April Fool's

We want you to tell us what else needs to be in our new addition of the library!

What was the best joke ever played on/by you?

Leave your comment by clicking the link that reads 5(or whatever number) Comments. Type your message and click the empty circle next to Anonymous, then click the orange button that says Publish your Comment! View what others had to say.

libraries and all that JAZZ!

While in Minneapolis last week for the Public Library Association conference, we were able to visit the new dowtown Minneapolis Central Library. It's a beautiful space with an interactive Children's area, cool Teen Zone, meeting space, and floors of lovely furniture and stacks literally hoppin' with people. The library serves as an anchor in the downtown and will be very close to the yet-to-be-built Twins baseball stadium. As both of these icons are family destinations the city is using an overage in ballpark revenue to open library doors on Sunday at 18 branches including the new Central Library.

We were also treated to the unveiling of the new master plan for New Orleans Public Library. Irvin Mayfield, Cultural Ambassador to the City of New Orleans, world renowned jazz musician, and president of the NOPL Library Board, talked about the themes of Jazz and how they relate to libraries, especially the NOPL. Jazz is all about trancendence and flexibility; it's about improvisatation (improve and create); it's about the Blues and American optimism; and it's about swing--"it don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing." Libraries embody all of these Jazz themes, by transcending the buildings in which they are housed and becoming the true heart of the community.

coming soon to a theatre (library) near you

When sleep eludes me, I like to pull out my iPod and catch up on podcasts. Last night I listened to KCRW's The Treatment and Elvis Mitchell interviewed the screenwriter, Nancy Oliver, whose recent film Lars and the Real Girl was nominated for an Academy Award (best original screenplay). "Oliver discusses her love of Dickens, Balzac, Beckett and Shakespeare; her early career in theater; the 'geography of kindness and compassion' that evolves as the community comes to terms with Lars and Bianca; and the importance of humor in tragedy."

It won't be available on DVD until April 15th, but you can place a hold now on this lovely little film, Lars and the Real Girl. I have to say, this was one of my favorite N. American films of the past year. And, if you want to know more about some other of the films you've seen this year, check out Elvis Mitchell and The Treatment.

His knowledge of film and literature astounds me, but he's no snooty critic. He just loves film; and has really interesting conversations with film actors, directors, producers, and writers.

Congrats computer class graduates

Please post the most important thing you've learned throughout our basic computer classes. Thanks for attending and for your continued patronage of the Flathead County Library, it's been a pleasure!

Feel free to call us up with any questions you may have or stop by and show off what you've created- Don't forget, if you don't have a computer, we'll lend you ours any day we're open.

check it out! (or not) Books

I spent four days under the weather last week/weekend. That's annoying in it ownself. But it gave me a chance to do a lot of uninterrupted reading. I got through three books in four days, which is a lot for me. The first book, called The Film Club, by David Gilmour, is a non-fiction account of what happened when he let his teenage son drop out of school -- on condition that he watch three movies a week with his father. (And since it was a prepublication copy sent to us by our vendor, it's not available yet. But see Gilmour's website for more information.) I'm a movie nut, so conversations about movies are right up my alley. But the book is even more about the wonderful time this man was able to spend with his teenage son, from age 16 -19. This type of togetherness isn't possible for most.

The second book was Traveling mercies : some thoughts on faith by Anne Lamott. I couldn't put this one down either, and I highly recommend it to one and all. I can't wait to read her other works.

The last book I read was Russel Banks' new novel, The Reserve. Let me tell you that Russell Banks is one of our preeminent N. American writers and the books jacket says this about the book: "The Reserve is a clever, incisive, and passionately romantic novel of suspense." And I read through all 287 pages of it. But I can't recommend this book at all. The plot grew more and more intricate and outlandish and I couldn't imagine anyone doing the things the characters did--my belief was NOT suspended.

That said, I feel bad giving a novel (this one is very well-written) an unfavorable review in a public forum. You might like this book, but I didn't. A couple of months ago I recommended a film to my friend Barbara. Once is "a charming, low-budget, low-keyed, intimate, unpretentious indie film set in contemporary Dublin." It won an academy award this year for best song. I loved this film! Barbara hated it. I couldn't beleive it. As my mom used to always say, "to each his own." You might like The Reserve and I think you'd love Once (but maybe not).

Perhaps Spring has sprung...

Stop by Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Kalispell, Marion or Whitefish to check out our selection of gardening and home improvement books. Make a game plan to outdo the neighbors or get your home ready to sell. And remember, the money it would take to buy one Home Improvement book is more than what each taxpayer contributes on an annual basis! ($16.17)
You know it's time to rake the yard, repair the deck and spruce up the paint.*

* The Flathead County Library is not responsible for the lengthening of any Honey-do lists.

The Cat in the Hat On The Loose!

Saturday was an extremely exciting day at the Main Library in Kalispell. About 130 people joined us as we celebrated the 104th birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss. The Cat in the Hat made an appearance to entertain the guests and led everyone through some twisty words and other tongue twisters. Our Friends of the Library provided and served birthday cake and punch,too. Unfortunately, the Cat in the Hat had to move on to visit some other kids but he said he would be back next year!