A Publication Of The Porter County Public Library System

May 2011 www.pcpls.lib.in.us Volume 23 Issue 3 Published bi-monthly by Porter County Public Library System Serving 11 Townships

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Digital Celebrate Travel and World Cultures with Summer Reading!

Literacy 1 & 2 Summer reading will be a wide world of fun this summer at the Porter County Public Library! Our theme this year is “One World, Many Stories.” All PCPLS library Introducing... 3 branches offer the independent summer reading program for children ages 2 through 18 (still in High School). Registration for summer reading starts Monday, Relatively June 6 at all branch youth departments. The last day to register is Saturday, July 2. Speaking 4 Each participant receives a reading booklet to record the titles of the books they Event read. All books must come from the Porter County Public Library system. After you Calendar 5 - 7 register and get your booklet, then you read, read, read to complete the require- ments for your age group. Once you’ve completed the reading requirements, turn in Graphic your booklet (at the same branch where you registered) and win fun prizes! Novels 8 & 9 (Preschoolers and students who have completed Gr. K-8 will also receive a Read & Ride voucher for the Porter County Fair. This voucher provides a discount on the Friends’ News 9 carnival ride wristband – good for any one day, Monday, July 25 through Friday, July 29.) You can turn in your booklet for prizes as soon as you’ve completed the reading ALLDATA 10 requirements. The last day to pick up prizes is Saturday, July 16.

Youth Services In addition to the independent summer reading program, each PCPLS branch also Book Review 11 offers many exciting theme-related activities and programs throughout the summer. Travel the world at your Porter County Public Library branch this summer! Generational Differences in Digital Literacy: Are Young People Really More Gifted With Technology? I frequently hear adults marvel at how quickly as they do for digital natives. Indeed, fMRI’s of easy use of the computer comes to the brain behaviors of younger and older people while younger people, or even explain the dif- using a computer shows differences between the ficulty they themselves have with com- groups. 2 Does this mean that digital immigrants are puters as being due to their age. “I can’t fated to struggle more just to gain the same skills as learn like they can anymore,” they say. The generational their younger counterparts? stereotypes associated with use of computers and technology Several studies have been done to explore these ques- seem to be widely held. But, how true are they? Why do tions further. One examined two different groups of these differences exist? Is there something about youth that middle aged adults. 3 One group had prior experience gives an inherent advantage in learning one’s way around to searching on the Internet and were considered “web computers? -savvy,” while the other group had little or no experi- About ten years ago, terms were coined in an attempt to ence searching the Internet and were considered “web- characterize and explain these differences. 1 “Digital Natives” naïve.” MRI’s taken of participant’s brains as they describe the generation born into our digital world. They searched showed that the web-savvy group had much have never known a world without computers. “Digital Im- higher activity throughout the brain than the web- migrants” describe those born before the digital world, who naïve group. However, perhaps even more interesting, adopted digital technologies later in life. Some argue that be- is that after one week of searching on the internet for 1 cause they did not learn digital and technological literacies hour a day, the web-naïve group showed brain activity early in life, these skills will never come to them as easily or had increased and was now similar continued on page 2 to the web-savvy group. 4 stimulus can change our is not by the year they were born, but

Our brains are constantly being shaped brains. If it is true that rather by the choices they have made by our experiences, as the above study younger people more often to experience new technologies. The shows. Experts say that we might also make choices that expose good news is, our brains retain their expect to see such differences in the them to digital devices, could the dif- plasticity, or their ability to change brains of groups of people whose ex- ferences between the natives’ brains and grow, throughout our adult 6 periences have differed in other ways. 2 and the immigrants’ brains simply be lives. We can always choose which For example, a group of French speak- due to different total amounts of ex- experiences we wish to pursue, and posure? how we shape our brains. ers’ brains would react differently to hearing spoken English than a group Further evidence of this may be found Inge Kokidko- of English speakers’ brains. Likewise, when examining the differences South Haven Branch Manager such an experiment may show the dif- within generations, rather than be- ferences to lessen if the French speak- tween them. It is easy to generalize Further Reading ers were taught English. that all young people are more com- The following books are available

fortable with technology than older through PCPLS. Digital immigrants have been de- scribed as speaking in an “accent.” 1 people. However, differences in • Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Sur- That is, they were socialized to interact school and home backgrounds, do- viving and Thriving at Work, Home, mestic affluence, and family dynamics and School by John Medina with technology later in life, and carry • holdovers from the past. Evidence of actually result in a wide variance iBrain: Surviving the Technological this accent can be seen in actions such among young people with regard to Alteration of the Modern Mind by their skill with computers. 5 For exam- Gary Small as an immigrant’s tendency to turn to a • ple, affluent families who value tech- Kluge : the haphazard construction phone book first, where a native may of the human mind by Gary Marcus turn to the internet first when looking nology may be more likely to foster up a phone number. Another example an environment which creates many Free Web Resources is how immigrants may print out an opportunities for experience with • Discover what type of “digital email or a document in order to read computers. denizen” you are by taking a short or edit it, rather than just reading it on Similarly, adults and older adults quiz: http://www.stockton.edu/ the screen, as a native might do. Yet show a wide range of capabilities. 2 As ~intech/spotlight-digital-denizens.htm • another example is an immigrant’s re- a personal example, my father was University of North Carolina Com- liance on books and written instruc- required to use a computer daily for munity Workshop Series – offers in- structional material for novice com- tions to learn software, where a native the last several decades due to his job. puter users: http://www.lib.unc.edu/ may assume the software will teach He is very comfortable with com- cws/handouts/ itself. puters. On the other hand, my • Compu-KISS with Sandy Berger – Could it be that certain characteristics mother, who is the same age as he is computer tutorials: http:// shared by the younger generation pre- and has been living in the same www.compukiss.com/tutorials/ disposed them to choose activities that household the entire time my father index.php expose them to technology, such as the learned to use a computer, is barely • The Senior’s Guide to Computers – ones mentioned above? Perhaps the able to check her email account with- tutorials created with seniors in mind: way video games, social networking, out assistance. There was little to mo- http:// and various other technological appli- tivate my mother to use computers www.seniorsguidetocomputers.com/ • cations appeal to our youth has re- during this time, and so her experi- Microsoft Digital Literacy – offers sulted in them to more often choose to ence, and thus her skill, is limited. three different curriculum levels: http://www.microsoft.com/about/ use digital devices. We have already Perhaps a better way to conceptualize corporatecitizenship/citizenship/ seen that the amount of exposure to a digital natives and digital immigrants giving/programs/up/digitalliteracy/

References default.mspx • Microsoft Office – getting familiar 1. Prensky, Marc. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On the Horizon , 9(5). 2. Herther, N. K. (2009). Digital natives and immigrants: what brain research tells us. with the Microsoft Office suite: http:// Online , 33(6). office.microsoft.com/en-us/support/ 3. Small, G. W., Moody, T. D., Siddarth, P., & Bookheimer, S. Y. (2009). Your brain on getting-started-with-office-2010- Google: patterns of cerebral activation during Internet searching. The American Journal FX101822272.aspx of Geriatric Psychiatry , 17(2). • Open Office – learn more about the 4. Small, G. W. (2010). Is technology changing our brains? Aging Today , 31(1). free productivity suite found on the 5. Bennet, S., Maton, K., & Kervin, L. (2008). The ‘digital natives’ debate: a critical re- Porter County Public Library System’s view of the evidence. British Journal of Educational Technology , 39(5). computers: http:// 6. Prensky, Marc. (2001) Digital natives, digital immigrants, part II: do they really think www.openoffice.org/ differently? On the Horizon , 9(6).

2 Gerrie Bowie is Porter County Public Library System’s Library Trustee Vice-President

How long have you been a library trustee? Since 2002.

What do you like most about being a trustee? So many things. The good people I’ve met; the friendships I’ve made, the things I’ve learned about the library, both on the local and state level. I’ll be sad to leave the Board when my term is completed.

Are you married? Do you have any children? Yes. Rich and I have two daughters. Pam and Tom live near Detroit and have two college-aged children; Liz and R.J.. Susie and Don live in Schaumburg and have 2 year old twins, Will and Andrew.

Do you have any extracurricular activities that you are involved in? My church heads the list of my time spent outside of my home. I love serving and learning. There’s so much to do in both of those areas. The other activity I’ve continued during my retirement is serving on the Kouts Memorial Scholarship Fund committee at Kouts High School.

What is the one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? My parents always told me I was supposed to be a boy-hence my name, Geraldine, which is the feminized form of Gerald, which was the only name they had chosen. So, I’ve always been a “tomboy”.

What is your favorite book and why? A good fiction book related to a place we’re going to visit. It heightens the anticipation of the upcoming vacation for me and helps me learn more about the area.

How were you appointed to the Board? I was speaking with a friend and former member of the Board, Darl Jarnecke. He mentioned he was leaving the Board and was trying to recommend a replacement, and I volunteered. I’ve always loved libraries and have considered it a privilege to be on the Board.

Anything else you think someone would like to know about you? I love to tell people about the overnight hiking trip I took with my daughters and several other women at 11,000 feet in the Colorado wilderness. No cabins, no electricity, no bathrooms-and ice on our water bottles in the morning in the middle of July. Thank you for your wonderful answers. Sheila Minton-Administrative Assistant

Youth Art Month a Great Success at the Portage Library

A crowd of more than 400 student artists, their families, Portage Township School Art Teachers and guests attended the Youth Art Month Opening Reception at the Portage Library.

Victoria Borinovski, a third grader at Myers Elementary said, "I was really excited to have my art- work at the library. My family liked it and thought it was great and beautiful. I liked having it at the library because a bunch of people will see my art."

Bethany Majewski, in second grade at Myers agreed, "I liked the art about giraffes and different things. My mom, dad, and aunt thought my art was creative!"

Generous donations by Portage Tri-Kappa, Portage Kiwanis and Miller’s Assisted Living of Portage allowed attendees to enjoy cookies and punch as they viewed art work by more than 200 Portage Township students. Moody Blooms provided a whimsical center- piece and Mrs. Cindy Laingren, secretary to the PTS Superintendent, assem- bled corsages for the PTS Art teachers.

Paintings, drawings and other multi-media pieces were displayed in the Youth Services Department and display cases throughout the month of March.

3 Relatively Speaking: Notes PCPLS Book from the Genealogy Department Discussion

The department continues to be busy This changed with the advent of radio Groups with the indexing project of county re- communication. The first commercial cords. The index to Divorces and Sepa- station was KDKA in Pittsburgh and ration records is complete and has been Valparaiso was soon followed by several other sta- bound. 12-1 pm tions across the country. The Federal (Bring a sack lunch.) Larry Clark will be attending the 2011 Communications Commission was es- National Genealogical Conference in tablished to regulate these new radio May 10—Eat, Pray, Love Charleston, South Carolina in May. The outlets. by Elizabeth Gilbert conference will cover many genealogical Local papers would list the broadcast June 14—Sarah’s Key topics but will highlight the 150 th anni- schedules because most stations were so by Tatiana de Rosnay versary of the start of the Civil War. ~ powerful they could be heard in all The number of rental films from the parts of the country. In time, small Hebron LDS Library in Salt Lake City continues towns started to get their own stations. 1:30 pm to increase. Films that cover informa- In 1924 Valparaiso got WRBC radio May 5—Julie and Julia tion not owned by the Genealogy De- which was run by Immanuel Lutheran by Julie Powell partment are being kept on permanent Church. June 16—The 19th Wife loan. Patrons should see what has been If you look in the marriage books of Por- by David Ebershoff added to the department’s holding list! ~ ter County in the Genealogy Depart- New microfilm items include materials ment you will find the application of Kouts on New York and many Chicago Catho- Mable Johnston and Jacob Sells in De- 7:00 pm lic church records. cember of 1924. May 26—Something Wicked New books focusing on Pennsylvania, Radio history was made when Rev. This Way Comes Maryland, North Dakota, and Minne- Schultes of Immanuel Lutheran Church by Ray Bradbury sota have been added. had a microphone at the altar in order to June 23—Thunderstruck broadcast their marriage ceremony. It by Erik Larson The Genealogy collection includes a his- was listened to by the bride’s father in ~ tory of the Memorial Opera House Minnesota and some of the groom’s which was opened up in 1892. It pro- South Haven family in Georgia. 7:00 pm vided a first class venue for plays, lec- tures and even vaudeville shows. Many WRBC stayed on the air until 1929 when May 23—The Cradle entertainers including the Marx Broth- it had to close down. Rev. Schultes by Patrick Somerville ers and the U.S. Army band of John could not get the church to invest in June 27—Lost Philip Sousa performed in Valparaiso. new equipment required by the FCC. by Alice Lichtenstein Porter County’s airwaves were quiet ~ Valparaiso University invited many until the mid-1960’s when WAYK and prominent speakers to address audi- Portage WNWI Radio went on the air. WAYK ences at the V.U. Chapel/Auditorium. 7:00 pm eventually became WAKE and its’ sister Among the notable speakers were Wil- FM station came on the air and eventu- May 23—Little Bee liam Howard Taft, William Jennings ally became WLJE Radio. by Chris Cleave Bryan, and Eamon De Valera, the foun- June 23—The Glass Castle: der of the Irish Republic. The 1930 U.S. census asked if the head a memoir of household owned a radio. If you are Reviews of these events can be found in by Jeannette Walls interested, you can look up your family old copies of the Vidette and the Mes- ~ listing and see if they owned one. Call your local branch senger. Until the early 1920’s, the only to reserve a book. way people could hear these people was Larry J. Clark- Genealogy Department Head Titles are subject to to see them in person. change due to availability.

4 May 2011 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 2 3 4 5 6 7 10:30 AM-*Mother 10:15 AM-Toddler 9:30 AM-*Tiny Tots 10:15 AM-Toddler 3:30 PM-Mother's Day 9:15 AM-*Beginning Goose (P) Time (H) Programs (V) Time (H) Craft (K) Basket Weaving 12:00 PM-Blood pres- 11:15 AM-Story Time 9:30 AM-*Toddler 10:30 AM-*Wiggles 10:00 AM-*Mother's sure screening (P) (H) Time (P) and Giggles (P) Day Craft (V) 5:30 PM-*Chess @ 2:00 PM-Blood pres- 10:30 AM-*Story Time 11:15 AM-Story Time 10:30 AM-Mother the Library (P) sure, Blood sugar, (P) (H) Goose on the Loose 6:00 PM-Internet BMI Screening (P) 6:30 PM-Alternative 1:30 PM-Novel Ideas (S) Searching-Card Cata- 5:30 PM-*Toddler Medical Therapies: Book Discussion (H) 12:00 PM-Anime Club log Training for Pa- Time (P) Are They Right for 2:30 PM-*Crayon Crit- trons (S) 6:05 PM-*Mother Me? (H) ters (P) 6:30 PM-*Wiggles and Goose (P) Giggles (P) 6:30 PM-*Story Time (P) 7:00 PM-Learn Sign Language (K) 7:30 PM-*Teen Thing (P)

9 10 11 12 13 14 2:00 PM-Movie Mon- 10:15 AM-Toddler 9:00 AM-* Total Cho- 10:15 AM-Toddler 10:30 AM-Mother day (P) Time (H) lesterol Screening (P) Time (H) Goose on the Loose 6:00 PM-Internet 11:15 AM-Story Time 9:30 AM-*Tiny Tots 11:15 AM-Story Time (S) Searching-Card Cata- (H) Programs (V) (H) log Training for Pa- 12:00 PM-Valpo 9:30 AM-*Toddler 7:00 PM-Learn Sign trons (S) Brown Baggers (V) Time (P) Language (K) 3:30 PM-Lego Library Land (K)

16 17 18 19 20 21 All Day-Intro to Chi- All Day-Toddler Time All Day-Preschool 1:00 PM-Bone Density All Day-Book Babies 10:00 AM-* Beginning nese Culture Registra- Registration (V) Story Hour Registra- Screening (P) Registration (V) Oil Painting (P) tion (V) 7:00 PM-Learn Sign tion (V) 5:00 PM-Geocaching 10:30 AM-Mother 6:00 PM-Internet Language (K) 9:30 AM-*Tiny Tots (K) Goose on the Loose Searching-Card Cata- Programs (V) (S) log Training for Pa- 10:00 AM-Porter Co. 1:00 PM-* One-Stroke trons (S) Health Dept. Immuni- Painting (S) zation Clinic (H) 2:30 PM-*Crayon Crit- 6:30 PM-*Tail Waggin' ters (P) Tutor (P)

23 24 25 26 27 28 2:00 PM-Stroke Risk 12:00 PM-Movie Dis- 3:30 PM-Ladies and All Day-Flag T-shirt 10:30 AM-* Writing Screening (P) cussion Group (V) Gentlemen: Start Your Craft Registration (V) Workshop for Adults 7:00 PM-South Haven 7:00 PM-Learn Sign Engines! (K) 7:00 PM-Kouts (P) Bookends (S) Language (K) Pageturners (K) 10:30 AM-Mother 7:00 PM-* Portage Goose on the Loose Reading Circle (P) (S) 1:30 PM-LEGO Club (S)

30 31 MEMORIAL DAY All Day-Lego Club LIBRARY CLOSED Registration (V) (H) Hebron (K) Kouts (P) Portage 9:30 AM-* Toddler (S) South Haven (V) Valparaiso Time 9:30am (V)

11:00 AM-* Toddler Time 11:00am (V) Note: * events require pre-registration. 7:00 PM-Learn Sign Language (K) Contact the library branch to sign up.

5

GET GRAPHIC AT YOUR LIBRARY! dragon! Get into “visual Or take a reads” by lain? Read Watchmen , the only look at Baby Mouse . She’s a little checking o u t graphic novel to win the Hugo mouse with one big imagination. graphic nov- els, manga, comic Award and be ranked by Time Comic Books books, and comic strips at your li- magazine as “one of the 100 best Comic books aren’t just for kids brary. The Porter County Public English-language novels from 1923 anymore! Most of them have very Library has a great collection that to the present.” sophisticated stories that appeal to just keeps growing. Manga adults. While we don’t carry indi- Graphic Novel A manga is a comic book written vidual issues of comics, we do have What’s a graphic novel? It’s usually and drawn in the Japanese style a lot of trade paperbacks. A trade a self-contained story (novel) told (you even have to read it from paperback is a collection of individ- through a combination of art and “back” to “front” because that’s the ual comics that usually follows a words. A graphic novel looks simi- way Japanese is written). Manga continuous story or theme. lar to a comic book (and sometimes comics usually follow a storyline Check out Wonder Woman: Love it’s called one—crazy, huh?). They over the course of several books. and Murder , a collection of five is- can be about real people and events, Sometimes it’s confused with anime, sues of the comic written by ac- or completely fiction. There are which is the cartoon version of a claimed fiction author, Jodi Picoult. graphic novels for kids and teens, manga series. In her secret identity as Diana but a lot of them are aimed at PCPLS has several popular manga Prince, government agent, Wonder adults. comics. Check out Naruto , the story Woman is assigned to track down… Check out King: A Comic Book Bi- of a young ninja who dreams of be- Wonder Woman! Will she be able to ography by Ho Che Anderson. It’s ing the strongest ninja ever! Read keep her identity hidden from the a young adult graphic novel based Bleach , the adventures of Ichigo, a government? Batman: The Killing on the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. young man who is suddenly gifted Joke is an important story in the Bat- Were you a big fan of the Buffy the with amazing powers—powers he man universe. When his most in- Vampire Slayer TV show? When must use to defend the innocent sane enemy, the , kidnaps the show ended, the creator Joss from evil spirits. If you’re not into Commissioner Gordon and his Whedon, continued it in graphic stories with a lot of fighting, daughter, Batman rushes to save novel form! Take a look at Long try Fruits Basket . Tohru Honda them. Will he be in time, or will the Way Home , Buffy’s 8 th season. Did finds herself orphaned and forced to Joker change Batman’s world for- you see the new Star Trek movie fend for herself. Her life changes ever? Are you a Spider-man fan? last year? Why did the villain Nero forever when she meets the Sohmas, Take a look at The Essential Spider- blame Spock and the Vulcans for a family cursed with a terrible se- man . We have several volumes of the destruction of his homeworld? cret. We also subscribe to a maga- this trade paperback that collect Read the graphic novel, Star Trek: zine called Shonen Jump. It has sev- some of the best and most important Countdown . It reveals the events eral manga comics serialized inside. stories in Spider-man’s life. We also that led up to the movie. What Read the new issue every month to have several trade paperbacks from about that Watchmen movie from a keep up with the stories. the Ultimate Universe Spider-man few years back? It was based on the We also have a few mangas for series. How about The Essential adult graphic novel by Alan Moore younger kids (but big kids love Wolverine ? Read some of the best and . Superheroes are them, too!). Check out Dragonball stories from the history of one of watching over the people of the and Dragonball Z —the adventures Marvel’s most memorable mutants, world, protecting them. But who’s of Goku and his friends as they try the metal-clawed tough guy, Wol- watching the superheroes? Does to collect magical golden balls that verine. the end ever justify the means? will summon a wish-granting What separates a hero from a vil-

8 Comic Strips by Jessica Abel and Matt Madden • DC Comics Year by Year: A Vis- • Comic strips are a single panel of art The Best American Comics ual Chronicle by Alan Cowsill • or several panels in a “strip”. Often (2010) ed. By Neil Gaiman (A collec- Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades these are humorous little mini- tion of some of the year’s best com- of the World’s Greatest Comics by stories seen in newspapers. For ics and graphic novels) Les Daniels • some good laughs, check out the Understanding Comics by Scott adventures of a mischievous boy McCloud • and his “stuffed” in The Calvin Draw Your Own Manga by Ha- and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary runo Nagatomo • Book . Look back at some of the best Understanding Manga and of that loveable orange tabby, Gar- Anime by Robin Brenner • field, in Garfield: 30 Years of Laughs The Anime Encyclopedia: A and Lasagna . Have a more warped Guide to Japanese Animation since sense of humor? Try any of the Far 1917 by Jonathan Clements and Side Gallery collections by Gary Helen McCarthy • • Larson. Kirby: King of Comics by Mark The Funnies: 100 Years of Amer- ica’s Best Comic Strips by Ron Recommended Reads Evanier (The biography of Jack Kirby, the legendary cartoonist) Goulart Here are some other good reads • Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gang- • How to Draw Cartoons for about visual books and the world of sters and the Birth of the Comic Comic Strips by Christopher Hart comics, manga, and graphic novels. Book by Gerard Jones Drawing Words, Writing Pictures Donna Smith, Head of Portage Reference

Friends of the Library News Spring is finally in the air, and the involved in the monthly reading McClerren will be the fea- FRIENDS are in “spring mode,” as group at her branch. We welcome her tured speakers, and they well. Currently, we have a member- to the Board, and know she will be an will present a portrayal of President ship of 365 members , of which 56 are asset to us and as the representative of Abe and Mary Todd Lincoln. Please new to our organization. There are the Kouts branch, as well. mark this date on your calendar.

118 members from 2010 that have not The Volunteer Luncheon invitations With the changing of the seasons, one yet renewed, so if you are one of will soon be in the mail. A light of the rituals (and duties) is spring those, please send your envelope for luncheon will be served at the Valpa- cleaning. As you find books and renewal. You may place it in the mail, raiso Library on May 16 th at 11:30 am . magazines which you enjoyed on or save yourself a stamp and give it to the circulation desk at your library The food is prepared and served by those snowy days of winter, please branch. With the anticipation of those the Board members to those who have bring them to the library, to replenish renewals added to our current mem- been volunteers during the past year, the stock in our book rooms and book bership, we project a membership of working at book sales or in the book carts. We also sell DVD’s and audio 483 members. And, if we could add rooms. The Board does this to show books, and these are welcome, as well. 17 additional members, we would be our appreciation of your support of There is a book sale at the South Ha- at the magic number of 500, which the FRIENDS and to your work with ven library on April 27-30 , and Port- would be a new high point! Please the Porter County Library System. age will have a book sale on June 8-11 . encourage family and friends to help Please call your RSVP to one of the Your membership in the FRIENDS us achieve this target!! Board members listed on the invita- entitles you to attend the Preview

A new Board member tion by May 6 th so we can plan for night of each sale. When you bring has been introduced food and gifts, and we look forward your membership card to a sale, book from Kouts. Her name to seeing you at the Luncheon. room, or cart, you can have it is Jeri Fork , and she is a punched for a free 75 cent book. We have confirmation of our program retired English teacher. for the Fall Annual Meeting, to be Have a great Spring, and thank you She and her husband moved from held Oct. 3 rd . Coming to us from for being a part of the FRIENDS!

Carmel a few years ago, and she is Charleston, Illinois, B.F. and Dorothy Lois Thurner- president

9 Database Spotlight-ALLDATA Online Database The sun-roof is leaking in your are part and repair estimates if you handling, body noises, rattles and Pontiac Bonneville. Your brakes are decide to have a mechanic do the squeaks. There is even a worksheet for squeaking in your Honda Civic. Your work. Recall information may be water intrusion and wind noise. An- cd player needs tweaking in your available and you may print out any swers to common customer questions Chevy Silverado. Why not take a look information for ten cents a page. such as, “How often should oil and at Porter County Public Library’s in- The second section is New Technical filter be changed?”, “What does it house database, ALL-DATA ? ALL- Service Bulletins (TSB’s), which in- mean when the ABS Warning light DATA has a wealth of information form vehicle owners and mechanics comes on?”, and, “What can make an about vehicle repair for the everyday about previous and ongoing prob- engine overheat?” may be found at consumer to the experienced me- lems with certain cars and trucks. ALL-DATA . There is also a glossary chanic. ALL-DATA is available at all Vehicles are listed alphabetically to help you understand the unfamiliar branches of the Porter County Public with the number of TSB’s and the words and the plethora of acronyms Library System. used in the automotive field. most recent TSB. Dates TSB’s were ALL-DATA is divided into four sec- issued and posted are also available. The fourth section is Technician’s Ref- tions: Select Vehicle, New TSB’s, Shop An individual TSB may contain the erence. It mainly provides information Operations, and Technicians Refer- symptom, the probable cause, the for the repair and maintenance techni- ence. The first section is Select Vehi- corrective action, the parts informa- cian. This section is sub-divided fur- cle, you click the year, make, model tion, the warranty claim information, ther. Specialty Tools and Equipment and engine type to access information the diagnosis, the repair procedure will lead you to a website which has about your auto or truck. Data is com- and in most instances, the approxi- an abundance of tools and equipment, piled from 1982 to present-day. Once mate time needed for the repair pro- and their usage. Timing Belt Service you are in the vehicle’s level, you will cedure. Intervals and Tire Pressure Monitor get more selections. Choose the area The third section is Shop Operations Reset Procedures are available for you are interested in, for example, “ which provides information to help American, European and Asian vehi- Heating and Air Conditioning.” You the shop owner, the service advisor, cles. Conversions, Tables and Formu- will then get a more detailed list of the mechanic and you, the driver, las include Tap and Drill Sizes in both components such as “Blower Motor”, keep your vehicle in tip-top shape. Metric and US Customary Units. “Cabin Temperature Sensor/Switch”, For the technician, there are compre- There are also conversion tables for “ Refrigerant” and many more, de- hensive inspection forms and system length, liquid, area, temperature and pending upon your initial selection. checklists. For the customer there are wire size. Once chosen, you can get information forms for keeping a repair history If you are the average vehicle owner on service and repair such as the and assessing driveability issues. or the highly trained and experienced parts needed, the cost of the parts, There are symptom checklists for en- auto mechanic, ALL-DATA is the da- and the skill level and labor involved. tabase for you! gine performance, air conditioning, If you decide to fix it yourself, there brakes, and alignment. There is a di- Nancy Wellons Head of Kouts Reference are diagrams and directions. There agnostic worksheet for suspension,

Check out pictures from VPL’s Business After Hours event held on March 17, 2011.

Valparaiso Public Library recently held a Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Event. This mixer allows members to get to know each other and showcase their businesses. Each month a different business plays hosts. The Valparaiso Public Library had refreshments, drawings, and lots of PCPLS information to offer guests. Thank you to all who attended, the Friends of the Library for sponsoring the event, and the library staff who helped make this event a success! 10 This year’s theme for Summer Read- tional folktale, three little dassies (also her cousin Cody record their transat- ing is “One World, Many Stories,” called rock hyraxes) build their lantic crossing aboard the Wanderer, a and there are so many books houses in the Namib Desert of South- forty-five foot sailboat, which, along that explore themes related to travel ern Africa, hoping for protection from with uncles and another cousin, is en and world culture, it’s impossible to the that lives atop a nearby route to visit their grandfather in Eng- narrow it down to one or two. Stories mountain. Cultural clues abound in land. are one of the best ways we can ex- the beautifully-detailed illustrations. MEMOIRS plore other cultures, and our library CHAPTER BOOKS Fatty Legs: A True Story by Christy cards work like free passports to other Northward to the Moon by Polly Jordan-Fenton (2010). A personal nar- lands and times. Visit your Porter Horvath (2010). When her stepfather rative about an Inuit who goes to County Public Libraries this summer loses his job in Saskatchewan, Jane an off-reservation boarding school, for these titles, as well as countless and the rest of the family set off on a and has her cultural identity threat- other “travel opportunities!” ened, but finds the necessary inner PICTURE BOOKS strength to survive and thrive.

Global Babies developed by Global When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Fund for Children (2007). A great in- Sue Park (2002). With national pride troduction to world cultures for your and occasional fear, a brother and sis- youngest readers, this stunning board ter face the increasingly oppressive book features photos of babies from occupation of Korea by Japan during all over the globe. World War II, which threatens to sup- Larue across America: Postcards from press Korean culture entirely. the Vacation by Mark Teague (2011). FUN-FILLED TRAVEL SERIES Mrs. LaRue takes a cross-country Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures . drive with her neighbor's cats and her The newest title in this series is The own dog, Ike, who keeps the cats' African Safari (#6) by Josh Greenhut owner informed of their misadven- (2011), in which Flat Stanley, his fa- tures through a series of postcards. ther, and his brother travel to Africa Hilarious illustrations enhance this in search of a recently discovered flat delightful story about reluctant travel car trip, ending up in Nevada after skull, hoping it will provide clues to companions. improbably being given a bag full of Stanley’s condition. possibly stolen money. Sequel to My My Granny Went to Market: A Round One Hundred Adventures . Magic Tree House . The newest title in -the-World Counting Rhyme by Stella this series is A Crazy Day With Co- Blackstone (2005). A child's grand- Nory Ryan’s Song by Patricia Reilly bras (#45) by Mary Pope Osborne, in mother travels around the world, buy- Giff (2000). When a terrible blight at- which Jack and Annie are whisked ing things in quantities that illustrate tacks Ireland's potato crop in 1845, away to India during the Mogul Em- counting from one to ten. Fantastic twelve-year-old Nory Ryan's courage pire in the 1600s to search for an em- colorful pictures make this cultural and ingenuity help her family and erald needed to break a magic spell. counting book a real delight. neighbors survive.

The Three Little Dassies by Jan Brett The Wanderer by Sharon Creech Willow Cataldo– (2010). In this adaptation of the tradi- (2000). Thirteen-year-old Sophie and Head of Valparaiso Youth Services Help support our new Lego Clubs by Wanted: donating new or gently-used Lego ® ® Blocks to your nearest branch. Lego Call you local branch for more Blocks! information about this fun program!

11 BETWEEN THE STACKS NON PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE Porter County Public Library System PAID 103 Jefferson Street VALPARAISO, IN Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 PERMIT NO. 75

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Mission Statement We believe that libraries can change people’s lives and are a cornerstone of our democ- racy. The mission of the Porter County Public Library System is to provide all residents of Valparaiso Public Library, 462-0524 the library district with a comprehensive collection of materials in a variety of media that 103 Jefferson Street records human knowledge, ideas and culture and to organize these materials for ready Valparaiso, IN 46383 access. The library encourages the love of reading and the joy of learning, and offers the M-Th 9-9pm; F 9-6pm; Sat 9-5pm assistance people need to find, evaluate, and use electronic and print information resources that help them live successful and rewarding lives. Portage Public Library, 763-1508 2665 Irving Street Portage, IN 46368 Director Friends of the Porter County Library M-Th 9-9pm; F 9-6pm; Sat 9-5pm James Cline Executive Board Members Lois Thurner ( President) South Haven Public Library, 759-4474 Assistant Director Cheryl Oestreich ( Vice-President ) 403 West 700 North Phyllis Nelson Don Johnson ( Secretary) Ilene Chelf ( Treasurer ) Valparaiso, IN 46385 Barbara Lewis (Publicity) M,W 10-9pm; T,Th,F 10-6pm; Sat 9-5pm PCPLS Board of Trustees Marcia Dwyer Judith Ann Hanson ( President ) Judy Petrou Hebron Public Library, 996-3684 Gerrie Bowie ( Vice-President ) Gail Tuminello 201 W. Sigler Street Mary Bradford ( Secretary ) Debbie Upton Hebron, IN 46341 Sheila Minton (Treasurer) M,W 10-9pm; T,Th,F 10-6pm; Sat 9-5pm Darla Block William Eckert, Jr. Kouts Public Library, 766-2271 Scott Falk INSPIRE 101 E. Daumer Road Indiana Libraries On-Line Kouts, IN 46347 http://www.inspire.net M,W,F 10-6pm; T,Th 10-9pm; Sat 9-5pm