Banned Books Week 2012

This week, September 30th through October 6th, libraries and bookstores across the country will celebrate Banned Books Week. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 as a response to the mass number of challenges to books in schools and libraries. Books are still challenged, banned, and removed from shelves today - here is a list of the most challenged titles from 2011. Check out this page with top ten lists from several years, and a list of banned and challenged classics.

During this week librarians take the time to, through book displays and information, remind people of the freedom to read what they want - and to allow others to do the same.

For more information, visit the American Library Association Banned Books Week site, or the Banned Books Week site. If you have any questions, contact us at (317) 852-3167 option 2 or askus@brownsburg.lib.in.us.

Happy Birthday Shel Silverstein!!

Shel Silverstein was born on this day, September 25th, in 1930 in Chicago, Illinois. I always loved reading his poems and books - A Light in the Attic and Runny Babbit being two of my favorites - and still do!! Bear in There, his poem all about a polar bear who likes to spend lots of time in the refrigerator, always makes me smile. :D

If you haven't read anything by Mr.Silverstein, or would love to revisit some old favorites, check out what we have below! Give us a call at (317) 852-3167 option 2, or e-mail us at askus@brownsburg.lib.in.us if you have any questions.

What is your favorite Silverstein piece? Comment below!

The Giving Tree

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Where the Sidewalk Ends

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A Light in the Attic

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Runny Babbit

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Every Thing On It

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Falling Up

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Pies for Fall

As soon as the temperatures drop and I start seeing apples at the local farmers' markets, I can't help but think of baking pies (and drinking cider...and eating caramel apples)! I am still working on that perfect crust, but these cookbooks all about making pies and other fruit desserts will surely help me master the art. If you would like to request these or any other titles, please contact us at (317) 852-3167 option 2, or askus@brownsburg.lib.in.us.

What are your favorite fall sweets? Comment below!

This petite book has recipes and instructions for simple crumb and no-fuss free-form crusts, which is a win in my book! Following that are recipes for both single and double-crust pies, along with recipes for tarts and turnovers. And the book features beautiful color photos-yum!

If you've ever wanted a recipe for something other than just your basic pie crust, then look no further! This cookbook features recipes for Cornmeal Pie Dough, Sour Cream Pie Dough, Vanilla Wafer Crust, Gingersnap Crust, and more! And have you ever wondered what sorts of pies are made in the Northeast, South, Midwest, and Western portions of the US? If you have, you'll love how recipes are broken down geographically.

If pies aren't your thing, then you might want to try this book, which includes an array of tasty fruit desserts. From Cobblers to Crumbles, Puddings to Cakes, Bars to Trifles, and lots lots more! Recipes are even separated by season, so you can find your perfect sweet anytime of year.

Did you know that September is Library Card Sign-up Month? During this time every year, libraries and librarians do their best to remind their communities of the power a library card holds, and of the many ways they can use it.

Staff members from our library will be in a couple different spots in town in the next week to promote library cards, so get ready!! Tonight (September 7th) at dusk, weather permitting, Brownsburg Parks and Recreation will be showing The Lorax out on the front lawn of Brownsburg Town Hall. You will see our table set up, where people can enter a drawing for a $10 gift card from Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt, and also sign-up for a library card (that is not required to enter the drawing). The drawing will take place after the movie but you do not need to be present to win.

On Friday September 14th, our staff will be present at the Brownsburg High School football game against Avon. We’ll have a drawing for a Brownsburg Athletics sweatshirt (Large) and a $10 gift card from Orange Leaf—two separate winners. Winners will be announced at the end of the third quarter, but you do not need to be present to win. Once again people can sign-up for a library card at the table.

In the column to your right, you'll find a slidehow featuring 60 ways to use your library card. Enjoy, and as always, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions at (317) 852-3167 or askus@brownsburg.lib.in.us.

Next Good Reads...on Goodreads!

There are so many books that come out every month, I quickly get distracted with my current list of books to read...scratch some off, add more, forget about others. Believe it or not, I have actually gotten better about keeping things organized. My Goodreads account has really helped me do that. If you are not familiar with it, Goodreads is a social cataloging website that you can use to keep track of what you have read, what you are currently reading, and what you would like to read in the future. You can use it to group your books by genre, rate and review them, and to connect with others who have read similar books. It is sort of like Facebook for book lovers!!

Below are just a few of the books that are on my to-read list. What are you looking forward to reading next?? Comment below!

The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball (Request this item)

In this book, Kimball chronicles a year of her life on her (and her husband's) sustainable farm. I live in the city, but an urban farm is something I long to have (chickens and all!), and I'm betting this book will inspire me to create it.

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin

The first in a trilogy, this book follows the adventures of a young wizard named Ged. Wizards, dragons, magicians...count me in! 

Dearie: The remarkable life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz (Request the book cd)

Julia Child is a huge inspiration to me. In fact, I just hung up a pegboard to display our pots, pans, and kitchen utensils, ala Julia Child (if you have never seen pictures of her kitchen, take a look!). I am very much looking forward to this audiobook-will make for a great car ride!.

Late Summer Gardening

Did you know that you can still plant certain vegetables in late summer and even into September? While I am no gardening expert myself, I have come to learn, with the help of a very knowledgeable mother, that swiss chard, green onions, peas, radishes, and more can survive the frost and some lower temperatures. The key is knowing both how long crops take to mature, as well as the average first killing frost in your area. Check out a few of our gardening books below, or contact us to find out what else we have, at (317)852-3167 option 2 or askus@brownsburg.lib.in.us.

Nothing beats the taste of vegetables from a home garden, and with Vegetable Gardening it's never been easier. With over 80 varieties of vegetables to choose from, eating delicious, just-picked produce is a snap. Learn every step of creating and maintaining a cornucopia of garden-fresh vegetables: from choosing and planning your plot, preparing the soil, selecting seeds or cultivating seedlings, proper watering, harvesting, and storing. From composting and mulching to caring for and harvesting vegetables, it's clear that most gardeners want to use organic methods and avoid chemical fertilizers and pesticides. But what happens when things go wrong and organic solutions don't seem to be working? The two authors of this book have different answers to this question. Jane Courtier takes the view that organic methods are the "first, best choice," but she occasionally uses chemical fertilizer and will resort to chemical pesticides if a serious problem arises. Fern Marshall Bradley writes from the viewpoint of a longtime organic gardener who's chosen to never use any chemicals in her garden. Together they've created a book that looks at vegetable gardening from both points of view. There are substantive issues on both sides-and in the end, it's an individual choice. Let them help you make up your own mind! Request this item 

More and more home gardeners are discovering the rewards of growing their own vegetables. But along with the pleasures of homegrown produce come a host of problems: bugs, diseases, and mysterious ailments that don't have an obvious cause. What's a gardener to do? Don't panic — help is at hand. What's Wrong With My Vegetable Garden? teaches you how to keep your vegetables healthy so they're less susceptible to attack, and when problems do occur, it shows you how to recognize the problem and find the right organic solution. Among the book's highlights are: Clear information about how to team with nature to create the best growing conditions for your vegetables. Detailed portraits of the most commonly grown vegetables, including growth habit; information on the plant's season; temperature, soil, light, and water requirements; and best garden uses and planting techniques. Illustrated problem-solving guides that enable you to identify at a glance what's ailing your plant. Discussions of the most effective organic solutions, ranging from how to modify the growing conditions in your garden to how to cope with and eliminate specific pests and diseases. If you care about raising the freshest, healthiest, most problem-free vegetables possible, then What's Wrong With My Vegetable Garden? will quickly become one of your most essential tools. Request this item

 

More and more, people are demanding fresh foods free from toxic chemicals--so this book on growing organic vegetables at home couldn't be timelier. Whether the gardener has a spacious suburban yard or a small city windowsill, all the necessary information and inspiration is here--from choosing the hardiest, most nutritious varieties to harvesting the crop. There's also vital instruction on getting ready for spring by starting plants indoors, and using safe, natural methods for dealing with pests and diseases. Request this item

Camping

I have such fond memories of going camping with my family growing up...campfires, hiking, and smores of course! It is still an activity that I try to sneak in on a weekend here and there, and one that can likely be done into the Fall season, with as warm as it's been. So far I've only been to Turkey Run, Mounds State Park, Brown County, and Clifty Falls...so I have a lot yet to explore!

If you're looking for a good location to take your family or friends camping, check out the Indiana State Parks site, where you can search depending on what type of camping you're interested in. Tent? RV? Cabin? And you can limit it to locations near Brownsburg or whichever city you are wanting to camp near. You can also find camping and state park info at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources site, such as park entrance fees, and even camping etiquette!

But before you pack up that tent, you'll want to check out some books from our collection! Find out what gear and tools you'll need to handle various situations, as well as ideas for games, outdoor activities, and campfire recipes! Call us at (317) 852-3167 option 2 if you have any questions, or e-mail us at askus@brownsburg.lib.in.us. What are your favorite Indiana camping spots?

Plan your family camping adventure! Whether you're a first-time camper or a veteran backpacker befuddled by the challenges of carting a brood--and all the requisite gear--into the great outdoors, here you'll find all the tips and tools you need to plan the perfect nature adventure with your family. Humorous and irreverent, yet always authoritative, this guide to camping with kids, from babies through pre-teens, is filled with checklists, smart tips, recipes, games, activities, and art projects. Helen Olsson, a seasoned camper and mother of three, shares lessons learned over the years of nature outings with her own family. Learn the basics of family camping, from choosing a destination and packing gear to setting up a campsite and keeping little ones safe. Create the perfect camp menu with simple and tasty recipe ideas. Discover foolproof tips and tactics for keeping kids happy and entertained while hiking. Explore nature through clever and creative camp arts and craft projects. This guide is your game plan to unplugging from the digital world and connecting your kids to nature. Whether it's roasting marshmallows around a crackling campfire or stretching out on a camp mat to gaze at the stars, the memories you'll be making will last a lifetime. Request this item

The Happy Camper is a comprehensive, heavily illustrated, highly entertaining compendium of basic wilderness instruction and well-tested campsite advice. One of North America's top canoeing and outdoors experts, Kevin Callan explains how to get the most from your camping experience -- no matter where you pitch your tent, what you forgot to pack or what the weather. Step-by-step, the book shows: How to plan a trip for a day or even a few weeks, How to pack only what is needed, How to beat the bugs, stake a tent, build a fire, ward off unwanted wildlife, paddle a canoe and much more. Other crucial topics include: Choosing the perfect campsite, Using maps and compasses, Camp cooking, Camping with dogs and kids, Bruises, blisters and Band-Aids, Canoe and kayak camping, Wilderness photography, and Cold-weather camping. Request this item

From "Commissioner's French Toast" to "Chicken Dutchiladas," The Scout's Dutch Oven Cookbook highlights hand-picked outdoor recipes, plus cooking methods and tips for a Scout-friendly cooking experience. This is the must-have resource for Dutch oven cooking in the outdoors, whether you're a Scout, hiker, camper, canoer, kayaker--or anyone who eats in the wilderness. Request this item

From "Glacier's Edge Burritos" to "Dirty Socks Peach Cobbler," The Scout's Backpacking Cookbook highlights hand-picked outdoor recipes, plus cooking methods and tips for a Scout-friendly cooking experience. This is the must-have resource for cooking in the outdoors, whether you're a Scout, hiker, backpacker, camper--or anyone who eats in the wilderness. Request this item

There is a movement upon us and it's full of parents who refuse to let their children become a statistic of childhood obesity, and who understand the fate of the environment rests with connecting their kids with the outdoors. Outdoors Parents, Outdoor Kids shines a much needed headlamp on helping parents accomplish this and more. With an informative and entertaining look at biking, camping, swimming, paddling, snowsports, hiking, fishing, climbing and more, award-winning author Eugene Buchanan extends parents a helping hand in getting their kids outside and instilling in them a respect for their health and the environment. It's a set of training wheels for first-time parents and an essential guide for hair-pulling veterans. Request this item