Reference Room Display compiled by George Heller, Assistant Reference Librarian
April 2002
Angela Mudrak, Technical Services Librarian
Taken, by Kathleen George.
"A can't miss combination - suspense with a Pittsburgh locale."
George Heller, Assistant Reference Librarian
The Contrary Farmer and The Man Who Created Paradise, both by Gene Logsdon
"An Ohio writer with a love for our past and a plan for our future"
Thomas C. Atwood, Executive Director
The Force of Spirit, by Scott Russell Sanders
"The essays of Scott Russell Sanders are a joy to read. His interest in nature, his readable style and the fact that he grew up in the Ravenna area have made me a fan. In fact, I often used his works in classes I have taught because students seem to relate well to his experiences. I highly recommend giving his books a try.
Jan Schnall, Government Documents Librarian
The Ballad of Frankie Silver, by Sharyn McCrumb
" A fascinating Appalachian story blending past and present, truth and fiction, as well as an exploration of the concepts of justice and socioeconomic class in our country."
Paul Rohrbaugh, Curriculum Resource Center Librarian
The Spanish War, An American Epic, 1898 by G.J.A. O'Toole
"An excellent, riveting history of the events that transformed the U.S. into a world power."
Alisa Gonzalez, Assistant Reference Librarian
The Power of Myth, by Joseph Campbell
Becky Moore, Assistant Reference Librarian
The Gallery of Regrettable Food, by James Lileks
"It's scary but my grandma actually has one of the cookbooks that James Lileks mocks in his hilarious Gallery of Regrettable Food. Sample quote: 'You know that most guests don't like it when the dinner loaf has a spinal column.' This book is an absolute riot!
Bob Ault, Microforms/Assistant Serials Librarian
Dwarfism: The Family and Professional Guide, by Richard Crandall
and
Living with Difference, by Joan Ablon
"Our daughter, Kelsey, was born with the most common form of dwarfism, achondroplasia. These two books have been very helpful in helping us understand her condition and the unique challenges we face as a family. Kelsey is an active third grader now and these two books are a part of our collection that we refer back to as she grows up.
Ellen Wakeford-Banks, Library Media Technical Assistant 2
Jazz Photographs, by David D. Spitzer
"One of my favorite books because it has provided me with lasting enjoyment. I bought my own copy and photocopied selected jazz artists' pictures. Making a collage measuring 18" X 24", it hangs proudly above the piano in my living room. The musicians' one-sentence quotes near their picture tells the story of jazz in few but very passionate words. The pictures are almost as soul revealing as the notes played or sung by these jazz greats. Take this collection home, put on a Chet Baker, Ella, Louis Armstrong, or Count Basie CD and enjoy! Jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams is quoted as saying:The music has healing powers in it. Everything about you is in it, hearing the sound and all that, and people have forgotten to listen to it as conversation. If you listen to it, you'll find that it tells a story.
Martina Nicholas, Technology Librarian
The Last Time They Met, by Anita Shreve
"Linda Fallon encounters her former lover, Thomas, at a literary festival. It has been years since their paths crossed. Thomas is a literary legend and Linda is being recognized for her work. The story unfolds as you travel back into their past as layers of memories unfold. it traces the shocking resonance a single choice can make in a life time. Definitely a tear jerker.
Jean Romeo, Reference Librarian
A Bend in the Road, by Nicholas Sparks
"The bittersweet story of Deputy Sheriff Miles Ryan, a widower, and Sarah Andrews, his son's second grade teacher whose lives are linked by a shocking secret. A mixture of romance, mystery, and suspense..."