Have you ever sent an email to a large organization (perhaps your beloved public library) and wondered if anyone bothered to read it? Of course you have.

I’d like to assure you that if you write to the Film & Audio Department, someone will read your message (I know, since that someone is me). We have three different email accounts - it’s not that our awesomeness cannot be contained by one email account (though this is true), but because each account serves a different purpose.

filmandaudio@carnegielibrary.org is for general questions.

• Do you have The Cosby Show on DVD? (Yes. It was accidentally labeled “The Crosby Show” since we bought it during last year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, but I fixed the call numbers.)
• Was “Song of the South” ever released on DVD? (Not in the United States, sorry.)
• Do you have any videotapes about blacksmithing? (A real question! No videos, but we do have quite a few books.)

eaudio@carnegielibrary.org is for our downloadable services.

• Why won’t this audiobook transfer to my iPod? (You might need the newest version of OverDrive’s Media Console.)
• Help! (Hmm, could you please write back with more information? I’ll need to know what type of computer you’re using, your library card number, stuff like that.)
• Is it possible to burn these books to CD? (Some publishers will let you do that, and some won’t. That’s my official stance, and that’s all I’ll tell you in this blog.)

patronrequestsav@carnegielibrary.org is for purchase suggestions, which is the library way of saying “stuff you think we should buy.” Here are a few helpful hints for your requesting pleasure.

• Don’t submit the same request eleven times in two minutes. (We’ll know they all came from the same person. Give us some credit, please.  We have master’s degrees.)
• Don’t request anything that’s still in the theaters, or anything that hasn’t been released on DVD. (We can’t buy them yet!)
• Don’t worry about requesting those big Hollywood blockbusters, as we buy them no matter what. (Seriously, I’d be fired if I forgot to buy Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Well, not fired, but my boss would probably sigh at me.)

So please, if you have a question, drop us a line! We won’t leave you hanging.

- Amy

When I’m not helping my co-workers save the world with mad research and technology skills, I’m probably at the customer service desk, picking up books I’ve requested.  Much like the star of that classic, oft-ridiculed Hair Club for Men commercial, “I’m also a client.” 

A library client, that is. My hair is doing just fine, thank you. But, I digress!

Sometimes, when I’m waiting in line, people will ask me why my library card has a different design on it.  Eagerly I leap on the opportunity to talk about the Donor Plus card, only to be met with puzzled stares.  Why on earth would anybody pay for a library card?  After all, the library is “free to the people” – it even says so above the front door.  What gives?

For me personally, it was a no-brainer.  According to the Library Use Calculator, I have $750.00 worth of books checked out on my library card right now.  That’s more than twice as much as my monthly student loan payment!  Given that I’m always at the maximum book checkout limit, that means that, at any given time, I’m walking around with $750.00 worth of public property, with almost no strings attached (except for those pesky fines that I inevitably rack up)!  Considering everything I get out of the library, I feel it’s only good civic sense to give a little back.

Granted, I’m pretty fortunate in that the small fee for a Donor Plus card isn’t an unreasonable expense for me.  This is not true of everyone, and it certainly wasn’t true for me when I moved to Pittsburgh twelve years ago.  So I totally understand if the classic free card is more in line with your budget.  If you are in a good financial place right now, though, upping your membership is analogous to buying bonds, or collecting scrap metal:  a small, yet potent, blow in the ongoing War Against Ignorance.

If the “warm and fuzzy” approach doesn’t motivate you, let’s get concrete: check out the Donor Plus page, which lists some pretty spiffy benefits–if you’re a coffee drinker, the card pays for itself in practically no time.  And if that’s still not enough incentive for you, here’s a list of library services you might not be aware of, just to help seal the deal. 

1. Book recommendations from professional librarians.   Why trust your reading preferences to an impersonal algorithm when you can peruse thoughtful, literate book reviews?  Want something more specific?  Fill out the handy dandy recommendation form to get reading suggestions tailored to your specific tastes!
2. Playaways.  Quite possibly the coolest invention ever, Playaways are pre-loaded mp3 players you can borrow.  Just add a AAA battery and a pair of headphones, and you’re all set to listen to classic fiction, language lessons, or just about anything else that might tickle your fancy.
3. A never-ending stream of electronic innovation.  If you haven’t seen the What’s New page yet, click on over and see some of the exciting services the library has rolled out over the past few months.  Subscribe to the RSS feed and get updates as they’re posted!
4. Access to government information.   As Gwen explained the other day, the Carnegie Library is a Federal Depository Library.  Although the GPO is issuing more and more publications online, there’s a lot of data still in print and on microfilm, and we’ve got it.  Exercise your citizenship to the hilt with some gov docs!

In addition to all of the great materials and services the library offiers you for your Donor Plus buck, you have access to approximately 140 human resources at CLP Main, many of whom work quietly behind the scenes, and are far too modest to tell you about it.   Scott, for example, will never tell you that he’s currently ranked #2 in the state for answering questions on AskHere PA, or that he spends a lot of time repairing and processing damaged books.  Marianne, Bill, Gen, and Mykal are just four of the people who make sure your books and materials are pulled from the shelves, and reshelved properly–and no, they don’t use elfin magic to “get ‘er done.”  And Cathy, bless her, is part of the team that works hard to keep our webpage current and organized.  Add on the many, many people who serve in the branch libraries, and…well…it takes a lot of people to run your library, and your support helps all of those people serve you more efficiently and effectively. 

Okay, Ira Glass I’m not. I hope, however, I’ve at least given you a little something to think about. Maybe we could discuss it next time you’re in the library–after all, intelligent, informed debate is the cornerstone of a democratic society!  Just look for the tall, bleary-eyed woman in black, cradling an armful of books, the one who was clearly up too late last night reading.

Leigh Anne
who would give all the current Donor Plus cardholders a thank-you hug, except that this would be neither prudent nor practical.

Today is the birthday of the great Russian novelist Fyodor Mikhaylovich Dostoevsky (1821-1881). If Dostoevsky’s big books have been on your “classics-to-read” back burner for awhile, make today the day you finally pick one up.

Though I started reading Dostoevsky with Crime and Punishment, you might prefer reading The Idiot or Notes from Underground first. Or, maybe you’ll want to start with the big one, The Brothers Karamazov, right off the bat; I’d be willing to bet it lasts you through the winter (or several years, if you’re me).

Once you’ve gotten that far, you might want to try an adaptation of Dostoevsky’s work next, such as the graphic novel The Grand Inquisitor. Or, perhaps you’ll want to take your reading in a more scholarly direction. In that case, a new biography called Dostoevsky: A Writer in His Time looks promising, and Harold Bloom’s various critical interpretations are always winners. And, if you really want to get serious, you can visit our reference department and skim through a copy of The Dostoevsky Encyclopedia. 

By then you should be able to impress your friends with profound discussions of “Dostoevsky and existentialism,” and if their eyes start to glaze over, you can take your newfound knowledge to another level by rubbing elbows with members of the International Dostoevsky Society!

Baby steps, you say? Ok, fine, but don’t squander Dostoevsky’s birthday reading something piddly — at least read one of his short stories or something. 

–Wes

Since 1895, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has offered as much as 58% of all publications printed by the United States Government.   As a member of the Federal Deposity Library Program,  the Library is one of 1200+ conduits for information between local citizenry and the Federal Government .  These materials, along with the professional assistance which collect, distribute, and  maintain them, help safeguard our “right to know.” Unclassified material, whether hearings, rulings, committees, and sundry publications, are available free of charge at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.  They are an excellent resource for primary resources about the issues that underlay the structure of our government.

The scope of a Depository Library, in general, encompasses health, law, science, business, education, history and geography with emphasis given to topics that are germane to its particular audience.  For example, in addition to the climatological data found in nearly all Depository Libraries,  CLP’s collection also includes coverage of the city and of  mining, one of several industries that have shaped the culture and history of  this and neighboring areas.  Data provided by the federal Government is available online and /or via  microfiche, journals, pamphlets, and books.

-Gwendolyn

If you’ve read my blurb on this blog’s About Us page, you know that I went to Italy on vacation in August 2007. It was one of the highlights of my life. I travelled with my Aunt. She was actually the one who had the idea in the first place. Through her genealogical research about the family of my Italian grandmother, she located distant relatives currently living in the small village from which my great grandfather emigrated. Through the exchange of a few letters and then emails with another family member, it was decided that we should go and visit our ancestral village, Piaggine, for the Festival of St. Philomena. This is a weeklong celebration during the vacation month of August, when many who have moved from the village come back to visit. This would give us the best opportunity to meet the most people, relatives or not. And surprisingly, I actually met 3 other people during that week who were also visiting from Pittsburgh. It seems that when one person emigrates, they send word back to others who then move to the same area.

This trip, as you might be able to tell, was not about the usual tourist destinations. We stayed with our family in their home. We lived their lifestyle and did the things they would have done during the festival, even if we weren’t there. We ate food prepared in their kitchen, went grocery shopping with them, picked figs from their trees. We had our large meal in the middle of the day and then rested until evening. We ate dinner at 9:30 pm and then stayed up until 1 am watching a local piano or dance recital on the stages set up in the piazzas. It was glorious. By the third day, my face hurt from smiling so much. The place and the people became part of my heart and I still miss Piaggine almost daily. I hope to go back in a few years and take my son with me. I know that he will appreciate the experience as much as I did.

Upon my return to reality and the United States, I needed to find a way to cope with my longing for a place where I could not be. So, I turned to books. I read everything I could find about people who have made the grand move to Italy, carving a life and home for themselves in a small village, and also about those searching for their Italian heritage. Here are a few of the books I read and others I hope to read soon.

The Hills of Tuscany by Ferenc Máté – Only in Italy do you know you’ve found the right house due to abundance of porcini mushrooms in the surrounding woods. Funghi, anyone?

A Thousand Days in Tuscany by Marlena DeBlasi – I especially loved the description of the vendemmiamo (the grape harvest), and the celebratory meal that followed.

Dances with Luigi by Paul Paolicelli – The story of a fellow Pittsburgher searching for his Italian roots.

La Bella Figura: A Field Guide to the Italian Mind by Beppe Severgnini – I enjoyed this amusing look at the thoughts and actions of the Italian people. But I am kind of glad I did not read it before I went or I may have gone with some preconceived notions.

Piano, Piano, Pieno by Susan McKenna Grant – We ate one midday meal at a local agriturismo (think of a combined farm and B&B), so I can appreciate the spirit of this lovely cookbook by a former Canadian who now runs one of these charming establishments.

The Ancient Shore: Dispatches from Naples by Shirley Hazzard – We spent one day in Naples upon our arrival in Italy. It was lovely and slightly frightening at the same time. Plus, it is the birthplace of pizza.  Need I say more?

The Reluctant Tuscan: How I Discovered My Inner Italian by Phil Doran – I, of course, can’t imagine why anyone would be reluctant to be in Italy and I highly recommend that everyone find their inner Italian!

Even if your heritage is not Italian, keep in mind there are stories and cookbooks like this for every country of the world. Ask a librarian, who will be happy to help you discover your passion for your heritage.

-Melissa

Today marks the 148th birthday of the inventor of basketball, Canadian born physical educator James A. Naismith.

Before we go any further, I think we ought to spend the rest of this post listening to a little musical accompaniment from the incomparable Kurtis Blow.

Mr. Naismith first invented the game in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Although he could have never foreseen the heights of popularity his sport eventually reached, he did live to see it become an Olympic sport in 1936, three years before his death on November 28, 1939.

Of course the library has a number of books on Naismith’s  grand game:

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Basketball / by Walt “Clyde” Frazier and Alex Sachare

The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac : Styles, Stats and Stars in Today’s Game

The Physics of Basketball / John J. Fontanella

And if you want to go “old school”, who better to get your information from than Adolph Rupp?

Rupp’s Championship Basketball for Player, Coach, and Fan

Happy birthday, Mr. Naismith, and thank you for one of the world’s greatest games!

–Scott

Every year I have grand plans for all the homemade holiday gifts I plan on giving everyone, and often by the time December rolls around I’m in the midst of a full-on holiday freakout.  (It isn’t unusual for my family members to receive polaroids of half-knitted socks). If you find yourself in a similar situation, here are a few suggestions that might help you out, depending on how much time you have to devote to crafting:

Have two months, or close to it?  You have time to do practically whatever you want!  Knit a sweater, crochet a blanket, or design and make your own holiday cards. 

Have a month?  Drinks like limoncello or fragolino make festive gifts, and take about a month for the flavors to infuse.  Try the fragolino recipe in Olives & Oranges: Recipes and Flavor Secrets from Italy, Spain, Cyprus & Beyond, by Sara Jenkins and Mindy Fox. 

Have a weekend?  One Skein Wonders: 101 Yarn Shop Favorites, edited by Judith Durant, features quick projects that use only one skein of yarn.  There are projects for a wide variety of yarn types, so chances are good you already have something in your stash that you can work with. 

Have a day?  Homemade soaps or spa products make great gifts.  Get some inspiration from books like Natural Soapmaking by Marie Browning, or Organic Body Care Recipes: 175 Homemade Herbal Formulas for Glowing Skin & a Vibrant Self by Stephanie Tourles. 

Have a few hours?  Everyone loves cookies around the holidays, and even at the last minute they make a great handmade gift.  Books like The International Cookie Cookbook will help you find something creative enough to gift, but easy enough to whip up in a few hours. 

-Irene

It might be possible that you’re just as confused and unclear about health care reform as I am. In a world where information travels quickly and in large quantities, it’s difficult to feel anything but overwhelmed when it comes to the big issues.

Health care is an extremely important topic and of course, the Library is here to help. Under our Tools and Research tab, a handy sheet filled with links has been created to help inform you about the ongoing health care reform debate. This American Life has put together a series explaining how the health care system works and why costs only keep going up in part one and takes a deeper look into the health insurance industry in part two.

 And, a booklist…

• Healthcare, Guaranteed: A Simple, Secure Solution for America, Ezekiel J. Emanuel - Without real-life health care nightmare stories, Emanuel provides short and simple suggestions.

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Worried Sick: A Prescription for Health in an Overtreated America, Nortin M. Hadler - Although not a look at health care reform, Hadler examines  an important overlooked issue.

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Health Care, David M. Haugen, editor – From the Opposing Viewpoints series, differing opinions on the health care issue are explored.

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Total Cure: The Antidote to the Health Care Crisis, Harold S. Luft -Luft presents an entirely new proposal to health care reform.

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…

America’s Health Care Crisis Solved: Money-Saving Solutions, Coverage for Everyone, J. Patrick Rooney – A readable book explaining fresh solutions.

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 The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care, T.R. Reid – In this New York Times Bestseller, Reid explains methods of affordable health care for everyone

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- Lisa

Last time around, the Pittsburgh Symphony Book Club included a bassoon solo by the PSO’s  James Rodgers and an almost hour long phone call from Vivaldi’s Virgins author Barbara Quick!

The Pittsburgh Symphony Book Club’s second session will be about the book 1791, Mozart’s Last Year by H. C. Robbins Landon.  Read it and find out about Mozart’s debts, his wardrobe, the milieu of Vienna, his declining health, and most important, the stories behind his final masterpieces.

Date:  Monday, November 9, 2009

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Main Library (Oakland) — Music Department

Once again, let’s review why you should attend!

• a member of the illustrious Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will be participating in the discussion — for this session it’s cellist Charlotta Klein Ross
• local radio celebrity Jim Cunningham of WQED-FM will also be there
• since it takes place in the Music Department, other materials relating to the subject will be on hand for you to check out
• it’s an informal discussion so don’t fret if you don’t finish the book
• you may attend any or all of the meetings
• it’s free

Please call 412-622-3105 to register.

– Tim

p.s.  Click here to see the other upcoming meetings of the PSO book club.

North Dakota became the 39th state, November 2, 1889.

Otto I born November 23, 912. German king (936-73), Holy Roman emperor (962-73).

Velvet Revolution, which saw the overthrow of the Communist government in Czechoslovakia, began November 16, 1989.

Edmund Fitzgerald, ore-hauling ship, sank in Lake Superior, November 10, 1975.

Mickey Mouse’s Birthday, November 18, 1928.

Benjamin Franklin wrote in a letter to a friend, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,” November 13, 1789.

Edsel’s demise was announced by the Ford Motor Company, November 19, 1959.

Robert Louis Stevenson, Scottish author whose tales include Treasure Island, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, born November 13, 1850.

-Julie