A.K. Smiley Public Library Blog

Serving the City of Redlands, California since 1894

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Hot off the press–fiction by new authors!

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Are you looking for something new to read? Well luckily for you, A.K. Smiley Public Library has plenty of new fiction titles by new authors for you to choose from. Here are some new titles that are on my ever-growing to-be-read list.

Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler has been receiving a lot of attention from websites like Goodreads and Book Riot. Adelaide is a heartbreaking novel about being in love with someone who doesn’t love you back.

Death of Bookseller is Alice Slater’s new novel about a true crime-obsessed bookseller named Roach who would rather be listening to a podcast than being at work. Her life is pretty boring until she meets the newest employee, Laura, another true crime lover. Roach’s friendship with Laura takes a dark turn toward obsession and she may have unintentionally uncovered her own true crime story.

The Gifts by Liz Hyder is her debut novel in adult fiction. The Gifts takes place in nineteenth-century London where rumors of “fallen angels” have been going through the city. These “fallen angels” are being stalked by an obsessed doctor who will stop at nothing to uncover these magical beings.

Smiley Library’s new rock memoirs are ready to roll!

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Music lovers, take a collective breath. I’m going to inundate you with our latest music books and biographies. Smiley Library gets new titles in all the time. I’ve previously featured our jazz, rap, classical, and country genres. This time we’ll look at rock, pop, and folk. Let’s get going.

One of my favorites is “Broken Horses: a Memoir” by Brandi Carlisle. Not only has this singer-songwriter won nine Grammy awards, but her story is such an interesting and honest read. I listened to it on audio after downloading it from the Libby app. Raised in rural Ravensdale, Washington, she started singing at a very young age and decided to make music her career. From club gigs to collaborations, follow her musical journey as she finds inspiration along the way in her bandmates, “The Twins,” and the music of Joni Mitchell and Elton John. Friends, family, faith, and her personal story shine throughout. Narrating the audio version, you’ll sometimes hear her tune her guitar and break into song at the end of a chapter. Your very own private concert.

Numerous books have featured and analyzed Bob Dylan’s lyrics. In fact, we have some titles in our collection which focus on just that. “The Philosophy of Modern Song” by Bob Dylan takes a different approach. Dylan himself examines over sixty popular songs of his choosing from other artists, like Elvis Costello, Dean Martin, and The Clash. Each song receives Dylan’s very unique and often times humorous interpretation, including a little background history. There are some iconic retro photographs and graphics along the way too.

This is a weird segue, I know. Has anyone watched the Netflix series Peaky Blinders or the movie Scream? Well, then you’ve heard the next artist and may not have even realized it. The song, “Red Right Hand,” by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds was used in both. A highly admired artist and songwriter, Cave’s music has been described in all sorts of ways: intense, insightful, emotional, intellectual, religious. “Faith, Hope and Carnage” is a conversation between Cave and journalist Sean O’Hagan. Not just a conversation, it’s an insight into Cave’s creative process, his outlook on life, loss, the death of his son, Arthur, grief, God, and hope. Eloquent and candid.

I’m just going to list a few more titles here. You’ll definitely find familiar names among them.

“Be My Baby” by Ronnie Spector, “Loud: A Life in Rock ‘n’ Roll by the World’s First Female Roadie” by Tana Douglas, “Mirror in the Sky: The Life and Music of Stevie Nicks” by Simon Morrison, “Some New Kind of Kick” by Kid Congo Powers, “Song Noir: Tom Waits and the Spirit of Los Angeles” by Alex Harvey, and “Still Alright” by Kenny Loggins.

Adult Literacy changes lives of adults and their families

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During the pandemic, many libraries and adult literacy programs in California closed. Determined to meet the needs of adult learners, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program continued to provide services throughout the pandemic. While a few adult learners found that distance learning during the pandemic was too much of a challenge and took a break from their literacy studies, many former and new learners have recently joined the adult literacy program with a renewed focus on improving their reading and writing.

Newly established reading and writing requirements at their jobs prompted several of the new learners to join the literacy program. Some people joined the literacy program to better their writing skills before applying to college. One learner is working with a tutor to gain proficiency in the civics and literacy skills required for her citizenship interview, and several new learners want to be able to read stories to their children and help them with homework.

So far this fiscal year, over 30 tutors and learners have been matched. Tutor training and tutor-learner workshops are in full swing to support adult learners in reaching their goals.

Alexandra and Barbara at the Writer-to-Writer Challenge Awards event

One of the program’s new learners is Alexandra Suarez who joined the Redlands Adult Literacy Program last year. Alexandra’s goals are to become more involved in the community, build her vocabulary, read books with understanding, and support her children in their school work. As a mother, she understands that reading is important for the entire family.

Working with her tutor, Barbara Vester, Alexandra has learned valuable literacy skills. Alexandra’s reading comprehension has improved and she has seen significant improvement in her writing skills. She participated in the Writer-to-Writer Challenge for adult learners last year and was selected as a runner-up in the Southern California competition. She uses writing strategies that she learned from her tutor to support her daughter with schoolwork; and with her guidance, Alexandra’s young daughter has also become a good writer. A.K. Smiley Public Library is her children’s second home; they participate in weekly story time events and the Family Literacy Program, an offshoot of the Adult Literacy Program.

Alexandra always wanted to help in the community, but before joining the Adult Literacy Program she did not feel comfortable going to her daughter’s school to volunteer. With her new literacy skills, Alexandra is confident in her communication skills and she volunteers regularly at her daughter’s elementary school. Participating in the literacy program has let her know that she can help others and she sees herself in a new way. Alexandra encourages people to join the Adult Literacy Program because participants will see the changes in themselves and their families.

Barbara Vester, Alexandra’s tutor, says that by volunteering with the literacy program she is able to see how the impact of her service has helped change her learner’s life. Alexandra has become an engaged member of the community, she is better able to support her children with homework, and she has gained the confidence to live a life that she finds more fulfilling.

As the literacy program grows, the demand for tutors increases and more volunteers are needed. Would you like to help someone learn to read and write? Consider attending and inviting someone you know to come to the next volunteer tutor orientation scheduled for Wednesday, May 3, at 6:00 p.m. in the Library Assembly Room. If you have questions or plan to attend the tutor orientation, please call Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator, at (909) 798-7565 ext. 4138, or email literacy@akspl.org. If you know of someone who needs help in reading and writing, help them make the first step in changing their lives by encouraging them to contact Diane Shimota. All literacy services are free and confidential.

Engaging e-databases for children and young adults

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Everyone, well, just about everyone, is quite able to log on to the internet these days. Kids and Teens seem to know exactly what they’re searching for, even helping out us ‘older’ folks every so often! There are so many options out on the world wide web, that I’m happy to share with you a few of our databases. In this week’s article I will highlight an array of databases focusing on the youth. This list is compiled in alphabetical order.

You can find all of these databases on our library’s website: www.akspl.org/elibrary/

Please be sure to have your library card number handy (or memorized!) and also your PIN number, which is the last four digits of the phone number you referenced when applying for your library card. If you have trouble, be sure to check with a Circulation staff member to verify we have your correct information. If you do not have a library card, and you’d like to access our online databases, please apply for an e-card, online on our website! (www.akspl.org). We want you to succeed and enjoy your local library and all we have to offer.

Once you log in, scroll down the page and explore all of these free, vetted websites that we, as the library, deem educational and, even fun!

Most of our elementary schools in Redlands Unified School District utilize the Accelerated Reader Bookfinder portal for students to test their reading comprehension. We offer the link so kids or parents can access the database to verify the book is in the AR system, at the right reading level for their child. No library card is required to access this database.

The next database will bring a form of entertainment aspect to your kids. BookFlix requires a library card to log on. BookFlix is aimed at children in grades PK- third that shows Westin Woods videos of stories they know and love. Weston Woods has been creating videos of stories for decades. They create the video exactly how the story reads…they are excellent! Please check out this database and search for your favorite story to watch!

Our next database to highlight is Flipster, an on-line magazine database. I am very excited to share that the Youth Department has added seven additional titles to our collection. Beginning May 1, you will be able to also read: Bazoof!, Blaze, Brainspace, Eco Kids Planet, How it Works, and Krash. These seven new titles join the other nine we have to offer. You will need your library card to log on to this database. Let us know which magazine is your favorite one to scroll through!

The next database is geared towards high-school students. Gale in Context: High School is a cross-curricular content that follows a national as well as a state curriculum and standards that is designed to help high-schoolers succeed in their educational journey. This database does require a library card to log on.

Lote4Kids is the newest database we offer for kids. It is a world language database that translates many languages into stories for the kids to listen to. Whether you speak another language or are maybe learning a new language, this database will help you to hear the language and how to pronounce words correctly. What is your favorite story to listen to in a world language?

These are just glances into the wonderful databases at your fingertips. Please log on today to our website mentioned above, and explore these resources we provide for you. Of course, if you have any questions, be sure to give the Youth Services Department a call at (909) 798-7674, or email us at: yrr@akspl.org.

Show your pantry some love!

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Spring is officially here and with it, comes the urge to take stock of what remains in our freezers and pantries. This is especially true if you have watched videos on social media and been influenced to clean and organize your kitchen. To help you thin out your supplies and make room on shelves, Smiley Library has an abundance of cookbooks to nourish you and help you achieve those kitchen Spring cleaning goals.

During the early days of the pandemic, we were all encouraged to stay home as much as possible. While at home, Noah Galuten and his wife, Iliza Schlesinger, started a live-stream cooking show. It was their way of reaching out and showing support while teaching viewers how to quickly create simple, comforting food. The “Don’t Panic Pantry” cookbook includes all the recipes from their cooking show of the same name. Most of Noah’s dishes are vegetarian such as Mozzarella Marinara, Green Rice and Black Beans, Fresno Chile and White Cheddar Cornbread, and Cold Sesame Soba.

Green Apple Pie Smoothie, Pear and Vanilla Spritzer, Summer Garden Juice, Berry-Oat Smoothie, and Orange Creamsicle are a few of the refreshing beverages on offer in “The Complete Guide to Healthy Drinks” by America’s Test Kitchen. Drinking homemade juices, smoothies, and infused waters is a delicious way to increase your fruit and vegetable intake while also using up your extra frozen and fresh produce.

The second selection from America’s Test Kitchen is “The Complete Modern Pantry.” Here, you will find over 350 creative ideas using ingredients that are ready and waiting in your kitchen cupboards. Wake up your taste buds with a crispy bowl of Maple-Pecan Skillet Granola. Bottom of the Box Pasta is a fun dish using a mix of leftover dry pasta shapes that are cooked and smothered in melted butter and cheese. When you have a craving for something sweet, whip up a batch of 3-ingredient Dipping Hot Chocolate. This yummy dip is perfect for dried fruits, pretzel rods, cookies, and spooning over ice cream.

Christopher Kimball and his team at Milk Street have put together a practical and appealing collection of recipes in their latest book “Cook What You Have.” Most of us probably have canned tomatoes, a bag of rice, frozen vegetables, and a box or two of dry pasta on hand. These common ingredients and others are the basis for over 200 creative and delicious meals. An overlooked bag of frozen shrimp can be turned into Curried Fried Rice with Shrimp and Pineapple or Tuscan-Style Shrimp with White Beans. There are over 30 recipes that call for canned tomatoes like Pinto Beans with Bacon and Chipotle, Pasta al Pomodoro, Tomato and Sausage Ragu over Polenta, plus Chicken and Tortilla Soup.