Not So Sleepy Hollow

Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" may be just a story to many people, but to those from New York's Hudson Valley, such as myself, it's more than just a ghost tale.  It's based on local facts and is part of the area's folklore.  It's also a part of the area's growing tourist industry.

Full disclosure: I was born in Sleepy Hollow, although at that time it was called North Tarrytown.  After the largest employer, the General Motors plant, closed down in the mid-1990s, the village reverted to its original name of Sleepy Hollow to capitalize on it's folklore and history.

Revisiting Sleepy Hollow recently, it was interesting to see how the village has turned into a bustling tourist destination revolving around Irving's famous tale.  There was always the Old Dutch Church, which figures into the story, and the adjacent cemetery containing the remains of the "Headless Horseman," a Hessian soldier decapitated during the American Revolution.  Nowadays, among other things, there's a master storyteller recounting Irving's "Legend," nighttime tours of the cemetery by lantern light, and the Horseman's Hollow, where actors portray "the undead, the evil, and the insane."

The village of Sleepy Hollow does a great job in keeping Irving's story alive and well.  Older and younger generations can learn and be entertained by the American literary classic, walking the paths and seeing the sights that Irving wrote about.  If you ever have the chance to visit New York City, it's worth taking the Metro North train from Grand Central Station to visit Sleepy Hollow.  Just don't lose your head while there.

Wishing you haunted readings from the perch.

Celebrate Banned Books!

In honor of Banned Books Week, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at some of the books which have been banned in different countries or challenged by schools, churches, and individuals.  The reasons why they have been banned or challenged may surprise you.  Have you read and liked any of these titles?

• The American Heritage Dictionary--Objectionable entries, in particular slang terms. 
• As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner--Questions the existence of God.
• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley--Anti-religion, against the traditional family, strong language, and pornographic.
• The Call of the Wild by Jack London--Too radical.
• Charlotte's Web by E. B. White--Depiction of talking animals is sacrilegious. 
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker--Rape, racism, violence against women, and sex.
• The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank--Sexually explicit passages.
• The Giver by Lois Lowry--Violence, sexually explicit, and euthanasia.
• The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck--Promotes Communist values.
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald--Language and sexual references.
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling--Witchcraft.
• Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov--Obscene content.
• The Lorax by Dr. Seuss--Political commentary and propaganda.
• Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare--Same-sex romance.
• Ulysses by James Joyce--Obscene language and sexual content.
• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak--Supernatural themes.

In the United States, public libraries are open to all people.  Any person is free to check out any book, no questions asked. 

Defending truth, justice, and the freedom to read from the perch.

The End of Summer Reading

Alas, the summer's almost done,
Along with time spent in the sun,
Summer reading will be ending,
Since the school year now is pending.

But there is no need to fear,
Because the books will still be here.
Fiction, history, mystery, too,
There's no reason to be blue!

Halloween is coming soon,
So, start singing a happy tune!
Not-so-scary with lots of treats,
Follow Twitter for all our tweets.

A teen escape room is pretty awesome,
Besides our year-round Library 'Possum.
He picks a new book every week
To make sure your reading's never bleak.

Winter, spring, summer, or fall,
There's always something to do for all.
Let's jump up and give a cheer,
The Library is here all year!

Wishing you year-round good reads from the perch.

Libraries--The Positive Place

Does it seem like people focus too much on the negative these days?  That there aren't enough people who practice common courtesy?  People who say "please" and "thank you" in addition to showing some understanding and compassion toward others?

One place where people still practice a little kindness is the library.  Sure, the library is where you can get information, check out items, and participate in programs, but furthermore, it's where you can expect to find friendly faces and people genuinely interested in helping you.

Although many of us working in the library love books and reading, we also love interacting with people.  It's great to see our regulars and ask how they're doing.  Likewise, it's wonderful to welcome newcomers, people who may be new to the library or to the area, and get to know them.

The library is a positive place filled with energy and hospitality.  There are real people here with real feelings, because aside from promoting reading, the library promotes kindness, courtesy, and understanding.

Want to experience or practice some kindness yourself?  Why not stop by the library?  We'll be happy to see you.  And you can always check out a book or something while you're here.

Positively yours from the perch.

Cool Reads for Hot Days

Summer may have been here officially for a month, but the high temperatures have just recently caught up.  Is it getting too hot outside for your taste?  Do you need to cool down?  Well, here are some reads set in the midst of winter or in cold locales that are sure to bring you some relief.

Adult

• Blood on Snow--Jo Nesbo
• Frankenstein--Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
• The Snow Child--Eowyn Ivey
• Snow Falling on Cedars--David Guterson
• Winter Garden--Kristin Hannah

Teen

• Ashen Winter--Mike Mullin
• Shiver--Maggie Stiefvater
• Towering--Alex Flinn
• Winter--Marissa Meyer
• Wintersong--S. Jae-Jones

Children

• Lemonade in Winter--Emily Jenkins
• The Long Winter--Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Owl Moon--Jane Yolen
• Poppleton in Winter--Cynthia Rylant
• The Snowy Day--Ezra Jack Keats

If you're a snow bunny melting in the Inland Northwest heat, don't worry.  The cooler days of September aren't far off along with 8 months of lower temps.

Wishing you cool breezes and summer fun from the perch.

Do a Good Turn--Please Return

Remember those stickers on VHS tapes that you rented from the video store in the '80s?  The ones that said, "Be kind. Please rewind."?  Many times I brought home a video only to have my gratification delayed because the last person who had the tape didn't rewind it to the beginning.  Nowadays, we may no longer have to wait until a tape rewinds in order to watch a movie, but in the library, we still have to wait for overdue items to be returned before others can enjoy them.

It recently occurred to me that it's been over 6 years since I last wrote about overdue library items, so I figured now is as good a time as any to revisit the subject.

I'm sure we've all been there--we want to check out a book or other item, but when we go to the library we find that someone already checked it out.  That's to be expected sometimes, especially with newer and popular items.  We occasionally have to wait until the person who has the item returns it.  However, when the person who has it doesn't return it until 3 months or even 3 years later, so many people are missing out on using and enjoying the item.

The whole purpose of a library is so people can borrow items without having to purchase them.  It's not about hording items all to yourself and keeping them away from others.  Libraries are in the business of being kind to our patrons, and we also depend on our patrons being kind to each other by taking care of items and returning them by their due dates.

Please keep in mind that the library is for all of us to enjoy.  Pay attention to the due dates on items and bring them back on time--we all appreciate it!

Considerately yours from the perch.

Don't Forget Dad!

This time of year, there are elementary and middle school promotion ceremonies, high school and college graduations.  You know what that means...Father's Day is looming on the horizon!  That's right.  This Sunday, the 17th day of June in the year 2018.  We remembered mom in May, so we can't forget about dad in June.

Just as with mom, you probably want to start with a card.  And wouldn't a homemade card made by you with tender loving care help make dad's day?  Check out DIY Projects or The Spruce Crafts for different ideas on cards that are both creative and easy to make.

Flowers may be the way to mom's heart, but food is definitely the way to dad's.  Is he into nuts and chips?  How about barbecues and sodas?  Or does he like coffees and wines?  Country Living and Community Table have some good food ideas for dad that you can buy or cook yourself.

Naturally, you can always opt for a more classic gift for Father's Day.  See the suggestions of AskMen and Money Crashers for gift ideas dad will appreciate.  Younger kids can make some special gifts for dad with the help of Good Housekeeping or Dodo Burd.

Keep in mind that although gifts are great, the best thing you can give your dad is YOU.  Spend some time with him doing something fun you both enjoy.

Wishing everyone a Happy Father's Day from the perch.