May 31, 2010

Pick of the Week


Couch: A Novel
by Benjamin Parzybok
In this exuberant and hilarious debut reminiscent of The Life of Pi and Then We Came to the End, an episode of furniture moving gone awry becomes an impromptu quest of self-discovery, secret histories, and unexpected revelations. Thom is a computer geek whose hacking of a certain Washington-based software giant has won him a little fame but few job prospects. Erik is a smalltime con man, a fast-talker who is never quite quick enough on his feet. Their roommate, Tree, is a confused clairvoyant whose dreams and prophecies may not be completely off base. After a freak accident floods their apartment, the three are evicted--but they have to take their couch with them. The real problem? The couch--huge and orange--won’t let them put it down. Soon the three roommates are on a cross-country trek along back roads, byways, and rail lines, heading far out of Portland and deep into one very weird corner of the American dream. (You can read a short excerpt from the novel by clicking here.)

Website of the Week


FleetFlicks is all about short films; it is for film lovers and filmmakers. In a world of videos of cats playing piano, where have short narratives gone? FleetFlicks handpicks quality short films whose purpose is to do more than kill a few minutes of your day. Their guidelines are simple: short films of any length will be accepted, although most are between 2-7 minutes. They must tell a story, no matter genre or theme. If you're just browsing, you can select select a Random FleetFlick and enjoy!

Today at the Library (5/31/10)

All branches of the Pamunkey Regional Library system will be closed on Monday May 31 for the Memorial Day holiday. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday June 1.

May 27, 2010

Today at the Library (5/27/10)

Storytimes
Storytimes will resume the week of June 7.

Bookmobile Schedules
Hanover County
Cool Spring Day Care (Cool Spring Church) 10:00 - 10:45 (see map)
Bundle of Joy Day Care (9550 King's Charter Drive) 11:00 - 12:00
(see map)
King's Charter Village Center 1:30 - 2:00 (see map)
Pooh Corner Center Day Care (Lakeridge Pkwy.) 2:30 - 3:30 (see map)

May 26, 2010

Today at the Library (5/26/10)

Storytimes
Storytimes will resume during the week of June 7.

Bookmobile Stops
Goochland County
Salem Pre-School (Salem Baptist Ch., Cardwell Rd.) 10:00 - 11:30
(see map)
Elk Hill Farm 12:45 - 1:45 (see map)
Courthouse Commons Shopping Center 2:15 - 3:15 (see map)

Programs & Events
Mechanicsville Branch Library
Computer Basics Class
Wednesday May 26 at 9:00 a.m.
Find out about the parts of a computer, learn how to use a mouse, search the Internet, and set up an e-mail account.
Call (804) 746-9615 to register or to find out more.

May 25, 2010

Today at the Library (5/25/10)

Storytimes
Storytimes will resume during the week of June 7.

Bookmobile Stops
Hanover County
Childtime (8266 Windmill Watch Drive, formerly EduCare) 9:15 - 10:00 (see map)
Bell Creek Child Development (7620 Left Flank Rd.) 10:15 - 11:30 (see map)
Legacy Park (Pole Green Road) 11:45 - 12:30 (see map)
Covenant Woods (7090 Covenant Woods Drive) 2:00 - 2:45 (see map)

Programs & Events
West Point Branch Library
Resume Workshop
Tuesday May 25 at 6:00 p.m.
Learn tips & tricks from professional presenters to improve your resume. Bring an electronic copy of your resume if you would like to have it critiqued after class.
Call the library to sign up for the class.
Sponsored by the Pamunkey Regional Library.

May 24, 2010

Today at the Library (5/24/10)

Storytimes
Storytimes will resume the week of June 7

Bookmobile Stops
King William County
Guardian Angels (2372 King William Road) 10:30 - 11:15 (see map)
Mattaponi Indian Reservation (Rt. 640 to Rt. 625) 1:45 - 2:30 (see map)
King William Courthouse (Rt. 30) 2:45 - 3:15 (see map)

Programs & Events
King and Queen Branch Library
Poetry Contest Reception
Monday May 24 at 6:30 p.m.
The Friends of the King & Queen Library will hold a reception to honor the Poetry Contest winners and participants. Winning selections will be read.
Refreshments served. Sponsored by the Friends of the King & Queen Library.

Pick of the Week


by Yoram Bauman and Grady Klein
This book takes the dismal out of the dismal science! From the optimizing individual to game theory to price theory, The Cartoon Introduction to Economics is the most digestible, explicable, and humorous 200-page introduction to microeconomics you'll ever read. If the vertiginous economy or a dour professor's 600-page econ textbook has you desperate for a fun, factual guide to economics, reach for this book and let the authors walk you through an entire introductory microeconomics course.

Website of the Week


HowStuffWorks Express makes learning fun by integrating science, math, technology and reading in one great package. In addition to lengthier articles about such topics as the Hadron Collider, the site helpfully answers questions such as whether it would be possible for a cow to produce chocolate milk? The staff includes writers, editors, graphic artists, web designers and nationally certified teachers in science, math and language arts who have years of classroom teaching experience. There is nothing else like it.

May 22, 2010

Today at the Library (5/22/10)

Programs & Events
Atlee Branch Library
Friends of the Atlee Library Book Sale
Sale for the General Public
Saturday May 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
DVDs, CDs, and hardcover books - $1.00
Paperbacks - Fifty cents each
Buy an Atlee Library tote bag for $10.00 and fill it for free!
Raffle tickets for "Coins for the Library" quilt by Fran Edmunds and Michele Eno will be available at the book sale or by calling Marion Lacker at (804) 994-2127. The winner will be chosen on Saturday May 22 at 3:00 p.m.

May 21, 2010

Today at the Library (5/21/10)

Storytimes
Storytimes will resume the week of June 7.

Bookmobile Stops
King & Queen County
Kiddie Korner (Rt. 629, Walkerton) 10:00 – 11:15 (see map)
Scott’s Store (Walkerton) 11:20 – 11:45 (see map)

The Bookmobile will not stop at King & Queen Elementary School today.

Programs & Events
Atlee Branch Library
Friends of the Atlee Library Book Sale
Sale for the General Public
Friday May 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
DVDs, CDs, and hardcover books - $1.00
Paperbacks - Fifty cents each
Buy an Atlee Library tote bag for $10.00 and fill it for free!
Raffle tickets for "Coins for the Library" quilt by Fran Edmunds and Michele Eno will be available at the book sale or by calling Marion Lacker at (804) 994-2127. The winner will be chosen on Saturday May 22 at 3:00 p.m.

Lois Wickham Jones/Montpelier Branch Library
Friday Night at the Movies
Friday May 21 at 7:00 p.m.
Hook the latest movie at the library!
Refreshments will be served. Sponsored by the Friends of the Montpelier Library.

May 20, 2010

Today at the Library (5/20/10)

Storytimes
Storytimes will resume the week of June 7.

Bookmobile Stops
Hanover County
Goddard School (Sliding Hill Rd.) 9:30 - 10:45 (see map)
Omni Park Place (101 Omni Rd.) 11:15 - 12:00 (see map)
Primrose School of Atlee Commons (Atlee Commons Rd) 2:30 - 3:30 (see map)

Programs & Events
Atlee Branch Library
Friends of the Atlee Library Book Sale
Preview Sale for Members Only (non-members may join at the door)
Thursday May 20 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
DVDs, CDs, and hardcover books - $1.00
Paperbacks - Fifty cents each
Buy an Atlee Library tote bag for $10.00 and fill it for free!
Raffle tickets for "Coins for the Library" quilt by Fran Edmunds and Michele Eno will be available at the book sale or by calling Marion Lacker at (804) 994-2127. The winner will be chosen on Saturday May 22 at 3:00 p.m.

Goochland Branch Library
Teen Game Night
Thursday May 20 at 6:00 p.m.
Play a variety of board games and Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova with your friends.
Pizza, drinks, & dessert served. Sponsored by the Friends of the Goochland Library.

Hanover Branch Library
Hanover Lunchtime Book Group
Thursday May 20 at 12:30 p.m.
Join us at lunchtime for a brief discussion of "Loving Frank" by Nancy Horan
Dessert and drinks will be provided. Please bring your own lunch.
Sponsored by the Hanover Branch Library Friends.

May 19, 2010

Today at the Library (5/19/10)

Storytimes
Storytimes will resume the week of June 7.

Bookmobile Stops
Goochland County
Bundle of Joy Day Care (74 Plaza Dr.) 10:15 - 11:30 (see map)
Dover Baptist Church (Rt. 621) 12:00 - 12:30 (see map)
Broadview Shopping Center 1:45 - 2:30 (see map)
James River Estates (East Brook Run Dr.) 3:00 - 3:30 (see map)

Programs and Events
Atlee Branch Library
Resume Workshop
Wednesday May 19 at 6:00 p.m.
Learn tips & tricks from professional presenters to improve your resume. Bring an electronic copy of your resume if you would like to have it critiqued after class.
Call the library to sign up for the class.
Sponsored by the Pamunkey Regional Library.

May 18, 2010

Today at the Library (5/18/10)

Storytimes
Storytimes will resume the week of June 7.

Bookmobile Stops
Hanover County
Childtime (7452 Old Hickory Drive, formerly EduCare) 10:00 - 11:00(see map)
Tuckaway Harbor Child Care Center (6857 Cold Harbor Rd.) 11:15 - 12:00 (see map)
Christian Village (Lee Davis Road) 1:30 - 2:15 (see map)
Cool Well Townhouse (Community Center) 2:30 - 3:15

May 17, 2010

Today at the Library (5/17/10)

Storytimes
Storytimes will resume the week of June 7.

Bookmobile Stops
King William County
King's Grant (McKendree Church, Rt. 605) 11:00 - 11:30 (see map)
Marle Hills (Oxford Road) 11:45 - 12:30 (see map)
McCauley Park 1:30 - 2:00 (see map)
Manquin Farms (Moncuin Drive) 2:15 - 2:45 (see map)
King William Youth Center (Rt. 30) 3:15 - 4:00 (see map)

Pick of the Week


German-born film director Max Ophuls's most cherished work, The Earrings of Madame de... is an emotionally profound tale of false opulence and tragic romance. When the aristocratic woman known only as Madame de (the extraordinary Danielle Darrieux) sells her earrings, unbeknownst to her husband (Charles Boyer), in order to pay personal debts, she sets off a chain reaction, the financial and carnal consequences of which can only end in despair. Ophuls adapts Louise de Vilmorin's incisive novel with virtuosic camera work so elegant and precise it’s been called the equal to that of Orson Welles.

Website of the Week

The Presidential Timeline provides a single point of access to an ever-growing selection of digitized assets from the collections of the twelve Presidential Libraries of the National Archives. Among these assets you’ll find documents, photographs, audio recordings, and video relating to the events of the presidents’ lives. The goal of the project is to make these resources readily and freely available to students, educators, and adult learners throughout the world.

May 14, 2010

Today at the Library (5/14/10)

All branches of the Pamunkey Regional Library will be closed on Friday May 14 for a staff in-service day. Regular business hours will resume on Saturday May 15.

May 13, 2010

Today at the Library (5/13/10)

Storytimes
Atlee Branch Library
Mother Goose Storytime 10:00 a.m.
Family Storytime 10:45 a.m.

Goochland Branch Library
Preschool Storytime 10:00 a.m.
Mother Goose Storytime 11:00 a.m.

King & Queen Branch Library
Family Storytime 11:15 a.m.

Mechanicsville Branch Library
Toddler Storytime 10:00 a.m.
Preschool Storytime 10:30 a.m.
Family Storytime 11:15 a.m.

Bookmobile Stops
Hanover County
Kiddie Kingdom (813 Thompson Street) 10:00 - 11:30 (see map)
Kings Charter Village Center 1:30 - 2:00 (see map)
All Aboard Child Dev. Ctr. (7147 Stonewall Pkwy.) 2:30 - 3:15 (see map)

Programs & Events
This week is Children's Book Week!

Atlee Branch LibraryChildren Around the World
Thursday May 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Celebrate Children’s Book Week with your favorite stories from far away lands. Make festive crafts and tasty treats from around the world.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Atlee Library.

Goochland Branch Library
Children's Book Week Storytime
Thursday May 13 at 10:00 a.m.
Dress up as your favorite book character for this special Storytime.

May 12, 2010

Today at the Library (5/12/10)

Storytimes
Atlee Branch Library
Toddler Storytime 10:00 a.m.
Preschool Storytime 10:30 a.m.

Goochland Branch Library
Toddler Storytime 11:00 a.m.

Mechanicsville Branch Library
Toddler Storytime 10:00 a.m.
Preschool Storytime 10:30 a.m.
Family Storytime 11:15 a.m.

Lois Wickham Jones/Montpelier Branch Library
Mother Goose 9:15 a.m.
Preschool Storytime 10:00 a.m.
Toddler Storytime 11:00 a.m.

Upper King William Branch Library
Preschool Storytime 10:30 a.m.
Mother Goose Storytime 11:30 a.m.

Bookmobile Stops
Goochland County
Salem Pre-School (Salem Baptist Ch., Cardwell Rd.) 10:00 - 11:30
(see map)
Elk Hill Farm 12:45 - 1:45 (see map)
Courthouse Commons Shopping Center 2:15 - 3:15 (see map)

May 11, 2010

Today at the Library (5/11/10)

Storytimes
Richard S. Gillis, Jr.,/Ashland Branch Library
Toddler Storytime 10:00 a.m.
Preschool Storytime 10:30 a.m.

Mechanicsville Branch Library
Mother Goose 10:00 a.m.
Preschool Storytime 10:45 a.m.
Family Storytime 11:15 a.m.
Family/Bedtime Storytime 6:45 p.m.

Bookmobile Stops
Hanover County
Atlee Christian Academy (Atlee Rd.) 9:15 - 10:30 (see map)
Rainbow Station (8218 Atlee Road) 10:35 - 11:15 (see map)
Toddler University (Rt. 301) 11:30 - 12:30 (see map)
Covenant Woods (7090 Covenant Woods Drive) 2:00 - 2:45 (see map)

Programs & Events
This week is Children's Book Week!

Richard S. Gillis, Jr./Ashland Branch Library
Reading Escapes
Tuesday May 11 7:00 p.m.
Imagine you are on a deserted island…
What would be the one book you would want to bring? What else would you have in your survival kit? Share what you would bring along on your reading escape.
Refreshments will be served. Sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Library.

Cochrane Rockville Branch Library
"My Favorite Book"
Tuesday May 11 at 7:00 p.m.
Bring your favorite book to discuss with your friends and neighbors.
Refreshments served. Sponsored by the Friends of the Rockville Library.

May 10, 2010

Today at the Library (5/10/10)

Storytimes
Richard S. Gillis, Jr.,/Ashland Branch Library
Mother Goose Storytime 10:00 a.m.
Toddler Storytime 10:45 a.m.
Preschool Storytime 11:15 a.m.

Bookmobile Stops
King William County
Guardian Angels (2372 King William Road) 10:30 - 11:15 (see map)
Mattaponi Indian Reservation (Rt. 640 to Rt. 625) 1:45 - 2:30
(see map)
King William Courthouse (Rt. 30) 2:45 - 3:15 (see map)

Pick of the Week


by Harold Schechter
In the tradition of Mary Roach's bestselling Stiff and Jessica Mitford's classic expose The American Way of Death comes this meticulously researched, refreshingly irreverent, and lavishly illustrated look at death from acclaimed author Harold Schechter. With his trademark fearlessness and bracing sense of humor, Schechter digs deep into a wealth of sources to unearth a treasure trove of surprising facts, amusing anecdotes, practical information, and timeless wisdom about that undiscovered country to which we will all one day travel. From the cold, hard facts of death to lessons in the art of dying well, from what happens in the body’s last living moments to what transpires in the ground or in the furnace, from near-death experiences to speculation on the afterlife, The Whole Death Catalog leaves no gravestone unturned.

Website of the Week


Students.gov is an official U.S. government web site designed for college students and their families. Their mission is to provide you with easy access to information and resources from the U.S. government – all the info you need, in one place, from all parts of the government. The site links to government (and selected non-government) web sites that help you choose the right college, apply online for financial aid and scholarships, find summer internships or jobs, and much more. The links on students.gov come from suggestions made by students, parents, teachers, and others who know first-hand what information will be most helpful during the transition to life beyond high school.

May 8, 2010

Today at the Library (5/8/10)

Programs and Events
Cochrane Rockville Branch Library
Sit & Stitch
Every second Saturday of the month at 10:00 a.m.
Next meeting: May 8
Bring your current needlework projects and learn a new skill or brush up on techniques you already know. Discover the perfect place to learn and laugh!

May 7, 2010

Today at the Library (5/7/10)

Storytimes
Hanover Branch Library
Family Storytime 10:45 a.m.

Rockville Branch Library
Toddler Storytime 10:00 a.m.
Preschool Storytime 10:45 a.m.

West Point Branch Library
Family Storytime 11:00 a.m.

Bookmobile Stops
King & Queen County
Kiddie Korner (Rt. 629, Walkerton) 10:00 - 11:15 (see map)
Bruington Baptist Church (Rt. 14) 11:30 - 12:00 (see map)
Walkerton Post Office 1:15 - 2:30 (see map)


Programs and Events
Richard S. Gillis, Jr./Ashland Branch Library
Teen Movie Night
Friday May 7 at 6:00 p.m.
Bring a friend! Pizza served!
Sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Library.

Atlee Branch Library
Genealogy Class
Friday May 7 at 9:00 a.m.
Take a FREE hands-on class to learn about Ancestry Library Edition and
HeritageQuest
, our genealogy databases.
Search for:

  • Census records
  • Immigration records
  • Marriage, birth, and death records
  • ilitary service information

Learn details about your ancestors’ lives and build your family tree!
Call 559-0654 to register. Basic computer skills are preferred.

May 6, 2010

Today at the Library (5/6/10)

Storytimes
Atlee Branch Library
Mother Goose Storytime 10:00 a.m.
Family Storytime 10:45 a.m.

Goochland Branch Library
Preschool Storytime 10:00 a.m.
Mother Goose Storytime 11:00 a.m.

Mechanicsville Branch Library
Toddler Storytime 10:00 a.m.
Preschool Storytime 10:30 a.m.
Family Storytime 11:15 a.m.

Bookmobile Stops
Hanover County
Goddard School (Old Hickory Rd.) 9:45 - 11:30 (see map)
New Hanover Christian School (Chamberlayne Rd) 1:00 - 2:00 (see map)
Bon Secours Child Care (8210 Meadowbridge Rd.) 2:30 - 3:45 (see map)

May 4, 2010

Today at the Library (5/4/10)

Storytimes
Richard S. Gillis, Jr.,/Ashland Branch Library
Toddler Storytime 10:00 a.m.
Preschool Storytime 10:30 a.m.

Mechanicsville Branch Library
Mother Goose 10:00 a.m.
Preschool Storytime 10:45 a.m.
Family Storytime 11:15 a.m.
Family/Bedtime Storytime 6:45 p.m.

Bookmobile Stops
Hanover County
Advent Day Care (Advent Christian Church, Studley Road) 9:45 - 10:45
(see map)
Liberty Christian School (8094 Liberty Circle) 11:00 - 11:45 (see map)
Christian Village (Lee Davis Rd.) 1:30 - 2:15 (see map)
Minnieland Private Day School (7386 Creighton Pkwy.) 2:30 - 3:15 (see map)

May 3, 2010

Today at the Library (5/3/10)

Storytimes
Richard S. Gillis, Jr.,/Ashland Branch Library
Mother Goose Storytime 10:00 a.m.
Toddler Storytime 10:45 a.m.
Preschool Storytime 11:15 a.m.

Bookmobile Stops
King William County
King's Grant (McKendree Church, Rt. 605) 11:00 - 11:30 (see map)
Marle Hills (Oxford Lane) 11:45 - 12:30 (see map)
McCauley Park 1:30 - 2:00 (see map)
Manquin Farms (Moncuin Drive) 2:15 - 2:45 (see map)
Normans (8191 Little Florida Rd.) 3:15 - 3:45 (see map)

Pick of the Week


by Lee Konstantinou
The United States and its Freedom Coalition allies are conducting serial invasions across the globe, including an attack on the anti-capitalist rebels of Northern California. The Middle East--now a single consumerist Caliphate led by Lebanese pop singer Caliph Fred--is in an uproar after an attack on the al-Aqsa Mosque gets televised on the Holy Land Channel. The world is on the brink of a total radioactive, no-survivors war, and human­kind's last hope is Eliot R. Vanderthorpe, Jr., celebrity heir, debauched party animal, and Elvis impersonation scholar. But Eliot's got his own problems. His evangelical dad is breeding red heifers in anticipation of the Rapture. Eliot's dissertation is in the toilet. And he has a doppelganger. An evil doppelganger.

Website of the Week

CodeOrgan
If there's one thing the internet excels at, it's answering questions you hadn't even thought to ask yet. Our example for this week? CodeOrgan! Have you really ever wondered what your favorite website might sound like if it were translated into music? Maybe not, but that's precisely what this website does. Just enter any URL in the space provided, hit "Play This Website," and, using a complicated algorithm, it translates the website's code into music -- or, at the very least, into something with that might be mistaken for music under certain circumstances. And as the content of the page you're playing changes, so too does the song, so that the music that the PRL Blog generates will be different next week than it is today. It's a player piano for the Twenty-first century!

May 1, 2010

Today at the Library (5/1/10)

Programs and Events

Today is Free Comic Book Day! Don't forget to stop by your local branch library to pick up your free comic book, courtesy of Dave's Comics. Help us make our graphic novel, manga, and anime DVD collection even better by completing our Free Comic Book Day survey at http://www.pamunkeylibrary.org/fcbd_survey.htm

Mechanicsville Branch Library
Sampling Starbucks Coffee
Saturday May 1 at 10:00 a.m.
Michelle Baskerville from Starbucks Coffee will talk about the company and its products and share samples. A Q&A session will follow.
Refreshments served. Sponsored by the Friends of the Mechanicsville Library.