The ERIC database can point you in the right direction to articles on helping kids develop their reading skills. The Reading Teacher, a magazine the library subscribes to, has great articles for parents and teachers. In the September 2007 issue, there is an article about Comic Strips as a Text Structure for Learning to Read. The library has many comic strip books such as The Complete Peanuts . What a great idea to get kids to love reading!

This year's Nobel Laureate in Literature is Doris Lessing. Find out more about this prestigious award and author and check out what the library has by Doris Lessing.

Scanning the list of new arrivals, I see some stuff that looks intriguing, like Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters, a collection of songs written by Joni Mitchell. Many include vocal performances, too, from Norah Jones, Corinne Bailey Rae and others (including Mitchell herself on one). Since a lot of Mitchell's work has leaned toward jazz, this seems like a natural collaboration. Another of interest is Moby Grape, the original Grape album from 1967, complete with a few extra songs. The band only lasted a few years, but at its peak, it was one of the premiere headliners coming out of San Francisco. I think this might be the first issue on CD of the debut album.

BusinessWeek magazine has selected the top 10 business books of 2007. Several titles focus on the growing business power of India and China. Learn how to take advantage of that change and how to cope with it in your own business.

photo by jonathan_moreau Some libraries are using creativity when creating their buildings. The Kansas City Public Library, pictured above, left little room for confusion as they designed the outside of their parking structure.

Feeling grouchy as the holidays approach? You are not alone! Check out our Christmas Movies for Curmudgeons Fave Five list to lift your spirits. Fave Fives are lists of five suggested titles-books, audiobooks, music CDs, films and documentaries, even CD-ROMs, or any combination thereof-recommended by library staff and patrons. Feel free to browse other Fave Fives or create your own!

Lucky in the Corner by Carol Abshaw (2002)

Great news! Our popular database on mutual funds and stocks is now available for remote access. It's great to be able to check on your investments at night or in your jammies. For year-end financial planning, this database will come in handy. Want to learn more? Ask at the Adult Reference desk, or stop by to pick up a bookmark with search ideas!

Don't know what happened to the original post about holiday music, so here's a new one about songs that nicely counter the commerialism that surrounds the Christmas holiday season. The best ever: Timbuk 3's "All I Want for Christmas," with lines like "chestnuts roasting on the VCR" and "looks like World War III underneath the Christmas tree." Powerful song... and I've never heard it on the radio. Ever. Another good one is Deborah Holland's "It Only Comes Once a Year." Coincidentally, they're both included on a CD titled "Just in Time for Christmas," but I've seen Timbuk 3 on other holiday samplers, too.