of Librarianship at the University of Washington, Seattle, where she specialized in library work with children. She went on to become the children's librarian in Yakima, Washington, a position she held until she moved to California.

8. The Parkland Community Library started in what year?
a. 1965
b. 1973
c. 1982
d. 1990

- The Parkland Community Library started in 1973 as a grassroots effort, and was housed in a converted building in Guthsville, South Whitehall Township. Click here to learn more about the library's history.

Today's Questions:

9. This person was the model for a librarian action figure.
a. Laura Bush
b. Melvil Dewey
c. Nancy Pearl
d. Jessamyn West

10. Which actor/actress has not played a librarian on TV or in a movie?
a. Rachel Weisz
b. Noah Wyle
c. Donna Reed
d. Emily Deschanel

Wednesday's NLW Trivia

Yesterday's Answers:

5. Who is the Honorary Chair of this year's National Library Week?
a. Julie Andrews
b. Neil Gaiman
c. Laura Bush
d. Jamie Lee Curtis

- Neil Gaiman is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels, picture books, short story collections and a graphic novel series. Some of his more popular works include the Newbery Medal winning novel "The Graveyard Book" and "Coraline," which was adapted to film. In addition to the Newbery Medal, he has also won the Hugo, Bram Stoker and World Fantasy Awards. Visit his website to learn more.

6. Approximately how many items are added to the Library of Congress' collections daily?
a. 550
b. 5,000
c. 10,000
d. 25,000

- According to the Library of Congress' website "The Library receives some 22,000 items each working day and adds approximately 10,000 items to the collections daily." For more fun facts about the oldest federal cultural institution in the nation, click here.

Today's Questions:

7. Which children's book author was also a librarian?
a. Tomie DePaola
b. Jan Brett
c. Eric Carle
d. Beverly Cleary

8. The Parkland Community Library started in what year?
a. 1965
b. 1973
c. 1982
d. 1990

Tuesday's NLW Trivia

Yesterday's Answers:

3. Which University has a library named after Dr. Seuss?
a. Harvard University
b. University of Michigan
c. Lehigh University
d. UC San Diego

-According to UCSD's website "On December 1, 1995 The University Library Building was renamed Geisel Library in honor of Audrey and Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) for the generous contributions they have made to the library and their devotion to improving literacy." Click here for more info about the library. Click here to read about the interesting urban legends surrounding the Geisel Library.

4. What are the names of the two marble lions that stand before the New York Public Library?
a. Patience and Fortitude
b. Freedom and Justice
c. Knowledge and Power
d. Courage and Truth

-According to the New York Public Library's website "Patience and Fortitude, the world-renowned pair of marble lions that stand proudly before the majestic Beaux-Arts building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street in Manhattan have captured the imagination and affection of New Yorkers and visitors from all over the world since the Library was dedicated on May 23, 1911." Although they had a few different names over the years, Patience and Fortitude were the names with the most lasting power. The library's website further explains "During the 1930s, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia named them Patience and Fortitude, for the qualities he felt New Yorkers would need to survive the economic depression." Click here to learn more.

Today's Questions:

5. Who is the Honorary Chair of this year's National Library Week?
a. Julie Andrews
b. Neil Gaiman
c. Laura Bush
d. Jamie Lee Curtis

6. Approximately how many items are added to the Library of Congress' collections daily?
a. 550
b. 5,000
c. 10,000
d. 25,000

Answers to these questions and more trivia to be posted tomorrow!

Monday's NLW Trivia

Yesterday's Answers:

1. Which movie was not based on a book?
a. Precious
b. Up in the Air
c. Avatar
d. Shutter Island

-Avatar is the only film listed that was not based on a book. According to the Internet Movie Database "Avatar is based on an original screenplay penned by writer/director/producer James Cameron."
-Precious was based on the novel Push by Sapphire, Up in the Air was based on the novel Up in the Air by Walter Kirn and Shutter Island was based on the novel Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane.

2. Which presidential library is located in Abilene, KS?
a. Eisenhower
b. Truman
c. Ford
d. Hoover

- The Dwight D. Eisenhower Library is located in Abilene, KS.
- The Harry S. Truman Library is located in Independence, MO. The Gerald R. Ford Library is located in Ann Arbor, MI. The Herbert Hoover Library is located in West Branch, IA.
-To learn more about the presidential libraries, click here.

Today's Questions:

Were you stumped by yesterday's questions or did you ace them both? Either way, give today's trivia a try:

3. Which University has a library named after Dr. Seuss?
a. Harvard University
b. University of Michigan
c. Lehigh University
d. UC San Diego

4. What are the names of the two marble lions that stand before the New York Public Library?
a. Patience and Fortitude
b. Freedom and Justice
c. Knowledge and Power
d. Courage and Truth

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the answers!

National Library Week

It's time to celebrate libraries - the heart of the community! This year's National Library Week runs from April 11-17 and the theme is "Communities Thrive @ Your Library."

Show your love of libraries this week by visiting PCL to pick up a great book or video game, check out the display case featuring the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum's exhibit "Energy Past & Present," and attend a free movie showing, a family, preschool or drop-in storytime, the "Read to the Pups" program or the "Animal Kingdom Zoo Expedition." Click here for a complete calendar of events.

Also, take the National Library Week Trivia Challenge! Library trivia will be posted here each day this week. Test your knowledge with this first round of questions and check back tomorrow for answers and new trivia.

1. Which movie was not based on a book?
a. Precious
b. Up in the Air
c. Avatar
d. Shutter Island

2. Which presidential library is located in Abilene, KS?
a. Eisenhower
b. Truman
c. Ford
d. Hoover

Fly a Poem

Spring is like a perhaps hand
(which comes carefully
out of Nowhere) arranging
a window, into which people look (while
people stare
arranging and changing placing
carefully there a strange
thing and a known thing here) and

changing everything carefully

From "Spring is like a perhaps hand" by E.E. Cummings

Celebrate poetry all month long! April is National Poetry Month and there are many ways to join in the fun.

*Take part in PCL's "Fly a Poem" festivities (the combination of National Poetry Month and National Kite Month.) Put a poem in the box in the Children's area. The poems can be original, or favorites by someone else. The authors of the submitted poems must be clearly and honestly stated on each one. The YS staff will put the poems on kite shapes and display them in the library.

*Carry a poem in your pocket on April 29th as part of National Poem in Your Pocket Day.

*Learn some great ways to foster a love of poetry in children by reading Marilyn Singer's School Library Journal article "Knock Poetry Off the Pedestal: It's time to make poems a part of children's everyday lives."

*Check out the Poets.org list of 30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month. While there, browse the site (created by the Academy of American Poets) for more inspiration.