@ Your Library
Recent library events, news and more.
Nostalgia, recession-induced frugality, and a desire to have more control over what goes into food are reasons why many cooks are trying homemade versions of their favorite condiments.
Julie Stanley, owner of Food Dance Café, demonstrated how easy it is to make your own ketchup, ranch dressing, chutney and butterscotch sauce. All four were made in less than one hour without causing a load of dirty dishes.
All of these condiments are made with ingredients readily found at the supermarket. And, while many ketchup recipes call for long, slow cooking of tomatoes, Julie showed us a shortcut involving canned tomato paste.
And what about taste? We sampled these creations and confirmed that homemade does indeed taste better. For instance, there’s no comparison between ranch dressing from a bottle and one you whisk up from scratch with sour cream, buttermilk and fresh herbs.
Download and print Julie’s recipes from the program PDF
Use the season’s cooler weather and longer nights to rediscover the kitchen. Homemade foods make special gifts or memorable accents to any family gathering. For some ideas, browse KPL’s vast collection of cookery books.
Books
Julie Stanley
julie-stanley-2009-0542-160
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalamazoopubliclibrary/4090153820/in/set-72157622644368235/
Installation of the kiosk across from the circulation desk at central is behind schedule. There are several reasons, but a major one is a delay in approval of the shop drawings because of a reconsideration of the aluminum corner detail. Once that was settled, shop drawings were completed and approved, and the corner element ordered only to find it is out of stock; it’s typically available and in stock, we were told.
We had built in about six weeks of “overlap”, that is, time when we would have the checkout kiosk up and running AND the current circ desk still in operation. We will shorten that time to one to two weeks and still be close to the target completion date of the end of December.
We have decided to take down the wooden partitions in the meantime and they are being taken down this morning. We had previously planned for the first floor desk staffing to end tomorrow, Oct 31, expecting the checkout units would be in place. We will hold to that timing and the first floor desk will be removed next week; we just have a delay on the checkout units.
With the wooden partitions down but the kiosk not yet in place, there are some electrical plates on the floor where the kiosk will be that could become a trip hazard in the meantime. To avoid that happening, we’ll move some furniture there. This means you may see some furniture, plants, whatever, sitting there that looks a bit out of place. We’ll do our best to prevent a trip hazard and make it look at least OK! That seems better than bright orange cones for several weeks!
Book
Central Library Renovation
central-2009-078-160
http://www.kpl.gov/renovation/
Those who packed Van Deusen Room were very privileged to hear David Small discuss the story and process behind his National Book Award nominated graphic memoir, Stitches, in a world premiere event on September 10, 2009.
The interview was set-up to resemble the popular television show Inside the Actor’s Studio, which provided David with a casual atmosphere to discuss Stitches. He answered a variety of questions about his life growing up in 1950’s Detroit with a family that could hardly be described as tightly knit.
The presentation also included some fabulous animated videos of the books, shots of sketches, and panel by panel storyboards. David was candid about both the physical and emotional wounds which took years to finally stitch together into a memoir that will touch many lives.
A second David Small visit is being planned for 2010, so please check the website often for more details.
David Small’s Presentation
Listen to David Small’s presentation (44:52)
Download David Small’s presentation as a podcast(MP3 audio file)
Watch David’s complete presentation in the series of videos below.
Book
David Small
david-small-kpl-048-160
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalamazoopubliclibrary/sets/72157622367213312/
The tile path from Central Library’s front door now extends all the way to the winding stair leading to the second floor.
Over the coming two weeks, workers will pull wire for power and data lines, install the new checkout kiosk and the 3M Library Systems’ selfcheck equipment. Patrons may be able to use the new check out service by early November.
Want to try out this new service before then? Visit Oshtemo Branch Library or use the checkout kiosk in Central Library’s Children’s Room.
Book
Selfcheck kiosk
selfcheck-kiosk-160
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalamazoopubliclibrary/sets/72157622411371413/
Beginning October 5, we will be making improvements to the Circulation Desk area at Central to take advantage of the new RFID technology and most importantly to better serve you.
The first step is to install new tiles to the spiral staircase. Currently the tile simply ends (think Shel Silverstein) but upon completion it will lead directly to the bottom step. This move paves the way for the Checkout Kiosk, which will allow patrons to check out their own materials.
If you have a question, do not hesitate to contact me.
Book
Central Library renovation
central-2009-024-160
/renovation/
Storytime with Mr. Steve & Friends started off with a bang with special guest Professor Code from Western Michigan University's School of Music.
Professor Code shared four different instruments with us: the Swedish nyckelharpa (keyed fiddle), the Norwegian hardingfele (Harding fiddle), the Norwegian seljefløyta (willow flute) and the munnharpa (mouth harp).
Bean Bag Balance Record!
He also broke our bean bag balance record, balancing 13 bean bags on his head while counting in Norwegian!
Join us for books, rhymes, crafts, parachute games, and a surprise special guest at the next Storytime with Mr. Steve & Friends on Monday, October 26 at 6:30 pm at the Central Library.
Book
Storytime with Mr. Steve & Friends
david-code-004-160
http://www.kpl.gov/kids/storytime/mr-steve.aspx
Come and visit the Alma Powell Branch and view our newest art acquisition Sudan: land of blood. During our June Art Hop we greatly appreciated the Sudan: Land of Blood along with many other extraordinary paintings in Fred Zemlick’s exhibition. At the closing of his June and July showing Fred Zemlick honored our branch by presenting this gift of art to the library.
We are hoping that many people from the Powell community will stop in and tell us what the Sudan: land of blood says to them. What is its message? What does it symbolize?
The Powell Branch would like to thank Fred Zemlick for showing his work in our Barnabee Gallery and giving us this valued piece of art for our branch. Fred’s next showing will be at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Portage. And in October he will be at the new Midtown Gallery on the Mall.
Book
Sudan: Land of Blood
sudan-land-of-blood-002-160
http://www.kpl.gov/powell/barnabee.aspx
In some libraries across the country you will still find what is commonly known as a “Listening Room.” These rooms were usually equipped with technology to play the music in the library’s collection. On July 15th the Van Deusen Room turned into a huge “Listening Room,” but instead of listening to something on LP or CD patrons were treated to the sweet sounds of Mark Duval and Two-Track Mind. The super intimate setting allowed concert-goers the chance to absorb the touching and powerful lyrics of Kalamazoo singer-songwriter Duval. The band comprised of Traci Seuss (vocals, guitar), Bill Caskey (bass), and Cori Summers (violin) were tight and entrancing. How often do you get to experience an amazing live show in such a great atmosphere?
Book
Mark Duval, Two-Track Mind
mark-duval-two-track-160
http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=Two-Track Mind%7BTI%7D+AND+Mark Duval%7BAU%7D
For most of us, using the KPL catalog is pretty simple- go to the catalog page, enter in some text to search for, and away you go. In most cases, that's good enough. But what if you wanted a more powerful way to search? What if you were surfing your favorite non-KPL website and saw an author's name or a book title and wanted to look it up in the KPL catalog right now? Well, now you can, thanks to the LibX extension for Firefox and Internet Explorer. LibX is an open-source extension that adds a toolbar or right-click menu to your browser which you can use to search any selected text directly in the library catalog. You can also search for keywords in other sites such as Google, Wikipedia, or Dictionary.com, and you can even look up selected books in the MelCat database and find titles held at other Michigan libraries! LibX also adds a search option to popular sites like Amazon that let you see if KPL has a book before you buy, or find a title linked from the New York Times Book Review. While the LibX extension isn't written by KPL staff and we can't guarantee that it won't conflict with your browser or other installed extensions, we've tested it with Firefox and IE and it works great. See for yourself! Just head to the LibX KPL Edition page and click the "Install" link located halfway down for your particular browser.
Book
LibX KPL Edition
libx160
http://libx.org/editions/download.php?edition=0D6F4351
A large, enthusiastic crowd gathered to learn the basics of preserving food on June 22. Mike Rowe, director of Food, Nutrition and Retail Services at Bronson Hospital, discussed equipment, procedures and safety considerations.
Home preserving yields delicious results, gives the cook more confidence in knowing where the food came from, and — if done in large quantities — can be more economical than store-bought.
Home preserving also can be the center of beloved family traditions. Co-presenter Heidi Butler spent her childhood learning how to can and freeze. Two things her family wouldn’t be without: home canned tomato soup and applesauce, the preparation of which continues to involve multiple generations. Labor Day is spent making tomato soup.
“We’ve been doing it forever,” Butler says. “It’s just something I know will happen.” Her young daughter now is involved and is learning how to select good fruit.
Summer’s harvests have just begun. Why not save some a bit of summer for next winter? Take a look at KPL’s book collection for recipes and instructions. And here are a couple websites: National Center for Home Food Preservation and MSU Extension.
Book
Preserving Food 101
kpl-programs-013-160
http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=preserving{SU}&library=BRANCHES&language=ANY&format=ANY&item_type=ANY&location=ANY&match_on=KEYWORD&item_1cat=ANY&item_2cat=ANY&sort_by=-PBYR