Recently Fund Developement Director Linda Krombeen joined Shelley Irwin on the WGVU Morning Show to talk about KDL’s upcoming Book Bash, taking place April 27 and 28 at the KDL Service Center in Comstock Park. This exciting event includes a giant warehouse book & media sale with over 100,000 items!

Enjoy!

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download BookBash3-15-13.mp3

(photo courtesy of Shelley Irwin)

If you watched Skyfall and need more James Bond in your life, what do you do now?  There are plenty of great options to immerse you in the James Bond Universe, like reading the original novels by Ian Fleming. Fleming’s first book, Casino Royale, is a good place to start and it was also the first Daniel Craig film as Bond. There are 12 original novels by Fleming plus some short stories, though some authors have taken the series further, including Jeffery Deaver who wrote Carte Blanche: 007.

There are also Bond books for teens, like Charles Higson’s Young Bond series that begins with SilverFin. In SilverFin, a 14-year old James is fighting evil villains in the 1930s.  Another good choice is the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz, which is heavily inspired by James Bond. In Stormbreaker, Alex’s uncle dies a mysterious death, leaving Alex to discover the truth and become a superspy himself.

If you are looking for similar action-filled novels with a bit of the James Bond aesthetic, try out Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt books and Ted Bell’s Alex Hawke novels.  There is plenty to watch and read for any Bond fan while waiting for the next movie installment.

These aren’t your typical Hunger Games dystopia titles.  Rather, the thread of commonality involves women dealing with the threat of Earth’s survival during and after catastrophic events.

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker imagines the coming-of-age story of young Julia, whose world is thrown into upheaval when it is discovered that the Earth’s rotation has suddenly begun to slow, posing a catastrophic threat to all life.

Life as We Knew It is a teen novel by Susan Beth Pfeffer, the first in the Last Survivor series. Through journal entries, 16-year-old Miranda describes her family’s struggle to survive after a meteor hits the moon, causing worldwide tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Melancholia, a film starring Kirsten Dunst, highlights how two sisters find their already strained relationship challenged as a mysterious new planet threatens to collide with Earth.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World starring Keira Knightley and Steve Carell.  As an asteroid nears Earth, a man finds himself alone after his wife leaves in a panic. He decides to take a road trip to reunite with his high-school sweetheart. Accompanying him is a neighbor who inadvertently throws a wrench in his plan.

Wendy Batchelder from “Lost Arts” will present “Lily of the Valley Is for Happiness,” appearing in full Victorian costume to talk about the meaning of flowers. You don’t have to dress in period costume (though you could), but you will learn to make a simple tussie mussie (also called a “nosegay,” and either term is just plain fun to say, innit?) to give to someone who makes you happy. Pre-registration is required and class size is limited. For teens and adults.

Monday, April 22, 2:00 PM – Plainfield Township branch
Monday, April 22, 6:30 PM – Englehardt branch
Thursday, April 25, 6:00 PM – Gaines Township branch
Saturday, April 27, 1:30 PM – Krause Memorial branch
Thursday, May 2, 6:30 PM – Byron Township branch
Thursday, May 16, 6:30 PM – Comstock Park branch

Help address childhood hunger in Kent County by supporting Kids’ Food Basket! During the month of April, KDL Gives Back will sponsor juice box collection and bag decorating stations at all 18 branches.

Drop off juice boxes and bring the family in to decorate sacks:
Monday, April 1 – Tuesday, April 30

Kids’ Food Basket is a nonprofit West Michigan organization whose mission is to make sure children in our community do not go to bed hungry. The group began more than nine years ago by serving 125 kids every school day through its Sack Supper program, and now serves nearly 5,000 kids every day.

*photo: Kids’ Food Basket

The calendar in April will attest
KDL’s 10th Annual Teen Poetry Contest,

Up to 10 teens a-rhyming
Will earn prizes for poetic timing,

$50 in Schuler Books gift cards
For stanzas o’er which you labored hard,

Rules and entry forms available here
Or at the KDL branch you hold most dear,

Poems better than this one accepted April 1 through 30,
Your mom might read them, so nothing dirty.

Last year more than 200 area teens in grades 6-12 entered our annual  poetry contest. In case you missed it, here are those winning entries. Go forth and compose those cantos.

Free books. Free movies. Free video games. Free eBooks and eAudiobooks. Free music (including downloads). Free programs. Free research databases. Free magazines (including downloads). The list could go on and on!

All this, plus a chance to win a slew of amazing prizes… sign up for a library card today! Our Find Your Happiness library card campaign runs until the end of March, so there is still time to get in on the fun! Those of you reading this probably already have a library card, so make sure to spread the word to your family and friends. They will thank you, I’m sure!

Just in case you’re wondering, the prizes for the campaign include an overnight stay at the JW Marriott, a three-month family membership at the YMCA, movie passes and free popcorn at Celebration! Cinema, gift cards for Schuler Books & Music, Meijer and Family Fare, a free birthday party at the Kentwood Fun Spot and so much more!

Kent District Library really is Your Place for Happiness!

Hey Teens:

Looking for something fun to do over spring break? Then come to the Mario Kart teen video game tournament! It’s on Saturday, April 6, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at the Cascade Township branch.

Get your gaming skills ready and join us for some intense Mario Kart action! Many will enter, only the best will be crowned champions. This tournament features great prizes and snacks.  Plus former Cascade favorite Kip will be there to host it, so don’t miss out.  Pre-registration is required and participant spots are limited. For teens grades 6-12. Click here to register now. Or register in your local branch or by calling us at 616-784-2007.

The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. The winning titles are selected from the previous year’s publishing. The Alex Awards were first given annually beginning in 1998 and became an official ALA award in 2002.

Wondering who the current winners are?  Check out our Alex Award Winners booklist and find your next interesting read.

Those of you who download eBooks and eAudiobooks from KDL have probably noticed that our eBook website recently underwent a makeover as OverDrive upgraded it to their new “Next Generation experience.”

Now that you’ve had a chance to use the site for a while, OverDrive wants to know what you think. Share your thoughts by taking their survey, and they will reward one lucky winner with an iPad!

The survey runs through April 30, and the data will be used to enhance library services in the future.

Good luck!