One of my favorite shows is going off the air, Reading Rainbow is ending its 26-year run this Friday. Hosted by LeVar Burton, the show featured a children's book that would spur a real-life adventure: visiting a pet store, getting a tailor made coat or interviewing workers at an all-night diner. At the end of the show kids would give their reviews of a couple of books. The idea behind the show was to inspire a love of reading in kids, something we try to do at the library. It is sad to see a show with that philosophy being passed over for funding. If you don't know about the show check out its website or this great article on NPR.

Looking through all the book reviews handed in this summer, it looks like the RVC teens read some pretty good books. Get your opinion on your favorite books out there by voting in the ALA Teens' Top Ten. Vote for up to 3 of your favorites from the nominated titles here. Check back during the week of October 18-24 to see the winners. Voting ends September 18. Remember, vote early and vote often.

Want to read what the President is reading on vacation at Martha's Vineyard this week? The following are books that Mr. Obama supposedly brought along on his trip:

The Way Home by George Pelecanos ~ a crime thriller based in Washington. D.C. (apropos)
Lush Life by Richard Price ~ a story of race and class set on the Lower East Side.
Hot, Flat & Crowded by Thomas Friedman ~ the benefits to America of an environmental revolution
John Adams by David McCullough ~ bio of our 2nd President
Plainsong by Kent Harul ~ about the lives of eight different characters living in a Colorado prairie community.

The best thing about his list is that these are NOT new titles and most are available right now here at the library!

At Blizz Con it was announced that Blizzard Entertainment is going to release two new games and a new expansion set for World of Warcraft. The two new games are Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3. The expansion set is World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. This expansion set is going to have shattering changes to Azeroth.

The YA department is excited to introduce our new Anime Club starting in September. Join the Facebook group page here

Meetings will be Wednesdays, September 9, September 23, October 7, October 21 and November 18. See the Facebook page for more info!

As a leader of a mystery book discussion group here at the library and a member of my own personal book group, one of my 'go-to' websites for discussion questions is readinggroupguides. Here is an interesting article from them on how the library offers great resources to support your book discussion group.

Aliens trapped in South Africa......Peter Jackson presents.....Is this the break out sci/fi movie of the summer? I am hearing great reviews!

Book Five of the 39 Clues series came out on August 11. The Black Circle by Patrick Carman follows siblings Dan and Amy Cahill as they continue to follow clues left by their deceased grandmother. It would seem that these clues lead to unimagined wealth and power, but mostly they've been nothing but trouble and danger for Amy and Dan who were last spotted in Egypt. These books seem to be losing steam a bit. They are not flying off our shelves like they did at first. Anyone out there reading them? What do you think?

1969 - what a year it was ~~ Woodstock, the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, the Manson Family, the Stonewall Riot, the Beatles Abbey Road album AND The Brady Bunch premiere on TV! Experience a 'blast from the past' by reading what was considered racy 40 years ago. Check out this list for a few classics of the 60's.

If you are interested in seeing a few real lava lamps, take a close look at our 'summer of love' display behind the desk where you check out and return your books. You'll leave the library feeling GROOVY.

We have a new favorite picture book here in the Children's Room - The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School by Laurie Halse Anderson. Zoe has beautiful, long, wild, red hair (I always wanted red hair). Some problems arise when her new first grade teacher states: "School has rules. No wild hair in my class!" Check it out today!

Do you enjoy writing, mysteries and being creative? Then the Amanda Project is for you. Check out this new series and interactive website. Here's the deal, Amanda started at Endeavor High School on Halloween and went missing on the Ides of March. She's left clues behind to 3 friends. Register for the site and you can become part of Amanda's story by writing yourself into the story and putting the clues together. The first book, Invisible I, comes out in September, so check for it on our shelves this fall.

http://www.theamandaproject.com/

It's August and the weather finally feels like summer! Need some suggestions for a few books to take down to the beach or pool? Check out NPR's Audience Picks: 100 Best Beach Books Ever for a suggested list. It's fun to see how many you've already read (I checked 35 off the list).

From the comic-con in california I heard a whisper that a Green Lantern movie is in the works....Ryan Reynolds stars!

Next week is the last week of the Summer Reading Program, so don't forget to come in and get your final prizes -- and there are lots of them this year, including a bookcover, McDonald's coupons and your certificate of participation.
Plus, the Spoon Man, Jim Cruise, will be putting on a hilarious performance on Thursday, August 13 at 10:30 am.