A.K. Smiley Public Library Blog

Serving the City of Redlands, California since 1894

What's New

Three true stories of extraordinary lives

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A.K. Smiley Public Library has a variety of new non-fiction books waiting to be read. Here are some interesting and random selections for your consideration.

“Tales of Al: The Water Rescue Dog: The Making of a Super Athlete” is written by long-distance swimming legend and author Lynne Cox. Her love of dogs, swimming, and vivid descriptions enhance the story of her experiences learning about Italy’s water rescue dogs at Scuola Italiana Cani Salvataggio. Dogs at this school learn how to save drowning people in Italy, Germany, and Switzerland, often fearlessly jumping out of helicopters to do so. Traveling to Italy to learn firsthand, she follows the training of a young Newfoundland dog named Al and the successful program that has saved many lives in Europe.

Award winning director James Burrows (with Eddie Friedfeld) has authored “Directed by James Burrows: Five Decades of Stories from the Legendary Director of Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, Will & Grace, and More.” James traces his life back to his childhood growing up as the son of a famous playwright. He takes the reader through his early career and behind the scenes of the many sitcoms he has been involved with, including his relationships with the actors and colleagues he has worked with. Aspiring directors will appreciate his insight into some of the technical aspects of his job. Producers, writers, friends, and University of Redlands graduates Glen and Les Charles wrote the book’s forward.

Anyone who enjoys National Geographic films, likes adventure and conservation stories, or who has an interest in filmmaking, will likely find “On Assignment: Memoir of a National Geographic Filmmaker” by James R. Larison intriguing. James photographed, wrote, and produced several environmental films for the National Geographic Society, many times with the assistance of his wife, Elaine. They lived an adventurous life in the wilderness and undersea, eventually including their sons in their travels and assignments. In spite of intense planning and training, risks and danger were always a factor, including surviving a plane crash, a shark attack, and an icefall.

Fall in love with a romance novel!

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The month of August has been designated as Read-A-Romance Month. So, to get you in the mood for some summer love, I have selected a few new romance novels to highlight for your reading pleasure. If these titles don’t put you in the mood for love, then come and visit A.K. Smiley Public Library in person and check out our display of diverse and inclusive romance books where we have something for everyone.

Fans of the very popular romance novel, Boyfriend Material, by Alexis Hall, will be pleased to know that the sequel, Husband Material, will be available for check out soon. Everyone’s favorite fake couple turned real couple are starting to feel the pressures of happily ever after; will they cave into the pressures and break up or will true love conquer?

If you are looking for an out of this world extraterrestrial romance, then let me introduce you to the very popular series, Ice Planet Barbarians, by Ruby Dixon. These books are wildly popular on many social media outlets and lucky for you, dear reader, A.K. Smiley Public Library has the first book (Ice Planet Barbarians) and the second book (Barbarian Alien) in the series for you to stay up all night with. Get acquainted with Georgie and her friends as they acclimate to a world much different from their own.

Fans of the popular romance novel, The Love Hypothesis, by Ali Hazelwood, will be pleased to know her latest ‘STEMinist’ romance novel, Love on the Brain, will be released later this month, so place a hold on the book now. Scientist Bee Königswasser is forced to collaborate with her grad school nemesis, Levi Ward, on a project where everything seems to be going wrong, and Bee can’t help but notice Levi’s lingering glances and strong arms. Read this book to find out if these rivals can overcome their past and find love.

Hopefully these titles will satisfy all your romance needs for the month of August.

Self care

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Sometimes we get caught up in our own thoughts. Contemplating different viewpoints while working through problems allows us to step back, gain perspective, and reach solutions that may not occur to us on our own. Whether the goal is to improve relationships, become more focused, express ourselves better, or make positive changes in our lives, Smiley Library has an extensive collection of books that offer guidance and wisdom. Here are a few new and popular titles available for checkout.

Research professor at the University of Houston and author of six #1 New York Times best sellers, Dr. Brené Brown’s latest book “Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience” defines human emotions. Fear, curiosity, grief, gratitude–Brown believes that language and being able to name and understand emotions is an important way to give us self-awareness, healing, and connection with one another. She describes over 80 emotions, citing research and sharing stories along the way. The layout is done in a “coffee table book” style, including color pictures, quotes, and diagrams.

Spiritual teacher and author of the bestselling book “The Untethered Soul,” Michael A. Singer’s newest is “Living Untethered: Beyond the Human Predicament.” He explains how resisting uncomfortable things in life causes suffering. As he truthfully says, “No one can make an event that has already happened not have happened” so we should try to accept reality as it is. Exploring consciousness, he helps us realize we are not our thoughts and suggests steps to take to arrive at a place of better understanding and freedom.

Clinical psychologist and popular vlogger Dr. Julie Smith has reached out to millions through her short social media videos on mental health. She expands on these posts now with her first book, “Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?” Touching on common emotions such as pain, grief, fear, and stress, she shares the knowledge and techniques she gained through her work as a psychologist and therapist. She clarifies that her book is not “therapy.” It is meant to give you tools to use as you work through difficulties. Practicing these tools helps build a “toolbox” of skills to use during these challenging times.

Many additional books are available to check out. Others to consider are “Own Your Past Change Your Future: A Not-So-Complicated Approach to Relationships, Mental Health and Wellness” by Dr. John Delony, “The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times” by Jane Goodall, “Speak: Find Your Voice, Trust Your Gut and Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be” by Tunde Oyeneyin, and “How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question” by Michael Schur.

Remember, not every style of self-help book is for everyone. If you take something positive from it, become more thoughtful after reading it, and it inspires beneficial change in your life, then I think you’ve found a good one.

Adult Literacy to host celebration of authors in September

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The Redlands community is invited to join the Adult Literacy Program in its “Celebration of Authors.” Adult Learners will read from their works which were published in the adult literacy anthology, Our Stories, a Collection of Writings. Community leaders, including Mayor Paul Barich and Library Trustee Kate Pretorius, will describe their own literacy journeys, and the life-changing impact of literacy. The community of Redlands is invited to this festive event in gratitude for their continued support of adult literacy, particularly through the difficult years of the pandemic. The celebration will be held on September 25, 2022, beginning at 2:00 p.m., in the Contemporary Club. Registration is required.

Mark Corrin working at
Martha Green’s

The 2022 edition of Our Stories, a Collection of Writings, is the fifth anthology published by the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. This year, Mark Corrin, one of four authors who have submitted writings to all five volumes of the anthology, wrote “My Work at Martha Green’s.” In his story Mark wrote about starting work at the age of 20, and how much he loves his job, his customers and co-workers, and even his favorite menu item at Martha Green’s.

Ma, Isabel Vidrio has also published works in each of the five anthologies. This year she wrote two stories: one to R.J. Palacio, the author of the book, White Bird, and another personal story about a fire in her kitchen. Mark and Isabel have shown tremendous growth in their ability to express themselves. Their writings are a gift to the community.

Many adults who enroll in the Redlands Adult Literacy Program are anxious about their writing skills. The Redlands Adult Literacy Program uses multiple strategies to address this common concern and to help learners develop the skills needed for employment and communication with teachers, family, and friends. For example, tutors and learners use dialog journals to write short messages to one another. Computer classes integrate writing with technology lessons. Literacy teams practice steps in the writing process, beginning with brainstorming ideas and continuing through the final steps of editing and then publishing their writings. Topic ideas are generated through picture books, poem templates, story starters, and conversation.

Each edition of Our Stories, a Collection of Writings honors the hard work of the learners and tutors by including the unique stories of learners in the program. The 2022 anthology includes selections on learners’ memories, experiences that have changed them, captured moments, and reflections on books learners have read. This volume also includes a new selection of group submissions from adult literacy computer classes and collaborative stories from children participating in the Family Literacy Program.

Joan Wells, chair of the Adult Literacy Anthology Committee, shared her thoughts about the literacy anthology, “As I reflect upon the writings in Our Stories over the past five years, I’m inspired by the journeys that have led learners to our adult literacy community and resulted in so many accomplishments. Some have grown up in Redlands. Others have traveled great distances and across cultures to join us. All have demonstrated resilience and a dedication to learning. Similarly, our tutors come from many backgrounds, joining the community to give back through their love of reading and writing. Working together, learners and tutors have given the community five volumes of authentic essays, reflections, and poems. Their literacy journeys enhance our own as they make real the library’s mission to serve as a center for lifelong learning for which “the only admission fee is curiosity.””

We look forward to sharing Our Stories, a Collection of Writings, Volume 5 with the Redlands community at the September 25th Celebration of Authors. Registration for the event is required and will begin on September 1, 2022. Registration is free and information will be found at www.akspl.org.

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program relies on its wonderful volunteer tutors to provide one-on-on tutoring to adults in our community. The next volunteer tutor orientation is scheduled for October 12, 2022 at 6 p.m. at the library. Perhaps 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. If you have any questions about the Celebration of Authors, are interested in becoming a tutor, or would like literacy services, please contact Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator, with the Redlands Adult Literacy Program at (909) 798-7565 ext. 4138 or email literacy@akspl.org. Literacy services are free and confidential.

Summer reading contest, kids vs. adults–chance to win great prizes! Entertaining programs, free lunch for youth

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Summer is in full swing, weather-wise, and reading-wise, here in southern California at A.K. Smiley Public Library! Our Summer Reading Program theme this year is “Read Beyond the Beaten Path.” The Youth Services Crew brainstormed a fabulous Summer Reading Game this year…a weekly game of “Capture the Flag!” We have challenged the Adult Services Department to a reading challenge of who can read the most pages…kids or adults?! We are currently into Week 5 and going strong! The current, fourth week score is: Kids: 492,122/Adults: 84,902.

As you can see, the Youth Services team is ANNIHILATING the Adult Services team! Toddlers, kids, tweens, and teens are reading ferociously, where, well, you adults need to pick up the pace, A LOT!  Adults, you can pick up your Summer Reading Program Book Review forms at any of the service desks, including the Young Readers’ Room! We would love to see a rousing comeback by the adults for this year’s reading challenge competition. Let’s see you adults log in those pages for the final two weeks and give these toddlers, kids, tweens, and teens a good run for the grand finale score!

Toddlers, kids, tweens, and teens can sign up in the Young Readers’ Room anytime. We have special reading logs for each age group, and prizes, oh yes, we have prizes! Toddlers (ages 0 – 3) can earn a sticker each week for turning in their reading logs.  The kids (ages 4 – 9) will earn a different prize each week for turning in their reading logs. Tweens (ages 10 – 12) and teens (ages 13 – 19) will earn one ticket for every 50 pages they read. The tickets are then distributed to one of the many prizes they’d like to try to win. We have such a generous community of businesses that have donated gift cards again this year for the Youth Services Summer Reading Challenge: A’la Minute; Look Cinema; Happy Camper Creamery; Flowstone Climbing; Nichos Ice Cream; Cookie Co.; Tie Dye Tees; Redlands Art Association; The Frugal Frigate; and Jack’s Toy Shop matched a grant with the City to donate. A great big THANK YOU to all of these businesses who so generously gave from their shops to our kids! We appreciate it!! We have also purchased other gift cards as well, so we have a nice selection of gift cards to choose from.

Don’t despair adults, you will have the opportunity to win a gift card as well! There are other businesses who donated gift cards towards the Adult Services Reading Challenge, as well as the gift cards that the library or The Friends of the Library purchased: Bricks & Birch; Saverino’s; Olive Avenue Market; Oscar’s Mexican Restaurant; A’ La Minute; The Gourmet Pizza Shoppe; Carolyn’s Café, and The Breakfast Shack…and the GRAND PRIZE winner will receive a $100 shopping spree from Gerrard’s Market!

So, get to reading and filling out those reading logs or review forms and let’s see who will ‘Capture the Flag’ for the next two weeks! The Youth Services Crew is so excited to see the final number of pages read by our community!

We are also offering an on-line reading platform again this summer through the Beanstack website: Beanstack: Reading Challenges and Personalized Recommendations

Log on today, get registered, and you can begin earning virtual badges!

As a part of our Summer Reading Program this year, the Youth Services Department offers some entertainment for our youth to go along with the reading fun! We have two shows for children each Tuesday, so come on out and join us.

Special entertainment is available at 10:00 a.m. each Tuesday morning in the park, behind the library, in front of The Lincoln Memorial Shrine, and the same show is repeated at 2 p.m. inside at The Contemporary Club. Please come to just one of the shows are we are breaking up the huge crowds of folks.

Tuesday, July 26, the stages will be taken over by crowd-pleaser, Michael Rayner: Michael Rayner: Comedian/ Juggler/ Actor/ Strange Guy. The Grand Finale show will be with crowd favorite, Christopher T. Magician: christophertmagician.com.

Also, each Tuesday at 11 a.m., the Redlands Unified School District Child Nutrition Services team is here to serve a free lunch to each and every child, tween and teen! The food has been a delight and they always have extra goodies to share as well!

Teens, don’t you fret, we also have two more programs for you this summer as well! We’ve been having a great time with you all during the summer. The next event will be Wednesday, July 27, “Survival Skills,” with The University of Redlands Outdoor Programs. Our Grand Finale for the teens (ages 13 – 19) will be an anime workshop with world renown Carlos Nieto: Anime Your Way | Online Drawing Platform. You can find more information about our Teen Underground Department here: Teens (akspl.org)

We look forward to seeing the Summer Reading Challenge pages read exceed our expectations in the next two weeks, and we hope to see you attend one of the last two shows we have to offer you this summer! The Youth Services Crew is here to help you find the perfect book selections for the remainder of your summer!