Library Database Brings You Monthly Reading Ideas

What’s new to borrow in books and movies? Get suggestions by signing up for our free, monthly e-newsletters, called BookLetters, to receive monthly alerts. Colorful covers and interesting descriptions will fascinate you each month. Bring these new BookLetters titles to your computer screen by signing up to receive an e-mail newsletter or RSS feed by clicking  http://library.booksite.com/5670.


Linking directly to the Minuteman Library Network's (MLN) catalog, the newsletter titles are available to borrow in many formats: audio, print, large print, e-book, e-audio book, and DVD.  Requesting an item for MLN borrowers is just a matter of clicking on a title by format: a hard copy or audio copy for pickup at the library, or an e-resource to download onto your computer or mobile device.

There are picture and chapter book newsletters for parents and children, teen scene titles, and an array of fiction and nonfiction topics for adults. The latest novel, mystery or romantic suspense fiction, science fiction or fantasy, history, politics, biography, current events or cookbooks, science or nature, health, art, and finance are all there.

You are sure to find many satisfying suggestions for yourself, your family, your friends, or your book group.
Access is free and open to anyone, whether in the library through wifi, on library computers, or remotely.

Therapy Dogs of Massachusetts

Do you know about Dog B.O.N.E.S.?  Today at the reference desk I learned about some of the dog therapy services offered state-wide in Massachusetts through  http://www.therapydog.info/ and had a chance to meet 8 year golden retriever, Scout.  I also learned the Newton Free Library Children's Department is engaged in developing Reading Partner, a literacy program for children who read to dogs, based in schools and libraries.

Encyclopedia Judaica Online

Comprehensive across topics, from Aaron to Zionism, the Encyclopedia Judaica should become well-used by general readers, students of all ages, and researchers. At the crossroads of continents, trade routes, wars, expulsions and migrations, the heritage of the land of milk and honey is broad.


Whether Biblical, ancient or modern, linguistic or literary, complex or basic, medical or mystical, covenant or law, event or movement, human rights or human story, civilizations and cultures merge in The Encyclopedia Judaica. It is much more than a resource for religion. Look up the Crusades, India, China, Alaska or Rhode Island for new insights.

Maps, statistics, tables, photographs and even sheet music examples can be isolated with a click of the List of Illustrations button. Find a list of all the animals mentioned in the Bible and the Talmud, or a musical setting of prayers for Selichot using Yemenite text. The e-Table of Contents and the Index buttons offer detailed access to content.
Access to these databases is available to anyone on library computers or remotely to Newton residents with a Newton library card beginning with the number 21323.

Legal Resources Self Help Center

Scan this QR Code to go directly to the Legal Resources Self Help Center which I have created on the Newton Free Library's Reference Department Library Guides page.

What's New in Congress

Once submitted by the President, follow the American Jobs Act and other pending legislation by using the Federal Primary Law tab on the Legal Resources Self Help Center which is posted on the Newton Library's Reference homepage.

Legal Resources Self Help Center

Start using Legal Resources Self Help Center in a LibGuide format and user friendly approach.  Follow the tabs to learn basic legal reference skills, review PowerPoint classes in legal research, and inquire about the law by topic and by source, as well as catch up on legal news.

New England Chapter of The Association of Jewish Libraries

Following up on the meeting of the NEAJL at the Gann Academy, here are links pointing to books for children, teens, and adults which were discussed:
http://www.jewishlibraries.org/ajlweb/awards/stba/index.htm
http://press.princeton.edu/titles/9336.html
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/04/18/arts/design/20110418-museum.html
http://www.randomhouse.com/pantheon/authors/goldstein/
http://www.tlwkidsbooks.com/index.php?page_id=121
http://www.doriewitt.com/
http://zeek.forward.com/articles/117179/

Jewish Libraries and Learning

The past week has found me richly rewarded through Jewish organizations.  On my day off for working on Saturday, chose to visit the YIVO Institute of Jewish Learning in New York City http://www.yivo.org/about/index.php.  The library and building at 15 W. 16th Street houses collections and staff from five institutions under the umbrella name: The Center for Jewish Learning http://www.cjh.org/p/2.  Within the building are The American Jewish Historical Society, The American Sephardi Federation, The Leo Baeck Institute, The Yeshiva University Museum, and the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. "The YIVO Library holds over 385,000 volumes in 12 major languages, and the Archives contains more than 24,000,000 pieces, including manuscripts, documents, photographs, sound recordings, art works, films, posters, sheet music, and other artifacts..."

Later in the week I attended a New England Chapter meeting of Association of American Jewish Libraries at the Gann Academy in Waltham, MA where JONATHAN B. KRASNER, author of THE BENDERLY BOYS: AMERICAN JEWISH EDUCATION, lectured on three women who made significant contributions to Jewish books for children and acculturation into American society.  The three women were:   SADIE ROSE WEILERSTEIN and her book THE ADVENTURES OF K'TON TON http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/weilerstein-sadie-rose; MAMIE GOLDSMITH GAMERON http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/gamoran-mamie; and illustrator TEMIMA GEZARI http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/gezari-temima.

Tomorrow my book group will  discuss 36 ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD: A WORK OF FICTION by Rebecca Newberger Goldstein which the library does own in its fiction collection. A timely selection about the debate between proponents of faith and of reason.

Classical Scene and more

The Newton Free Library offers outstanding concerts.http://newtonfreelibrary.net/  Sometimes the concerts are filled, or a performer has a last minute cancellation.  For other concerts and other programs  in the Boston Area, try these links

http://classical-scene.com/calendar/

http://www.celebrateboston.com/events.htm

http://www.mln.lib.ma.us/info/index.htm

http://www.patch.com/