Library Happenings by Julie Jarman

The Staunton Public Library wishes everyone a wonderful and exciting new year.

We are now back in the office once again after all those holidays spent with family and friends. Library Hours are as follows:

Monday thru Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday and Sunday closed.

Saturday 9 a.m. to noon.

The library was closed on Monday, January 15 for Martin Luther King's Birthday.

Last year was a whirlwind year of interesting new books published and blockbuster movies released. Although I am not a huge movie buff, I did see Barbie and the new Indiana Jones movie and really enjoyed them both in different ways. Books, of course, are like my best friends. I love to read whether it is for learning, for research, or for pure entertainment. I keep a running list of everything I read and if I liked it or not. It made it much easier when it came to picking my top reads from last year.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Gramus; Happiness Falls by Angie Kim; A House in the Pines by Ana Keyes.

Garmus outdid all expectations in her debut novel, Lessons in Chemistry, as she beautifully, sometimes sadly, chronicles the life of Elizabeth Zott who just wants to get her PhD and work in the world of science and yet is forced to fight back against extreme sexism and the harshness of societal norms and restrictive gender roles of the 1950s and 1960s.

The story blended some heavy adult topics of rape, child abuse, and forced pregnancy with some pretty hilarious situations that had me laughing out loud along the way.

Happiness Falls, by Angie Kim is about a family searching for a father who has suddenly vanished without a trace. Youngest brother Eugene, who is a child with special needs (autism and a rare genetic disorder called mosaic Angelman Syndrome) was the last known person to see Dad.

The story begins when Eugene returns home without his father after their daily hike at the park close by. He is nonverbal and can not simply explain to his mom or siblings what occurred, heightening the intensity of the plot. What is learned in the search for Dad about the other family members in the household only adds more drama to the mystery.

Finally, the last story on my favorites list, A House in the Pines by Ana Reyes is a psychological suspense thriller based on the distorted memories of a young woman named Maya who watched her best friend die right before her eyes without warning many years ago and without explanation. The loss puts her in a tailspin for many years as she tries to move on and also forget that terrible time period. When similar deaths begin occurring again many years later, she is prompted to find out what happened with her best friend eventually leading her to a mysterious cabin in the woods. I was captivated with the story line and my wild imagination about the house in the pines. All three of these books are different in topic, concept and genre but they all have deeply enriched character exploration which led me to want to know more about the story. I am so glad we have so many great reading choices at our fingertips. Feel free to share your favorite reads of last year whether on our facebook page or at the counter.

Reading a good book, seeing a great movie, picking out an audiobook or a music cd, ordering e-books through the library is something we all can benefit from at the home town library. As far as the library is concerned, we purchase newly released movies and top sellers in hardback cover fiction every month. If you live in Staunton, your taxes already support the library and all you have to do is stop by with a piece of mail and a photo ID to get your card.

If you live close by and you reside in the Staunton school district, one can be purchased for $35.00 a year with proof of address and photo ID. People in the rural area are required to go to the closest library in their area and / or the home town library in their school district. Come check out our collection and save yourself a little money in borrowing our items for a week or two. I personally love checking out new authors searching for a brand new favorite.

Speaking of checkouts: The library has begun a new pilot fine free program just in time for the new year. Every check out will still be for two weeks. Phone calls will be made after two weeks to see if anyone needs a renewal. Fine periods on over due items will still be 20 cents a day but you will get double the grace period of four weeks now instead of two before fines begin. On the thirty-first day without any renewals, the fine will start at 20 cents each day until the item is returned or renewed. This is a pilot program we started as a more simpler, friendlier way to handle interactions with our library patrons.

The library is still changing out stories at the permanent story book walk at Water Tower Park but due to the cold weather, we only go out there when we feel it is safe to do so. No one wants to fall down on the ice or suffer frostbite in their fingers changing out the panels in the harsh winter weather. The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett was the book for Dec. We hope to be able to change it out to The Mitten by Alvin Tresselt one day very soon.

The library has a new facebook page: Library Page Staunton is up and running at last. Please check us out for the latest news, listings, and happenings at the local library. [email protected] and 618-635-3852 are the other ways you can reach us. Come see us at the library one day soon.