Kallas’ book is very popular at the library and all of our copies are checked out!  Definitely join the hold list, though, so you can see this gorgeous book yourself and learn how to make some tasty new meals with wild plants you can find right outside of your door.  Or, better yet, join us next Thursday and purchase your very own signed copy ($25 cash or check only) to use again and again for the years to come.  In the meantime, we do have a number of books to get you started on the subject, so you can go ahead and get reading and come armed with loads of questions for the expert.

Acorn Pancakes, Dandelion Salad, and 38 Other Wild Recipes
A fun guide for kids and grown-ups to use together to learn how to cook with wild foods.

The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants, Mushrooms, Fruits, and Nuts

Drink In the Wild: Teas, Cordials, Jams and More

Eating and Healing: Traditional Food as Medicine

Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide

Northwest Foraging: The Classic Guide to Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest

The Wild Table  Seasonal Foraged Food and Recipes

Posted by Bonnie, a Second Floor Librarian

One Sunday during the move, the Parade magazine caught my eye and I read Anna Quindlen’s  “Is Your Stuff Weighing You Down?”. This essay is adapted from her new book, Lot of Candles, Plenty of Cake.  Quindlen says “There is now so much stuff in my head. Memories and lessons learned have taken the place of possessions.” We still kept plenty of our stuff, but donated many boxes of unneeded items to local thrift shops.

To help you sort through your stuff and make a successful move, the Library has some resources:

	Moving 1-2-3: Expert Advice from the Home Depot
	Moving with Kids: 25 Ways to East Your Family’s Transition to a New Home by Lori Burgan
	Moving on : a practical guide to downsizing the family home by Linda Hetzer & Janet Hulstrand
	Moving in the Right Direction: The Senior’s Guide to Moving and Downsizing by Bruce Nemovitz

We still have a few boxes to  unpack and are still figuring out where everything goes.  Moving is a lot of work, yet a change such as this can be refreshing and invigorating.  If you have a move in your future, I wish you well.  And, remember, packing up takes twice as long as you would expect, so give yourself lots of time.

Posted by Mary, a Second Floor Librarian

Image credit:  “Movers” by mtsofan on Flickr

What I didn’t expect was how brilliantly the new edition of this classic helps readers navigate the choppy social waters of the modern physical and digital world. Written by Post’s descendants, the new book pays homage to those that came before, but is strengthened by the inclusion of modern social pitfalls such as unfriending someone in the social networking realm, and assisting teens with pressures of cyberbullying and sexting trends. Although I haven’t completed all 698 pages of the work, I put it down feeling I’d learned not only which fork I should pick up first, but also how to be a better young professional and woman.

Interested in learning more about the original Emily Post? The library owns an engrossing biography written by Laura Claridge that takes readers through Emily’s handling of her own scandals and rise to stardom as a manners expert.

If you’re interested in opening up a manners discussion with your kids, check out Jennifer LaRue Huget’s Thanks a LOT, Emily Post! This picture book takes a humorous look at Emily Post’s work but includes lots of  situations that will spark a conversation about proper behavior.

For many of us, scanning 698 pages for the right answer or needed inspiration doesn’t fit into the daily schedule. The Emily Post Institute maintains a fabulous and easy to navigate website that features categorized etiquette help and the easy to use Etipedia that allows browsing for the curious and keyword searching for the determined or desperate.

Finally, check out the blog Emily Post’s Etiquette Daily which is moderated by The Emily Post Institute and fields questions from everyday Americans hoping to handle uncomfortable situations with grace.

Posted by Ashley, Extensions Librarian

To celebrate this exciting, important event the library and other places around town have been hosting writing workshops and discussions of some of Oates’ work, but the finale discussion is coming up this Saturday, May 12th, 2:00 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room here at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. We’re calling it “Everybody Reads Joyce Carol Oates” and it’s just an open discussion of any and all of the author’s oeuvre that will be led by instructor Liz Delf from the OSU School of Writing, Literature, and Film.  Read anything by Oates or come ready to listen and learn about her books with fellow community members.  Some delicious pastries donated by New Morning Bakery will be served.

If you haven’t had a chance to pick anything up by Joyce Carol Oates, now is your chance.  She’s a highly prolific, distinctly American, immensely talented writer.  She’s written over 50 books including novels, short stories, poetry collections, even plays.  Many of her stories are haunting and will linger with you a long time as her characters often find themselves dealing with such things as violence, neglect, and abuse (though she doesn’t usually portray any of this graphically).   She’s excellent at suspense and her works are often gripping and sometimes terrifying.  She isn’t afraid to deal with social and psychological issues and her works are often profound reflections on American society and human nature.

Here are some recommended Oates titles and a few articles and interviews to get you pumped about Wednesday and Saturday   I really hope you’ll join us and come witness the power of folks getting together to talk about reading – there’s nothing like it!

BOOKS

Big Mouth & Ugly Girl
Oates has written a few novels for young adults including this very popular title about a high school boy that makes a joking threat that his school officials take very seriously. Only one girl, Ursula aka Ugly Girl, knows the truth and is willing to help him. A coming of age type of novel about surviving high school that we had an awesome teen discussion of last week!

Blonde
A fictional work of the personal life of Marilyn Monroe that is dramatic, engrossing, and true to the woman.

Mudwoman
Oates’ latest effort about a woman that fought hard to rise above her childhood into a successful academic career and what happens when the past and the present collide.

My Sister, My Love
A fictional tale based on the JonBenet Ramsey murder.

We Were the Mulvaneys
The Oprah book club pick and bestseller about a picture perfect family and its demise.

A Widow’s Story
A beautiful memoir about the grief Oates experiences after losing her husband of 48 years.

WEBSITES & ARTICLES

Charlie Rose: An Interview With Joyce Carol Oates
A 1996 interview

Joyce Carol Oates Interview in The Guardian
The author discusses her new book,Mudwoman.

A Woman’s Work: Questions for Joyce Carol Oates
A quick and witty interview with the New York Times Magazine

Posted by Bonnie, a Second Floor Librarian

I like to learn a new craft by jumping right in and trying to make something I like, then, when I make a bunch of mistakes, going back to the books to figure out how to do it better.  I’m not sure that’s the most efficient or smartest way to learn, but since it is my preferred style, the books I checked out were a mix of books I call inspirational, with lots of gorgeous color photographs of unique designs, as well as several nitty gritty how-to books with titles like Complete guide to embroidery stitches, and Embroidery basics: all you need to know to start stitching.

Here are a few of my favorites so far.

	Colorful stitchery : 65 hot embroidery projects to personalize your home / Kristin Nicholas.  This book has excellent instructions for the basic embroidery stitches.  The simple, bold, and colorful designs are good choices if you’re new to embroidery and want to make something unfussy that has impact.
	Doodle-Stitching: Fresh and Fun Embroidery for Beginners by Aimee Ray is a good book for beginners.  The designs are fresh and whimsical without being overly cutesy.  I’m looking forward to trying the project for embroidering Converse shoes.  Ask me later how it went!
	Stumpwork dragonflies / Jane Nicholas.  This is one of the books that inspired me to start stitching.  Stumpwork is a form of raised embroidery that originated in England in the second half of the seventeenth century.  You can use metallic thread and beads to really make the dragonflies shimmer.
	The new crewel : exquisite designs in contemporary embroidery / Katherine Shaughnessy.  Crewel is a type of embroidery that uses two-ply worsted wool threads on linen fabric.  I love the dimensional nature and luscious texture of crewel, and the contemporary designs in this book are gorgeous.
	Hoopla : the art of unexpected embroidery / Leanne Prain ; photography by Jeff Christenson.  For people who like to break the rules, this book will provide visual inspiration with great photography and profiles of artists.  This is a beautiful, fun book.

If you are interested in the history of embroidery as well as the larger discussion of women and art, you might like The subversive stitch : embroidery and the making of the feminine/ Rozsika Parker.  Want more ideas?  Broaden your definition of embroidery with  Creative recycling in embroidery;  Twisted stitches: 30 corrupt cross stitch and embroidery designs; or The Techniques of Japanese embroidery.  There are many classic embroidery books in the Library and new ones are on order right now.  Let us know if we can help you find them!

Posted by Alex, a second floor librarian

Casper after a swim and holding my empty coffee cup

As a proud adoptive mother of a four-year old Newfoundland dog named Casper, one of my favorite things to do is take her along for a hike and a swim. (We both hike, but Casper loves to swim. I throw sticks and she retrieves them. She is a working dog, so she likes having a job to do!)

We’re lucky in Corvallis/Benton County. We are within easy driving distance to many beautiful trails with wonderful views. When Casper and I set out to hike, we discover new sights and sounds every time.

Where to go?

If you and your best (furry) friend also enjoy hiking, but are wondering where to go, Ellen Morris Bishop has a wonderful book in the series “Best Hikes with Dogs”, tailored to Oregon. We have four copies of this popular item. If you and your dog are traveling to Arizona, Western Washington, Central California, or Inland Northwest, we have those books here too. They’re full of dog-friendly hikes, complete with detailed descriptions, maps and directional information. For those of you with water dogs, they have information about swim-friendly hikes too.

How to prepare?

Gary Hoffman”s book, Dogs on the trail: hiking, camping and traveling with your dog offers helpful advice for hiking trips. It’s a nice, basic, short read that explains the do’s and don’ts of hiking with a dog. Chapters cover equipment, first aid, trail etiquette, weather preparation and more. Reading Hoffman’s book will get you prepared for an enjoyable retreat with Fido.

Other fun reads:

Ruffing It: the complete guide to camping with dogs / Mardi Richmond.

A guide to backpacking with your dog / Charlene G. LaBelle.

Hiking with dogs: Six feet are better than two / John Bell, special writer to the Oregonian.

From Backpacker Magazine, The Manual: take your dog hiking. This is a succinct article about preparing for hiking with Fido.

Dogs Allowed Hikes – Corvallis, Oregon. This is a link from a community-generated site, LocalHikes.com where a team of volunteer “reporters” gather information on hikes and post them to this website. Click on the “dogs allowed hikes” on the left-hand side, under “metro quick search” for a list of dog-friendly trails.

Posted by Lindy, a second floor librarian.

What’s so great about Mango Languages?

- Mango focuses on practical speaking skills
- Lessons combine everyday conversation skills and memory building strategies
- Lessons also include cultural insights, helping you understand the customs and etiquette of the people in the country

Back in November I wrote about Mango and their iPhone app. They just released an Android app, opening the doors to more folks who want to learn a language on the go. Now you can learn a language on virtually any device!

Download the Android app | Download the iPhone app

(For the apps to work, you must first have an account with Mango set up through the library’s website. Once the apps and lessons have been downloaded, you can learn at your own pace, with or without an internet connection).

Don’t want the app but want to check out Mango Languages anyway? You can access it from at home from your computer 24-7.

Interested in learning language programs for your young child (ages zero to five)? Check out Mango’s Little Pim. You can find it listed alphabetically under “M” for Mango Languages – Little Pim here.

Posted by Lindy, a second floor librarian
Image credit lwallenstein

I tell you this story not for pity’s sake, but because I’d guess you or someone you know may have been prescribed and/or take PPIs, such as Prilosec and Prevacid, considering how commonly prescribed they are.  After many years on PPIs and a lot of research, I have my doubts about the necessity of these drugs and have found much evidence suggesting they do much more harm than good by causing their own set of health problems.  The most astonishing thing to me about my visits with two top gastroenterologists was that neither asked me about my lifestyle or dietary habits.   Addressing one’s diet seems like the most obvious way to combat these health issues and, indeed, there’s a lot of info out there about dietary changes and natural remedies to deal with GERD.

In Western medicine, it has become all too common to treat symptoms rather than address causes.  The Standard American Diet does not do anyone any health favors and even small changes can have big results.   Of course, there are certainly some cases where PPIs may be necessary, but considering all options before taking that route may be wise considering the dependence these drugs form (see the books and links below for more info).  Fortunately, your local library has all of the resources you need to help you make this and many other health decisions.  Plus, a team of Reference Librarians waits armed and ready to assist you with any information need, health or otherwise; just contact us!

BOOKS

Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health Through Diet
This book is actually not about GERD, specifically, but it does address problems some are beginning to believe PPI use can cause, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD).  It prescribes the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) which has been said by many sufferers of conditions such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis as well as IBS or IBD to work wonders.  In some cases, folks have been able to get off of prescription drugs entirely with this diet.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Digestive Health
The first step toward making good health decisions is to understand your condition and how the parts of the body affected work. An Idiot’s Guide takes it from a lay person’s perspective and will use terminology anyone can understand.

Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook & Cure
I have not seen this book, but I have heard great things about it. Dr. Koufman who wrote it is well-known for treating reflux using a diet that focuses on the pH of foods and beverages (basically, you avoid things that are acidic).  You can read a bit more about her and the diet here.

Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet, Prilosec & Other Acid Blockers: What to Use to Relieve Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and Gastric Ailments
This book has a number of natural treatment suggestions for heartburn and acid reflux that are very effective. This could be a good starting point if you are looking to avoid taking a PPI and want to know what other natural treatments are available to you.

The Primal Blueprint
Mark Sisson, well-known for his website marksdailyapple.com, outlines a diet free of grains, dairy, sugar, and legumes that has been said to offer enormous health benefits particularly for those suffering from digestive disorders.

WEBSITES & ARTICLES

“Are Too Many People Taking Heartburn Drugs?”
CNN article regarding the frequency of PPI prescription and some of the risks involved.

“Risks of Long-Term PPI Use”
This is a brief article that links to many other articles of interest including the FDA warning regarding PPI use and low magnesium levels and the common overlap between IBS and GERD.

“Study: Heartburn Drugs Can Cause More Heartburn”
An NPR report about a study that described acid rebound, something that happens to many when they try to stop taking PPIs.  It advises a gradual approach to getting off of these drugs.

“Tips For Weaning Your Patients Off PPIs”
An article from ACP (American College of Physicians) Internist reporting a presentation by Dr. Joel E. Richter. Dr. Richter suggests that 60% of GERD patients taking PPIs can successfully be weaned off of them and he briefly describes why.

“What Everybody Ought to Know (But Doesn’t) About Heartburn & GERD”
This is the first in a series of blog posts by Chris Kesser, a licensed acupuncturist and proponent of integrated medicine, that examines the reasons for PPI use and the risks. He explains common misconceptions about the causes of GERD and explains how PPI use may actually exacerbate the issue, backing up his arguments with numerous medical studies.   In Part 3 he lays out the case for PPI use causing bacterial overgrowth in the stomach, which can cause new health issues such as IBS.

Posted by Bonnie, a second floor librarian

In your online library account you have the ability to suspend holds. This means that you will continue to advance on the waiting list, but the item won’t be held for you prior to the date that you choose. Now here’s the caveat: If you get to the front of the waiting list for an item that you suspended and there is no one behind you on the waiting list, your hold will be activated. You might still be on vacation and have the item suspended for two more weeks, but the item will still go to the holds shelf for you. If there are other people behind you on the waiting list, however, the suspend feature will work as intended, so it’s more reliable for titles that have long wait lists.

Here’s how to do it:

Using our new catalog, log on and click HOLDS at the top. Click SUSPEND next to the items you want to suspend and select a date for the hold to be reactivated. To reactivate a suspended hold, click RE-ACTIVATE next to the item.

Suspending holds in the new catalog

Using our classic catalog, log on and click HOLDS in the left column. Now place a check mark next to the item(s) you want to suspend (hint: to select them all, put a check mark in the top box). Next, click SUSPEND above the holds list, and click the calendar icon next to the “Suspend until:” box to choose a date for the hold to be reactivated. Click OK, and you’re done. Suspended holds will display a small clock-shaped icon next to them. It is not possible to reactivate a suspended hold in the classic catalog, but you can use the process described above to change the reactivation date to the day after the current day.

Suspending holds in the classic catalog

Posted by Charles, a second floor librarian

In 1940, Sala Garncarz, a sixteen-year-old Polish Jew, was sent to the first of seven labor camps where she was to be enslaved during World War II. Sala survived the war, although  her immediate family did not.

Sala’s survival is in itself remarkable, but even more remarkable is the fact that she was able to hide and protect more than 300 letters that she received while in the camps. Many years later, Sala, by then a mother and grandmother, gave this collection of letters to her daughter, Ann.

The exhibit at the Library highlights many of these letters, and also includes photos and information on the Holocaust and on Sala’s own wartime experiences.

Ann Kirschner will be at the exhibit 3-4 p.m. on Monday, April 16.

Letters to Sala by Ann Kirschner is the companion book to the exhibit.  The Library also has  Sala’s gift : my mother’s Holocaust story  by Ann Kirschner.

The exhibit is part of the 26th annual observance of Holocaust Memorial Week which is held this year from April 16 through April 20.  Click here for more information about Holocaust Memorial Week events in Corvallis.

Posted by Alex, a second floor librarian