In the Land of Invisible Women

When her visa is denied for her to stay in the United States, Dr. Qanta Ahmed decides to pursue a position in Saudi Arabia. Even though she has grown up in England, she is a Muslim and believes she understands the way of life she is about to encounter. She encounters great frustration...and great satisfaction.

Why I picked it up: I needed a biography for the Reading Challenge that Stoxen Library sponsored this past summer.

Why I finished it: It was interesting to read about a different way of life. Some of it was frustrating in terms of the treatment of women. It was most educational to read about another culture.

I'd give it to: Anyone who likes biographies...and/or enjoys learning about other places in the world.

call number - R692.A346 2008
In the Land of Invisible Women: a Female Doctor's journey in the Saudi Kingdom by Qanta A. Ahmed c 2008

Latte & Literature at Stoxen Library

On Monday, Feb. 22 at 7:00 pm, Dr. David Solheim will lead a book discussion featuring Diane Glancy's Asylum in the Grasslands. This event will take place at the Common Grounds Coffee Bar in the Library. You need not have read the book to join the discussion. Asylum in the Grasslands is Glancy's most recent book of poetry where she "explores the history of loss" of the Cherokee community. Glancy is a Cherokee poet, fiction writer, essayist, playwright and screenwriter.

A variety of Diane Hall Glancy's books are on display in the Library and are available for check out.

Diane Glancy will be the next author for the Heart River Writer's Circle and will be speaking on Tuesday, March 2 at 7:00 pm at Beck Auditorium. She also will be a guest speaker during the Women's Voices luncheon on Wednesday, March 3.

Arrgh, Mateys!

Stoxen Library recently had a visit from Captain Jack Sparrow

He is bringing awareness to an interesting topic: Pirates

Whether you’d like to read about Buccaneers of the 1600s or modern day pirates attacking ships off the coast of Africa, we have the books for you!

In John Matthews’ ­Pirates, you will find many unique extras including an example of a recruitment advertisement from 1779 and a Little Book of Pirate Slang so you can work on your pirate speak.

Learn what to do if you come across a Swashbuckler as you go about your day in What If You Met a Pirate written and illustrated by Jan Adkins.

Go back to the seventeenth century in Buccaneers of the Caribbean by Jon Latimer and Daniel Sekulich will provide insight into the high seas piracy currently going on in the world in his book Terror on the Seas.

If these titles interest you please stop into the library and check them out. While Captain Jack did have to continue on his journey, if you have questions, the Library Staff is always here to assist you in whatever treasure hunting you’re doing.

Free ebook for February

The free ebook for February is "The Procrastinator's Guide to Getting Things Done." The review for this resource states "Everyone waits till the last minute sometimes. But many procrastinators pay a significant price, from poor job performance to stress, financial problems and relationship conflicts. Expressly designed for people who want to make changes but would be easily daunted by an elaborate self-help program, this guide is packed with highly practical tips and suggestions.
Author and cognitive-behavioral therapy expert Monica Ramirez Basco peppers the book with easy-to-relate-to examples from "recovering procrastinators"—including herself. Inviting quizzes, exercises, and practical suggestions help you:
• Understand why you procrastinate.
• Start with small changes that lead to big improvements.
• Outsmart your own delaying tactics.
• Counteract self-doubt and perfectionism.
• Build crucial skills for getting things done today."

This book is available via netLibrary. Begin at the library homepage and choose "Online Reference Resources" and then "netLibrary" at the next screen. This book will be available for the month of February.

New items in Stoxen Library

Check out the New Library Purchases added during the last quarter of 2009--October, November, and December! You will find the link on the library's home page under Library Information, Services & Forms. The listing shows titles of books, DVDs, and other resources. For your convenience, the Library of Congress classification numbers are included to direct you to where the items are shelved.

One of the new books is from the best-selling author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People, an illuminating book about fear—and what we can do to overcome it.

A component of our lives, fear comes in many guises: fear of unemployment; fear of aging, illness, losing beauty; fear of a terrorist attack or natural disaster. In uncertain times, coping with these fears can be especially challenging, but in this hopeful book, Harold S. Kushner teaches us to confront, master, and even embrace fear for a more fulfilling life.

Drawing on the teachings of religious and secular literature and on the true stories of people who have faced their fears, Kushner helps us to see that fear can present us with extraordinary opportunities—to connect with our emotions, rethink our values, and change our lives, and the world, for the better. For those who fear helplessness, he suggests empowerment: through prayer, service, and education. For those who fear for mankind’s future, he insists on hope and pragmatic measures, such as working to protect the environment. For those who fear death, he proposes life—lived boldly and purposefully.