Snapshot Day

On February 18, the Hamden Public Library, along with libraries throughout the state, took the time to record who was using the library that day in photos and with questionnaires. Patrons were asked to state the reason the came to the library that day, as well as any comments about the library in general. Some of the comments included:

* I would be 'sunk' business-wise without the public internet

* I use the computer to do a thorough job search

* Miller always has a very good selection of large print books; the people are always helpful and pleasant

* It is a quiet place that is good for concentrating on work.

* A safe place to accomplish things and network

* An important resource in difficult economic times

* I particularly enjoy the number of children and youth using Miller

* Keeps me mentally stimulated

* My 2 year old can have a wonderful time here being read to and socializing with other little ones.

* I like the small-town feel of my community library and enjoy chatting with neighbors

* I am a HUGE reader and could never afford to purchase the 5-8 books I read weekly.

* I bring my daughter-raising the next generation of readers.

* It is a special place where my children can learn to love books and reading

* We moved to this neighborhood in part because we are in walking distance of the library.

* It is a source of un-read books and un-watched movies

* The quiet environment promotes creativity, learning, thinking, relaxation and enjoyment. It is also a great meeting place

* Everyone is so helpful and courteous, always calling me with new books

* I hate television. If I didn't have the library, I don't know what I would do!

* It's a safe place to introduce my grand-daughter to the world of books, videos and DVDs. It is the fabric of our American way of life.

Reasons for coming to the library (based on answers from 166 respondants):

Activity	#	Percentage
Check out an item	130	78.3
Use a computer	63	38.0
Research	53	32.0
Attend a program	29	17.5
Attend a meeting	12	7.2
Get a library card	32	19.3
Quiet place to study	52	31.4
Job Help	19	11.4
Other	34	20.5

View a Flickr Slideshow of Hamden Library's photos from Snapshot Day

Dresden Firebombing 65th Anniversary

On February 13, 1945 Allied firebombing caused a firestorm that destroyed the city of Dresden and killed 135,000 people.

On the left is a picture of the Frauenkirche/Church of Our Lady which was built in the 18th century but destroyed in 1945 during the firestorm. It was completely rebuilt and opened again in 2005 after 13 years of reconstruction.

We have in our collection two books on this event:
The Destruction of Dresden by Ira C. Eaker and Dresden, Tuesday, February 13 by Frederick Taylor. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. wrote the famous novel Slaughterhouse-five.

Grant Wood Birth Anniversary February 13

The American artist Grant Wood was born on February 13, 1892 near Anamosa, Iowa. He died of liver cancer one day before his 51st birthday at Iowa City, Iowa, on February 12, 1942.

His painting from 1930 called AMERICAN GOTHIC remains one of the most famous American works of art. His realist painting style was influenced among others by the work of the 15th century Flemish artist Jan Van Eyck.

February Literary Birthdays

Literary birthdays for February include Alice Walker, Charles Dickens, James Joyce, Anaïs Nin, Amy Tan, and Langston Hughes.

February 1 - Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967)
February 1 - Muriel Spark (1918 - 2006)
February 2 - Ayn Rand (1905 - 1982)
February 2 - James Joyce (1882 - 1941)
February 3 - James A. Michener (1907 - 1997)
February 3 - Gertrude Stein (1874 - 1946)
February 5 - William S. Burroughs (1914 - 1997)
February 6 - Christopher Marlowe (1564 - 1593)
February 7 - Sinclair Lewis (1885 - 1951)
February 7 - Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870)
February 7 - Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867 - 1957)
February 8 - Jules Verne (1828 - 1905)
February 8 - Elizabeth Bishop (1911 - 1979)
February 8 - Kate Chopin (1850 - 1904)
February 8 - John Grisham (1955 - )
February 9 - J. M. Coetzee (1940 - )
February 9 - Alice Walker (1944 - )
February 10 - Berthold Brecht (1898 - 1956)
February 11 - Sidney Sheldon (1917 - 2007)
February 12 - Charles Darwin (1809 - 1882)
February 12 - Judy Blume (1938 - )
February 16 - Richard Ford (1944- )
February 17 - Ruth Rendell (1930 - )
February 17 - Chaim Potok (1929 - 2002)
February 18 - Toni Morrison (1931 - )
February 18 - Wallace Stegner (1909 - 1993)
February 19 - Carson McCullers (1917 - 1967)
February 19 - Amy Tan (1952 - )
February 21 - Ha Jin (1956 - )
February 21 - Anaïs Nin (1903 - 1977)
February 21 - David Foster Wallace (1962 – 2008)
February 22 - Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892 -1950)
February 22 - Edward Gorey (1925 - 2000)
February 24 - Wilhelm Grimm (1786 - 1859)
February 25 - Anthony Burgess (1917 - 1993)
February 26 - Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)
February 27 - John Steinbeck (1902 - 1968)
February 27 - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882)

J.D. Salinger, 1919-2010

J.D. Salinger died Wednesday, January 27th at his home in Cornish, New Hampshire. He was 91 years old.

Though Salinger published only four books, he is often considered one of the most influential writers of his generation. His most famous work, the novel "The Catcher in the Rye," was published in 1951, and became an immediate best seller. His protagonist, angst-ridden adolescent Holden Caulfield, struck a chord with the post World War II generation, and the novel's themes of alienationa and disenchantment continue to resonate to this day; the book still sells over 250,000 copies a year.

"The Catcher in the Rye" was his only novel, though he published 3 collections of shorter works, including the critically acclaimed short story collection "Nine Stories."

In his later years, he became known as America's most famous recluse, withdrawing to a farm in rural New Hampshire, and limiting his contact with the outside world. He refused to give interviews, and did not publish any writing after 1965.

New York Times Obituary

Check out books by J.D. Salinger.

Visit Connecticut's Old State House

The library has received a new museum pass to Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St., Hartford, CT 06103, Tel. 860-522-6766. It is open Mon.-Fri. from 10-5. The pass offers free admission for up to 2 adults and 2 children. The pass does not cover admission for after-hour events.

Connecticut's Old State House (1796-1797) designed by Charles Bulfinch is the oldest State House in the nation. Expect to find historically-restored rooms, guided tours, an exhibit blending US history, state government, civics and citizenship and an interactive floor dedicated to the history of Hartford. Children can take their own tour using a backpack activity, which is offered at no additional charge to visitors. Dress-up stations for children, discovery trunks full of hours of fun and more are also available.

The centrally located museum allows visitors to make a day of Hartford with both the Science Center and Wadsworth Atheneum located within a short walk of the Old State House. Ample parking is available in two nearby garages. Visitors can bring their garage tickets to the Old State House to be stamped. That way, visitors will pay only $5 to park for the entire day.

TwitJobSearch

According to The New York Times, 340,000 jobs have been listed on Twitter in the last month alone. You can access these listings with TwitJobSearch, a search engine that scans Twitter for job postings. The engine finds job-related Tweets, with links to the underlying job posting. Results are ranked by both relevance and by how recently they’ve been posted, and you can sort results by geography simply by adding the name of a city to the search.

All Things Shaker

"Inspired Innovations: A Celebration of Shaker Ingenuity" is the title of an exhibition now on display till April 11, 2010 at the New Britain Museum of American Art. If you are a Hamden resident with a valid library card you can check out a free museum pass to the New Britain Museum of American Art which admits four people at no charge. The pass can be checked out overnight at the info desk at Miller Library. The museum passes are funded by the Friends of the Hamden Library. Check our collection for books on the Shakers. Our most recent acquisition is: Stillness and Light: the silent eloquence of Shaker Architecture by Henry Plummer.