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Memorial Day honors servicemen and servicewomen who have died during our nation's wars.   Jim Sheeler (Rocky Mountain News) won a Pulitzer Prize in 2006 for his story "Final Salute", and last year published this excellent book by the same title.

It's a tough read, emotionally, but I hope it someday makes a national or regional "everyone reads" list, and is required reading in civics classes.  Sheeler won the confidence of many families during his reporting on the Iraq/Afghanistan war dead, and was allowed to be present during some of these most private moments.

He was also allowed access to U.S. Marine Major Steve Beck, whose job entailed notifying the family of their loss, and providing assistance as needed.  Sheeler could have wandered into politics but does not.  Nor does he flinch from difficult moments.  He provides the respectful "bearing witness" that opens a small window onto scenes of great importance, ones that few would want to imagine.

Scenes we also need to remember and honor.

The Bellevue Jazz Festival is back! And one of the highlights of this year's festival is the appearance of the Mingus Big Band. Charles Mingus was one of the most creative, wide-ranging and tempestuous of jazz bassists and composers, and although he is now long gone, his band lives on.

Mingus' own groups, often called "Jazz Workshops" could be cacophonously bluesy or the hardest swinging of the avant-garde and his influence and impact only gets larger every year.

The Mingus Big Band is one of those rare 'ghost bands' which seems to have absorbed all the crucial lessons from its late leader and should rock the house on Saturday, May 23.  

Still want more? Check out all the Mingus music you can listen to via our newly expanded database, Music Online.

Which of these is not a book about knitting available from the King County Library System?

A. When Bad Things Happen to Good Knitters: an Emergency Survival Guide
B. Not Tonight Darling, I'm Knitting!
C. Stitch 'n Bitch: the Knitter's Handbook
D. From Thread to Rope: Knitting Big and Little
E. Domiknitrix: Whip Your Knitting Into Shape
(answer after the break)

Which of these is not a book available from the King County Library System?

A. Service Included: Four-Star Secrets of an Eavesdropping Waiter
B. Quilts In My Cubicle
C. Play the Blues and Save Your Soul: Changing Your Life Through Music Performance
D. Extraordinary Psychic: Proven Techniques to Master Your Natural Psychic Abilities
E. Diaper Free: the Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene
(answer after the break)

I was out last weekend (no, that's not me there), hopeful that at least some lower elevation trails would be open, but there's still a fair bit of snow out there.

Still, it's a good time for a quick reminder to trail-folk that KCLS has maps.

Many branches stock Green Trails maps (Fairwood and Shoreline check out their maps), and Bellevue and Kent also stock USGS topographic maps for all of Washington State.

Happy trails!

 

 

 Pacific Northwest Wildflowers by Damian Fagan and Wayside Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest by Dee Strickler. 

I'm sure you have had the experience of walking on a path, a meadow or in the woods and wondered "What is that plant?"  Well wonder no more!  These two guides give the walker and observer a excellent entry into the world of wildflowers.  Each title features color plates, latin names, description, range and habitat.  Pacific Northwest Wildflowers also features a separate line indicating the time of year the plant is in bloom.  Several other reasons I enjoy this book so much is the comments from the author for each flower, how the flowers are arranged in color grouping for easy identification, helpful introduction and a How To Use This Guide section.  Wayside Wildflowers has a very useful Visual Guide to Families and Genera that makes finding flowers much easier by breaking down the number of petals, special types of flowerheads and shrubs and small  trees.  This time of year is prime for flower watching so get out, learn those flowers and amaze your friends and family with your amazing knowledge!

Which of these is not a book about animals available from the King County Library System?

A. The Fairest Fowl: Portraits of America's Championship Chickens
B. My Life With Llamas: What I Learned When I Took a Year Away from Wall Street to Be a Rancher
C. When Your Rabbit Needs Special Care: Traditional and Alternative Healing Methods
D. Trafficking in Sheep: a Memoir--From Off-Broadway, New York to Blue Island, Nova Scotia
(answer after the break)

Being laid off is a stressful experience that most of us would rather not have to prepare for.  Fortunately, KCLS has a variety of resources that can help.  You will find a collection of these online and print materials on our website in the Just Laid Off? section of our Look to Your Library guide. 

The first step is often to apply for unemployment benefits.  The Washington State Employment Security Department website has a step-by-step guide to help you through this process. Looking for a new job is usually the next step, and Worksource of Seattle-King County has many resources for job-hunters.  If you are a veteran, you may be eligible for special services related to finding a new job.

Part of the stress of job loss is the uncertainty of how to adjust to a reduced income.  The University of Minnesota Extension has prepared a helpful publication that deals with both the emotional and financial issues related to income loss.  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides an online guide to avoiding foreclosure. 

Our Just Laid Off? page also has links to some online resources that are accessible through the KCLS website, including WOIS/The Career Information System, a source for career information that is specific to Washington State.  In this single location, you can find job descriptions, educational requirements and salary estimates for a wide array of careers.  If you are considering additional schooling, WOIS has a section on educational programs, as well.

Naturally, the library has many books to help you manage the loss of your job, including Suddenly Unemployed: Encouraging & Practical Steps for Finding a Job or Career Match: Connecting Who You are with What You'll Love to Do.  Search our online catalog or check out the ready-to-view searches on the Just Laid Off? page for inspiration.   

When times get tough, look to your library for information, ideas and inspiration. Find much more at Look To Your Library......especially now!

KCLS is not just about books, databases, magazines, music, and movies.Our collection offers many ways to learn a new skill, perfect an old skill, learn a new language, cook healthy, get in great shape, fix your car, grow your own food, and more. We have tools to help you enrich and improve your life in many ways. We offer classes, programs, and entertainment aplenty. Here's five free and fabulous things at the library that just might surprise you:

1. Computers:

We have state-of-the-art  computers with Microsoft Office software for you to create letters, presentations, resumes, email, or just surf the internet and print it all out at no charge. Need to learn how to use the computer or brush up on skills for your resume? We offer free classes every month to get you started or keep you going. We also have free wireless access.We also have a TechLab bus that will bring free computer classes to you if you are unable to come into the library and it is wheelchair accessible. It is a state of the art bus equipped with eight workstation; there is a minimum requirement of six registrants.

The Origami Master written by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer, illustrated by Aki Sogabe

A featured title of The Big Read, The Origami Master tells the tale of a master origami creator in the isolated mountains of Japan.  As he creates his small works of art he is watched closely by a warbler, who, in the dead of night, folds his own beautiful origrami works of art.  Discovering the warbler to the creator of the small wonders, he is not content to let the warbler be, but instead captures him in order to discover his skill.  What transpires in a wonderful story of realization for the master.  A simply told tale, one best shared with a child in the lap.