Review Thursday: Attracting Success

Have many of your customers read The Secret? Are they interested in learning more about the laws of attraction for success? Try suggesting the following books for learning more about how to be successful.

Emergenetics: Tap into the New Science of Success (2006)
Geil Browning, PhD

Introduces a brain-based approach to personality profiling, explaining how to identify one's personal thinking style, behavioral set points, natural strengths and talents, and enhance the chances for personal success.

The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You are to Where You Want to Be (2005)
Jack Canfield, Janet Switzer

A self-improvement guide for business professionals, teachers, students, parents, or anyone interested in promoting themselves within today's success-oriented culture shares sixty-four practical or inspiring principles on how to reach desired goals.

Do You: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success (2007)
Russell Simmons

Since rising out of the New York City streets over 25 years ago, Russell Simmons has helped create such groundbreaking ventures as Def Jam Records, Phat Farm and Def Comedy Jam, becoming known the world over as "The CEO of Hip Hop." He credits his success to his belief in a set of 12 laws, which he shares in this book. His path towards success can be followed by anyone struggling to realize their dreams.

Who are the People in Your State Library Resource Center

Meet Rebecca Sullivan!

Job & Career Information Center Manager

Enoch Pratt Free Library/State Library Resource Center

What do you do?

I am the Job & Career Information Center manager and the assistant manager of the Business, Science & Technology Department (BST). I work as a librarian in BST answering questions about all sorts of topics. I also teach classes and trainings on job related topics – job searching, interviewing, and resume writing. I’m also fortunate to be able to do outreach through the Job & Career Information Center to community groups that are interested in tours and classes.

How did you get here?

I finished my MLIS at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and was looking for a job. A friend from library school was working at the Pratt Library and suggested that I might apply for a job here. I ended up moving out to Maryland and have been here ever since!

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

My favorite part about being a librarian is helping people find answers to their questions. It is a lot of fun, especially when the question requires some detective work. I also really love teaching classes about job searching. Teaching people skills that can help them get a job is really rewarding.

What’s a book that you didn’t expect to like – but did?

Wisconsin Death Trip by Michael Lesy. It’s an interesting book that combines photographs and newspaper text from Black River Falls, Wisconsin from 1890-1910. The images can be really creepy – including children in coffins – but it is a really fascinating read.

What is your favorite SLRC program, service, or training?

I really like the LATI Blog – and not just because I’m the editor of it! I think it’s a great resource for finding new ways to answer customer questions. I definitely learn a lot when I read the answers that are sent to me.

What do you do when you’re not reading?

During the spring and summer I like to run and bike outside. I also love camping and traveling. I’m hoping to visit all 50 states eventually!

Review Thursday: Genre Mysteries

Customers who read a lot of mysteries may be interested in a specific genre to explore. One that might not be very obvious is clerical mysteries. Here are some suggestions on how to get started with that genre. More are newer books in a series -- giving customers that opportunity to start from the beginning and explore an entire series!

Sister Pelagia and the Red Cockerel (2009)
Boris Akunin

When the leader of a messianic cult is murdered on a steamship, fellow passenger and amateur sleuth Sister Pelagia finds herself in danger.

(3rd in the series)

The Silent Spirit (2009)
Margaret Coel

The disappearance of an Arapaho acting in a 1923 movie in Los Angeles and the possibly connected murder of his great-grandson more than eighty years later on the Winder River reservation force Father John O’Malley and Arapaho lawyer Vicky Holden to confront some harsh realities.

(14th in the series)

The Apostate's Tale (2008)
Margaret Frazer

Dame Frevisse and the other nuns offer a safe haven when a penitent Sister Cecely returns to the priory she left nine years before and brings her illegitimate child with her. Their security is threatened when Sister Cecely’s troubles follow her.

(17th in the series)

Stained Glass (2009)
Ralph M. McInerny

Father Dowling and his congregation are fighting to keep the archdiocese from closing the parish, an effort that is complicated by a series of murders that points to a family active in the church.

(28th in the series)

I Shall Not Want (2008)
Julia Spencer-Fleming

After a devastating tragedy, Reverend Clare Fergusson and Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne have kept their distance. When Latino migrant workers are slaughtered, however, they must work together to keep their town of Millers Kill, NY from falling apart.

(6th in the series)

The Council of the Cursed: A Mystery of Ancient Ireland (2009)
Peter Tremayne

Counseling a hostile Irish delegation to the Celtic Church in 670 A.D., Fidelma of Cashel is embroiled in political intrigue and physical danger when one of the delegates is murdered and a priceless reliquary is stolen.

(19th in the series)

I have customers who need to apply for state assistance. How can I help her?

With the current economic situation, library customers are more frequently using library computers to apply for state assistance of all kinds -- including housing, education, unemployment, and more.

A great place to start is on the Maryland government website Maryland.gov. It brings together all of the information from the state including the various programs that are available for Marylanders.

Maryland.gov also has created a page specifically for bringing together the various services -- WeConnect You: Maryland. It includes links for many services and resources available for Maryland residents covering broad categories such as finance, employment, and food.

To look for non-governmental services, your customers may want to search the Maryland Community Service Locator. Provided by the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) at the University of Maryland, College Park, it includes information on local community services. Users can search for local services close to their address. Organizations included cover a wide range of services, such as senior citizens, support groups, job readiness, and health services.

Review Thursday: Children's Fiction

Al Capone Shines My Shoes (2009)
Gennifer Choldenko

Moose Flanagan and his family live on Alcatraz. His father is a guard there and his autistic sister, Natalie, goes to a special school in San Francisco. Moose becomes concerned when he gets a note from inmate Al Capone who wants a favor for getting Natalie into a special school. What will Al ask for? Then when Moose discovers a bar spreader in Natalie’s suitcase, he really starts to worry. If he tells an adult, his father might get fired. What can he do about each problem? If you want to find out more about living on Alcatraz, check out Children of Alcatraz: Growing Up on the Rock by Claire Rudolf Murphy.

Zoobreak (2009)
Gordon Korman

Savannah Drysdale’s pet monkey Cleo disappears from her house. She and her friends Griffin and Ben take a school trip to a floating zoo where Savannah discovers a monkey that she swears is Cleo. The three children decide to pay a visit to the zoo at night and get Cleo out of her cage. They are successful but Savannah wants to release all the poor animals. Can they set all the animals free without getting caught? Where will they put all of them? Pair this book up with Cyberia by Chris Lynch.

Notes from the Dog (2009)
Gary Paulsen

Fourteen-year-old Finn is uncomfortable around people until a graduate student named Johanna shows up to house sit next door. Finn likes her and gains confidence after she encourages him to start and maintain his own garden. Johanna plans to raise money for breast cancer (which she’s dealing with) by participating in a triathlon. Unfortunately she becomes sick the night before and is unable to be in the race. Finn and his friend Matthew decide to help her. Can they find a solution? Another book recommended is Holding at Third by Linda Zinnen.

I have customers who are looking help with figuring out how to change careers. How do I help them?

There are a lot of free online career assessment tools available for library customers to use. They can range from skills assessments, personality tests, and career assessments. Try recommending a few of these:

• The Skills Profiler identifies skills and matches them to jobs.
• O*NET's Ability Profiler matches strengths with occupations.
• O*NET's Interest Profiler identifies broad interest areas.
• O*NET's Work Importance Locator identifies job features that are important to you.
• Employability Checkup provides a snapshot of your employability.
• Enneagram Test will find your personality type.

Don't forget about books! There are also quite a few popular books that you can suggest to customers to find out more about their career possibilities. Here's a couple good ones:

Do What You Are : Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type by Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger (2001)

Uses the Myers-Briggs personality types to link to possible careers. Career advice is provided and each strengths and pitfalls of each personality type is highlighted with real-life examples.



The Everything Career Tests Book by A. Bronwyn Llewellyn (2007)

Take ten different tests to reveal work habits, affinities, and interests. Emphasis on "finding your passion" to be able to find the career path that you were destined for.

Review Thursday: Cookbook Round Up

Looking for a new cookbook to spice up your dinner plans? Try any of the following cookbooks to learn more about cooking techniques, ethnic foods, or quick ways to make dinner.

Ad Hoc at Home by Thomas Keller (2009)

From the acclaimed chef of the French Laundry, Thomas Keller gives recipes for home-style classic foods. While the food may be more what you remember from growing up, the recipes for the comfort food may still take time and effort to make. However, the time spent cooking will allow you to experience meals as conceived by a great chef! Keller also provides lots of great illustrations of how to do various tasks, such as tying up a pork loin and trussing a chicken. The link to the book includes a copy of his recipe for fried chicken, which testers have deemed delicious!

I Know How to Cook by Ginette Mathiot (2009)

The bible of home cooking in France has finally been translated into English. The cookbook includes an extensive collection of recipes, covering sauces, hors d'oeuvres, meat, vegetables, fruit, and lots of desserts. It is illustrated throughout with drawings and some photographs. A very helpful section at the back includes suggested menus for different meals and seasons of the year to help cooks put together delectable meals for sharing!

Nigella Christmas: Food, Family, Friends, Festivities by Nigella Lawson (2009)

While you may not be thinking of Christmas in May, Nigella Christmas is a great resource for planning for special occasion meals or parties. Lawson provides great advice on party preparation, meal ideas, and even edible gifts. Perhaps these might be helpful to get a jump on holidays coming up. Illustrated throughout with many, many photographs showing pictures of the recipes from beginning to completion. Looks delicious!

Pamphlet Play Database

Do you have customers looking for a play to perform with two females and four males? Check out the new Pamphlet Play Database brought to you by the Humanities Department of the Enoch Pratt Free Library.

These acting editions can be searched by the number of characters in a play, the type of play (comedy, melodrama), or the subject. The plays are available through interlibrary loan, making them especially useful for students or community groups wanting to put together theatrical productions. If you have any questions about how to use the database, please contact the Humanities Department staff and they will be happy to answer any questions.