Library News – Page 16 – Harrison County Public Library

Help Document the COVID-19 Experience by Telling Your Story

2 Comments / Notices / By Jessica Stroud / May 5, 2020

Stay at home orders, social distancing, and PPE — who had heard of these terms three months ago? Now they are dominating the collective existence. Help the library preserve the thoughts, feelings and experiences of the Harrison County community during this unprecedented, global pandemic by sharing your story.

Writing is a great way to process what you’re feeling. The Harrison County Public Library invites you to express yourself by responding to weekly writing prompts and submitting your work from this page. Each week six writing prompts will be posted on the library’s Facebook page and website. You may choose to write from any or all prompts that inspire you and include artwork. Your submissions will be archived and included in a time capsule, forever immortalizing this moment in our collective history.

Elementary students from around Harrison County are being asked to complete a booklet, My 2020 Harrison County Covid-19 Booklet, and return it to one of the library branches to create a book for HCPL’s Frederick Porter Griffin Center for Local History and Genealogy and to also be placed in the time capsule. The booklet can be downloaded here or parents can ask for a printed version at any library location during curbside pickup.

Call the library at 812-738-4110 for more information.

Prompts for the week of May 4:

Kids:

How has learning at home been going? Do you like it? Is it easier or harder than at school? Do you think you are learning as much?
What makes you the happiest?

Teens:

What extracurricular activity have you missed the most? Sports? (One in which you participated or enjoyed watching) Band? Drama? Clubs?
What is your favorite song? Why?

Adults:

How has the stay-at-home order impacted your life? Describe your current daily routine. How has it changed?
What is your favorite book? Why?

Staff book review: “The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty”

eBooks and audio books / By Jessica Stroud / May 4, 2020

Debi Strubler, circulation assistant at the Main library, wrote the following review of The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty by Susan Page.

This title is available to download as an eBook from OverDrive. If you do not have an HCPL library card, OverDrive offers a free digital access card using your mobile number.

I read this book because I wanted to know more about this iconic woman who not only saw, but advised, both a husband and a son as Presidents of the United States. I always wondered why she was a bit brusque and sarcastic; hidden behind the signature white pearls was a very complex and underestimated First Lady. Ms. Page begins the journey with Barbara Pierce Bush from her childhood in Rye, New York and ends the journey the last six months of her life. Perhaps the sarcastic attitude developed at an early age when she received multiple criticisms from her mother all through her childhood, or it could have been the sudden loss of Robin, her three-year-old, who was taken from the Bushes by the disease of leukemia. Both Barbara and George H. Bush never recovered from this loss. In diary entry after diary entry, Mrs. Bush writhes in pain from losing her baby daughter. She suffers bouts of depression from losing Robin and living through an unfaithful husband episode. Her depression almost brought her to suicide. Despite the many setbacks in her life she became one of the most beloved and respected First Ladies. She not only contributed to the political strategies of her husband’s and son’s presidencies, she brought love and compassion to HIV/AIDS victims. One of her main contributions during her life was how she emphasized the importance of literacy in our country. In closing, she was sassy and classy!

Library Starts Curbside Service

5 Comments / Notices / By Jessica Stroud / May 1, 2020

The Harrison County Public Library will offer contact free curbside pickup of books and DVDs beginning Monday, May 4.

“The Harrison County Health Department has approved our plan to keep the public and our staff safe,” said Alisa Burch, library director. “We have heard from many in our community how much they miss the library and we are very pleased to get the okay to go ahead with curbside service.”

Here is how it works:

Patrons may place items they want on hold by using the online card catalog or by calling their local library branch.
The library will call patrons when items are ready to pick up.
Patrons are asked to call the library when they park in the library lot.
Staff will place the items in the car trunk, empty passenger seat or on the car hood.

“For your safety and the safety of the library staff, we ask you to please remain in the car while your materials are delivered,” explained Burch. “Our staff will be wearing gloves and masks to be as safe as possible.”

Any items to be returned should be placed in the library book drop before calling the library to pick up holds. All returned library materials are cleaned, disinfected and quarantined prior to being shelved.

“We are working to make other library services available as safety allows,” added Burch. “Look for updates on our website and our Facebook page.

Curbside Service Hours by Location

Main Branch – 105 N. Capitol Ave., Corydon – 812-738-4110

Monday-Thursday 10 am – 7:30 pm
Friday & Saturday 10 am – 4:30 pm

Palmyra Branch – 689 Haub St, Palmyra – 812-364-6425

Monday-Thursday 11 am – 7:30 pm
Friday & Saturday 9 am – 4:30 pm

Lanesville Branch – 7340 E. Pennington St., Lanesville- 812-952-3759

Monday-Thursday 12 – 7:30 pm
Friday & Saturday 9 am – 4:30 pm

Elizabeth Branch – 5101 S. Main St, Suite 109, Elizabeth – 812-969-2899

Monday & Thursday 1-6:30 pm
Tuesday & Wednesday 1-7:30 pm
Friday & Saturday 10:30 am – 3:30 pm

Staff book review: “Great Speeches”

Book reviews / By Jessica Stroud / April 30, 2020

Debi Strubler, circulation associate at the Main library, penned the following review of Great Speeches from Penguin Books. This title will be available for holds and curbside pickup starting on Monday, May 4th.

This was a thought provoking collection of speeches made from some of the greatest orators in the history of man. The spectrum of speeches ranged from Oliver Cromwell to Socrates to Abraham Lincoln to Richard III. I liked the book because the collection included history in the past and present day history. The collection included speeches from activists, literary figures, politicians, and famous philosophers. No Plato, though! Each speech had the power to activate one’s body and soul. One speech that hit me was that of Henry V. Henry gives this impassioned motivational speech as his men prepare to storm the French town of Harfleur. He inspires the soldiers to victory in battle, and they win the fight against all odds. This reminds me of fighting this enemy Covid 19. These speeches bear witness to history’s defining moments. A short read but powerful!

Staff book review: “The Night Watchman” by Louise Erdrich

eBooks and audio books / By Jessica Stroud / April 28, 2020

Audrey Vowels, circulation assistant at the Main library, submitted the following review of The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich.

The Night Watchman is available to download as an eBook and audio book from OverDrive. If you do not have an HCPL library card, OverDrive offers a free digital access card using your mobile number.

The Night Watchman is a powerful read filled with heart and soul. The book tells the life of the Ojibua Indians of North Dakota. Thomas Wazhashk is the night watchman at a factory; he is also a Chippewa council member who tries to assemble a group to go to Washington to fight to keep their land. This historical fiction book tells the tribal and personal history of the Native Americans. I really enjoyed this book because it is about family.

Requests for absentee ballots due by May 21

Notices / By Jessica Stroud / April 24, 2020

The primary election in Indiana will now be held on June 2. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of Indiana encourages you to vote by absentee ballot.

Hoosiers can now file an application for absentee ballot for the June 2 primary online though http://Indianavoters.com .

Use the “vote by mail or traveling board” button. Click on visit my voter portal, go to absentee voting/vote by mail on the left side. This is a direct application – and once completed, your ballot will be sent to you. It saves the step of printing, completing and mailing in the absentee ballot request.

Please click here to access a printable application for an absentee ballot.

Mail your completed application (if you are printing and mailing your absentee ballot) to:
Harrison County Circuit Clerk Court
Courthouse, Room 203
300 North Capitol Avenue
Corydon, IN 47112-1155

Once the application is received, you will receive your ballot by mail with a prepaid envelope. Absentee ballot application requests are due by May 21. To request an absentee ballot application by phone, please call 812-738-4289.

At this time, Indiana still plans for in-person voting on June 2.

Staff book review: “The Spy” by Paulo Coelho

eBooks and audio books / By Jessica Stroud / April 23, 2020

Bob Ohlrich, circulation associate at the Main branch of HCPL, composed the following review of The Spy by Paulo Coelho.

The Spy is available to download as an eBook from OverDrive. If you do not have an HCPL library card, OverDrive offers a free digital access card using your mobile number.

This title is also available as an eBook from Axis360.

Brazilian author Paulo Coelho (Photo by Niels Ackermann for *The Wall Street Journal*)

This is a historical novel based on the life of Margaretha Zella, also known as Mata Hari. It traces her travels from her native home in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands, through her time in Java with her husband, an officer in the Dutch army, to her return to The Netherlands and onto her time in France, where she invented her character, “Mata Hari.” The book then follows her through her ill-timed trip to Germany in 1914 all the way through to her last trip to Paris.

This was a well-written book and the author did a great job in recreating both the haughtiness and the subsequent despair that the woman “Mata Hari” must have experienced throughout her life. He also did a very good job at recreating the tension felt by the people of France during this tumultuous time in their history.

Library Facilities Will Remain Closed through Sunday, May 3, to comply with Governor Holcomb’s Extended Stay at Home Order

Notices / By Jessica Stroud / April 21, 2020

There is no doubt we are living in uncertain times. The Harrison County Public Library wants you to know that no matter what, we are here for you. That is for certain. While we are all doing our best to flatten the curve by staying and working from home, please know that your library staff are staying connected and working to find new ways to bring you needed information and resources.

As much as HCPL would like to reopen, the health of our community is most important to us. We are working with key leaders to determine the date when it will be safe to reopen. Until then we are always open 24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.hcpl.lib.in.us with access to eBooks, eMagazines, downloadable audiobooks and other eResources.

Click here to find up-to-date, reliable COVID-19 information on the library public safety page.

HCPL staff continue to work creating virtual programs from home. New content is being posted to our Brain Booster Resource page and program videos for adults have been added.

Library Wi-Fi remains on at all library locations and can be accessed outside the buildings and in the back parking lot at the Main Branch in Corydon.

Material due dates are extended until after May 11. No library materials will be due during the March 17- May 3 closure.

To ensure library patrons have access to library eResources library card privileges have been renewed for all library cards that would have expired January 1 through June 30, 2020. The new card expiration is now December 30, 2020. Harrison County residents who do not currently have a library card can access library eResources by applying for a Digital Access Card for eResources, or by applying for a Digital Access Card for eBooks, eMagazines and audio books.

During the closure staff will monitor the website’s Ask a Librarian and Contact Us features and return telephone messages. Please check the library website, or Facebook page for up-to-date information.

Staff book review: “American Psycho” by Bret Easton Ellis

Book reviews / By Jessica Stroud / April 17, 2020

Chelsea Arnold, circulation associate at the Palmyra branch, submitted for your consideration the following review of American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis.

American Psycho is available to download as an eBook from OverDrive. If you do not have an HCPL library card, OverDrive offers a free digital access card using your mobile number.

This book is just too much. And I mean “too much” in every sense of the phrase. The irony is on a level that I have never experienced before and am doubtful that I will experience it again. A few years ago, people were saying to go back and re-read 1984. If you read American Psycho in the 90s or 2000s, I recommend you re-read it as well. It is one of those novels that feels decidedly more eerie in the present than it ever could have in its prime. Life has a funny way of reflecting art, and satire ages like fine wine.

Before I go any further, I feel I should run a disclaimer. This book does contain GRAPHIC CONTENT. I do not want anyone to dive in without being prepared for that.

This book is a look at society in its most self-centered state. The main character, Patrick, is a narcissist, as are all his friends, colleagues, and paramours. He works on Wall Street. He is young, handsome, and well to do. He spends an inordinate amount of time on primping and prides himself on his ability to recognize every name brand piece of clothing he sees on someone. He only dines at the 5-star restaurants that he does because of the magazines he reads and the people he admires. He is trying to keep up with the Joneses. Only the last name is not Jones…

But I digress.

Patrick has homicidal tendencies and a loose grasp on reality when the book starts. The tendencies heighten and the grasp unravels as the book progresses. I’m still not sure if the “psycho” in the title stands for a psychopath or psychotic, two totally different diagnoses. However, Patrick embodies a good bit of both. His disregard for human life (though he does fake it with the occasional compassionate speech when in the presence of others, despite the vitriolic disdain he actually feels for homeless people/minorities/women/you name it in private) lends itself to psychopathy. The artificial, almost rehearsed way he recites things off his head as if he memorized an album or restaurant review verbatim lends to psychopathy. The intense narcissism and unfazed ability to hack people up obviously lends to being a psychopath. However, when he is running through the streets eating ham out of a can while hallucinating, or believing that he is having a telepathic exchange with Bono, that lends to psychosis. I would say that he is a psychopath who has episodes of psychosis. Talk about a worst-case scenario.

I know there is a great debate about whether all of this really happened, or just happened in his head. Honestly, that is irrelevant to me. Though, personally, I think it was a little bit of both.

The book, to me, is not so much about him being totally out of his head as it is about the blind eye everyone around him turns to it. His craziness becomes less concealed and less concealed, and people are still oblivious to it. He can tell them straight out “I killed three people last night” and no reaction. You have to wonder if it is willful ignorance on their part, or the inability to see past themselves to take note of the storm whirling a path of destruction right in front of them. As for his girlfriend and secretary who think they are in love with him, they are so focused on the singular goal of getting married for the sake of getting married, they do not take even a second to get to know his real personality…which is completely and totally deranged. Everyone is out for them. So what if Bateman killed a whole cadre of people? That does not affect me. And I never cared about those people’s well-being to begin with, so no biggie if I ever learn they are no longer breathing. Clean it up, and keep it moving. That is the mindset of his crowd.

It begs the question: What is the most dangerous emotion?

Anger? Jealously? Greed?

Or is it not a consuming emotion that is supremely dangerous, but the lack thereof?

While on some level this novel is a testament to the yuppie consumerism/materialism of the 80s, it is also a case study in apathy.

One has to wonder what Patrick Bateman would be doing in this era. Would he be struggling or thriving? Would he have taken his vanity to social media and be Instagram famous? And what would he think about having to share his idol with so many new and unlikely fans?