Library Page

Standing. Sure, it has its advantages. It's nice to stand and stretch out the old legs every once in a while, and standing typically burns more calories than sitting does. You definitely appear taller when you stand than when you sit.
 
Sitting, however, is really where it's at. Sitting is restful, particularly after a long day. Sitting pairs with leisurely activities like cheese with wine, cookies with milk, books with libraries. And, when working at a computer, sitting is most assuredly the best way to go.

Previously at the Hales Corners Library, patrons, for lack of a place to sit, stood while using many of our computers. However, this past week the library received an order of new, comfortable computer stools to place at our public computers, thus making standing at the computers obsolete.

The stools are sturdy and attractive with comfortable blue padded seats. The library has received only positive comments on the stools from patrons and, we're fairly certain, many computer users at the library are typing more freely and happily because of the wonderful new stools. The new stools add to the never ending list of reasons why the library is a great place to be.
 
Stop standing there and try one out today!

The usual suspects are on the list: "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou, "Attack of the Mutant Underwear" by Tom Birdseye, "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury, "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown, "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier, most of the Harry Potter titles, "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain.

And, there are some new additions: "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, "The Bastard of Istanbul" by Elif Shafak, and "Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic" by Alison Bechdel.

What is the list and why are these books on it?
 
The list is "Books Challenged or Banned in 2006 - 2007." To find out why the books are on it, check out the display at the Hales Corners Library, located just inside the front entrance. The list is posted and notes where each book was banned and why.

Some of the details are scary like the write-up for Elif Shafak: "Prize-winning novelist went on trial in Istanbul, Turkey (2006), accused of belittling Turkishness. The novel had been at the top of Turkish bestsellers lists since its publication, but its treatment of the mass murder of Ottoman Armenians in 1915 angered government officials."

Banned Book Week - when the library community and booksellers across the country celebrate controversy, differences of opinion, and the words that make us think. Select one of the recently banned books on display at the Hales Corners Library then use your free public library card to check it out. Banned Book Week - time to treasure your freedom to read.

Patricia Laughlin, Library Director

The fish tank needs looking after and you’re the perfect person for the job!

Do you have a little time on your hands?

The library is looking for someone to help take care of our fish tank. We need an individual or, better yet, a family with children to clean and care for our goldfish tank. Cleaning is done every other week. This means about 20% of the tank water is removed and replaced with fresh water. When the water has been removed, the inside of the tank is cleaned with a scrubber to get as much algae off as possible. The tank is then refilled with fresh water that includes a mix of essential chemicals; once a month the filter is replaced when the water is changed.
 
The library is open seven days a week during the school year, which makes it easy for the volunteer to find a time that suits a busy schedule. Please call Patricia Laughlin, Library Director, at 414-529-6150 ext. 20, if you're interested.