What's New

The spooky season is upon us once again! This time of year always calls for chills and thrills, and what do many of our favorite scary books and movies have in common? Many of them rely on science fiction to create a sense of dread. Movies like Alien, The Thing, and Us use science fiction’s ‘what if’ to create a sense of ‘okay, no thank you.’ Here are some new works taking up the charge of science fiction/horror to enjoy this fall.

In their debut work, The Scourge Between Stars, Ness Brown’s characters face-off with an alien horror. On their way back to Earth from a failed colony, the crew of the Calypso are on the brink of mutiny. The ship’s captain has disappeared, leaving his second-in-command and daughter, Jacklyn, in charge. And if a crew of starving people isn’t bad enough, the ship has been damaged so badly that they cannot see what is in their path so they are essentially hurtling blind through space. But all of those are minor in comparison to their biggest problem. There is something else on board with the crew. And it is very hungry. Jacklyn must fight to keep her crew alive and figure out how to navigate back home before it is too late.

David Wellington’s latest work Paradise-1, is not a trip to a pleasure planet as the title might entail. Special Agent Petrova has been sent there for a wellness check on humanity’s first deep space colony. Petrova, having spectacularly failed to show that her station was earned and not the result of nepotism, is sent there along with a disgraced and haunted Dr. Zhang and a recently reinstated pilot Sam. The three awaken at their arrival under attack by another ship from Paradise-1 and must fight for their lives against an enemy that fights in insidious new ways. Petrova must stay alive and complete her mission but how do you fight an enemy that infects your mind with a single thought?

Focusing on the issues of race, class, and prejudice, The World Wasn’t Ready for You by Justin C. Key is a collection of short stories that shows the darkness that lies at the heart of humanity. Key uses the many horror and science fiction tropes to explore the problems with society: a father who would do anything to leave prison and return to his family, even submit himself to horrific experiments, a child haunted by a doll after witnessing his brother’s death. Even a husband willing to cheat death to bring his wife back. Key manages to bring a new perspective to the genre and leaves readers with some new unsettling truths.

Enjoy these creepy, crawly creations, and Happy Halloween!

Teens, when you think about the Library—which I’m guessing you do multiple times a day—you probably think about books. Who could blame you? Books are our thing. I want you to continue to think about books as one of the Library’s main dishes. But I also want to introduce you to some of our side dishes. What would your life be like without French fries? Without chips? Without tater tots? It would be lackluster and dreary. Thus, it is imperative for me to immediately tell you about some of the Library’s (non-potato-based) (figurative) side dishes for teens.

Side dish number one: stuff to do. Sometimes people call “stuff to do” activities, but “activities” lacks the mystique of the more dignified “stuff.” Some of the stuff we offer is geared toward teen makers and crafty people. Some is geared toward teen movie-lovers, costume-wearers, and trivia pros. Some is for teen Virtual Reality gamers. Some (well, one in particular) is aimed at teen murder-mystery-solving-sleuths (more on that later). We advertise all of this “stuff” and more on our webpage (www.akspl.org/teens) and Instagram account (akspl_teens), so if it’s okay with your parents/guardians, follow us for up-to-the-minute info on…well…stuff.

Another side dish the Library currently has in the works is our first Dia de Los Muertos themed Teen Art Contest. Artists ages 13-19 are invited to create an original work inspired by Dia de los Muertos, a thousands-year-old sacred holiday, rooted in Mexican culture, that celebrates the loving connection between the living and the dead. Submission applications and contest guidelines will be available on the Teens’ page of the Library’s website beginning October 4^th. Not only will entries be on display at the Library’s Dia de los Muertos community celebration, but prizes are on the line, to the tune of $500 for the grand prize, $250 for second, and $100 for third. If you have a creative bone in your body, put it to work this Dia de los Muertos! Submissions are due October 25^th. Visit www.akspl.org/teens for more info.

Side dish number three: community service opportunities. I’ve mentioned this before, but it deserves repeating, the Library offers seasonal prospects for in-person community service for teens ages 16 or older, and virtual community service in the form of Young Adult book reviews for teens younger than 16. If you’re interested, reach out to us by email at yrr@akspl.org and we’ll send you the details about any current opportunities. This is a great way to build friendships, boost your resume, and impact your community in one fell swoop…a side dish to end all side dishes!

Now, if you were reading with close attention, you noticed I mentioned an upcoming side dish that will appeal to teen murder-mystery-solving-sleuths (of course you were reading with close attention…you’re a sleuth, no doubt!). We know you are out there, teen detectives, looking for (fictional) crimes to solve. Join us for our first ever teen Murder Mystery Party, where you will be assigned a character to role play and help your fellow party-goers get to the bottom of a (fictional) murder. It’s free! It’s macabre! It’s happening Sunday, October 29^th! Registration will be required, so once again, check our webpage for the details.

All this talk about side dishes has my stomach growling, so now I must go eat mashed potatoes. If you feel the same, come feed your literary hunger, along with your appetite for “stuff to do” here at A.K. Smiley Public Library, where we always want our menu to reflect and excite you. Thank you for letting me be your server.

Kristina Naftzger is a Youth Services Librarian/aspiring waitress at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

Before talking about what’s new, here’s a little information about something old at A.K. Smiley Public Library (besides the beautiful building). Did you know that the article featuring the “New Books at A.K. Smiley Library” is the longest running column in the Redlands Daily Facts?

We have old editions of local newspapers dating back to 1897 available on microfilm that can be viewed on our microfilm reader. However, if you are under a certain age, you might have no idea what that is. Newspapers for many years have been photographed onto a reel of microfilm for preservation, as it takes up a lot less room than the newspapers would, and it lasts longer. The microfilm reader machine makes it possible to view those reels.

Recently while looking up some information for a patron on a Redlands Daily Facts reel from 1920, I ran across the article listing the new books at A.K. Smiley Public Library. I thought it would be nice to share a copy with you, as it is interesting to see what the featured books were. Perhaps you might recognize a few of the titles?

The number of new books that were added weekly in 1920 were probably far fewer than we receive on a weekly basis in 2023. In one recent week, 134 new items were added to our circulating library collection. This number now not only includes books, but also audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, MP3s, and Playaways—items not even dreamt of in the 1920s!

In keeping with the purpose of the article, here is a small assortment of new book titles that have recently been added to our shelves:

“The Wind Knows My Name: A Novel,” Isabel Allende (fiction)

“Grave Expectations,” Alice Bell (mystery)

“The Blue, Beautiful World,” Karen Lord (science fiction)

“Desolation Creek,” William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone (western)

“Saxophone Colossus: The Life and Music of Sonny Rollins,” Aidan Levy (biography)

“Secrets of the Elephants,” Paula Kahumbu (non-fiction)

Come in and browse for yourself our different circulating collections available for checkout. Microfilm reels are available for specific research or for viewing old headlines, sports articles, wedding, birth or death announcements, or just to marvel at old store and real estate prices!

The fall season is rapidly approaching, so what better way to celebrate spooky season than with some new horror titles from A.K. Smiley Public Library. 

Margaret and her husband Hal just bought their dream home, a beautiful Victorian house with a wraparound porch and sprawling yard. A few months go by and their dream house is slowly turning into a real-life haunted house when blood starts to drip from the walls. Carissa Orlando’s “The September House” is a blood-chilling read that will keep you up at night. 

Halloween night in 1984, the children of Parmenter Road are gearing up for trick-or-treating, until they are met by a group of strangely dressed children, who are terrified and begging to be hidden away from a being called The Cunning Man. “All Hallows” by Christopher Golden will have you second guessing handing out candy this Halloween.  

Imagine a place where the residents are obsessed with the year 1994. They dress like it, and they watch the infamous O.J. Simpson car chase every night like it is happening in real time. Willow Stone discovers this strange and unusual island after finding out that her son has gone missing and the only hint of his whereabouts are two words: Clifford Island. “Dead Eleven” by Jimmy Juliano will leave you weary of strangers. 

So, turn your lights down low and prepare yourself for a scary good time with these books from A. K. Smiley Public Library.  

Shannon Harris is a phobophile who moonlights as a Library Specialist.

Homesteading has become increasingly popular these past several years. People interested in being more self-sufficient and leading a simpler life have taken up growing their own food, tending livestock, and making homecrafts to use and sell.

It’s not just for those with 150 acres of land, five tractors, and 80 head of cattle, either. The agrarian lifestyle is attractive to those in urban settings with smaller outdoor areas, as well. It can be for you, too. Start off small and see where it takes you. Plant some fruit trees, raise chickens, consider solar options, pickle your own vegetables. Whether your goal is to live off the grid completely, or grow a bed of vegetables for a salsa garden (absolutely), the enhanced connection you’ll feel to the land will offer quite the reward.

“The Tiny But Mighty Farm: Cultivating High Yields, Community, and Self-Sufficiency from a Home Farm” by Jill Ragan is full of guidance and inspiration for those ready to start producing their own food. From deciding what type of grower you want to be–a hobbyist, a homesteader, or a full-time farmer, to mapping out your garden and cost analysis, Ragan offers practical tips to get started. She shares different growing techniques and possible business opportunities, imparting the important message that cultivating also means connection and community. Check out her YouTube channel at Whispering Willow Farm.

In “The Seven-Step Homestead: A Guide for Creating the Backyard Microfarm of Your Dreams,” Leah M. Webb starts off small, showing you how to prep, plant, and tend a couple of 4 x 8 foot garden beds. As you advance through the book, the growing space for the homestead gradually gets larger and the diversity of plantings include trees, shrubs, and storage crops, like potatoes and beans. Also included is a chapter on raising chickens, their care, food, and types of enclosures.

“The Sustainable Homestead: Create a Thriving Permaculture Ecosystem with Your Garden, Animals, and Land” by Angela Ferraro-Fanning has all the important information you’ll need to run a full-fledged homestead. Not only does she include information on soil health, planting, and sample layouts for different sized homesteads, but expands to incorporate information on animals and orchards. All of her animals, in addition to being super cute, are contributors to the farm, as well. The horses provide manure for compost and pull carts. The ducks provide eggs and control the insect population. Her chapter on designing a pasture covers the many considerations that you’ll need to address, like grazing and pasture rotation, when keeping livestock.

Both my great-grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Maxson Sr., (1841-1899) and grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Maxson Jr., (1879-1928) were pioneers in the walnut farming industry in the El Monte and West Covina areas. Along with other local growers, my grandfather founded the La Puente Valley Walnut Growers’ Association in 1912 and was its original member until his death. I inherited a bit of that growing passion too and enjoy tending a small grove of olive trees in my backyard.