Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Switcheroo!

For all of you who love to bring the kids to story time, and those of you who love to bring the kids to Rock Along we've got some important news to share.

Starting next week Story Time with Eric is moving to Tuesdays at 10:00 and Rock Along with Casey is moving to Wednesdays at 10:00.

You still get the same awesome programs, just on a different day.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Monday, December 29, 2008

This Week at Watha T. Dec. 29 - Jan. 4

Good Morning Neighbors!

It's been a lovely holiday season over here at Watha T. I hope you're family is enjoying it as much as we have.

Here's what we've got in store this week.

Tuesday, December 30

10:00: Rock Along with Casey
4:00: Tech Tuesday: Introduction to PowerPoint

Wednesday, December 31

10:00: Story Time with Eric
We will close at 5:00 for New Year's Eve celebrations

Thursday, January 1

Closed for new Year's Day

Friday, January 2

3:30: Anime Club presents: Bleach

Saturday, January 3

10:00: Story Time for Parents and Children

Sunday, January 4

2:00: Sunday Stories with Nick for ages 6-12

Friday, December 19, 2008

New Arrivals Update

Looking for something new to curl up with over this rainy weekend? Check out our New Arrivals list to the left for a fresh batch of titles that just came in this week. There's something for everyone this week, from the newest Nick Stone mystery to Tiki Barber's Pure Hard Workout.

Enjoy your weekend!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

New Feature: New Arrivals


We've added a new feature to the WTD blog, the New Arrivals list. If you go to the blog at wathatdaniel.blogspot.com, you'll see on the top left hand corner the 10 most recent additions to the collection here at the interim library.

So check out the site every Friday afternoon and see what's new!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Ground Breaking Ceremony

This morning we had the ground breaking ceremony to kick-start the construction of the new Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library. There were news media personalities, community activists, local politicians Jack Evans and Alex Padro, folks from library administration including Director Ginnie Cooper and President of the Board of Trustees John Hill and even Mayor Adrian Fenty.

In addition to the big names there were a whole bunch of little names as well, Ms. Smith's fourth grade class from Seaton Elementary School came to the ceremony and with their little hard hats and big gold shovels they dug the first few holes for the new building. Towanda Gravitt and I came over from the interim library and I got some pictures of the kids digging. Way to go guys!




This Week at Watha T. - December 8-14

Good Afternoon Neighbors!

My apologies for the delay in this week's calendar of events, but we experienced an internet outage over Sunday and Monday that prevented all sorts of things from happening. But we're back on track now! Service resumed on Monday evening and we're here to tell you what's going on at Watha. Swing by and check it out!

Monday, Dec. 8

3:30: Homework Help from Capitol Letters Writing Center

Tuesday, Dec. 9

10:00: Rock-Along with Casey
10:45: Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library
4:00: Tech Tuesday: Email Basics

Wednesday, Dec. 10

10:00: Storytime for 3-5 year olds with Micki Freeny
6:00: Youth Chess Club
7:30: Open Knitting Group

Thursday, Dec. 11

9:45: Mother Goose on the Loose

Friday, Dec. 12

3:30: Anime Club presents Bleach episodes 1-3

Saturday, Dec. 13

10:00: Storytime with Tracy

Sunday, Dec. 14

2:00: Sunday Stories, Nick reads No Talking by Andrew Clements

Sunday, November 30, 2008

This Week at Watha T. Dec. 1 - Dec. 7

Hello Neighbors!

Welcome to the month of December. Our program momentum keeps on rolling, and we've got plenty of activities for the whole family to choose from. Stop on by and check it out!

Monday, Dec. 1

3:30 - Homework Help from Capitol Letters Writing Center
6:00 - Love That Book: Discussion of Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Tuesday, Dec. 2

10:00 - Rock Along with Casey
4:00 - Tech Tuesday: PC Basics

Wednesday, Dec. 3

10:00 - Story Time with Miss Tracy
6:00 - Chess Club
6:00 - Big Kid Movie: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (original animated edition)

Thursday, Dec. 4

9:45 - Mother Goose on the Loose for infants and toddlers
4:00 - Get Crafty

Friday, Dec. 5

3:30 - Anime Club Presents Neon Genesis Evangelion

Saturday, Dec. 6

10:00 - Story Time with Eric

Sunday, Dec. 7

2:00 - Sunday Stories with Nick reading No Talking by Andrew Clements

Monday, November 24, 2008

This Week @ Watha T. Nov. 24th - Nov. 30th

Good Afternoon Neighbors!

Eric couldn't be here today to give you all the skinny on this weeks activities, so I'll be filling in. We look forward to seeing you, and in advance, Happy Thanksgiving!


Monday, Nov. 24

3:30: Homework Help
6:00: Thanksgiving Crafts and Stories


Tuesday, Nov. 25

10:00: Rock Along with Casey
4:00: Tech Tuesday: Online Forms and Applications


Wednesday, Nov. 26

10:00: Story Time with Miss Tracy
6:00: Chess Club
6:00: Classic Films: Ferris Beuler's Day Off
7:30: Knitting Club


Thursday, Nov. 27

Thanksgiving Day!

We will be closed for the holiday.



Friday, Nov. 28

3:30: Karaoke Jams


Saturday, Nov. 29

12:00: National Novel Writing Month Support Group


Sunday, Nov. 30

2:00: Sunday Stories for Tweens (6-12): No Talking by Andrew Clements (week 4)

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

This Week at Watha T. Nov. 17 - Nov. 23

Good Afternoon Neighbors!

My sincerest apologies for the tardiness of our weekly events post. We've been having some technical difficulties on the staff side at Watha this week. So I come to you via our public computers. Yes, you can blog at Watha, and if you don't know, just ask and I'll be happy to show you.

Here's what we've had and what we've got going on for you this week.

Monday, Nov. 17

3:30 - Homework Help from the Capitol Letters Writing Center
6:00 - Love That Movie: Night at the Museum

Tuesday, Nov. 18

10:00 - Rock Along with Casey
4:00 - Tech Tuesday: Email Basics

Wednesday, Nov. 19

10:00 - Story Time with Miss Tracy
6:00 - Youth Chess Club
7:00 - Urban Fiction Book Club discusses Trading Dreams at Midnight by Diane McKinney-Whetstone

Thursday, Nov. 20

9:45 - Mother Goose on the Loose for Infants and Toddlers
3:30 - Teen "Any Book" Club

Friday, Nov. 21

3:30 - Anime Club presents Robotech episodes 1-4

Saturday, Nov. 22

10:00 - Preschool Breakfast Club (Final Program)
12:00 - National Novel Writing Month Support Group

Saturday, Nov. 23

2:00 - Sunday Stories: No Talking by Andrew Clements

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Let's GET CRAFTY!

Let's GET CRAFTY!!!

We are pleased to announce that our first Get Crafty program was a big success!

I’m a firm believer in hands-on learning and fun, and Get Crafty has these elements and more.


Our first program, finger-knitting, was based on a really cool book called I Love Knitting, which can be found in the Young Adult section. We had fun trying knitting with our fingers and with knitting needles. Even our teen aid, Jeremy, could be seen knitting a scarf. Or was it a belt? Most of the teens finished one scarf and either started a second one or took home yarn to get crafty at home.


On the first Thursday every month at 4:00, teens meet at the library for knitting, scrap-booking, beading, and various other artistic surprises Miss Tracy has up her crafty sleeve. Get Crafty always incorporates projects found in non-fiction books from the Young Adult section, which you can check out for more fun at home!


Our next Get Crafty program is beading and jewelry-making, based on another young adult book. Knitting was our first of many Get Crafty programs to come—we hope to see you there!


REMINDER: Watha T. Daniel Library also has a knitting club that meets the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. Come check it out!



Monday, November 10, 2008

This Week at Watha T. Nov. 10 - Nov. 16

Good Morning Neighbors!

If you haven't noticed we've finally gotten to the point of having special public programs every day of the week. I have to say that I'm super proud of that. :)

Here's what we've got going on for you this week.

Monday, Nov. 10

3:30 - Homework Help with Capitol Letters Writing Center
6:00 - Genealogy Workshop

Tuesday, Nov. 11
Veterans Day
Special hours 10:00 - 5:00

10:30 - Veterans Day Story Time for 3-5 Year Olds
12:00 - Picturing America: Soldiers & Legends
3:00 - Tech Tuesday: Military History Online

Wednesday, Nov. 12

10:00 - Story Time for 3-5 Year Olds
6:00 - Youth Chess Club
7:30 - Open Knitting Group

Thursday, Nov. 13

9:45 - Mother Goose on the Loose for Infants and Toddlers

Friday, Nov. 14

3:30 - Hot Off the Press: New Books for Teens

Join Tracy for a discussion of the hottest new books for teens and get a sneak peek at books that are just about to be released!
Saturday, Nov. 15

10:00 - Preschool Breakfast Club, Week 7
12:00 - National Novel Writing Month Support Group
All Day - National Gaming Day
We will be having games with anyone of any age throughout the whole day. The games we'll be playing include Apples to Apples, Pictureka, Magic the Gathering, Fluxx, Dungeons & Dragons and more!

Monday, November 3, 2008

This Week at Watha T. Nov. 3 - Nov. 9

Good Morning Neighbors!

I hope you've all enjoyed your extra hour this weekend from the time change. We've got some really outstanding programs this week. I hope to see you there.

Monday, Nov. 3

3:30: Homework Help
6:00: Love That Book: The Night at the Museum

Love That Book is the first half of a new series, Love That
Book/Love That Movie
. Participants will have a story time book
discussion of the book and then in two weeks we will show the film.

Tuesday, Nov. 4
Election Day

10:00: Rock Along with Casey
4:00: Tech Tuesday: PC Parts and Computer Basics

Wednesday, Nov. 5

10:00: Story Time with Miss Tracy
6:00: Chess Club
6:00: Big Kid Movie Night: The Black Cauldron

Thursday, Nov. 6

9:45: Mother Goose on the Loose
4:00: Get Crafty for Teens: Wonderful Knits

Friday, Nov. 7

3:30: Anime Club: Lucky Star

Saturday, Nov. 8

10:00: Preschool Breakfast Club
12:00: National Novel Writing Month Support Group
3:00: Black History Lecture Series: Forgotten Soldiers: The District's Black Doughboys of World War I

Sunday, Nov. 9

2:00: Sunday Stories for Tweens (6-12): No Talking by Andrew Clements

Sunday Stories is a new program where older children are read a full length
children's novel or chapter book over a series of weeks.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Horror Review - Renfield: Slave of Dracula!

In the spirit of Halloween, this week we highlight a fantastic new twist on one of the seminal works of 19th century gothic horror - Dracula.

With Renfield, Barbara Hambly further explores the tormented story of Dracula's mad minion. Hambly shows the story through the maniac's eyes: his sick obsession with flies and spiders; his connection to the evil Count; the dreams that plague him in the night, and the terrible events that left him raving in the streets of London. Too, we see the man's deepest, most secret motivation - the loving wife and daughter whose whereabouts he must keep from his Master at all costs, even as he falls deeper under the monster's dark power, seeking to make it his own.

As with the original tale, the narrative is a mosaic of disparate pieces - an amalgam of third person prose, journal entries, letters and newspaper clippings. The story of Renfield takes place simultaneously with the events of Dracula, and even includes relevant excerpts from Stoker's novel. Yet Ms. Hambly still manages to create a story that is both original and suspensful: though we know the story of Dracula as deeply as any in the popular mythos, this tale is as terrifying as if it had never been told before. Each character is beholden to his own torment, and Barbara Hambly deftly draws us into their personal horror with a sense of helpless inevitability.

If you are looking for something to bring you into the spirit of the season, this is the book for you.

Monday, October 27, 2008

This Week at Watha T. Oct. 27 - Nov 2

Good morning neighbors!

This is the last week of our outdoor movie festival and the turnout has been fantastic! Please make sure to stop by and see the final show and tell us what you thought about the event. Also, November begins this Saturday and that means it's National Novel Writing Month! Stop by and join the

Monday, Oct. 27

3:30: Homework Help from Capitol Letters Writing Center

Tuesday, Oct. 28

10:00: Rock Along with Casey
4:00: Tech Tuesday: Digital Photography

Wednesday, Oct. 29

10:00: Storytime with Miss Tracy
6:00: Youth Chess Club
6:30: Non-Drive-In Movies: The Ring

Thursday, Oct. 30

9:45: Mother Goose on the Loose for infants and toddlers

Friday, Oct. 31

Halloween: Stop in before 5:30 and children and teens get a free book!

Saturday, Nov. 1

10:00: Preschool Breakfast Club
12:00: National Novel Writing Month Workshop
2:00: Dia de los Muertos Sugar Skulls

Sunday, Nov. 2

Daylight Savings Time ENDS. Fall back one hour.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Eats, Shoots & Leaves - review

For anyone who cringes every time they see a sign for 'fresh' fruit; for anyone terrified by the effect of txt msgng on the English language; for anyone still brave enough to (correctly) use the colon, semicolon and parenthesis - Eats, Shoots and Leaves is the book for you!

Fed up with illiterate grocery-store signs, movie titles and Gertrude Stein, Lynne Truss decided that it was time to make the case for proper punctuation. One by one, she takes us into the history of each mark, its uses (both modern and outmoded) and misuses. Peppered with examples which are often hysterical and sometimes horrifying, Ms. Truss points out the very real reasons why it is important to maintain a decent grasp of grammar.

In all, I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an equal love of language and laughter.

*It is also a perfect read for anyone about to take on the NaNoWriMo challenge.

Monday, October 20, 2008

This Week at Watha T. Oct 20 - 26

Good Morning Neighbors!

It's party time. Today is the one year anniversary of the opening of the Watha T. Daniel interim library. So stop by this evening and get a piece of cake and celebrate with us!

Monday, Oct. 20

3:30 - Homework Help from Capitol Letters Writing Center
5:00 - 1 year anniversary party

Tuesday, Oct. 21

10:00 - Rock Along with Casey
4:00 - Tech Tuesday: Email Basics

Wednesday, Oct. 22

10:00 - Story Time for 3-5 year olds
6:00 - Chess Club
6:30 - Non-Drive-In Movies: It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown & Corpse Bride
7:30 - Open Knitting

Thursday, Oct. 23

10:00 - Mother Goose on the Loose

Saturday, Oct. 25

10:00 - Preschool Breakfast Club
12:00 - Introduction to Tarot

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

WrestleMania Reading Challenge!


Starting today, October 14, 2008, you can register for WrestleMania Reading Challenge
2008-2009! WrestleMania Reading Challenge is a reading program sponsored by YALSA, Young Adult Library Services Association, and WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment, for tweens and teens. If you are a student, or know a student, in 5th-12th grade you can register to win two tickets to go to WWE WrestleMania 25 in Houston Texas.

First you register at Watha T.Daniel-Shaw Library and receive your reading log. Then you read ten books and/or magazines of your choosing. The books you read cannot be for a school assignment. After you have read the ten books turn in your reading log to receive a WrestleMania Reading Challenge mini-poster. You can also pick up the entry form for the Bookmark Contest. Design a bookmark illustrating "why reading is important"! All of the bookmarks need to be turned in by January 15th, 2009. The bookmarks are then judged. The three best bookmarks are then chosen and sent to Chicago to be judged with the other top bookmarks from across the country. The best 15 bookmarks are picked and those contestants are the ones going to WrestleMania 2009 on April 5th! For more information contact me, Tracy, the Children's Librarian here at Watha T. Daniel-Shaw Library or watch the WrestleMania Reading Challenge Video! Happy Reading!

Monday, October 13, 2008

This Week at Watha T. Oct. 13 - Oct. 20

Good Morning Neighbors!

Welcome to Teen Read Week. We've got loads of events happening, and if you didn't get the news last week, we're open today for Columbus Day service. Stop by and say hello.

Monday, Oct. 13

10:00 - America Story Time
12:00 - Picturing America: Images of Native Americans
3:00 - Teen Read Week: Godzilla: Final Wars

Tuesday, Oct. 14

10:00 - Rock Along with Casey
4:00 - Tech Tuesday: Blog Your Life

Wednesday, Oct. 15

10:00 - Story Time with Miss Tracy
6:00 - Youth Chess Club
6:30 - Non-Drive-In Movies: Little Shop of Horrors
7:00 - Adult Book Club: One in a Million by Kimberla Lawson Roby

Thursday, Oct. 16

9:45 - Mother Goose on the Loose for infants and toddlers
4:00 - Teen "Any Book" Book Club

Friday, Oct. 17

4:00 - Tales of Terror

Saturday, Oct. 18

10:00 - Preschool Breakfast Club

Sunday, Oct. 19

2:00 - So you want to write a novel?

Monday, Oct. 20

3:30 - Homework Help from Capitol Letters Writing Center
5:00 - One Year Anniversary Party

Monday, October 6, 2008

This Week at Watha T. Oct. 6-13

Good Morning Neighbors!

We've got a lot of stuff going on this week. In fact, there's so much stuff that this week's calendar is going to wrap around to next monday just to squeeze it all in.

Monday, Oct. 6

3:30 - Homework help from Capitol Letters Writing Center

Tuesday, Oct. 7

10:00 - Rock Along with Casey
4:00 - Tech Tuesday: PC Basics

Wednesday, Oct. 8

10:00 - Story Time for 3-5 year olds with Miss Tracy
6:00 - Chess Club
6:30 - Non-Drive-In Movies: Batman Begins
7:30 - Open Knitting

Thursday, Oct. 9

9:45 - Mother Goose on the Loose for Infants and Toddlers

Saturday, Oct. 11

10:00 - Preschool Breakfast Club

Sunday, Oct. 12

1:00 - Teen Read Week: Book Discussion of the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer

Monday, Oct. 13 - Columbus Day

Yes, we are open on Columbus Day

10:30 - America Story Time for 3-5 year olds
12:00 - Picturing America: Depictions of Native Americans
3:30 - Teen Read Week - Movie: Godzilla: Final Wars

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Henson Rocks!

Greetings, Goblins and Gelflings!

Inspired by the Jim Henson's Fantastic World exhibit which closes tomorrow at the Smithsonian International Gallery, we have decided to show three of Henson's best-known works: "The Muppet Movie", "Labyrinth" and "Dark Crystal".

The festivities will begin at 11:45 am, and last through most of the rest of the day, and snacks will be made available, so join us this afternoon for a celebration of the magical worlds of Jim Henson.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Non-Drive-In Movies: Grease

Hey Neighbors!

Don't forget, that tonight is the first of the WTD Non-Drive-In Movies series, and we're going to be showing Grease. We've got free popcorn, and plenty of chairs. So stop on by.

In the event of inclement weather we will watch the movie inside, but we really will do everything we can to set up the movie outside if we can.

Monday, September 29, 2008

This Week at Watha T. Sep. 29 - Oct. 5

Good Morning Neighbors!

Happy banned books week to everyone!

We've got a TON going on this week. Unlike the usual weekly post this one will be annotated for new programs.


Monday, Sep. 29

3:30-5:30: Homework Help from Capitol Letters Writing Center

Free homework tutoring open to students pre-k through high school. Snacks provided.


Tuesday, Sep. 30

10:00 a.m.: Rock Along with Casey


Wednesday, Oct. 1

10:00 a.m.: Story Time for 3-5 year olds
6:00 p.m.: Youth Chess Club
7:00 p.m.: Non-Drive-In Movie Festival: Grease Sing-Along

WTD Non-Drive In Movies: Every wednesday at sundown we will be screening a
different film outside, on the sidewalk beside Watha T. These performances are
free and open to everyone. A limited amount of popcorn will be provided for free.

Thursday, Oct. 2

9:45 a.m.: Mother Goose on the Loose for Infants and Toddlers


Friday, Oct. 3

3:30 p.m.: Anime Club presents: Naruto Legend of the Stone of Gelel


Saturday, October 4

10:00 a.m.: Preschool Breakfast Club
The Preschool Breakfast Club is an 8 week program for children ages 3-5 and
their caregivers that combines story time and craft
activities to encourage a love of reading and help prepare children for
interaction outside the home. Breakfast is provided for parents and
children. At the final session of the Breakfast Club the
children will receive a package containing selected books from those read
over the course of the program. Participation in the Breakfast Club is
limited to 15 children. Pre-registration is required.
1:00 p.m.: Fall and Winter Energy Savings
Learn how to save some money on your winter heating bill with help from the
pros at the DC Department of Energy.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Comics For Adults

I'm sure you're all aware that we've got Spider-Man and Batman, but what about stuff for adults? Here are a few phenomenal titles in our collection for mature readers.

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

Labeling Fun Home as "A Family Tragi-Comic" is completely appropriate. This memoir is a detailed examination of Bechdel's life, her growing up, her awakening to her own sexuality, and the revelation about her father's secret life as a closeted homosexual. Awkward, funny, literate, touching, and absolutely brilliant. Everyone should read this book. And if my enthusiasm for the book isn't reason enough it's also won a TON of awards.




Me and the Devil Blues by Akira Hiramoto

King of the Blues, Robert Johnson, is a shadowy figure in music history. Not much is known about his life, and very few pictures of him even exist. But the legends surrounding him are vast. Hiramoto's work draws on those legends and turns them into a fantastic, dark narrative about a man who made a deal with the devil and became one of the most influential figures in music history. A whopping tome, about three times the size of your average manga, it actually took me two days to read it. But I was engrossed in it utterly. And this is only volume 1!

Good-Bye by Yoshihiro Tatsumi

Tatsumi's work helped to create a different strain of comics in Japan known at "Gekiga." "Gekiga," a phrase coined by Tatsumi, means "dramatic pictures." This is in reaction to the phrase coined by Hokusai "manga," "amusing pictures." Tatsumi's work is challenging. He deals with people and situations that are uncomfortable and compromising. Many of the characters are older men who have lost their sexual prowess, their jobs, their will to live... I would compare Tatsumi's work to the films of Todd Solondz like "Welcome to the Dollhouse" and "Happiness," where the characters are deeply flawed, outcasts, living lives frought with contemplation of their loneliness and despair. Beautiful and heartbreaking.

Sci-fi Review - Pandemonium

Daryl Gregory's debut novel, Pandemonium, is a fantastic mash-up of classic high-concept science fiction and pop-culture satire. By turns comic and introspective (and often both at once), the story explores the collective unconscious and the nature of the relationship between archetypes and the cultures that create them. Gregory's writing style is refreshingly current, witty and self-aware. He not only acknowledges, but includes his influences in the text itself, folding pioneers of speculative fiction like Philip K. Dick and A. E. Van Vogt into the story itself. The result is as unique as it is well-crafted.

The story takes place in a world suspiciously similar to our own, with one glaring difference - since the 1940's, people across the world have become victims of demonic possession. Innocent men, women and children are taken seemingly at random by a series of entities known only by their implacable actions and obsessions; the Truth stalks and kills liars, the Little Angel (always a little girl) walks the halls of hospitals, dispensing death with a kiss. Theories abound about what the demons really are, what they represent, and how best to deal with them.

Del Pierce was a boy when he was taken by the Hellion, an entity with a lethal case of ADHD. With love and patience, his family drove the demon out. Now it's back, and as an adult Del must search for a way to stop the demon before it takes complete control. With the help of an angry Irish nun, a Creature from a Black Lagoon and a pair of aging Jungian psychotherapists, Del goes on a quest both literally and figuratively to find a cure. Along the way he will find the source of himself and his demon counterpart, and be surprised by both.

Pandemonium makes a lot of unspoken promises. By incurring the name of Philip K. Dick (indeed, by making him a character), it is expected that this novel will test our basic assumptions about life and identity. It is also expected that we will find something new in its pages, and be kept guessing until the very end. Finally, with all of the pop-culture references, there ought to be some fresh reflections about the world we live in. Daryl Gregory delivers on all of these points, and the result is a highly pleasurable experience.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Banned Books Week


Books every year are banned from libraries all over the country. Sex and sexuality, profanity, drugs and racism are the most common causes a book is challenged and sometimes even banned. The American Library Association states on there website, "BBW (Banned Book Week) celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them. After all, intellectual freedom can exist only where these two essential conditions are met." This year Banned Books Week is September 27th to October 4th. Here at the Watha T. Daniel-Shaw Library, we are celebrating banned book week by showing How to Eat Fried Worms on Monday night September 29th at 6:00 pm. On Thursday October 2nd we will have a Freadom Book Club! Read any banned or challenged book, then come to discuss it. Check out the Banned Book site for more information and stay tuned for more Banned Book events!

This Week at Watha T. Sep. 22 - Sep. 28

Good Morning Neighbors!

Here's what we've got in store for you this week at Watha T.

Monday, 9/22

3:30-5:30: Homework Help from Capitol Letters Writing Center

Tuesday, 9/23

10:00: Rock Along with Casey

Wednesday, 9/24

10:00: Story Time for 3-5 year olds with Miss Tracy
6:00: Youth Chess Club
6:00: Classic Film Series - Citizen Kane
7:30: Open Knitting Group

Thursday, 9/25

9:45: Mother Goose on the Loose for Infants and Toddlers

Saturday, 9/27

Monday, September 15, 2008

This Week at Watha T. Sep. 15 - Sep 21

Good Morning Neighbors!

Here's the scoop on what's happening this week at Watha. T.


Monday, Sep. 15

3:30-5:30 - Capitol Letters Homework Help


Tuesday, Sep. 16

10:00 a.m. - Rock Along with Casey


Wednesday, Sep. 17

10:00 a.m. - Story Time for 3-5 year olds with Miss Tracy
6:00 p.m. - Youth Chess Club
7:00 p.m. - Adult Book Discussion Group - Gorilla, My Love by Toni Cade Bambara


Thursday, Sep. 18

9:45 a.m. - Mother Goose on the Loose for infants and toddlers
4:00 p.m. - Teen "Any Book" Book Club

Monday, September 8, 2008

Hi! I'm Nick.

Hello. My name is Nick, and I just started here at Watha T. Daniel.

I'm a writer in my spare time, and my work has appeared onstage in Buffalo, NY (where I'm from), as well as in the TCC Channelmarker in Norfolk, VA (where I went to school). Here, I'll mostly be posting reviews of some of my favorite books and movies in our collection. My favorite genre is horror, though I also have a soft spot for science fiction and fantasy.

I look forward to working with all the great people who are already here, and to meeting all of you.

This Week at Watha T. Sep. 8 - Sep. 14

Good Morning Neighbors!

Here's what we've got going on this week at Watha T.

Tuesday, Sep. 9

10:00 a.m. - Rock Along with Casey


Wednesday, Sep. 10

10:00 a.m. - Story Time for 3-5 year olds with Miss Tracy

6:00 p.m. - Youth Chess Club

7:30 p.m. - Open Knitting Group


Thursday, Sep. 11

9:45 a.m. - Mother Goose on the Loose for infants and toddlers

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Books With Bite

The other night I was watching a movie, Drillbit Taylor. The movie stars Owen Wilson, who plays a bum hired by three wimpy teens to be there bodyguard and protect them from school bullies. I was watching these boys enter their new high school on and there on the wall was Teens Read Week and National Library Week posters. It is great to see the libraries and reading promoted in such a great way. I want people to know that Teen Read Week and National Library Week do not happen at the same time, in fact there is about six months difference between the two. National Library Week happens in April, Teen Read Week is in October. This year Teen Read Week will be October 12th - October 18th., with the themeBooks With Bite @ your library.

WTD
is planning some really great programs! Starting with a Twilight series discussion group program on Oct. 12th at 2pm. Then on Oct. 15th, we will show the movie Little Shop of Horrors. Teen Book Club on the 16th will be all about books that bite and finishing up the week with Scary Stories with Eric on Oct. 17th!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Introducing your new Creative Content Station!


I have an Apple computer at home for audio-visual work and have been using Macs for that last ten years. You may not own one yourself, but you’ve probably seen one and remarked about how cool they look. You also might’ve said something like, “Wow, that computer is pretty, but I could never figure it out.” Well, now Macs are more user-friendly than ever, and more powerful, and more fun! Come see for yourself at our library, where we’ve just installed our Creative Content Station. This machine blows mine out of the water ten times over.


The Station consists of a brand new beautiful iMac (yes, it’s huge) with software capable of creating high-quality movies, editing photos, creating original music, and uploading your finished products to the web. In addition, we’ve got a digital camera, a video camera, and audio equipment for public use to help make your artistic dreams a reality. It’s also a perfect machine to help people get accustomed to Apple computers, as they are only getting more popular.




So come check out our new Creative Content Station. Let’s make some MOVIES!!!

Monday, August 25, 2008

This Week at Watha T. Aug. 25 - September 1

Good Morning Neighbors!

Here's what we've got going on this week at Watha T.

Monday, Aug. 25

4:00 p.m. - Anime Club & 3 Minute Japanese

Tuesday, Aug. 26

10:00 a.m. - Rock-Along with Casey

Wednesday, Aug. 27

10:00 a.m. - Story Time for preschoolers with Miss Tracy
6:00 p.m. - Youth Chess Club
6:00 p.m. - Classic Movie Series - Laurence Olivier's Hamlet
7:30 p.m. - Knitting Group

Thursday, Aug. 28

9:45 a.m. - Mother Goose on the Loose, for infants and toddlers

Monday, Sep. 1

Closed for Labor Day Holiday

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Take a Bite Out of National Sandwich Month

Celebrate National Sandwich Month in August

The sandwich is 245 years old. It was in 1762 when John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, asked for meat to be served between slices of bread, as he wanted to avoid interrupting a poker game and also didn't want to get his fingers greasy while holding the cards. Smart, huh?

Check out this short timeline of the sandwich at http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodsandwiches.html

Choose from many different bread selections and get creative when making your favorite sandwiches, by merely adding a few extra ingredients, whether it's a flavorful cheese, or even jalapeno peppers.

One of my savorite sandwiches is a combination of bell peppers, grilled red onion sauteed in oyster or hoisin sauce, sprinkled with shredded spinach with tiny mango pieces all between two slices of greasy, buttered garlic bread.

Today is August 20th. What's your favorite sandwich? There's still time...

No More Bugs!

It is very sad, but Catch the Reading Bug, the summer reading program, is now officially over. We, here at the WTD, had a great time this summer. Here are some highlights from summer 2008!

Washington National Opera
Mr. Derby's Jam Session

Daniel Barash "The Shadow Puppet"


Maryland Science Center
Madama Butterfly and Butterfly Gardens
Dr. Adamski "Of Book and Bugs"


And new programs were started...

Anime Club
Mother Goose on the Loose
Rock-Along with Casey