What's New

A.K. Smiley Public Library is open and the New Book Section is well-stocked and waiting for you. There are several memoirs and biographies about both famous and unknown individuals. Here are a few narratives that are fascinating, entertaining, and informative.

“Nowhere Girl: A Memoir of a Fugitive Childhood,” by Cheryl Diamond is a real page-turner. Raised in a fugitive family of five, the only constant in her life was frequently changing locations and identities. Cheryl lived in multiple countries with six assumed identities by the age of nine. This book is a real thrill ride with chapters headed with her age and where she was living at the time, as far back as age four. Fans of suspense novels, Tara Westover’s “Educated,” Jeannette Walls’ “The Glass Castle,” or Tyler Wetherall’s “No Way Home” will enjoy dipping into this memoir.

“Becoming Duchess Goldblatt: A Memoir” written anonymously, is a dual memoir, of sorts, and a bit quirky. Duchess Goldblatt, age 81, is a fictional character that exists only on Twitter and in the author’s clever mind. The unknown writer who created the duchess did so in the midst of some very difficult times in her own life. It has been a positive thing for both herself and for many of her faithful Twitter followers who have been uplifted by her witty, compassionate, and off-the-wall tweets. There is a mutual admiration between Lyle Lovett (who knows the identity of the creator), the duchess, and the author. A fun and inspiring read that will leave you wanting more and lead you to a Twitter search for the lovable lady and her community of followers.

“Miracle Country: A Memoir,” by Kendra Atleework is inspiring and informative. Readers familiar with the Owens Valley area of California will find this even more interesting with Kendra’s intertwining of her personal history, growing up in the tiny remote community of Swall Meadows, and the environmental history of the region. Her descriptive writing encompasses her family, indigenous people, settlers, water rights, extreme weather, fires, observations, loss, and love.

The long hot summer nights are upon us and what better way to fill those never-ending steamy evenings than with hot summer reads. A.K. Smiley Public Library is here to fulfill those balmy night needs with an extensive and inclusive romance collection that will satisfy even the most discerning reader’s taste.

Here are a few of the latest titles from the romance collection:

“Happy Endings” by Thien-Kim Lam

“The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes” by Xio Axelrod

“Boyfriend Material” by Alexis Hall

“One Last Stop” by Casey McQuiston

“People We Meet on Vacation” by Emily Henry

“Satisfaction Guaranteed” by Karelia Stetz-Waters

“Hang the Moon” by Alexandria Bellefleur

“Seven Days in June” by Tia Williams

“Heart & Seoul” by Jen Frederick

“Talk Bookish to Me” by Kate Bromley

“To Love and to Loathe” by Martha Waters

“Disrespectfully Yours” by Raynesha Pittman

Come and check out these titles and more by visiting us in person or by utilizing our Books-to-Go program. Our hours can be found on our website, www.akspl.org, or give us a call at 909-798-7565.

Smiley Library was fortunate to recently add a great selection of music books representing diverse genres to our circulating collection. Jazz enthusiasts enjoyed “Straighten Up and Fly Right: the Life and Music of Nat King Cole” by Will Friedwald. Country music lovers learned the background stories behind the songs in the autobiography “Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics” available in both print and audio. Popular music listeners got a peek into Jeff Buckley’s thoughts and inspirations in “Jeff Buckley: His Own Voice: Journals, Objects and Ephemera.”

The following items highlight music from a much earlier time period, including the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic eras. This rich musical history dates from the 1600s through around 1900, with familiar names like Vivaldi, Beethoven and Liszt. Take a closer look at our classical music books and compact discs available for checkout.

Exceptionally detailed and entertaining, “Mozart: the Reign of Love” by Jan Swafford will tell you absolutely everything you want to know about the Austrian composer born in 1756 who died at the young age of 35. Wolfgang Mozart was a musical prodigy performing in front of royal courts at an early age. At seven, his father Leopold showcased his and his sister Nannerl’s talents, touring them across Europe for three years, traveling thousands of miles and stopping in 88 cities. At eight, Mozart wrote his first symphony, his first opera at 11. Swafford provides a comprehensive overview of Mozart’s musical influences, tours in Italy and time in Vienna. His personal life, marriage, friendships and frustrations are fully explored. From the progression of his career to the keys he wrote his operas in, even Mozart aficionados will learn something new and acquire an appreciation of the man behind the music.

Interesting short entries, biographical backgrounds and beautiful pictures comprise “Composers: Their Lives and Works” by DK Publishing. Featured composers commence in the 11^th century with Italian monk, Guido d’Arezzo, considered the inventor of modern musical staff notation. You’ll proceed throughout history, examining key works and visiting various time periods before reaching the final entry with British composer Judith Weir, born in 1954. This is a wonderful book to peruse and quite a resource for those new to classical music.

Your education won’t be complete without taking time to listen to the expressive and beautiful pieces classical music offers. Smiley Library’s circulating compact disc collection is the perfect way to become acquainted with this passionate music and broaden your aural pallet. Vivladi’s Four Seasons, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake are just a few of the pieces you can check out on CD.

If you get the chance to attend a live performance, it’s such a rewarding experience. The Redlands Bowl is presenting fantastic concerts in 2021, both virtual and live. In-person concerts include classical, taiko drumming, Latin big band, the music of India and Brazil. For information and updates, visit www.redlandsbowl.org.

Founded in 1950, the Redlands Symphony has continually provided outstanding, high-quality performances for the community. Definitely make time to hear them once they are back in the concert hall again. www.redlandssymphony.com

When visiting the Smiley Library this coming July, note the display case next to the main circulation desk. It’s dedicated to classical music, and we’ll have some of our favorite books ready for you to take home.

Written communication is an important skill in today’s world. To meet this important literacy need, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program has initiated a series of writing workshops to help adult learners improve their writing skills. The workshops have been designed to help parents communicate with their children’s teachers through email or texting applications. The writing workshops are also tailored to learners who need help finding jobs or want to improve their job skills. Many of these learners have found that employers frequently require them to complete writing skills tests as part of their job applications, or while employed, to communicate effectively in emails and written reports. Adult learners who face the challenge of communicating in writing have enthusiastically enrolled into the writing workshops.

Instructor Kim Green has adapted pre-pandemic in-person writing strategies to a virtual format and has transformed Zoom meetings into interactive, safe, friendly places to share ideas and learn from one another. By practicing their writing in a safe environment, adult learners gain skills enabling them to communicate with educators, health professionals, or employers with confidence. The workshops augment the one-to-one tutoring sessions the learners have with their tutors.

Ms. Green explained, “I designed the virtual writing classes to offer learning opportunities for and be inclusive of participants at varying levels of literacy proficiency… Starting with the first workshop last fall, it’s been gratifying to see the supportive environment and camaraderie that already existed in our in-person classes quickly emerge on Zoom. There is a mutual respect and appreciation for each other, and as a result, participants are willing to share their writing at every stage, from their early brainstorming ideas all the way through to full paragraphs.”

Both tutors and adult learners benefit from attending the workshops. Tutors learn strategies that they can implement in their tutoring sessions, and learners practice new writing skills and enjoy the sense of community that is built as class participants share their writings with one another.

The writing classes are interactive and provide time and space for creativity. Every class begins with a pre-writing activity. Tutor Teresa Wong Stein shared that she found Kim’s teaching methods very helpful. She appreciated the way that Kim would always provide an example so that class participants could imagine what each writing assignment could look like.

Writing templates and worksheets provide a simple, accessible means for class participants to start their own writing projects. As Sheron Bealer observed, “The structure of the course makes it easy to participate. The lessons are broken down to simple steps that make writing fun and something we each can accomplish.” Adult learner Tanya Jauregui shared that the prewriting template helped her to brainstorm ideas for her writing. Tutor Jeanne Fortier added, “I have watched adult learners who attend the writing workshops grow in confidence and help others who need assistance. I am impressed with how hard they work on assignments.”

Marilyn Bean shared, “As a literacy volunteer, I appreciate how completely Kim Green breaks down the writing process. Her instruction helps me to be a better tutor in the learning process. The Library has a strong literacy program for those wishing to grow in their ability to read and write. It is a privilege to be part of the program.”

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program seeks additional volunteers who can help motivated adults improve their reading and writing. If you know of someone who needs help in reading and writing, please encourage them to take the first step in changing their lives by contacting the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. The program provides the opportunity for free, one-on-one tutoring and literacy classes such as the writing workshops. If you would like to learn more about the program, please contact Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator, at 909.798.7565, ext. 4138 or email: literacy@akspl.org. To learn more about the Redlands Adult Literacy Program, please visit the adult literacy website: akspl.org/literacy.