Monday, October 31, 2011

Spooky Stories

Happy Halloween! Celebrate with some spooky stories.

Adult Fiction
Mister B. Gone, by Clive Barker
A medieval devil speaks directly to the reader, his tone murderous one moment, seductive the next, in a memoir allegedly penned in the year 1438.

Harbor, by John Ajvide Lindqvist
A man's six-year-old daughter vanishes. From the author of the international bestseller Let the Right One In.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
The classic Regency romance - now with zombie mayhem!

Children's Fiction
This Book is Haunted
This book's "not too scary" ghost host tells five spooky stories.

Scary Stories for Halloween Nights
A collection of scary short stories dealing with spooky spaces, dangerous demons, and banshee bodies, suitable for Halloween reading.

Never Kick a Ghost and Other Silly Chillers

A collection of spooky stories and games based on folklore, for beginning readers.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Sunset Library Construction Update

Construction and renovation at the Chandler Sunset Library is in progress. Following are the current closures and timeline (watch for future updates as the schedule is subject to change).

Remember that you can always access our downloadable books and online research databases from home using your library card and PIN numbers. You can also access your account to view due dates, renew items, and pay fines online. Our three other branches will also be open regular hours with full service.

Current closures and changes (12/17/11 - 1/2/12):

The library will be closed to the public December 17 - January 2.

Returns can be placed in the outside bookdrop, open 24 hours.

Holds can be picked up at the back door on the northwest corner, Monday through Friday 10am - 6pm, and Saturday 10am - 2pm (except 12/26 and 1/2). No other services will be available, including retrieving books from the shelves, so please wait until you receive your holds available call/email before coming to the library.

(If you are able to travel to another branch to pick up your holds, you may find it more convenient to choose one when placing your holds.)

No Culture Passes, computer use, browsing books or other materials, reference assistance, new cards, or paying fines will be available at Sunset during the closure. Visit one of our other branches for full service.

January 3: Library reopens. Most areas will be completed, although some books may need to be moved to their final locations. The meeting room will remain closed and there will be no storytimes in January. Construction crews will remain through January to complete any remaining tasks.

Please pardon our dust - we hope to bring you a beautiful new building!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Book Review: we is got him

In a city disrupted by economic turmoil and racial conflict, a young boy is kidnapped from his front yard and held for ransom. Reports of sightings and false leads flood the police station, most of them prompted by people anxious to claim the reward offered for information about the crime. The newspapers criticize the authorities for not protecting the citizens and accuse the boy's father, who did not immediately pay the ransom, of negligence or even having a hand in the kidnapping. Meanwhile the kidnappers grow more impatient as the father and the police delay in meeting their demands, and threaten to take the child's life.

we is got him is a vivid reconstruction of a true, ripped-from-the-headlines crime, but not from today's headlines. The abduction of Charley Ross took place in 1874, America's first recorded case of ransom kidnapping. Author Carrie Hagen tells a suspenseful tale of the race to save the kidnapped child, but she also brings Restoration-era Philadelphia to life, creating a setting both strange and familiar, much more modern and recognizable than we might expect. - Michelle (Sunset)

Monday, October 10, 2011

Closed October 10 - Do research online!

All four branches of the Chandler Public Library are closed on Monday, October 10 for a staff inservice/training session. What if you have research to do?


Go to our homepage (chandlerlibrary.org) and hover your mouse over the purple RESEARCH tab to display a number of research subject areas, then click to choose one. Librarians have selected quality websites that we use to help provide information to our users - a great place to start your search.



We've also highlighted, in a green box at the top of each subject page, our subscription databases. These are information sources that the library pays a subscription to - copyrighted information that's not available for free on the internet. It's the best place to look for quality information when a simple Google search just won't do, and it's completely free to you as a library cardholder. (You will need to enter your library card and PIN numbers to access the databases.)


All four libraries will be open regular hours on Tuesday, October 11.

Monday, October 3, 2011

New Arrivals

Here are some of the new books that arrived this past week at the Chandler libraries:

Adult fiction

Sorry by Zoran Drvenkar
Four friends start a business saying sorry for people who can't, but what happens when their next client wants absolution for the murder he committed?

King's Gold by Michael Jecks
A historical mystery set at the time of King Edward II, held prisoner in 1326.

Adult nonfiction

Learning to Breathe by Priscilla Warner
A memoir of one woman's quest to conquer anxiety and panic attacks through meditation and other therapies.

Baked Explorations by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito
New twists on classic desserts such as Sweet & Salty Brownie, Chocolate Whoopie Pies, and No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies.

Juvenile fiction

Pearl Verses the World by Heather Potter
Pearl writes poems to help understand her life, school, and family.

Guys Read 2: Thriller
A compilation of short stories, adventures and thrillers perfect for reluctant boy readers.

Picture books

George Flies South by Simon James
Winter is coming and George's mother says they must fly south, but George doesn't want to leave his nest.

Mario & Baby Gia by Mario Lopez
Mario wants to play with the older kids but Nana needs him to watch his little cousin Gia.