If you're over the Bellas, Cullens, Vladimir Todds, and Blue Bloods of the world, then you might be up for the latest trend...ZOMBIES! Go to www.trendsettercentral.com to find out more about the zombie fiction that is gaining popularity.

Want to check out some zombie fiction of your own? Try these:
Zombie Blondes by Brian James
Generation Dead; Kiss of Life by Dan Waters
Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby

And for all you Jane Austen fans check out Pride and Prejudice and Zombies : The Classic Regency Romance -- Now With Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem! by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith, it's the classic book with a zombie twist!

I'm still reading the Mercy Thompson Series and I think I might buy a t-shirt. One of the most interesting parts in the series is the universe where the story takes place. Supernatural creatures have come out into the public eye in the United States. The backdrop is how the public is reacting to the new neighbors. Of course there is more to talk about.....but you'll have to the read the book to find out.

We know that reading can transport us to places all around the world without ever leaving the comfort of our own home. Ever wonder how many places you have 'virtually' visited while reading? I came across a fun website TravBuddy where all you do is check off the places you have "visited' through the wonders of literature and it will calculate what % of the world you have "seen".

Where have you journeyed to lately?

The question should really be: What is TED? Well, it stands for technology, entertainment and design and it's an invitation-only conference where top "thinkers and doers" are invited to give 18-minute talks on a subject or idea. They can be on anything from important world issues to amazing personal experiences. You probably haven't heard of most of these people, but chances are you will in the future, so why not be the first to know?
A teacher has founded a website to use these inspiring, interesting and short-attention-span friendly speeches into the classroom. Learn more about TED at the Teaching with TED website and watch TED videos here. Listen to Scott McCloud talk about comics or Dr. Stuart Brown, a pioneer in research on play, who says plenty of play in childhood makes for happy, smart adults.

Finally last saturday I saw the new Star Trek Film @ an IMAX theater........it is an alternate reality star trek universe and despite this plot device to explain the difference the film is not bad and has out done some of the other star trek films. By the way Spock rules!

This week is Buckle Up America Week. It's important for kids and adults to wear seat belts every time they get in the car. Here are some shocking facts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

- Every hour someone dies in America simply because they didn't buckle up.
- Adults who don't buckle up are sending children a deadly message that it is all right not to wear a seat belt. Children model adult behavior. Research shows that if a driver is unbuckled, 70 percent of the time children riding in that vehicle won't be buckled either.
- If 90 percent of Americans buckle up, we will prevent more than 5,500 deaths and 132,000 injuries annually.

So start a new habit this week and buckle up!

The new movie is here and I am hearing mixed reviews. Some people say it is a pretty good flic and the box office reflects this opinion. Other people think the the film is ok and mild at best. So who do I believe....the masses or the select few?

Last month, the Board of Trustees adopted the 2009/2010 Library budget. This year we are proposing a 1.98% increase ($5 more annually for a home with a market value of $500,000.)

In these trying economic times, your library remains a great value. Where else can you rent DVDs and video games for free? We offer a myriad of programs: concerts, lectures, movies, exercise classes and children's story times. In response to the economic crisis, the Library now offers free career coaching and we are in the process of developing a Career Center.

Make sure you are registered to vote by May 14, 2009. Vote on Tuesday, May 19 from 7 am to 9 pm at South Side High School.

The third and final book by Jessica Day George in the Dragon Slippers series comes out tomorrow, May 12. George never even meant to write a sequel to Dragon Slippers, the successful Dragon Flight, but now she is concluding Creel's story in a third book. Check out her great website for some inside jokes, recipes and stories behind the books.

These books are expected to be BIG on the best seller lists this month and possibly all summer long. Great reading suggestions for the upcoming long Memorial Day weekend! Reserve your copy now.

Brooklyn by Colm Toibin

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

The Last Child by John Hart

The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly

Looking for some magic, monsters, battle and of course treasure....well look no further with the RVC Library's D&D Group....Seek out Mr. M @ the Reference Desk for the details.

These books are technically kept in our teen section, but I'm such a fan that I can't resist posting all this great news about the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. First, the fifth book in the series: The Last Olympian comes out tomorrow, May 5. And second, the first book in the series, The Lightning Thief is being made into a movie due to be released in 2010. Some big names have already been cast as the gods, including Pierce Brosnan as Chiron, Uma Thurman as Medusa, Sean Bean as Zeus, Kevin McKidd as Poseidon and Melina Kanakaredes as Athena.
Check out the photos of the three main, mortal characters below:
From left: Brandon T. Jackson as Grover, Alexandra Daddario as Annabeth, and Logan Lerman as Percy