Phillip Levine is the New United States Poet Laureate

The Library of Congress appointed Philip Levine as its 18th Poet Laureate.  Levine will begin his duties in the fall.  He succeeds W. S. Merwin.

Wesley McNair is Maine's poet laureate. 

Just what does a poet laureate do?  The Librarian of Congress appoints the United States Poet Laureate after consulting former appointees.  The Library actually assigns very few specific duties to the poet laureate, giving the appointee freedom to work on their own projects.  The appointee is expected to help foster a greater appreciation of both the reading and writing of poetry. Some past projects include Ted Kooser's weekly newspaper column and Charles Simic taught a master class for poets at the Library of Congress.

Although April is National Poetry Month, take time to celebrate the art of poetry every month.  Your library has several books to help you create your own poetry.  Or come in and check out a published poets writing, just browse through the stacks in the 811s.  One of my favorite books is "Committed to memory; 100 best poems to memorize" (808.81 Com).  Take the challenge and commit a poem to memory today.

Today is Book Lover's Day Celebrate @ Your Library!

Today is Book Lover's Day.  What better way to celebrate than to head to your library, check out some books and read! 

And did you know that books can also serve as art?  Beyond the lovely covers and illustrations, older books heading for recycling can be repurposed.  Yes, this librarian does practice the book arts! 

We have a beautiful new book " The Repurposed Library" by Lisa Occhipinti (call # 745.54 Occ, but currently on our new book display when it's not checked out).  The author demonstrates 33 (thirty-three) craft/art projects to give old books a new life. 

Not crafty yourself?  Well, check out our Beauty and the Books silent auction in March 2012.  There will be at least one repurposed book available for bidding.

Another Author to add to Maine Crime Writers blog

Sarah Graves has been added to the Maine Crime Writers blog.  I enjoy her Jacobia Tiptree series immensely.  The series takes place in Eastport, Maine, the easternmost town in the United States.  Sarah's publisher, Random House, "houses" her official website.  Check out the Eastport map on their website to follow where all the bodies are buried in Sarah's books!

Maine Crime Writers Blog

The Maine Crime Writers blog is up and running.  If you love mysteries of any sort, especially those written by Maine authors, check out this blog.  The writers included are Gerry Boyle, Vicki Doudera,Paul Doiron, Kaitlyn Dunnett, Kate Flora, James Hayman, Barbara Ross, Julia Spencer-Fleming and Lea Wait.

After checking out their blog and getting to know the authors a little better, stop by your library and check out one of their books, we have at least one by every author on the shelf or on order!

Join Our Newest Book Group--For Audio Book Lovers!

Join your library's latest book group, "Read @ Your Own Pace".  This group will "read" a wide variety of titles, as long as they are available to listen to!  Our first meeting is Thursday, June 30th @ 6:30 pm. We will be discussing audiobooks in general and deciding whether to listen from a selected list or go wild and talk about whatever we're each listening to at the moment!


Questions?  Contact Andi @ 781-2351 or library@falmouth.lib.me.us.

Author Lilian Jackson Braun dies at age 97

If you are a lover of cozy mysteries, you've probably run across Lilian Jackson Braun's  Cat Who..series.  The series features two Siamese cats and their owner, James (Qwill) Qwilleran.  Qwill is a newspaperman whose cats help him solve mysteries.  The series starts with "The Cat Who Could Read Backwards". The three main characters develop over the series and their growth and development, as cats and a person, are important to the stories.  As with other cozy mysteries, there is little blatant violence and the series is actually described as being heartwarming.  The stories have a leisurely pace with the solution to the mystery nicely concluded at the end of each book. 

For further information on this wonderful author check out Novelist via the MARVEL databases available at MARVEL databases.

Novel Destinations---This Summer @ Your Library!

Please stay tuned.  Your library staff is going to be taking you places this summer!  Like to travel?  Like to walk?  Like to read?  Tried listening to audiobooks?  We'll help you answer these and many other questions starting this June.

The children of Falmouth have had the joy of a summer reading program to themselves for years.  Now it's time for the adults to join in on all the fun.  Watch out for wayward gold stars.  Dig out your passport.  We'll help you go places you only imagined!