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PUBL I C L I B R A R Y N E W S L E T T E R0 n r - i et o

V o lu m e 10, No. 4 - Ju ly -A u gus t 1996

W H Y WAIT?Current ly, w e have 119 registered F R I E N D S O F

T H E E D IS O N T O W N S H IP PUBLIC L IBRARY. Our annua l m em b ersh ip drive begins in S e p te m b e r , but if you join now, y o u ’ ll ge t two months free!

App l ica t ion form s a re a v a i la b le at all of our l ib ra ry ’s circulation desks.

Our F R I E N D S are planning a special program in the Fall on handwrit ing analys is with graphologist Bernice Kr ieger .

0 W a tc h for further deta i ls in our Fall newslet ter !

SOMETHING NEW*PIP’ ~ patron Inform ation in P ac--is now operating on all our PAC term inals .

The idea of P IP is to allow borrowers to check their current transactions without going to the circulation desk for this information. People will be able to see what they have out, what is overdue or lost, and what items they have on hold.

P IP is easy to use-it*s a function on the PAC screen. You just choose “PI" instead of T .W , or N. Then you are asked to input your library card # —and after that, you are ready to go. The PAC screen itself gives good instructions. Give it a try at your earliest convenience.

The most important thing to rem em ber is that the user must have his or her library card handy. This might seem a little in co n ven ien t-b u t the purpose of this requirem ent is privacy and security. So it’s very worthw hile.

Oval Stone By: Shelia EichenblattThe small oval stone I found at the shore

Is still warm A souvenir

It carries the warmth O f a day in the sun

jun

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2 .

An “Herbal Inform ational Presentation" will be held at North Edison Branch Library on Tuesday, July 23, at 7:30 pm. Herbalist Susan Kemp believes that the qualities of herbs greatly benefit the human body and in sharing her information will teach people how to be health ier, feel better, and live longer. P lease call the library to register at 5 4 8 -3 0 4 5 .

“Coping with Panic and Anxiety” will be presented at the Main Library on Tuesday, August 13, at 7 pm. There is hope for people with panic attacks, and phobias. Judy Slepian, co-founder of Panic Relief, Inc. and John Arata, a certified hypnotherapyst, will help you regain self-confi­dence and get yourself back on track. P lease call 287 -2298 to register.

D is p la y s

During the month of July at the Main Library, the M etuchen Edison Historical Society will display a collection of rubbings from tombstones in the Stelton Baptist Church cemetary.

Edison resident Anna W ong will exhibit her teddy bear collection at the Main Library in August. She will include her own handmade mohair bears as well as several Gund and Steiff collectibles.

North E d i s o n ’s New Books

North Edison Branch Library has some very interesting new books in its collection. Many interests are included. Some which might wet your appetite are.

* ' ' ' *0 2 5 .0 6 FERFerguson, Tom, M.D. Health OnlineDescribes online resources ranging from from practical health information to advice from medical experts.

2 2 6 .2 0 4 DAND ’Ancona, Matthew and Carsten, Peter Thiede. Eyewitness to Jesus.Tells the story of two scholars, who, a century apart, stumble on the oldest known remains of the New Testament - hard evidence confirming that St. Matthew’s Gospel is the account of an eyewitness to Jesus.

332 .024 GODGodfrey, Neale S. From Cradle to College.Prepares parents for the biggest, most important, and most complicated financial planning that they will ever face: taking care of their children.

7 9 6 .4 8Laing, Jane, ed. C hronic le of the O lym pics, 1896-19.9.6^Records the key sporting achievements of all games of the summer and winter Olympics during this era.

Cathy Filipski - Reference Librarian

Your Aching Back

If you decided to read this page because your back hurts, you’re in good company. About one out of every three people complain of some kind of chronic back trouble, and nearly every one of us, at one time or another, will experience back pain. So even if you are not suffering from back trouble at the present time, the chances are that you will if you don't take steps to prevent it.

If you should develop acute back pain or serious back injury you should, of course, see a doctor and follow his advice. But a knowledge of self-help measures will aid your recovery. Once the pain of your first back attack is over you'll feel so relieved you’ll want to forget the whole thing. Unfortunately, one of the best predictors of future back pain is past back pain. Back symptoms tend to recur.

To help prevent recurrence, you need to condition your back-supporting muscles. Several of the books in the library have chapters on exercises to strengthen your back. Exercise is better for your back than anything you can put onto or into your body. But there are other life-style changes to consider, changes that can lead to a healthier, less stressful way of life.

If you are overweight, some of your weight appears as an enlarged stomach, and that puts additional stress on your back, especially since your stomach muscles are probably weak.Sitting much of the day at a computer also takes its toll on your back. Make sure you are getting lumbar support from your chair and take frequent stretch breaks. Too much driving can also leave your back feeling sacked. Many car seats encourage an unnatural forward slouch. This position lets the lower back sag backward, compressing disks and causing muscles to overstretch. W hat’s worse, holding the same position for long periods of time stops the flow of blood to the back muscles. Stop every hour or so and give your back a stretch. Use a small pillow or towel as back support.

Backaches can be alleviated by rest in bed, ibuprofen, warm showers and massage. Many people find relief with chiropractors who use m anipulation to apply force to parts of the spine in order to adjust the spine.

The books below offer practical information and helpful exercise which you can apply to your daily activities.

Sammann, Patricia. YMCA Healthy Back Book. Cham paign, III: Human Kinetics Publishers,1993.Not only exercises, but sensible recommendations on weight loss and weight management.

Sobel, Dava. Backache: What Exercises W ork. N .Y . : St. M artin ’s Press, 1994.Step-by-step instructions are spelled out here accompanied by line drawings to show each exercise movement.

White, Augustus. Your Aching Back. N.Y. : Simon and Schuster, 1990.Includes the most up-to-date basic self-care, as well as surgery and post-operative care.

Martha Gartner - Reference Librarian

4 .

TAKE A TRIP ON THE BOOKMOBILEBy Sharon Giniger - Bookmobile Librarian

Take a trip with the Edison Bookmobile by joining our Summer Reading Program "Books on the Go!" As you travel by car, boat, or a hot-air balloon, you will take an exciting trip around the world by reading books throughout the summer. You can earn prizes and win contests as you enjoy reading for pleasure. Join us on the bookmobile for some reading fun! The following is a suggested list of children's books on transportation:

Nonfiction:The Airplane Book by Cheryl Walsh Bellville J629.133 BEL

Highlights airplanes of the last 100 years and discusses the principles of flight, early aviation, the growth of modem airliners, and current design challenges.

Amazing Cars by Trevor Lord J629.2 LORIntroduces the history, uses, and different styles of cars. Also discusses famous cars and

cars of the future.

The Elevator Escalator Book: A Transportation Fact Book by Bob Bamer JEREAD 629.04 BAR The way twelve different forms of transportation work are explained as a large, brown dog

takes each on a trip to deliver a package.

Ships and Boats by Angela Rovston JEREAD 623.82 ROYText and illustrations introduce such ships and boats as the sailboat, motorboat, paddleboat

and cruise ship.

Trains and Railroads by Sydney Herbert Wood J385.09 WOOExamines the kinds and uses of trains past and present and speculates about the railroads of

the future.

Fiction:The Disappearing Bike Shop by Elvira Woodruff J-FIC WOODRUFF

Fifth graders Freckle and Tyler meet an unusual bicycle salesman and inventor who turns out to be Leonardo da Vinci, traveling through time.

Grandpa is a Flier by Sanna Anderson Baker J-EASY BAKERAnne's grandfather tells how he became interested in flying in the early days of flight when

barnstorming was popular.

Zip, Whiz, Zoom! by Stephanie Calmenson J-EASY CALMENSONEveryone in this book has someplace special to go and they’re using different means of

transportation from bicycles to buses to get there!

5 .

PETS IN THE W HITE HOUSE

by: Dolores C. Chupela C hi ld re n ’s Librarian

Another presidential election year is upon us, and soon it will be tim e to review the candidates, debate the relevant issues, and decide who will win our vote.

Throughout all of this, my thoughts can’t help but wander back in time to the presidents of yesteryear. W hat were they really like? Upon researching some of the presidents whom I’ve found most interesting, the one thing that fascinated me the most was their choice of pets!

Let’s meet some of them “up close and personal”.' . V ’ y i - O* ' \

Thom as Jefferson’s (1801) favorite pet was Dick, the mockingbird. Dick loved to perch on Mr. Jefferson's shoulder and sing right along while he played the violin!

Theodore Roosevelt (1901) filled the W hite House with all kinds of pets including lizards, snakes and a badger named Josiah. The pet that captured my attention was a blue macaw named Eli Yale who loved to eat coffee grounds. Everyone was frightened of him including “TR" himself who said that he “viewed the bird with dark suspicion”. W hy? Eli loved to bite!

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933) had the Scottie Dog, Fala, as his constant companion. Fala was made an honorary private in the Army and donated his rubber toys for the war effort. The FDR Presidential Library in Hyde Park contains Fala m em orabilia, where he is buried near his master.

t ' AJohn F. Kennedy (1960) had pet birds, hamsters and the pony, Macaroni. His favorite pet

was a dog named Charlie, who loved to swim with the President in the White House pool. He also liked to sneak up on staff members and bite their bottoms!

George Bush had the dog Millie who adored First Lady Barbara. Millie was the author of a book (ap p ro p ria te ly titled ) M illie ’s Book (9 7 3 .9 2 8 ). M illie loved to chase squirrels, so a sign was put up to “warn" the squirrels about her!

The popularity of pets in the W hite House can best be summed up in the following quote from George Elliot: “Animals are agreeable friends-they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.”

To learn more about presidential pets read Pets of the Presidents by Janet V. Caulkins (J 9 7 3 .0 9 9 2 C a u .).

6 .

R osem ary’s Magic

It is sa id tha t r o s e m a r y has the a b i l i ty to he lp re c a l l long fo rg o t te n deta i ls and facts. Keep ing the plant n e arb y can be mood e levat ing and st im ulat ing to the brain. By s q u e e z in g a few of the r o s e m a r y n e e d le s you can r e le a s e this w on der fu l c a m p h o r scent . A n o th e r w a y of en joy ing th is inv igo ra t ing p e r f u m e is to s p ra y a mist of r o s e m a r y th ro u g h o u t your 7 hom e. Inha l ing the r o s e m a r y mist is both m ed ic in a l and an t isept ic . This f resh sc en t is a g r e a t room d e o d o r i z e r , w h i le at the s a m e t im e reduc ing pain of h e a d a c h e s brought on by st ress. R o s e m a ry mist is also very upl ift ing dur ing per iods of d e p re s s io n .

How to M ake R o s em a ry Room Mist

Materials:15 fresh rosemary sprigs 8 oz. glass ja r with screw top 8 oz. isopropyl alcohol 5-inch square cheesecloth

16-oz. plastic spray bottle with pump-handle screw top

8 oz. distilled water

Directions: Rinse the rosemary under cold water. Pat dry. In the jar, combine the rosemary and the alcohol. Set aside in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks. Shake the jar vigorously once a day. Place the cheesecloth in the seive. Strain the rosemary tincture into the spray bot­

tle. Discard the spent herb. Add the distilled water. Shake the bottle gently before each use, and store in a cool, dark place. Spray as required.

Township of Edison

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