Use your smartphone to become a wicked smart library user

Do you own a smartphone, such as an iPhone, Blackberry, or Android phone? If so, as you already know, you have an amazing device at your disposal, and now, more than ever, you can use your smartphone to take advantage of all the great services and resources the library has to offer. Below are just some of the ways you can use your smartphone to get the most out of the library:

Get information about the Robbins Library

Did you know that the Robbins Library has a mobile website? Just visit http://robbinslibrary.org on your smartphone to access our mobile website optimized for your phone’s screen. Check out upcoming events, look up our hours of operation, access this blog, and much more!

Find materials

Imagine you are on the third floor of the Robbins Library and trying to remember the call number for that Frommer’s Florida travel guide you want to check out. Sure, you could walk back down to the first floor and ask one of the amazing reference librarians for help, but why not save yourself some time and access the Minuteman Library Network Mobile Catalog on your smartphone? Just visit http://m.library.minlib.net, and you can quickly search the catalog or even login to your account directly using your smartphone.

Learn a language on the go

Did you know that some of our databases have apps that you can download to your smartphone? One of my favorites is Mango Languages Library Edition for the iPhone. Learn a number of languages on the go, including Spanish, French, Chinese, and so many more.

What do I read next?

Just finish reading a book and wondering what to read next? iRecommend is another iPhone app that allows you to scan the ISBN of that great book you just finished and get back a list of books you might enjoy, where you can buy them, and, best of all, find libraries in your area that have them (and if we by chance don’t have them, just ask and we will get them for you!).

Engage the library

In addition to visiting us in person or giving us a call, why not use your smartphone to engage us using social media tools? Friend us on Facebook, ask us a question on Twitter, tell us what you think of us on Yelp, and check-in / become the Mayor of the Robbins or Fox using Foursquare.

Smartphones are great tools that can really add a lot of value to your life. Be wicked smart and use yours to make your overall library experience even better.

Get your game on!

Have you been looking for a place to play board games and people to play them with? Look no further, because the Robbins Library is holding a monthly game night!

Game night starts on Feb 28, and will be held on the last Tuesday of every month in the Community Room from 6-8:45pm. We’ll have a variety of games on hand, from old favorites like Scrabble and Monopoly to newer trendier games like Settlers of Catan and Dominion.

If you’re a board game rookie, don’t despair – a couple of brave volunteers will be on hand to teach some of the more complicated games. Bring your friends, bring games you want to play, and most of all bring your competitive spirit!

NSYA Book Group Update

The Not-So-Young Adult book group met for the first time last week and discussed Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares. Missed the first meeting? Don’t despair – we’ll be there every month!

We picked our next couple of books, so here are the titles and dates:

3/12 I’ll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan (Copies are being held at the Circulation Desk.)

4/9 Delirium by Lauren Oliver

All meetings are held at the Starbucks in Arlington Center at 7pm.

Don’t forget to bring book ideas! Here are some of the titles we considered last time. We’ll keep adding to it so we always have a list to choose from.

Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt

Going Bovine by Libby Bray

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson

Hush by Jacqueline Woodson

Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey

Take a Thief by Mercedes Lackey

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Half-Life of Planets by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin

Do you have any ideas for good book group picks? Post in the comments or bring your ideas to the next meeting!

Under the Radar: American Uprising

Quick: when was the largest slave rebellion in U.S. history? Think it was Nat Turner’s rebellion? Or do you simply have no idea?

Look no further, because I have a fascinating (and blessedly short) book to recommend to you. Daniel Rasmussen’s book American Uprising: The Untold Story of America’s Largest Slave Revolt was released in 2011 without much fanfare, but received deservedly positive reviews. In it, he tells the story of the 1811 German Coast slave revolt, a little-known part of our nation’s history and perfect reading for Black History Month.

A small group of slaves from several plantations in the New Orleans area carefully planned their rebellion in secret and on the night of January 8th they led a huge group – maybe as many as 500 slaves – to revolt. Ultimately, they were quashed and cruelly punished, but the event had far-reaching consequences. For instance, one of the reasons the Americans won the Battle of New Orleans was because the city was so well fortified in response to the slave rebellion.

Rasmussen packed a lot of information into this short book. He includes background including the slave revolts in Haiti, a possible inspiration for the German Coast uprising, as well as analysis of the aftermath and how the uprising affected later events through the Civil War. Finally, he described the cover up of the uprising and how the events were downplayed by the government and consequently became somewhat lost in history.

I found this book very readable and surprisingly enjoyable. It’s not written like a history book – a litany of names, places, and dates – but has a pretty good narrative feel.  It’s these details that really make the history come alive. He describes sights, smells, food, weather conditions and other details that make the story so much more real and immediate than the history I read in school. This would be great for high school students who are bored of the usual dry reading of facts and dates, or anyone interested in learning more about the history of American slavery. Not only is it informative and well-written, but it’s only 150 pages – there’s no excuse not to delve into this fascinating account. The library owns copies of the book and audiobook.

Crimes in Colder Climes

Just what was it about Stieg Larsson’s Millenium Trilogy that made gritty crime fiction readers of us all?  Suddenly, people who only ever read cozy mysteries were sidling up to the reference desk asking about that  “Bee book.”  What was the draw?      It wasn’t the writing (the final book made it clear that writing scenes for a bed-ridden heroine took effort.  Effort which many thought seemed to go largely unrewarded).  Was it Larsson’s tragic backstory?  Maybe.  Or just the hype of it all?  Personally, I’d never read much fiction set in the colder climes, but somehow the frozen settings seemed, well, more frozen.  The villains were more perverse, and the heroes…you get the picture.

Thankfully, New York Magazine published a series of articles that do a pretty good job of explaining what we can get for our time and attention (those curious diacritical marks can really slow you down.  Tip:  try listening to the audiobook version.  The actors who perform the book generally do a convincing job with the pronunciation).  It’s a great place to start to get an overview of the literary landscape.

New York Magazine Scandinavian Crime Fiction Guide

Peaceful People = Best Crime Fiction

Scandinavian Crime Fiction in the Media

Homicide Rate Around the World

 

Keep Those Fitness Goals!

Even though we haven’t had snow this year, winter sure seems to be lasting a long time.  If you’re like me and made a pledge to become more fit in 2012, here are a few simple and free exercise resources that just might rekindle your motivation and reduce the winter blahs!

Bodyweight Exercises:

Bodyweight exercises are simple strength training exercises that don’t require weights– your own weight serves as all of the resistance that you need.  Push ups, pullups, and sit ups some of the most common bodyweight exercises.

One of my favorite bodyweight resources is located at http://www.simplefit.org.  It provides users with quick, straightforward, and effective workouts designed to help build muscle and strength.  The best part is, you can do it from home with just a few simple pieces of equipment!

The Minuteman Network also owns multiple copies of Mark Lauren’s You Are Your Own Gym: The Bible of Bodyweight Exercises, which is another great resource that will provide you with great strength-building exercises that involve little, if any, gym equipment.

Kettlebells:

If you’re looking for an intense strength workout that doesn’t require a trip to the gym, look no further than the kettlebell!  It’s an iron weight that looks like a bell (shocking, I know!).  Kettlebell exercises combine cardio, strength, and flexibility.

And in amazing news, the Minuteman Library Network carries several useful books that focus on the kettlebell, including Enter the Kettlebell! Strength Secret of the Soviet Supermen, by Pavel; Complete Guide to Kettlebell Training, by Allan Collins; and Kettlebells for Dummies, by Sara Lurie.

Interval Workouts:

A great way to burn calories is through interval training.  Interval training mixes bursts of high-intensity work with periods of low-intensity work. The high-intensity bursts are typically at or close to maximum effort, while the recovery periods are either involve complete rest or lower-intensity activity.  Interval training can be used in any kind of cardio workout, like cycling, running, or even rowing.

One of the most popular interval training programs is P90X, which is a collection of intense workouts that places your body in a state of muscle confusion.  The Minuteman Library Network owns multiple copies of the 13-DVD program, if you would like to give it a try!  The library also owns a copy of Bring It!, a companion exercise book by P90X creator Tony Horton.

Run Run Run:

Even though it’s chilly out, running is one of the most energizing activities that you can do in the wintertime!  And if you’re tired of running the same old routes around your neighborhood, you can check out Mark Lowenstein’s Great Runs in Boston and Great Runs in Boston Burbs.  Both of these books can be found at the library, and they are full of interesting and scenic run possibilities!  Winter is also a great time to start training for spring races, many of which you can find and sign up for on http://www.active.com/.

No matter what kind of exercise interests you, the library has a host of excellent resources that you can use to achieve your fitness goals.  Good luck– and have fun!  And remember, spring is just around the corner!

Back by popular demand! How to borrow ebooks from the library!

Did you know that over a quarter of adults in the United States now own either an ereader or a tablet? Perhaps you were one of the many that became a proud first-time owner of one of these devices. And perhaps you don’t have the first clue as to how to get ebooks for your new device. Don’t fear, returning for an encore performance is How to borrow ebooks from the library. Please join us on Wednesday, February 22, as library staff will show you all you need to know about borrowing ebooks, including software needed, device capability, downloading procedure, placing holds and checking out items. Bring your ereaders and laptops if possible! Drop by the Library Community Room anytime between 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm on Wednesday, February 22. While this event is part of our ongoing PLUGGED iN @ THE ROBBiNS series targeted to 50+ adults, I promise we won’t turn you away even if you are younger!

Don't know how to use this thing? We can help!

Can’t make this event? Feel free to stop by the reference desk anytime we are open and we will be happy to help you figure out how to borrow library ebooks for your ereader or tablet. Or, check out this handy list of resources showing you how to borrow ebooks for your device.