Directly to You

In the minds of many, spring is the season for renewal. I am more
inclined to look at fall as particularly suited to starting new things.
Memories of summer have faded, the new school year beckons with
the promise of new ideas, new friends. The library has experienced a
few changes this summer. Briana Wickham, our most experienced
Page, is off to pursue studies at College of New Jersey. Michael
Arietta, a TZHS student, is our newest Page. Cheryl McNeil has joined
the Patron Services staff and will be helping out in both the Adult
Reference and Youth Services areas.
The library invites all our patrons to become Friends of the Library.
Details of membership levels can be found in the newsletter. Membership fees will enable the library to expand the number of museum passes available, fund special purchases and programs.
The Board of Trustees is actively seeking candidates to join the board.
Information and application forms are available at the Front Desk or
in Reference.
“The Greatest Generation: A Salute to WW II Veterans” program
received Honorable Mention in the 2010 RCLS Member Library Adult
Program of the Year competition. Many thanks to Adult Program
Coordinator, Bobbi Chertok, for organizing the event, and to all our
friends who attended the program. Please see the calendar in the
newsletter or check out the library website (http://www.orangeburglibrary.org/) for upcoming events.
I would also like to thank everyone who participated in the Children’s
Summer Reading Program and our Adult Reading Raffle! In both programs, users were invited to submit reviews on the books they read – patron reviews, recommendations (and plenty of other suggestions) are posted on the library blog -(http://orangeburglibraryblog.blogspot.com/ ).
We look forward to a wonderful fall – and encourage you to stop by
– there’s more than books at the Orangeburg Library!
Tell us what you think. Send email to org@rcls.org

Top of the Stairs Gallery

October & November - Local artist, Helen Greenberg, displays “The Joy of Nature” with an enchanting group of acrylic, oil and watercolor still lives
and landscapes.

Top of the Stairs Gallery

August and September
The Orangeburg Library is pleased to present an exhibit of artist John Sanders entitled, "More Than A Box" at the Top-of-the-Stairs Gallery. Using mixed media, Mr. Sanders displays a variety of diverse sculptural containers and 3-dimensional wall hangings.

Water Your Mind
Summer Reading Raffle

Week IV
Patron Top Picks



The Executor by Jesse Kellerman
"Hard to put this one down. First-person novel about a murderer and his fascinating descent into madness; all the clues about his early life make this believable. Lots of philosophy included to justify and/or explain the narrator's actions. Kept hoping things would work out differently."




Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
"In Private James Patterson and Maxine Paetro introduce a new cast of characters, who investigate a series of different situations. As usual, they amaze you with unusual and unique crimes that keep you turning the pages. I highly recommend this novel."




A Nation Rising by Kenneth C. Davis
"Very informative and an almost novel-like read. Recommended."









Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich
"Latest in the 'Between-the-Numbers' series of Stephanie Plum, Bounty Hunter novels. A light, enjoyable read filled with humor, wit and a bit of mystery."

Water Your Mind
Summer Reading Raffle

Week III
Patron Top Picks


A Friend of the Family by Lauren Grodstein
"Fantastic book -- Devastating slice of life. How we make plans and try to protect our family and a tragic circumstance can wipe out all our dreams and hopes for the family. An unexpected circumstance destroys our life and makes life unbearable for the survivors."




Live to Tell by Lisa Gardner
"This is a compelling, suspenseful book about a female Boston police detective's investigation of two apparent murder-suicide cases. Both families involved had children who had been patients in a pediatric psych ward. Past and present family tragedies intertwine in this novel of psychiatry, murder, and New Age healing practices."



Homer and Langley by E.L. Doctorow
"Well written work of historical fiction -- a 'free imaginative rendering of the lives of NY's fabled Collyer brothers.'"






Haiku by Andrew Vachss
"Although not as interesting as a book in the Burke series, this novel about a band of homeless outcasts in NYC packs a punch. The characters are well-drawn in this noir offering."





Even by Andrew Grant
"A British agent in NY gets involved in plots of interest to both the NYPD and the FBI. Identity theft, the purchase and sale of human organs, revenge . . . This first novel by Lee Child's younger brother shows that talent runs in the family."

Water Your Mind
Summer Reading Raffle

Week II
Patron Top Picks

This is what Orangeburg patrons have to say about the good books they read this week . . .

Capitol Betrayal by William Bernhardt
“I couldn’t put it down. Fast reading with a good plot and well-written. Always enjoy his books.”








Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy by Peter Canellos
“Insightful and frank accounting of Ted Kennedy as well as family dynamics and Washington politics.”





Elliot Allagash by Simon Rich
“This book is “Catcher in the Rye” gone awry. Clever and funny – not for teens only.”






Stay by Allie Larkin
“Such a delightfully entertaining, heart warming story. Great “mind escape” book!”











The Help by Kathryn Stockett
“Tells a story that needs to be told. Very well written. A pleasure to read.”
and
“A terrific and instructional read. Couldn’t put it down. Amazing that this is a first novel. Unlike any milieu I know, this book was riveting from page one. Real characters jumped off the page. Use of language and vernacular – terrific.”


American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
“Beautifully written book that deals with the fictionalized life of a first lady who is clearly Laura Bush. It deals with both the private and political life of the heroine with warmth and compassion.”

Water Your Mind

Summer Reading Raffle

Week I

Patron Top Picks

This is what Orangeburg patrons had to say about the good books they read this week . . .

Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of Little Big Horn by Nathaniel Philbrick (2010)
“The Last Stand at the Little Big Horn was also the last stand for Sitting Bull and the closing of the American Frontier. Good book!! Another in Philbrick’s continuing exploration of America.”

Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean by Edward Kritzler (2009)
“I found this book to be very edifying and fairly written. The research was clearly reported and annotated. I recommend this book highly.”

Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee by Sarah Silverman (2010)
“Good, light, funny reading (if you like Sarah Silverman). Like Chelsea Handler’s books – but this also tells of Sarah’s life, so it’s more than just one liners and funny jokes.”

House Rules by Jodi Picoult
“This is a wonderful book, giving insights on the effects of Asperger’s on the family as well as the one affected. I think it will be appreciated by those intimately affected by the condition as well as being an education for those who are not.”

Summer Listening

When Leslie Riley, Adult Services Consultant at Ramapo-Catskill Library System, asked my for summer reading suggestions, it made me realize that a large portion of my reading intake during the past year has been aural. My daily commute from Rye is about a half hour each way and I will admit I have been neglecting current events in lieu of listening to various audio books (CDs). Whether these comprise 'distracted driving' or not, I don't know, but they make my ride one of the best parts of the day. Here are three works that I submitted to Leslie:

Summer Listening suggests audio books I’ve enjoyed this year, primarily during my daily commute by auto between Westchester and Rockland. These are great stories, engaging and broadening. Each deals, in its own way, with different aspects of recent American life and trends – from the Cold War of the 1950’s, the counter-culture that evolved from the 1960’s anti-war movement and finally, Jane Smiley’s account of the greedy exuberance of the 1990’s. BTW, Richard Poe’s narrations are outstanding.

Underworld – Don DeLillo [CD (unabridged), read by Richard Poe. Novel: 1997 on 27 discs.

A portrait of the decade, this wide-ranging work touches on the search for Bobby Thompson’s 1951 home-run baseball, avant-garde art utilizing de-commissioned B-52 bombers, and how a 1950s teenage hood from New York is transformed by the Jesuits into a respectable man, managing hazardous waste. Don’t be discouraged by the 27 discs – by the time I was half way through, I began looking for excuses to spend time in the car.

Drop City - T.Coraghessan Boyle, [CD (unabridged), read by Richard Poe. Novel: 2003 on 16 discs.

Set in the late 60’s, this intriguing tale traces the journey of a displaced California hippie commune to a new life in Alaska and the inter-cultural clashes that ensue when trippy bell-bottomed folks meet the plaid-clad trappers of the Alaskan bush.

Good Faith – Jane Smiley [CD (unabridged book), read by Richard Poe. Novel: 2003 on 11 discs.

Pulitzer Prize winner Smiley once again opens a convincing fictional window on an American subculture: the unbridled operators who hyper-inflated the real estate bubble. Smiley's amusing plot is charged with energy, her sense of time and place is on target, and her research into the ways and means of real estate development is seamlessly integrated.

I recommend taking them along for the ride.

Directly to You

Spring – as we are constantly reminded, is the time of rebirth, sunshine and showers, newness and flowers. At the library we continually strive to bring ‘new’ to our patrons – in the ever-changing collection of books, DVDs, programs, and services we offer.

Did you know that we added over 750 new books to the collection in 2009? Acquired more than 630 DVDs, Recorded Books, and CDs? We also installed a new front door, a new color printer/copier for public use, and substantially increased our Internet bandwidth. The library also sponsored almost 250 programs, attracting about 4000 adults and children to the library. 65,000 people visited the library to use the Internet, ask reference questions, borrow books, magazines, movies and games, study and take language and computer literacy programs.

2010 promises to be another active year at Orangeburg Library. We have already added over 200 new digital items to the physical collection, and make thousands of more digital books and music accessible from home via OverDrive.

We are experimenting with increased digital communications with our patrons – via our website, Facebook page and various blogs. Watch your email for a chance to ‘opt-in’ to many of these new ways to use our collection and services.

Please visit; the staff is eager to help you find what you need and introduce some of our new services.

Top of the Stairs Gallery

Throughout April and May- The Orangeburg Library is very pleased to display the works of eighteen artists of the Jawonio PACE program, part of the day habilitation program. The exhibit entitled “From Imagination to Destination” reflects a place, either real or imaginary, that is meaningful to the individual artist.

Contemporary Library Use

How Libraries Stack-up 2010

This new report from OCLC examines the economic, social and cultural impact of libraries in the United States. As the current economic environment is impacting library budgets and library usage is increasing, particular attention is paid to the role that libraries play in providing assistance to job-seekers and support for small businesses. Information includes statistics on:

• Americans receiving job-seeking help and career assistance at public libraries

• Libraries as a resource for small businesses

• The prevalence and scope of library activity in the United States

• Libraries as providers of free services to the community such as Wi-Fi access, technology training and meeting rooms

• Comparisons of library activities to various retail and entertainment businesses.

Girls With Attitude!

Throughout the month of March, Orangeburg artist, Andrea Narcisco, presents a mixed media display of drawings, paper and fabric entitled “Girls With Attitude” at the Top-of-the-Stairs Gallery. Gallery is elevator accessible.

Directly to You

Screens! If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed with the number and types of digital devices demanding your attention, you are not alone.

“Mass digitization has created unheralded choice and desire for American consumers,” said Ed Moran, director of product innovation for Deloitte’s Technology, Media and Telecommunications group. “Now, more than ever, consumers have the independence to enjoy what they want, when they want it, and where they want it – but increasingly, they are also choosing to create content themselves, or re-working other people’s content.”

We are certainly experiencing this trend at the library. Although circulation of Printed materials (Adult & Children) has been fairly steady over the last five years, we have seen dramatic reductions in the circulation of tape-based formats such as VHS and cassettes. Circulation statistics for digital media (DVDs, Books on CD, Music CDs) continue their upward trends, and the library is acquiring more and more material in digital format to satisfy these wants.

The library is also engaged in creating content that we hope our patrons find helpful and useful to satisfy their reading and informational needs. If you visit our website, you will find links to a variety of digital entities – from our Facebook page and Teen Blog, to the Best Seller and New DVD Lists, and our Events & Program calendar.

Visit us ‘face-to-face’ or via the Internet at http://www.orangeburg-library.org/. Either way, we look forward in the coming year to bringing our patrons the quality materials and outstanding service they have come to expect from the Orangeburg Library.

Top of the Stairs Gallery

January and February –The Orangeburg Library is getting a jump on springtime by displaying watercolor artist, Helen Greenberg's "Forever Flowers" at the Top-of-the-Stairs Gallery. A lover of nature, Ms. Greenberg is particularly inspired by the colors and shapes of iris, tulips, roses and chrysanthemums.

Using a variety of watercolor techniques, Ms. Greenberg's floral interpretations are as fresh and varied as the flowers she sees and those she imagines.

Helen Greenberg trained with a number of prominent artists including Beverly Colgen and Jo Blanchet at the Rockland Center for the Arts, and she has participated in workshops at art centers in New York and Massachusetts. She has shown her watercolors in group and solo shows in Town Halls, Community Centers and libraries in the tri-state area. Currently, Ms. Greenberg is art curator for the Jewish Community Center of Rockland.