Season’s Readings to One and All!Welcome to the holiday edition of the link. This edition is loaded with holiday reading and viewing recommendations for all ages in a variety of formats. For your enjoyment, HPL offers wonderful traditional print books, eBooks, CDs and DVDs to help you get into the holiday spirit. See pages four to six for more information. But we don’t stop there. On December 8th we welcome best-selling author Anna Dewdney (author of the Llama Llama series) to our holiday reading series, Season’s Readings. Targeted for children and families, Season’s Readings includes

a holiday season full of programs and events at locations across the system. For more information about Ms. Dewdney’s visit and the many other programs that are part of Season’s Readings, see page three. The holidays also mean travel and gift giving for many of us. If you are one of our growing number of customers who plan and organize your life through your smartphone or tablet, then you will want to check out the Tech IT section on page seven. Tech IT links you to information about apps that will make your travels a little easier, and help you on your quest for the perfect gift. If that perfect gift proves elusive, I encourage you to consider the gift of a membership to the Friends of the Houston Public Library. Perfect for teachers, friends and family, your gift of a membership to the Friends supports the fabulous array of programs and services offered by HPL. Please see page two for more information. As always, thank you for your continued support of the Houston Public Library. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson, Director

December | 2012

the link houston public library news and events

TECH ITpage 7

Holiday Appse-books

HPLNEwSpage 2

Seniors and Digital WorldFriends Membership

aduLTSpage 6

Holiday Book SelectionWorkforce SolutionsHPL App

EVENTSpage 3

Seasons Readings, Author Anna Dewdney

Kids and Teen Holiday Picks

KIdS &TEENSpages 4/5Visit the City of Houston Website:

www.houstontx.gov

ATTENTION CUSTOMERS:Houston Public Library will be closed

Saturday, December 22, 2012 through Noon on Wednesday, December 26, 2012 in observance of the Christmas holiday. We hope you and yours have a happy

and safe holiday!

IMpORTANT NOTICEWe are using the holiday closure to replace a critical

component of our electrical distribution equipment.

Our website, catalog and customer accounts will be unavailable during this period. We apologize for

the inconvenience.

For more information, please visit www.houstonlibrary.org.

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HpL NEWSLinking YOU to the World of Fun and Education

Remember in this season  of thanks and  giving that a Friends membership will make a great gift while supporting Houston Public Library.

Membership benefits include: • Members’ preview pass to the 35th Annual Bargain

Book Sale, March 22-24, 2013. Get the best books at a low price!

• Annual Meeting & Celebration – Hear from Library Director Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson about the Library of the Future along with award winning authors.

• “Insider” information about your Houston Public Library through the monthly e-newsletter.

• Knowledge that your support helped your community and the Houston Public Library!

Please consider Friends of HPL if you have books to donate, gifts to purchase and need volunteer opportunities!

For more information or to give a membership 832.393.1387 or info@friendsofhpl.org www.friendsofhpl.org

Give the gift of knowledge and power. Support HpL with a Friends Membership!

Houston public Library: Expanding Horizons – Linking Seniors to the Digital World

One in three people do not have access to the Internet from home and half the seniors in the US do not use the Internet regardless of access. The Houston Public Library (HPL) is playing an essential role in creating opportunities for seniors to benefit from technology and computer training programs, improving their knowledge and use of the digital world. Technology Access & Instruction is a service priority at HPL; as part of that commitment, HPL provides FREE access to computers and the Internet in addition to teaching seniors how to make use of these technologies through hands-on classes and ongoing partnerships with the community.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation recently worked with HPL and other libraries from across the country to help us tell the stories of how our work has impacted our communities. The result was a series of moving and informative videos. You can see HPL’s video, Expanding Horizons – Linking Seniors to the Digital World by following the QR code above or by visiting http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org. Through this video you can experience how seniors are becoming empowered and are embracing the life changing services offered by HPL, which are linking them to the digital world. Community members can find more information about classes such as the Fifty-Plus Computer Club at www.houstonlibrary.org.

HPL – Linking YOU to the World!

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Martin Luther King LegacyLinking YOU to the World of Fun and Education

EvENTS

Season’sR E A D I N G S

HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

Celebrate the winter season with family friendly, literary inspired programs at your library. Our Season’s Readings series of programs kicks off with a visit from Best Selling Author Anna Dewdney. Anna Dewdney is the author of the adored Llama Llama picture book series, as well as Roly Poly Pangolin, Grumpy Gloria and No Bunny’s Perfect.

FEATURED EvENT:A Visit with Llama Llama Author, Anna DewdneyBest Selling Author Anna Dewdney will visit the Houston Public Library to kick off the annual Season’s Readings program (www.annadewdney.com).Saturday, December 8 | 11 AMMcGovern-Stella Link Neighborhood Library | 7405 Stella Link, 77025

Music for the SeasonHouston Youth Symphony, celebrating 65 years of music education, presents string and brass chamber music ensembles performing classical and holiday favorites.Saturday, December 15 | 1:30 pMCentral Library, Gallery Area | 500 McKinney, 77002

A Holiday Story Puppet Show Mary’s father is away from home and her mother is ill, and they don’t have a tree for Christmas. Her Jewish neighbor surprises Mary with a tree, decorated by all the neighborhood animals. During the show the audience interacts with the puppets, feeling the joyous holiday atmosphere.Wednesday, December 12 | 4 pMBracewell Neighborhood Library | 9002 Kingspoint Dr., 77089Thursday, December 13 | 11 AMRobinson-Westchase Neighborhood Library | 3223 Wilcrest, 77042Thursday, December 13 | 6 pMFlores Neighborhood Library | 110 North Milby, 77003Wednesday, December 19 | 10 AMMancuso Neighborhood Library | 6767 Bellfort, 77087Wednesday, December 19 | 3:30 pMLooscan Neighborhood Library | 2510 Willowick, 77027

Popcorn Kids: Children’s Film Festival Enjoy a colorful collection of short films from around the world, hand-picked as audience and jury favorites from the 2012 New York International Children’s Film Festival, and brought to the library by the Aurora Picture Show. Kids and kids-at-heart will love this collection of short films that includes a sweet film adapted from the enormously popular Gruffalo picture book by British author Julia Donaldson. Join us after the screening for a special reading of Gruffalo and related crafts.Saturday, December 15 | 3 pMJulia Ideson Building, Norma Meldrum Room | 550 McKinney, 77002

Straws the Clown Holiday ShowClown around and enjoy the winter break with a visit from Straws the Clown!Wednesday, December 12 | 4 pMJohnson Neighborhood Library | 3517 Reed Rd., 77051Thursday, December 27 | 2 pMFreed-Montrose Neighborhood Library | 4100 Montrose, 77006

Karaoke for Kids Holiday ShowCelebrate the season with some karaoke and holiday music!Tuesday, December 11 | 4:15 pMScenic Woods Regional Library | 10677 Homestead Rd., 77016Tuesday, December 18 | 4 pM Walter Neighborhood Library | 7660 Clarewood, 77036Thursday, December 27 | 4 pM Kendall Neighborhood Library | 609 N. Eldridge, 77079

The Gingerbread Man This hilarious new holiday musical from Express Children’s Theatre is about a Gingerbread Man who suddenly comes to life, jumps out of the oven and runs out of the house yelling “Run, run as fast as you can! You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man.” He leads everyone on a merry chase, but when the sly fox comes along the holiday magic begins. Saturday, December 1 | 11 AMBracewell Neighborhood Library | 9002 Kingspoint Dr., 77089

These events are free and open to the public. INFO | www.houstonlibrary.org or 832 393-1313

KIDSLinking YOU to the World of Fun and Education

HOLIDAY pICKS

Christmas Timeby Allison Jay

Pete the Cat Saves Christmas

by Eric Litwin

Emanuel and the Hanukkah Rescue

by Heidi Smith Hyde

HOLIDAY eBOOKS

For a list of more books that mightinterest you, visit our catalog

www.houstonlibrary.org/catalog

KID MOvIE pICKS

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblinsby Eric A Kimmel

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Crafts for Kwanzaaby Kathy Ross

SUGGESTED READING FOR KIDS

The following books are suggested reading for this holiday season. To find more recommendations from our team of professional librarians, please see www.houstonlibrary.org/readerslink

Minnie McClary Speaks her Mind by Valarie HobbsThe Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand and Sarah WattsStealing Air by Trent Reedy

Who Could That be at This Hour? by Lemony SnicketThe Unwanteds by Lisa McMannDear Blue Sky by Mary SullivanTroll Hunters by Michael DahlReturn to Exile by E.J. Patten and John Rocco

eBOOKSThe Peculiar by Stefan BachmannThe Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth WinthropThe Holly Joliday by Megan McDonaldConfetti Girl by Diana Lopez

Horrible Harry and the Christmas Surprise

by Suzy Kline

SUGGESTED eBOOKS

TEENSLinking YOU to the World of Fun and Education

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TEEN MOvIE pICKS

HOLIDAY pICKS

The Dead of Winterby Chris Priestley

HOLIDAY eBOOKS

For a list of more books that mightinterest you, visit our catalog

www.houstonlibrary.org/catalog

Decked with Hollyby Marni Bates

Martha Stewart’s Cookiesby Martha Stewart

SUGGESTED READING FOR TEENS

The following books are suggested reading for this holiday season. To find more recommendations from our team of professional librarians, please see www.houstonlibrary.org/readerslink

Blink Once by Cylin BusbyMagisterium by Jeff HirschBeta by Rachel CohnMy Book of Life by Angel by Martine LeavittCrusher by Niall Leonard

Charly’s Epic Fiascos by Kelli LondonDodger by Terry PratchettSons of the 613 by Michael Rubens

eBOOKSMystic City by Theo LawrenceCall the Shots by Don CalameStep Up by Monica McKayhanThe Fire of Ares by Michael Ford

SUGGESTED eBOOKS

Let It Snowby John Green,

Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson

Batman: Noel by Lee Bermejo

Ender’s Game War of Gifts

by Orson Scott Card

Wintertownby Steve Emond

ADULTSLinking YOU to the World of Fun and Education

Holiday Book SelectionThe following books are suggested reading for this holiday season. To find more recommendations from our team of professional librarians, please see www.houstonlibrary.org/readerslink

Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwanFlight Behavior by Barbara KingsolverThe Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Phillip SendkerI’ve Got Your Number by Sophie KinsellaGone Girl by Gillian FlynnBring Up the Bodies by Hillary MantelThe Woman Who Died A Lot by Jasper FfordeThe Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen KingShadow of Night by Deborah HarknessThe Rook by Daniel O’MalleyRedshirts by John ScalziDearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob SpitzQuiet by Susan CainDinner: A Love Story by Jenny RosenstrachThe Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from my Frontier by Ree Drummond

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Get the new HPL app for your mobile device!

YOU can:Access the HPL catalog

Check your account, place holds and renew itemsGet information about HPL locations and events

Search for books, eBooks and other itemsAnd more!

INFO | 832-393-1313www.houstonlibrary.org

All from your smartphone or tablet!

Look for us in your app store, and download the

free app today!

Workforce Solutions at HPL

Looking for a job? Need help writing a résumé? Seeking advice on your career? Houston Public Library and Workforce Solutions are here to help!

GET FREE ASSISTANCE WITH:• Job search assistance• Résumé writing tips• Interviewing tips

• Rebranding your skills• Career advice• Educational information

www.houstonlibrary.org/workforce-solutions

Central Library, 2nd Floor500 McKinney, 77002 | 832-393-1313Mondays | 2 PM - 4 PMTuesdays | 2 PM - 4 PMWednesdays | 10 AM - 12 PMThursdays | 10 AM - 12 PM

Ring Neighborhood Library8835 Long Point, 77055 | 832-393-2000Tuesdays | 1 PM - 4 PMFridays | 1 PM - 4 PM

Walk-ins are welcome. For more information about Workforce Solutions, please visit www.wrksolutions.com.

LOCATIONS, DAYS AND TIMES

Martin Luther King LegacyLinking YOU to the World of Fun and Education

TECH IT

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Gift plan - Helps you keep up with gift-giving events, including birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, etc. Keep track of gift ideas for different people in your life.

Gas Buddy - GasBuddy uses gas price information provided by our users to bring drivers together to support the common goal of saving money on gas.

Fooducate - Lose weight, eat real food, and get healthy. Fooducate grades your groceries, explains what’s really inside each product, and offers healthier alternatives.

Songza - Songza is a free music streaming and recommendation service for mobile devices. The service recommends various playlists based on time of day and mood or activity.

Out of Milk - With Out of Milk, your Shopping List stays with you everywhere you go and you’ll have it on-hand once you’re ready to go grocery shopping.

GoodReads - Discover and share books you love. The world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations! More than 10 million members have added more than 300 million books to their shelves.

Zombies, Run - Zombies, Run! is an ultra-immersive running game and audio adventure, co-created with award-winning novelist Naomi Alderman.

Evernote - Evernote is an easy-to-use, free app that helps you remember everything across all of the devices you use. Stay organized, save your ideas and improve productivity.

How to Cook Everything - This bestselling, first-of-its-kind app of columnist Mark Bittman’s bestselling cookbook is enhanced with helpful holiday menus. Most important are 2,000 recipes.

Tiny Wings - You have always dreamed of flying - but your wings are tiny. Luckily the world is full of beautiful hills. Use the hills as jumps - slide down, flap your wings and fly!

Rayman Jungle Run - The legendary platforming hero is making the jump to your favorite iOS device! Rayman Jungle Run is powered by UbiArt Framework engine that brought you Rayman Origins.

Zuma’s Revenge - Conquer over 60 ribbeting levels by firing stone spheres to make matches and destroy the deadly stream of balls. Battle six imposing tiki bosses to guide your agile amphibian to victory!

Snapseed - With this app, anyone can enhance, transform, and share their photos with ease using incredibly advanced features from the leader in digital photography software.

Garage Band - Use Multi-Touch gestures to play pianos, organs, guitars, drums, and basses. They sound and play like their counterparts, but let you do things you could never do on a real instrument.

Apps to Make the Holidays Manageable and Fun

Linking YOU to the World of e-books!Are you thinking about buying an e-reader or other mobile reading device? Do you have a new e-reader but need help with how to use it? Are you a seasoned user who is interested in a wider variety of reading options? HPL is here for YOU!

Thanks to a grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HPL now offers a great self-service tool for e-book support. Visit our E-books for Everyone Help Page (www.houstonlibrary.org/downloads) or scan the code for more information on deciding which e-reader to buy, using free e-book sites, and using our e-book partner, Overdrive, to download the books you want.

BECOME A FRIENDThe Friends of the Houston Public Library, founded in 1953 is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering wider recognition, use, and support of the Houston Public Library. With support from the Friends, Houston Public Library is better able

to meet the vital needs of the community.

The Friends annual gift to HPL supports a wide variety of needs including external communications, staff development and training, scholarships and materials protection.

The Friends rely on support from the community to accomplish its goal of helping the Houston Public Library. Please consider becoming a Friend or volunteering! To learn more please visit www.friendsofhpl.org or call 832-393-1387.

DONATEThe Houston Public Library Foundation advocates for libraries and supports the Houston Public Library by funding programming, materials, staff training and other enhancements.

The Foundation recently added the first-ever community meeting room to the iconic, circle-shaped Ring Neighborhood Library.

To contribute or for more information, please visit www.houstonlibrary.org/hplfoundation or call 832-393-1450.

vOLUNTEERHouston Public Library’s Central Library is home to the award-winning author series, “An Evening With…”, and several other exciting, innovative programs that bring national and local authors from several genres to the Houston

Public Library.

We are looking for volunteers to help us with these programs. To learn more, please visit www.houstonlibrary.org/author-events.

For more information about volunteering with HPL, please visit www.houstonlibrary.org/volunteer-opportunities.

BRACEWELL 9002 Kingspoint Dr., 77089 | 832-393-2580

CARNEGIE1050 Quitman, 77009 | 832-393-1720

CENTRAL LIBRARY500 McKinney, 77002 | 832-393-1313

CLEAR LAKE CITY–COUNTY FREEMAN MEMORIAL16616 Diana Lane, 77062 | 281-488-1906

COLLIER REGIONAL6200 Pinemont, 77092 | 832-393-1740CLOSED FOR RENOVATION

DIxON 8002 Hirsch, 77016 | 832-393-1760

FIFTH WARD 4014 Market, 77020 | 832-393-1770

FLORES 110 North Milby, 77003 | 832-393-1780

FRANK 10103 Fondren, Brays Oaks Towers Building, 77096832-393-2410

FREED-MONTROSE 4100 Montrose, 77006 | 832-393-1800

HEIGHTS 1302 Heights Blvd, 77008 | 832-393-1810

HENINGTON-ALIEF REGIONAL 7979 South Kirkwood, 77072 | 832-393-1820

HILLENDAHL 2436 Gessner Rd, 77080 | 832-393-1940

JOHNSON 3517 Reed Rd., 77051 | 832-393-2550

JULIA IDESON BUILDING550 McKinney, 77002 | 832-393-1662

JUNGMAN5830 Westheimer, 77057 | 832-393-1860

KENDALL 609 N. Eldridge, 77079 | 832-393-1880LAKEWOOD 8815 Feland Street, 77028 | 832-393-2530

LOOSCAN 2510 Willowick, 77027 | 832-393-1900

MANCUSO 6767 Bellfort, 77087 | 832-393-1920

MCCRANE-KASHMERE GARDENS 5411 Pardee St., 77026 | 832-393-2450

MCGOvERN–STELLA LINK7405 Stella Link, 77025 | 832-393-2630

MELCHERCLOSED FOR IMPROVEMENTS7200 Keller, 77012 | 832-393-2480

MEYER 5005 West Bellfort, 77035 | 832-393-1840

MOODY 9525 Irvington, 77076 | 832-393-1950

OAK FOREST 1349 West 43rd Street, 77018 | 832-393-1960

pARENT RESOURCE LIBRARYTHE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF HOUSTON 1500 Binz, 77004 | 713-535-7264

pARK pLACE REGIONAL 8145 Park Place Blvd., 77017 | 832-393-1970

pLEASANTvILLE 1520 Gellhorn, 77029 | 832-393-2330

RING 8835 Long Point, 77055 | 832-393-2000

ROBINSON-WESTCHASE 3223 Wilcrest, 77042 | 832-393-2011

SCENIC WOODS REGIONAL 10677 Homestead, 77016 | 832-393-2030

SHEpARD-ACRES HOMES 8501 West Montgomery, 77088 | 832-393-1700

SMITH 3624 Scott St., 77004 | 832-393-2050

STANAKER 611 S/Sgt. Macario Garcia, 77011 | 832-393-2080

STIMLEY-BLUE RIDGE 7007 West Fuqua, 77489 | 832-393-2370

TUTTLE 702 Kress, 77020 | 832-393-2100

vINSON (+ HpL ExpRESS) 3810 West Fuqua, 77045| 832-393-2120

WALTER 7660 Clarewood, 77036 | 832-393-2500

YOUNG 5260 Griggs Road, Palm Center 77021| 832-393-2140

HpL ExpRESS LOCATIONSHpL ExpRESS SOUTHWEST6400 High Star, 77074 | 832-393-2660

HpL ExpRESS DISCOvERY GREEN 1500 McKinney, #R2 77010 | 832-393-1375

FRANK 10103 Fondren, Brays Oaks Towers Building, 77096 832-393-2410

SpECIAL COLLECTIONSTHE AFRICAN AMERICAN LIBRARY AT THE GREGORY SCHOOL1300 Victor Street, 77019 | 832-393-1440

HOUSTON METROpOLITAN RESEARCH CENTER, LOCATED IN THE JULIA IDESON BUILDING550 McKinney, 77002 | 832-393-1313

CLAYTON LIBRARY CENTER FOR GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH5300 Caroline, 77004 | 832-393-2600

For the most up-to-date hours of operation, please visit our website:www.houstonlibrary.org/locations

HpL LOCATIONS

www.facebook.com/houstonlibrary

www.twitter.com/houstonlibrary

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This publication made possible through the generous support of the

Friends of the Houston Public Library

REFERENCE / INFO832-393-1313

TELEPHONE RENEwaLs832-393-2280

CIRCuLaTION quEsTIONs832-393-2222

TTY (HEaRING IMPaIRED)832-393-1539

VOLuNTEER sERVICEs832-393-1481

If you have a special physical or communication need that may impact your participation in any of these activities, please contact the location staff prior to the program to discuss accommodations. We cannot ensure the availability of appropriate accommodations without prior notification of need.

Holiday Closings: Sunday, December 23 - Tuesday, December 26, 2012- CHRISTMASTuesday, January 1, 2013 - NEW YEAR’S