Summer Reading

Book swap your latest read in a cool 1950s style fridge in New Zealand or hike through the ethereal woodlands of Eas Mor in Scotland where a hidden library in a small log cabin awaits. Each entry shares the library's mission and impact on the local community and offers fascinating stories from its resident caretaker.

Inside Hidden Libraries:

• 50 enchanting, obscure and astounding libraries from around the world
• Fascinating insider knowledge and unique stories from each library's resident caretaker
• Captivating photos accompany every entry and the exact location of each hidden library is revealed
• Featured libraries include: North America - Idaho: Little Free Library in a Cottonwood Tree; California: The Prison Library Project. South America - Argentina: The Weapon of Mass Instruction; Colombia: The Biblioburro. Africa - Egypt: St Catherine's Monastery; Mali: The Timbuktu Manuscripts. Asia & the Middle East - China: The Lonely Library; Philippines: Reading Club 2000. Europe - England: Phone Booth Library; Norway: The Future Library. Oceania & Beyond - Antarctica: The Little Free Library at the South Pole; Outer Space: The International Space Station Library
• Written by Diana Helmuth, an award winning author who writes about subjects including travel, nature, and philosophical trends

From the rare to the romantic, this extraordinary guide to our planet's hidden libraries makes the ultimate gift for literature lovers, adventurers, and dreamers alike. Nothing brings people together quite like a good book.

". . . if you remember toiling—awestruck—up marble staircases in search of facts for a junior-high geography report; if you've driven past perfect, preserved-in-amber temples in towns too small for a stoplight and a Wal-Mart; if you've ever sat through Story Hour in the Children's Reading Room, perched on a teeny-weeny little chair that transported you to pirate dens and Indian camps and all the castles of Fairydom, you'll treasure this book." — Karal Ann Marling, University of Minnesota from the Preface

"Many people believe that when you've seen one Carnegie library, you've seen them all—and nothing could be further from the truth. Each library was a separate and intentional design effort to construct a landmark. Each played a surprisingly important role in the vast social changes that occurred at the turn of the century, which include women's suffrage, museum development, the movies, the budding labor movements, education, philanthropy, and other vital issues." — Theodore Jones

In 1893, the same year that Henry Ford built his first car, the doors opened on the first Carnegie library. Not particularly newsworthy at the time—outside of the small town of Fairfield, Iowa, that is—the library event can be seen, in retrospect, as a watershed for democracy in America. Over the next three decades, the Carnegie "free library" program endowed the construction of 1,688 public libraries in 1,419 communities across America—half of all public libraries in the nation. More than just repositories for books, these edifices represented a historic opportunity for everyone, regardless of his or her station in life, to directly benefit from the true wealth of nations—knowledge.

In the only comprehensive history of the libraries that Carnegie built, journalist and historian Theodore Jones revisits these national treasures. He helps us rediscover an important part of who we are as a people. An enthralling read for American history buffs and a valuable resource for preservationists and restoration architects, Carnegie Libraries Across America explores all major historical, social, and technical apexes of the subject.

Writing in a taut journalistic style, Jones introduces us to Andrew Carnegie, robber baron, philanthropist, veritable Horatio Alger character, and explores his motives in endowing the construction of libraries on such a massive scale. He takes us inside the library fund where we meet the decision-makers and learn the criteria by which they judged who was a fit beneficiary of the Carnegie largess and who was not. And with the help of original documents, including letters of petition by schoolteachers, bankers, and civic leaders from across the United States, he provides valuable insights into life in turn-of-the-century American towns and the values and aspirations of their citizens.

And, of course, there are the buildings themselves. Jones tells the stories of many of the most notable Carnegie libraries and the various uses they have been put to over the years. In exploring the impact they had on public architecture in America, he recounts the furious battles waged by factions within the architectural community over the design of the libraries. Using nearly 100 superb reproductions, including many never-before-seen postcards and photographs, he identifies the differing architectural styles represented in various Carnegie libraries, and considers the ideological implications of each. Jones also supplies a complete directory listing the location, date of construction, and current use of each library.

Carnegie Libraries Across America is your guide to treasures to be found in hundreds of communities throughout the United States.

"The Library" tells the story of libraries and of the changing form and function of the book from era to era, whether clay tablets, parchment sheets, papyrus scrolls, glossy paper, recording tape or silicone chips. At the heart of the story of libraries and books is the story of the reader, who also has changed from era to era. Profusely illustrated, with fascinating is a comprehensive look at libraries that will interest book lovers and librarians.

A kindergarten-level introduction to police cars, covering their purpose, parts, community role, and such defining features as their flashing lights and sirens.

Learn about some of the world's most beloved pets in All About Dogs. Each title introduces the history and features of one of the world's most popular dog breeds. Young readers will love the stunning visuals and fun facts in All About Dogs. Each All About Dogs title features easy-to-read text, stunning visuals, and a challenging educational activity. All About Dogs is a series of AV2 media enhanced books. A unique book code printed on page 2 unlocks multimedia content. These books come alive with video, audio, weblinks, slideshows, activities, hands-on experiments, and much more. Follow these steps to access your AV2 book. Step 1 Find the code on page 2 of this book. Step 2 Enter the code at www.av2books.com. Step 3 Explore the AV2 media enhanced book. Book jacket.

"It started the summer of 2002, when the Springfield librarian, Molly McGrew, by mistake drove her bookmobile into the zoo. 
In this rollicking rhymed story, Molly introduces birds and beasts to this new something called reading. She finds the perfect book for every animal--tall books for giraffes, tiny ones for crickets. "She even found waterproof books for the otter, who never went swimming without Harry Potter." In no time at all, Molly has them "forsaking their niches, their nests, and their nooks," going "wild, simply wild, about wonderful books." Judy Sierra's funny animal tale coupled with Marc Brown's lush, fanciful paintings will have the same effect on young Homo sapiens. Altogether, it's more fun than a barrel of monkeys!

"From the Hardcover edition.

When Dorothy was a young girl, she loved books, and she loved people, so she decided that she would become a librarian.

Dorothy's dearest wish is to be a librarian in a fine brick library just like the one she visited when she was small. But her new home in North Carolina has valleys and streams but no libraries, so Miss Dorothy and her neighbors decide to start a bookmobile. Instead of people coming to a fine brick library, Miss Dorothy can now bring the books to them—at school, on the farm, even once in the middle of a river!

Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile is an inspiring story about the love of books, the power of perseverance, and how a librarian can change people's lives.

Dragon is on her way to the library to return the books she borrowed and check out her favorite book. But when she gets to the bookshelf, she realizes that the book she wants isn't there! Sir Fiero has checked it out and is starting to read it when Dragon grabs it out of his hands. Will Dragon learn to be patient and wait her turn to read the book?

It's Pete the Cat's first time visiting the library. He gets to check out all the cool books and discovers a few new favorites. With just a little imagination, Pete goes on so many groovy adventures all the while staying in a cozy spot at the library

Read Along or Enhanced eBook:

A small creature offers his big voice for aspiring authors everywhere

Every child can be a writer—and Library Mouse shows them how!

Beloved children’s books author and illustrator Daniel Kirk wonderfully brings to life the story of Sam, a library mouse. Sam’s home was in a little hole in the wall in the children’s reference books section, and he thought that life was very good indeed. For Sam loved to read. He read picture books and chapter books, biographies and poetry, and ghost stories and mysteries. Sam read so much that finally one day he decided to write books himself!

Sam shared his books with other library visitors by placing them on a bookshelf at night. Until there came the time that people wanted to meet this talented author. Whatever was Sam to do?

The joy of reading, writing, and sharing is brought to life in this warmhearted tale.