I.A.Q: Infrequently Asked Questions

We received an interesting and unique question recently - one of our patrons wanted to know when coiled cords were first used with telephones. We looked in our Famous First Facts reference book, but to no avail - apparently it was not famous enough and they couldn't be bothered with it. A couple librarians joined the search, which next took us to the encyclopedias. Based on a series of photographs of antique phones, we determined that it was probably a date around 1950, as this is when the coil replaced the smooth cord in the pictures. You can see that this wasn't necessarily definitive, and an Internet search yielded only bizarre and seemingly unrelated tidbits of information. For instance, the 1950ish date stood up partly due to this alien autopsy debunking article - which pointed out that the footage could not have been filmed in the 40s because the coiled telephone cord seen in the background was not yet invented. Fair enough! Anyway, I believe I've stumbled on the answer, which is provided in this patent for a retractile cord and method of making retractile cords. It was filed in 1947 and finally issued in 1951. So...in conclusion...thereabouts.

What We're Watching: The Office, Season One

Our library has an impressive array of television box sets on DVD, and among them is the first season of The Office (American version). While I have found myself roaring that "The original is better!" for most TV shows and movies, I can say no such thing in this case. I'm sure fans of the British version will find this distasteful, but there it is. You are welcome to check both out and see what you think.

The Office is filmed in a documentary style, much like the "rockumentary", cult classic This is Spinal Tap. Steve Carell (Little Miss Sunshine, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Anchorman) plays a boss who is self-absorbed, completely absurd, and utterly offensive. However, he's difficult to hate because of his awkwardness and insecurity. Carell is always a laugh, but some of the most painfully amusing moments arise between the power-hungry, nerdy, and gullible Dwight, and his office enemies, Jim and Pam. Practical jokes are the norm, as when Dwight finds his office supplies floating within a mass of Jello.

There was a sale on this season at Best Buy recently, so the husband and I jumped at the chance to finally pick it up. There are only 6 episodes on this set, but take heart: the bonus materials more than make up for it. Each episode has several minutes of equally funny deleted scenes, and there are commentary tracks for nearly the entire season. The commentaries are high in energy, funny, and interesting. I had no idea that many of the background characters are also writers for the show. Make it your New Year's resolution to get acquainted with The Office - my personal favorite comedy of 2006.

Gerald Ford, 1913 - 2006

Today is a sad day for all Americans with the death of former President Gerald Ford. He was 93 and just last month became the longest lived President when he passed Ronald Reagan.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obit_ford

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/27/ford.obit/

Please see my previous post of November 13, 2006 for more information about President Ford along with suggested reading lists.

Lĭt / uh / ruh / sē Äw / fĭs

Read Zone

Dec. 25: also A ‘ phabet Day
The Twelve Days of Christmas, a children's rhyme, was originally published in a book called Mirth without Mischief in London around 1780. Originally a memory and forfeit game, players gathered in a circle and each person took turns to say the first line of the rhyme, then the second line of the verse and so on. 100 years later, Lady Gomme adopted the rhyme so that "the whole family could have fun singing every twelfth night before Christmas before eating mince pies and twelfth cake".

What is the 'real' cost of "The 12 Days of Christmas?"
PNC Christmas Price Index. 2006 - a 3.1% increase

A Partridge in a Pear Tree: $144.99

-partridge: $15.00

–pear tree: $129.99

2 Turtle Doves: $40.00

3 French Hens: $45.00

4 Calling Birds: $479.96

5 Golden Rings: $325.00

6 Geese-a-Laying: $300.00

7 Swans-a-Swimming: $4,200.00

8 Maids-a-Milking: $41.20

9 Ladies Dancing: $4,759.19

10 Lords-a-Leaping: $4,160.25

11 Pipers Piping: $2,124.00

12 Drummers Drumming: $2,301.00

2006 Cost: $18,920.50 Cumulative Cost: $75,122.03

For a slideshow presentation, charts and graphs; visit:

the PNC Christmas Price Index, Provident Bank.

Sites of Interest . . . . Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas created by the

students of the Withywood cluster of schools in Bristol. And, a couple of

silly versions on YouTube.

Hogwarts Style

Happy 12 Days

bhampromogrrrl's photos: Flickr.com

Christmas Reading - The Polar Express

I was talking with a friend the other night who's daughter is celebrating her first Chrsitmas this year and mentioned that he will have to get a copy of one of my favorite Christmas season books to read to her. That book being The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Perenially on December bestseller lists, this story of a young boy's train voyage to the North Pole, Santa and the meaning of Christmas features Caledecott Award winning illustrations and is one of those rare, happy times that both story and art are simply a perfect match for each other. If you have only seen the movie or never read The Polar Express please do so as this title is sure to please young and those young at heart alike. Consider it our holiday treat for all of you!

First Crossword Puzzle

On this day in 1913, the first crossword puzzle appeared in a supplement to the New York World. Since then, it has been delighting the analytical of mind...and befuddling me. (I am fairly sure my ineptitude with crosswords has prevented me from making the jump to Sudoku.)

No matter! Crosswords are still interesting, engaging, and good for the mind. For those who would like to improve their skills, we have many crossword dictionaries. The Million Word Crossword Dictionary should get you started. For the novice, might I recommend Crossword Puzzles for Dummies.

If you like crossword puzzles AND a good mystery, you're in luck. Two authors fit the bill: Nero Blanc and Parnell Hall. Hall actually has a new book out: You Have the Right to Remain Puzzled. Yes, these books have several puzzles for hours of extra entertainment.

Finally, we have a wonderful rental DVD that you should see: Wordplay. This documentary is to crosswords what Spellbound was to the spelling bee. Our library actually screened this film at one of our Le Petit Cinema events. Enjoy!

Lĭt / uh / ruh / sē Äw / fĭs

December 20: Poet Laureate Anniversary
President Ronald Reagan signed legislation for the Librarian of Congress
to appoint a Poet Laureate of the United States. Donald Hall is the current
Poet Laureate.

California was the first state to appoint a poet laureate. The State Poet
Laureate is appointed by the Governor for a two-year term. Al Young,
the current Poet Laureate, was appointed on May 12, 2005.

Sites of Interest . . . .

Poetry and Literature Center – Library of Congress
Today, the Poetry and Literature Center is the home of the Poet Laurete. In addition to supporting the Poet Laureate’s activities and interests, the Center sponsors an annual series of public poetry and fiction readings, lectures, and other literary events.

Simply Everything Poetry is dedicated to the poet in all of us. Who among us is not tempted to complete the line, "Roses are Red, Violets are blue"? Do we not sing along with radio and television commercials? What adult cannot remember a poem learned years ago?

Poets.org - Supports American poets at all stages of their careers and fosters the appreciation of contemporary poetry. Site features exhibits, National Poetry Month, and a listening booth of poems.
. . . . or check out a Book !

The Painted Bed. Hall, Donald 811 H175 HALL
Hall's new poems further the themes of love, death, and mourning; they are by turns furious and resigned, spirited and despairing. In the end, the poet moves toward acceptance of new life in old age.

Coastal Nights and Inland Afternoons, Al Young [ Dec. 2006 ]






Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance. Carl Sandburg

What We're Watching - A Christmas Story.

This weekend I had a chance to watch one of my favorite holiday movies, A Christmas Story base upon the Jean Shepherd novel "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash." A humorous, nostalgic look back upon growing up in the 1940's and according to my Aunt, dead on accurate in the movies feel for the time period and who am I to argue with her? My favorite scenes involve Dad's leg lamp and everything involving the bloodhounds from next door!

Summary of film: In 1940s Indiana, nine-year-old Ralphie dreams of his ideal Christmas gift: a genuine Red Ryder 200-shot carbine action air rifle. But when gruff dad and doting mom regularly respond with "You'll shoot your eye out!" Ralphie mounts a full-scale Santa-begging campaign. He encounters a slew of calamities from snowsuit paralysis to the dreaded tongue-on-a-frozen-flagpole gambit.

So enjoy watching A Christmas Story, but please enjoy responsibly as we wouldn't want you to shoot your eye out!

Assessment Appeals Public Education Program

The library received a pamphlet from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and I thought I'd pass the information along to our online readers. There will be a number of free seminars around the county. According to these materials, "The Assessment Appeals Public Education Program was developed to help taxpayers better understand the assessment appeals process in Los Angeles County." The seminars cover taxpayers' appeal rights, filing an application, and preparing for a hearing. For more information, you can visit their website, or call (213) 974-4240.

The closest seminar will be held at 10 AM on Wednesday, January 10, 2007, at Glendale Public Library. Their address is 222 E. Harvard Street in Glendale, and the library will validate 3 hrs. parking. Additional locations include Cerritos, Culver City, El Monte, Lancaster, and Van Nuys. For specifics on date and time, please see the above website.

Volunteer Reading Tutor - Children

Ready To Read

Volunteer to tutor children, 4th - 8th grade,
who need extra help with reading. Teach phonic,
sight-word and fluency skills. Tutor twice-a-week,
after school at the Burbank Public Library. The
15-week session runs from February to June.

Register for a Ready To Read Workshop:

January 23rd, 6 pm – 9 pm; and January 27th, 10am – 5 pm.
For more information, call the Literacy Office: 818 . 238 . 5577

Google Patent Search

Whether you're an inventor or a person who likes to scour the Internet for interesting information, the new Google Patent search is for you. For example, I discovered that Mattel has a patent on a Doll Having Hiccuping Feature. You've been warned, toy makers! Each patent is accompanied by a drawing of the invention, as in these illustrations of a Merry-Go-Round, filed in 1890. You can find the same information at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, but Google is arguably more easy to navigate.

If you're looking for general books on patents, you might try The inventor's bible : how to market and license your brilliant ideas or How to register your own trademark : with forms. We even have a DVD: The inventors' guide to making your brainstorm bankable : how to protect and market your invention. We also have a Nolo Press legal book called How to make patent drawings yourself. History buffs might appreciate our reference title Historical first patents : the first United States patent for many everyday things.

Library Christmas and New Year's holiday hours.

The Burbank Public Library will have the following special hours in effect for the Christmas and New Year's Day holidays.

All Burbank Libraries will CLOSE at 5 PM on Saturday, December 23 and all day on both Sunday, December 24 & Monday, December 25 for Christmas. All libraries will CLOSE at 5 PM on Saturday, December 30 and all day on both Sunday, December 31 and Monday, January 1 for New Year's Day.

Lĭt / uh / ruh / sē Äw / fĭs

December 15: Bill of Rights Day
President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Bill of Rights Day in 1941 noting the
150th anniversary of its ratification. President Roosevelt urged all Americans to
display the flag on this date, and to plan appropriate ceremonies honoring the occasion.

Civic Literacy, how important is it? Two surveys of college students are not optimistic: ACTA (1999) and ISI (2005) –both report that college under-
graduates know little about American history, government or foreign affairs. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) revealed 81% of seniors from the top 55 U.S. colleges and universities failed a high school level history exam, and that none of the institutions surveyed requires a course in American history. Three-quarters require no history at all.

Intercollegiate Studies Institute’s “The Coming Crisis in Citizenship” reports that college undergraduates know little about America’s history, government or foreign affairs. 14,094 students at 50 colleges were asked 60 questions about U.S. history. The average college senior scored well below 70%. The average score was a disappointing 53.2%.

Sites of Interest

Today in History: Library of Congress American Memory provides free and open access through the Internet to written and spoken words, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience.

The Bill of Rights Institute educates young people about the words and ideas of America's Founders, the liberties guaranteed in our Founding documents, and how our Founding principles continue to affect and shape a free society.

The Youth Urban Agenda/Civic Literacy Project is an international civic education program housed at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.

or Check out a Book !

The War on the Bill of Rights and the Gathering Resistance. Hentoff, Nat. 323.49 HENTO 2003
Hentoff, a veteran defender of civil liberties, elaborates on the legal "steamroller" unleashed after September 11 that he contends is diminishing our civil rights.

If you mind your own business, you won't be minding mine. Hank Williams

What We're Swaying To: Picaresque

It's that time of year when my mind is easily distracted and it's difficult to concentrate on the written word for very long. While I've been meaning to present you with a book review or two, I have failed. (Sorry!) However, if there was ever an album that was meant for the literary snob in all of us, it is certainly Picaresque by The Decemberists. The sound is unique, full of exotic instruments, and the lyrics are full of wordy exuberance and clever storytelling. Indeed, it's similar to what Belle and Sebastian might produce after a particularly inspired history course. For those who have no idea what I'm talking about, let's just call it "indie rock" and leave it at that. It transports you to another time and teaches you a few vocabulary words in the process. (Palanquin?)

Fans of Stephen Colbert will recognize them as the band who have accepted his green screen challenge, and who thoughtlessly ripped off his video gimmick. For further details on that, click on the link. Let's just say that when one of my favorite musicians faces off against one of my favorite TV personalities, it's giggle-giddy time for Erin. (Easily amused).

Anyway, I would recommend taking a listen to this CD if you get the chance. Click on the album name above to check our library for availability. My favorite song? "The Mariner's Revenge Song": "We are two mariners / Our ships' sole survivors / In this belly of a whale / Its ribs are ceiling beams / Its guts are carpeting / I guess we have some time to kill". It's nearly 9 minutes of naughty nautical fun!

Bah! Humbug!

With those words, one knows immediately that one is talking about the most famous piece of Christmas fiction ever written, "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. While it is hard to avoid bumping into a version on stage, screen or printed page at this time of year, I come to lead you to enjoyable versions of all three.

For stage, try and take in a performance at the Glendale Centre Theatre of their production of A Christmas Carol. I was fortunate enough to see this on Friday and heartily recommend it to everyone. Judging by the large number of children in the audience, it is also a wonderful piece of theatrical entertainment to use as a child's first play.

For the printed page, I am reading my copy of the novel that is illustrated by the award winning illustrator, Trina Shart Hyman who's beautiful colored drawings make this an edition to look forward to reading year after year.

Finally, while the role of Ebenezer Scrooge has been played by many, I am very fond of the TV movie version starring George C. Scott's Emmy Award nominated take on the old miser. Scrooge allows Scott to utilize his gravel voiced growl as a weapon of intimidation that make his Scrooge hugely entertaining and his eventual redemption all the better to view.

In any format, A Christmas Carol still is one of the best Christmas season entertainments that you can enjoy and I hope you will find one to your liking.

John Lennon remembered.

It is hard to believe but today, December 8, marks the 26th anniversary of the death of John Lennon. Certainly for many of us, it is one of those times that one vividly remembers where you were when you first heard of his murder. Me, I was a college student studying at the Burbank Central Library. Stunned, I went to visit a friend who was working at a grocery store to share the sad and tragic news with him. Where were you? Truly a musical presence that is sorely missed.

John Lennon's official website http://www.johnlennon.com/

Library materials about and by John Lennon, click here.

Tell Us What You Think!

The City of Burbank is updating the Open Space and Conservation sections of its General Plan, and your feedback concerning our parks, recreation facilities, and open spaces is appreciated. They are providing a questionnaire that will help them to determine how you use the existing facilities and what you would recommend for future development. This questionnaire is available in English, Spanish and Armenian. You may fill it out online or in person at any Burbank park facility or public library. Thank you for your input.

Happy Birthday Buena Vista Branch Library!

Today, marks the 4 year anniversary of the dedication ceremony for the new Buena Vista Branch Library.

Happy Birthday Buena Vista!

Database Spotlight: Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center

While this database is perfect for students who need to argue pro or con about a certain social issue, Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center is a fantastic tool to use for all forms of research. Searching on any given topic will yield a multitude of different resources. Like most databases, OVRC offers articles from periodicals and newspapers. However, it also provides access to applicable primary source documents and statistics. You can find all the information you need on a variety of controversial topics, from nuclear weapons to stem cell research and beyond.

OVRC can help you find articles based on your reading level. Each resource is assigned a content level: Basic for students through 8th grade, Intermediate for 7th grade through undergraduate and the general public, and Advanced for those at a scholarly or professional level. If you perform an advanced search, you can even find articles based on your Lexile reading level.

That's not all! You can even browse articles that relate to various CA middle and high school curriculum standards!

Parents and students: you can access this free electronic resource from within our library and also from home with a library card.

Burbank READS - Marley and Me by John Grogan

This spring, all of Burbank will be reading and talking about the antics of Marley, the world’s worst dog as John Grogan’s loving tribute to the family dog, "Marley & Me", has been chosen as Burbank’s first selection for Burbank READS.

The Burbank Public Library invites everyone in Burbank to read Marley & Me and join in the book discussion groups and other activities that are being planned. In the weeks ahead, Burbank READS will offer a series of exciting events all centered on promoting reading as a community activity. Family events such as film festivals, contests, exhibits, and dog-related guest speakers, among others, are all intended to encourage discussion about the themes in the book.

The library currently has Marley & Me available in hardcover, large print and spoken word CD editions. Stop by today and check out the "world's worst dog"!

Burbank READS is based on “One City, One Book,” the successful program that started in Seattle in 1996 and has swept the nation.

We Transform Your Trash Into Library Books!

If you've run out of ink in your laser or inkjet printer cartridge, please don't throw it away. Consider donating it to the Friends of the Burbank Public Library. Each refilled cartridge adds $1 to the library book budget. You can drop it off at any Burbank library. Thank you.

Metrolink Holiday Train

Bring your family (and a new, unwrapped toy) to the Downtown Burbank Station on December 8th for the Holiday Toy Express. The Metrolink train will be bedecked in sparkling lights and animated displays. Best of all, Santa will be in attendance. The event will take place from 6:50 - 7:10 PM, when the train will be spirited away to its next stop on the rails. Please help the Southern California Firefighters in their Spark of Love Toy Drive; your generous donation will find itself in the hands of a child in need this holiday season.

Would you like to participate, but you don't live in the Burbank area? No worries! You can find the Holiday Toy Express schedule here.

--Image from Metrolink

Medicare Drug Benefit

The library received a flyer for a free education program on the new Medicare drug benefit:

A representative from the Center for Health Care Rights will help you understand:

What benefits are provided under the new Medicare drug coverage

How your Medicare drug benefits will work with Medi-Cal or retiree drug coverage

Tuesday, December 5, 2006
12:30 - 1:30 PM
Joslyn Adult Center
1301 W. Olive Avenue
Burbank, CA 91506
Please call (818) 238-5353 to RSVP

The Center for Health Care Rights is a non-profit organization that provides free assistance with Medicare questions and problems.

Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month

December is Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month. It is especially crucial during the busy and oftentimes expensive holiday season that we remain vigilant in watching for any suspicious activity in our bank and credit accounts. However, identity theft can impact far more than our finances.

I recommend that everyone read through the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Site. It is good to know the steps to take immediately upon learning that your privacy has been compromised.

I would also like to mention some web pages that offer ideas on the best ways to prevent identity theft. The FTC site gives you information on what to do today, before a problem occurs. You can also take a tutorial through AARP. Finally, look through the Consumer Action Website for additional tips.

We also have a few books in our library: Identity theft : how to protect your name, your credit and your vital information-- and what to do when someone hijacks any of these, Identity theft : how to protect your most valuable asset, and Preventing identity theft in your business : how to protect your business, customers, and employees.