You can do anything so long as you sing it.*

In place of Julie’s regularly scheduled post, we’re proud to present a special guest, Rebekah, a fellow music librarian and a participant in Pittsburgh’s vibrant opera scene.

It’s fall and in addition to the leaves changing and the air becoming a bit cooler, seasons begin for many music organizations, including opera companies.  Pittsburgh Opera opens its 2012-13 season of classics in October with Rigoletto and continues with Don Giovanni, The Secret Marriage (performed by its resident artists), Madama Butterfly and La Cenerentola.  CLP’s Music Department has partnered with the Pittsburgh Opera’s education department since 2001 to produce a resource guide to help you immerse yourself in the operas of the season.  Books, librettos, CDs and DVDs await you as you get ready to experience revenge gone wrong, a womanizer getting what he deserves, a wedding of undercover lovers, a tragic love story and a fairytale romance.  I’m excited to see Don Juan in action in a new production of Mozart’s opera.

If you still want more opera, Pittsburgh has plenty of it.  Quantum Theatre, the nomadic theater company, will present the Pittsburgh premiere of Argentinian composer Osvaldo Golijov’s work, “Ainadamar,” based upon the life of Federico García Lorca.  Previously they had staged Astor Piazzolla’s opera tango, “María de Buenos Aires” at the deserted East Liberty YMCA.  It will be interesting to see how they use the space at East Liberty Presbyterian Church.  Carnegie Mellon’s Opera Workshop offers “Into the Woods” as their fall production.  I know, I know, it’s a musical… or is it?  We have to wait until February to see Duquesne University Opera Workshop’s production of “Dialogues of the Carmelites” but they will have an aria night in October.  Microscopic Opera just finished a run of “Riders to the Sea” (the play and the opera) and “Lizbeth,” all works about family tragedies.  Next up will be “The Little Sweep” in March.  Undercroft Opera, a company of all local singers, will stage “The Barber of Seville” in February and has yet to announce their 2013 summer production.  We also anticipate the next season of Opera Theater Summerfest.

Dare I mention venturing to the movie theater for the Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD broadcasts?  It’s opera on the big screen and you don’t have to hop the Megabus to New York.  You just venture to the Cinemark Theaters at Pittsburgh Mills or Robinson Township or Rave Motion Pictures-Pittsburgh North 11.  Last season, many people experienced Robert Lepage’s innovative Ring Cycle.  I was not among them as I am not a fan of Wagner’s epic work unlike my boss, Julie, who has seen over 10 different productions.  I think she and I can both agree that opera plots can be about anything.  Maybe I’ll see you at one this year.

— Rebekah

*A quotation from the fabulous Anna Russell who parodied the Ring Cycle in solo concert performances

Abraham Lincoln Brigade: Little-Known American Heroes

Please welcome Eric, who works at the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, to the Eleventh Stack team rotation. To learn a little more about him, as well as our other contributors, visit the About Us page.

Relatively few folks know anything about the Spanish Civil War, or the significance of the Americans who volunteered to be a part of the fighting in the 1930s as a part of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. Before the Second World War, another fight against fascism was happening in Europe. Luckily for you, dear Eleventh Stack reader,  the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has a number of fantastic resources on this little-known bit of wildly interesting and very important American history.

Cecil D. Eby delivers a solid, interesting and highly readable history of the Lincoln Battalion in his book Comrades and Commissars: The Lincoln Battalion in the Spanish Civil War. His work gives a good sense of not only the events that preceded the war itself, but also the entry of the International Brigades, and the American volunteers who went to Spain on their own to fight fascism.

Madrid, 1937: Letters of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade From the Spanish Civil War is a wonderfully personal glimpse into the lives and thoughts of the plumbers, students, teachers and poets who made up the Lincoln Brigades. This collection, edited by Cary Nelson and Jefferson Hendricks, is at once a powerful emotional connection to the Spanish Civil War, but also an important historical collection!

Maybe you’re thinking, “Okay, this is kind of interesting, but I’m not sure I want to commit to sitting down and reading a big ole history book on a war I’ve never even heard of.”  I say, fair point! How about a couple of fantastic films on the subject, then?

The Good Fight: The Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War is a fantastic documentary featuring some narration by none other than the legendary Studs Terkel. It provides an excellent overview of the conflict as well as personal input from members of the Lincoln Brigade. With plenty of footage and stills from the 1930s in Spain, this film gives an excellent sense of not only what occurred but also what the Americans involved thought about it. Likewise, Into the Fire: American Women in the Spanish Civil War is an excellent film that traces a solid sketch of the events of the conflict while focusing on the role of American women in the  Lincoln Brigade. It is a beautiful, heart-wrenching, fascinating film.

Learn about these truly unsung heroes of American history and what they faced when they returned to the States following their service. Whether you are already a student of history or just interested in a little-known, but important, chapter of the American experience, check out these titles!

–Eric

Om Sweet Om: Yoga For Everybody

Downward, dogs! Originally spotted on Facebook.

Ask ten different people why they maintain a yoga practice, and you just might get ten different answers. Given that the generic term “yoga” refers to an interconnected bundle of physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines, this makes perfect sense: everyone comes to yoga seeking different things, and there is no universal agreement on what a yoga practice “should” be. Of course, these flexible boundaries also leave room for plenty of heated, contentious debate about who is “doing it wrong,” and if you’re interested in that sort of squabble, you can learn more here and here.

If, however, you’d rather learn a little bit more about what the library has to offer on the subject, read on. There’s something in the stacks for everybody, from the long-time practitioner to the yoga-curious bystander, so even if you’re just trying to understand why anybody would want to twist their bodies into different shapes, you’ll find something in our collection. As ever, we strongly suggest you talk to a doctor first if you have any questions about how something you read might apply to your specific situation.

Asana Sampler:

We carry a pretty extensive collection of active practice books and DVDs, so consider treating yourself to a day at the library to examine the books firsthand. They are fairly popular, though, so a follow-up catalog search, by subject or keyword , can ensure you don’t miss anything. You can always consult one of our pre-made resource lists, or ask a librarian. Some of the more interesting titles I found during my own catalog search include:

The No-Om Zone: A No-Chanting, No-Granola, No-Sanskrit Practical Guide to Yoga, Kimberly Fowler. Some people avoid yoga because they think it’s “too weird” or maybe just a step further outside of their comfort zone than they’re ready to go. Fowler, who felt the same way about yoga at first, has written a book designed to allay those fears. You could call it “Yoga for Skeptics,” but beginners should take note: this book is designed for people who are already in pretty good shape from other types of workouts/sports.

Big Yoga: A Simple Guide for Bigger Bodies, Meera Patricia Kerr. Beauty and health come in all sizes, and so does yoga practice in this introductory volume.  Kerr, who describes herself as “beefy, athletic and loud,” models a variety of adaptive poses and provides a solid introduction to yoga practice in a positive, encouraging way. Includes many photographs of people who look like actual people, having a good time working out.

Yoga for Computer Users: Healthy Necks, Shoulders, Wrists, and Hands in the Postmodern Age, Sandy Blaine. Stuck at a desk all day? Blaine’s book offers a series of poses you can do at your desk without getting funny looks–or at least, no funnier than usual–from your officemates. There’s even a longer practice sequence, designed to be done sometime after you’re off the clock, for people who routinely spend their days at a computer. The primary focus is on making stretching, mindfulness, and calm a part of your normal routine, instead of trying to shoehorn it in on top of everything else. Great for the time-pressed (and, honestly, who isn’t?).

Real Men Do Yoga, John Capouya. Designed to reassure you that you will not lose your man card if you take a class with your sweetie,  Capouya’s book focuses on how yoga can be just one part of a well-rounded fitness program, and can even enhance performance by adding flexibility to the mix. Packed with commentary from professional athletes and regular joes alike, this volume focuses on the physical and mental branches of yoga, but leaves space for those who want to learn more to probe into the philosophy as well. Covers a variety of fitness levels.

Yoga Philosophy 101

Interested in the spiritual beliefs behind the physical postures?  Start here:

Yoga: The Greater Tradition, David Frawley

Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Patanjali (various translations available)

Pathways to Joy, Swami Vivakanenda

Memoirs

Still not ready to step on a mat yourself? Pick up one of these memoirs to see what others have gained from their practice.

Will Yoga and Meditation Really Change My Life?: Personal Stories from 25 of North America’s Leading Teachers, ed. Stephen Cope

Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Poses, Claire Dederer

Yoga Bitch: One Woman’s Quest to Conquer Skepticism, Cynicism, and Cigarettes on the Path to Enlightenment , Suzanne Morrison

Stretch: The Unlikely Making of a Yoga Dude, Neal Pollack

Research for Skeptics

Never going to do it, but still intellectually curious about it? Call these picks, “evidence-based yoga.”

The Science of Yoga, William J. Broad

American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation: How Indian Spirituality Changed the West, Philip Goldberg

The Great Oom: The Improbable Birth of Yoga in America, Robert Love

The Subtle Body: The Story of Yoga in America, Stefanie Syman

Whether your explanations lead you to the process of choosing a teacher/studio, a satisfying private yoga practice, or simply more knowledge than you had before you started investigating, I hope the process brings you joy. I started my own yoga practice with a library book, and am currently sampling the wonderful variety of classes, teachers and studios Pittsburgh has to offer. For those of you currently practicing, can you recommend a book, teacher, studio or type of yoga for your fellow readers to playtest?

–Leigh Anne

Don’t Call It A Staycation

I really need a vacation. Preferably one where you sit in a beach chair all day reading and drinking margaritas.

Alas, because of a series of unfortunate events (no time, no money) and fortunate events (dream job) I am not taking an official vacation this year. While this makes me incredibly sad, I will at least take a few days off and enjoy some serious, quality reading time.

Books I tried to save for vacation

Flight Behavior, Barbara Kingsolver

Kingsolver is not afraid to tackle big subjects like immigration, the Congo’s struggles for independence and social equity and it’s no different here. In Prodigal Summer she touched upon environmental issues, but focusing more on ecology as science as opposed to political movement. In Flight Behavior Kingsolver confronts climate change as a political issue, but is not afraid to include issues of faith, miracles and what nature means to people.

Unearthly beauty had appeared to her, a vision of glory to stop her in the road. For her alone these orange boughs lifted, these long shadows became a brightness rising. It looked like the inside of joy, if a person could see that. A valley of lights, an ethereal wind. It had to mean something. She could save herself.

A Working Theory of Love, Scott Hutchins

I was fortunate enough to meet Scott Hutchins and hear him read at the American Library Association’s Annual Conference.  Nice guy. A Working Theory of Love opens with a perfect description of living alone and is a thoroughly modern love story. This story has something for everyone: artificial intelligence, a mid-life crisis and the perils of love, grief and surviving adulthood.

It’s like, there’s me and then there’s this animal that’s like in me. And I’m just living my life, walking around, going to work, but I know this animal can take over. Just for a second. But I get that feeling a lot- that I might say or do anything.

Sniper, Nicolai Lilin

Lilin combines several of my favorite subjects in both of his books: Russian history, tattoos, gratuitous violence and memoir. His first book, Siberian Education: Growing Up in a Criminal Underworld covers his early life as a gangster in post-Soviet Transnistria. Sniper picks up where Siberian Education left off, with Lilin being drafted into the Russian Army to fight in Chechnya. Although there are questions about the factuality of both books, there is no question that Lilin is a powerful writer with an eye for detail (and hyperbole.)

Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl is the book on all the lists right now. As it should be. On the night before her five year wedding anniversary, Amy Dunne disappears. What follows is a harrowing, psychological tale of betrayal, punishment, and plot twists. After this book, you’ll be thrilled (or horrified) to know she has two more, just as twisted and dark; Sharp Objects and Dark Places.

Books I plan to read

World War Z, Max Brooks

This was the most recent book chosen for the new Book Buzz program at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. I started it, but put it aside for later. It’s definitely not lunch reading: unless extremely graphic images of bones poking through bloodless skin are your thing.

Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell

I feel like the last person on Earth to read this book (soon to be a major motion picture.) I rarely like Man Booker Prize nominated books, but I’m feeling hopeful about this one. Described by some reviewers as six perfect novellas, Cloud Atlas follows six vastly different characters loosely connected through history.

In One Person, John Irving

John Irving is the other author I heard speak at the ALA convention. He was worth getting up at 6 am for. For an hour he answered librarian’s questions (almost all about sex!) and then read a passage from In One Person. Of course he chose to read the passage that is homage to librarians. Swooning abounded. Some are calling In One Person Irving’s most politically important novel since Cider House Rules. Instead of abortion, Irving addresses sexual identity, particularly in the context of the AIDS epidemic. You know, a little light summer reading.

Book I wish were out

Phantom, Jo Nesbø- October 2

First of all, Jo Nesbø not only an author; he is a musician, songwriter and economist. Phantom is book nine in the Harry Hole series. This time Detective Hole is in Hong Kong, far away from police work and plans to stay there. Then the boy he helped raise is arrested for murder and Harry is barred from officially working the case. Yet he can’t help but investigate. Nesbo combines great characters with unlikely, yet believable plots for great results.

The Twelve, Justin Cronin- October 16

If you didn’t read The Passage (opening line: “It happened fast. Thirty-two minutes for one world to die, another to be born.”) get it immediately. The Twelve follows the survivors of the viral plague and the Second Viral War.

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton- October 16

If Kate Morton hasn’t been compared to du Maurier, she should be. Her first three books, The House at Riverton, The Distant Hours and The Forgotten Garden are all gothic anti-fairy tales. Atmospheric and moody, Morton writes about babies switched at birth, past lives and the dark secrets families keep. The Secret Keeper promises murder and thievery. I’m sold!

Any books you think I should be reading? I’m game for anything!

-suzy

“Make People Smile and Think While They’re Smiling”

Cyrus “Cy” Hungerford was the longest-serving editorial cartoonist in Pittsburgh history. He was hired by The Pittsburgh Sun in 1912 and and moved to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette fifteen years later, where he served until his retirement in 1977. Hungerford’s cartoons satirically illustrated local, national, and international events. Every aspect of life was a target of his clever, gentle humor: politics, sports and entertainment, business and labor, and the various Pittsburgh cultural scenes. His caricatures of politicians from William Harding to David Lawrence to Richard Nixon; personalities from the Duchess of Windsor to Joe Stalin; and world events from WWI to the Cold War and Vietnam were pointed, and brought a smile to readers’ lips over their morning coffee. Hungerford also cleverly inserted cartooning symbols popularized by Thomas Nast in the late 1800s–like the political party emblems of the Democratic donkey and Republican elephant–with inventions of his own that reflected the social scene. One of these was “Pa Pitt,” a chubby, bespectacled, colonial fellow respresentative not only of Pittsburgh and its history, but also the public interest.

From the collections of the Pennsylvania Department, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. All rights reserved.

As we enter the current political season. we thought it might be interesting to look back on some of Hungerford’s past election cartoons and see how times have changed (or not). Hungerford presented hundreds of his original cartoons to the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in April, 1975. Copies of an array of election cartoons will be hanging in the First Floor Gallery at Main, and some original Hungerfords can be viewed in display cases by the silver elevator on the second floor for a limited time.

As a bonus, we are happy to present speakers Rob Rogers and Tim Menees as they talk about Following in the Footsteps of Hungerford. These accomplished local editorial cartoonists will discuss Hungerford’s impact and how cartoons continue to take on local and national politics with humor and style. You can hear them on Sunday September 30th 2012 from 2:00-4:30 p.m. in the Quiet Reading Room on the First Floor at Main Library. Please join us!

–Sheila

Claude Debussy Sesquicentennial

Note: Composer Claude Debussy’s 150th birthday was this year (August 22). And, while I can read music and play the flute, I am not a professional musician in the least! This is merely a short and unabashed tribute with music samples.

Claude Debussy (Photo source: Wikipedia)

In 199o, I saw the controversial NC-17 rated film Henry & June; in fact, I watched at least a dozen people walk out of my theater. While the movie was definitely provocative, it was the gorgeous soundtrack that sang to me. It was the first time I heard the lively and energetic “Petit Suite Ballet,” the exotic “Pour L’Egyptienne,” the romantic “La Plus que Lente,” and the haunting “Sonata for Violin and Piano.”

I was entranced.

For me, Debussy’s music always evokes images of nature, gardens, and the sea. In other words, dreamlike qualities. Indeed, he was part of an era in music called impressionism, although he himself disliked that affiliation. Just like the art period of the same name, Debussy lived in a world that also knew artist Claude Monet and composers Erik Satie, Maurice Ravel, and Gabriel Faure.

The library owns many recordings of Debussy’s works as well as sheet music and scores and books about his life and influence.

Who is your favorite classical composer? Why?

~Maria, who was dismayed to discover that Debussy’s music is very challenging for the flute!

Graphic Novels from a Woman’s POV

When most people think of graphic novels, they think of comic books. And when they think of comic books, they think of adolescent males living out their superhero fantasies vicariously through the pages of a book with mostly pictures and few words. I would venture to say that most people wouldn’t think of women and women’s issues when they think of graphic novels.

But those of us who work with these kinds of books know better. I see the “typical” graphic novel and they are very popular, but I also see graphic novels based on classics, ones that represent people and their everyday lives, that are written to help deal with and understand historic events, those purely for fun, some specifically to make you think, and ones that give advice in a more non-traditional way.

I am most attracted to the graphic novels written from a woman’s point of view and those that deal with women’s issues. This preference may come naturally as a result of my gender and I recognize that. But it’s nice to know that authors and illustrators are taking the inclinations of me, and those like me, seriously enough to put pen to paper in the graphic novel format. No one likes to be left out.

Here are some of the graphic novels that have caught my attention recently:

Aya Series by Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie – This series about a teenage girl who lives in the Ivory Coast during the 1970s will make you realize that the dramas of suburban life can happen anywhere at any time.

Are You My Mother?: A Comic Drama by Alison Bechdel – The true story of the artist’s relationship with her mother. Alison’s mother stifled her own artistic interests due to marriage and child-rearing, thus stunting the emotional relationship between mother and child. What follows is the tale of how Alison developed into the writer and artist she is and how she finally came to a truce with her mother.

My Most Secret Desire by Julie Doucet – A look inside the dark dreams of a woman. Some may seem a little out there, but you’ll see truth resonate for you in at least a few of them. Reassurance for you that just because you had that weird dream, you are not actually crazy.

Underwire by Jennifer Hayden – You’re middle-aged. You want to have sex with your husband, but life keeps getting in the way. Your teen-age daughter is acting psycho. Your son is living away from home for the first time. What do you do? Write and illustrate a graphic novel so that others just like you can laugh and cry right along with you.

The Shiniest Jewel: A Family Love Story by Marian Henley – This is the story of how one woman got from “me” to “we”. At the age of 49, she decided to adopt a child from Russia. Along the way, she discovered things about her relationship with her boyfriend of seven years, as well as her parents. If you’ve gone through the process of an international adoption or are considering it, you’ll want to read this journey.

French Milk by Lucy Knisley – The chronicle of a six week trip to Paris by a 23 year old and her mother. It’s a lovely journal of their Parisian adventures, as well as their relationship, told through stories, drawings and photographs.

Cancer Vixen: A True Story by Marisa Acocella Marchetto – An honest and moving true life tale of the cartoonist’s battle with breast cancer. She gives it to you straight, all the highs and the, unfortunately, more numerous lows. If you are going through a similar trauma and want to feel like you’re not alone, this is your story.

Kiss & Tell: A Romantic Résumé, Ages 0 to 22 by MariNaomi – A visual diary of all the author’s interactions with boys (and conversations with her girlfriends where they talk about boys) from the age of 5 through her early 20s. The beginning of each section had a title page that charts the life cycle of a butterfly. The connection is both obvious and apropos.

Dotter of Her Father’s Eyes by Mary M. and Bryan Talbot – A tale of two father-daughter relationships, drawing parallels in their coming-of-age experiences in two different historical time periods.  Both women rebel against societal expectations based on their gender, as well as experience hardships and personal losses. These events made their relationships with their fathers were difficult at best.

Tammy Pierce is Unlovable, Vol 1 & 2 by Esther Pearl Watson – This is the diary of Tammy Pierce circa the late 1980s. She draws pictures and writes about the usual high school events that fill her day: detention, boys, dances, makeup, mix tapes, and girls that are sometimes her friends and sometimes not. You will see your high school experience on these pages somewhere. Either you were Tammy or you were one of her classmates.

My advice is always try reading something new, something outside your comfort zone. You never know what adventures and wisdom you may find lurking in the pages of that book you thought you’d never read.

-Melissa M.

Spotlight On A Classic: Avengers Annual #10

  I happened to be perusing my comic book collection the other day and I came across one of my copies of the now classic Avengers Annual #10.  Yes, I own two.  You see, you have one for reading, and one…never mind.  Anyway, I firmly believe that this now 31 year old story stands as one of the single best tales of the modern era of comics.

Bearing the evocative title of “By Friends Betrayed,” this story features the creative talents of Chris Claremont (writer), Michael Golden (penciller, colorist), and Armando Gil (inker).  While Mr. Claremont enjoys most of his industry notoriety for his work on the X-Men, he really fires on all cylinders with this story of the Avengers, Marvel’s flagship super-team.  You can find this story beautifully reprinted in the hardcover collection Chris Claremont, an assemblage of stories featuring the different stages of this incredibly successful creator’s long career.

Here are four reasons comic book fans should check this story out:

1. The very first appearance of Rogue.
2. Michael Golden at the height of his artistic powers.
3. One of the best superhero slugfests ever scripted or drawn.
4. Spider-Woman!

Here are four reasons why non-comic book fans might want to check this story out:

1. Explores themes of loss and betrayal.
2. Provides a great window into how comics developed in the 1980’s.
3. Golden and Gil’s awesome artwork “transcends” the medium.
4. Provides a good starting point for tackling more “modern” graphic novels.

Check back tomorrow for Melissa’s smart and distinctly feminine take on graphic novels!

–Scott

My Secret Shame

Last week, Dan wrote about vanity reads, but I’d like to talk about the opposite side of the coin.  Have you ever found yourself reading a book that you were a little embarrassed to find yourself reading?  Maybe even becoming so interested in the story that you added your name to the hold list and waited anxiously for the next book in the series (these books always come in a series) to arrive?

Yeah, me too.  I’ve always been a voracious reader, and I do love a highfalutin literary classic, but sometimes your mind needs a break!  Several years ago, I was browsing the fiction section of the First Floor New and Featured department when I came across a book that looked so out of my reading realm that I’m still not sure what possessed me to pick it up- vampires, the rural south, and mind-reading waitresses were definitely not interests of mine.  But for whatever reason, I started reading Dead Until Dark and I was hooked!  I found myself defending the story and characters in my mind, against imaginary critics.  I angled the cover away from people on the bus.  And of course, I waited anxiously for each new installment in the series.  In the days before True Blood, there was never a very long wait after each new publication.  Then supernatural fiction exploded, Twilight happened, and suddenly it was very easy to find fellow fans of the genre.

My latest “secret shame” is a series that includes elements of historical fiction, time travel, romance, 18th century Scottish men in kilts, and a plucky WWII nurse.  It may not be a vanity read, but it’s definitely compelling!  Of course, the fact that these “embarrassing” reads are so often on the bestseller list and frequently have hold lists that number in the hundreds shows that I’m not the only one enjoying these books.  So what’s your secret shame?  Have you read any books in a genre that you thought you’d never enjoy?

-Irene

Books and Braaaaaaains

Admitting this will never make me popular, but I actually like Mondays. If you “did” your weekend correctly, your first day back to work should find you wreathed in an invisible bubble of awesome, satisfied with your lot and fortified to take on another week in corporate America. At least, that’s my theory.

For those of you who think my theory belongs in the wastepaper basket, consider this: if you make it through today, you can spend your evening hanging out with interesting people, talking about zombies, and perhaps enjoying a refreshing adult beverage. If that sounds appealing to you, join us for Book Buzz tonight at Remedy in Lawrenceville. where the reading selection on tap, as it were, will be Max Brooks’s World War Z, an extremely detailed examination of what the world might be like ten years into the zombie apocalypse so many of us secretly worry about when we should be updating a spreadsheet. The discussion starts at 7 p.m., and your hosts will be library staff who are fluent in all matters zombie-related – possibly more so than you, so you should definitely go and test their mettle!

Zombies and Pittsburgh go together like chocolate and peanut butter, so if you can’t make the discussion, check out some other brain-muncher picks from the Book Buzz staff. And keep your eye on their blog, as well as our website–you never know what the library staff will dream up next to keep your Mondays interesting.

–Leigh Anne

who frequently thinks about how the desks in her department could be used to barricade the front doors, if necessary