Main Blog http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org Thu, 16 May 2013 22:46:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 True Crime – The History of the Mafia http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2587 http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2587#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 22:46:56 +0000 chris.hu http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2587 Maybe you have seen movies like “The Godfather” or “Casino.” A lot of people have watched the hit TV show “The Sopranos.” But have you ever wondered about some of the references? Or are you curious about where the writers got their inspiration? Below are some books that explore the early history of the Mafia and shed some light on lesser known figures and events.

 

 Mafia Summit by Gil Reavill

The story of how a series of arrests made in Apalachin, New York in 1957 helped to reveal the existence of the Mafia to the American public.

 

Havana Nocturne by T. J. English

This is a history of the Mafia ties with and investment in Cuba, in the decades preceding the Cuban Revolution of 1959.

 

American Mafia by Thomas A. Reppetto

A history of the Mafia that covers the period from the late 19th century up until the Kefauver hearings of 1950-1951.

 

Mickey Cohen by Tere Tereba

This is a biography of the high-profile mobster who rose to prominence after the assassination of Bugsy Siegel and came to dominate the Los Angeles underworld.

Chris Hu – LMS

]]> http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?feed=rss2&p=2587 0 Jarrett J. Krosoczka Tweets from the Children’s Book Celebration http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2559 http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2559#comments Mon, 06 May 2013 20:10:53 +0000 sandra.fernandez http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2559

The 4th Annual Children’s Book Celebration was held last week, featuring author Jarrett J. Krosoczka (of “The Lunch Lady” series). The event was a big hit with our customers (in particular our young customers, and Jarret’s fans).

To illustrate the success of the day, we’ve pulled Jarrett’s tweets (before, during and after the event), to give you a look at how he described it.

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We’ll be adding our photos from the event later this week.

]]> http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?feed=rss2&p=2559 0 Graphic Novels: Not Just for Kids http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2520 http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2520#comments Mon, 22 Apr 2013 23:10:54 +0000 chris.hu http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2520 Once upon a time, comic books were something to be purchased for 50 cents at the grocery store. It would contain the weekly or monthly adventures of Batman, the Green Lantern or Spiderman. The reader would have to buy all of issues in order to follow the story line. And they were exclusively read by adolescent males. Somehow this notion has persisted. However, as the graphic novels below demonstrate, this is no longer the case. Much like the publishing industry in general, the comic industry has matured and changed. Graphic novels can contain the storyline of an entire book. Furthermore, they have moved beyond the genre of action/adventure. Today’s graphic novels deal with a variety of themes (humor, romance, horror, alternative history, etc.).

 

 The Manhattan Projects, #1 Science Bad by Jonathan Hickman, represents an intriguing alternative history premise of the Manhattan Project.

 A Game of Thrones by Daniel Abraham, adapted from the books of George R. R. Martin; now an award winning television series on HBO.

 At the Mountains of Madness by Ian Culbard, adapted from the story written by H. P. Lovecraft.

 Locke & Key, Volume 5 by Joe Hill, award winning author and son of Stephen and Tabitha King.

 Grave Sight, Book 1 illustrated by Denis Medri, story by Charlaine Harris, adapted from the “Harper Connelly” series.

 Girl Genius Omnibus Volume One: Agatha Awakens by Phil and Kaja Foglio, derived from the online comic series “Girl Genius.”

]]> http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?feed=rss2&p=2520 0 WeCAN Community Access Location Train the Trainer Session (photos) http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2504 http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2504#comments Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:03:08 +0000 sandra.fernandez http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2504 The Houston Public Library’s Wireless Empowered Community Access Network (WeCAN) hosted 2013’s first Train the Trainer Session which taught our community partners how to conduct digital literacy classes in Houston’s underserved neighborhoods. This session covered Computer & Internet Basics.

To find out where you can find digital literacy classes visit: www.wecanhouston.org or www.houstonlibrary.org.

]]> http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?feed=rss2&p=2504 0 HISD Parent Super Center Collaborative (photos) http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2495 http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2495#comments Sun, 03 Mar 2013 21:30:59 +0000 sandra.fernandez http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2495 A few photos from the recent Houston Public Library/Microsoft/HISD Parent Super Center Collaborative digital literacy training.

]]> http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?feed=rss2&p=2495 0 Author event with Attica Locke (photos) http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2476 http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2476#comments Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:41:20 +0000 sandra.fernandez http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2476 From our “you may have missed this” files… for this year’s celebration of African American History Month, we hosted “An Evening with Attica Locke.” An award-winning author, Locke discussed and signed copies of her latest novel, “The Cutting Season.”  She talked about where she got her inspiration for the book, interacted with community members and gave an update on her current project.

Below are a few photos of the event.

]]> http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?feed=rss2&p=2476 0 HPL at the City Hall Farmer’s Market (photos) http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2459 http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2459#comments Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:47:16 +0000 sandra.fernandez http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2459 Today marked the beginning of the 2013 City Hall Farmers Market Spring Season, in front of the downtown Houston City Hall… which also happens to be in front of our Central Library. Houston Public Library staff and Friends of the Houston Public Library were on hand, “staffing” booths to recruit new customers, members and supporters. Join us next week!

 

Friends of HPL at the City Hall Farmer’s Market

Houston Public Library staff
at the City Hall Farmer’s Market

 

 

]]> http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?feed=rss2&p=2459 0 Celebrating Popular African American Fiction http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2428 http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2428#comments Wed, 20 Feb 2013 23:13:32 +0000 chris.hu http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2428 African American History Month presents us with an opportunity to reflect upon the growth and diversity of fiction titles written by African American authors. Once upon a time, the term African American fiction might conjure up visions of the literary classics of Zora Neale Hurston or Alice Walker. Successive African American authors have written books that have entered into the realm of popular fiction. These titles run the gamut from romance and Christian fiction to street lit and erotica.

The Houston Public Library has an extensive African American fiction collection. Come on in and browse through some old favorites or get lost in the latest romance. Here are a few of the library’s latest acquisitions:

All I Did Was Shoot My Man by Walter Mosley

Friends & Foes by Reshonda Tate Billingsley

Death Wish: A Story of the Mafia by Iceberg Slim

Pretty Boy Problems by Michele Grant

Daddy’s Maybe by Pat Tucker

Forever Soul Ties by Vanessa Davis Griggs

]]> http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?feed=rss2&p=2428 0 Show your love! Share your stories! #ilovehoustonlibrary http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2420 http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2420#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2013 18:06:24 +0000 sandra.fernandez http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2420

April 14-20, 2013 is National Library Week and your chance to share your library stories from today and yesterday.

Does your neighborhood librarian help you find exactly what you need every time you visit?
Did you get a better job because of the computer classes?
Did your teen learn to edit video because of the Reel Teen Film Festival?
Do you keep your ebook reader stocked with new book through our ebook collection?
Did you make a new dessert for the holidays thanks to our cookbooks?
Have you “discovered” a new book or author because of a librarian or library event?
Did you spend every waking hour at your local library as a child?

Tell us today!

We started collecting stories during National Library Lover’s Month, which was in February, and we would still love to hear more! Share your stories via twitter using the #ilovehoustonlibrary hashtag. Email us our stories at hplenewsletter@houstontx.gov. We’ll spotlight some of the submissions online, in our newsletter and through our social media channels.

You can check out last year’s Tweets at http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=1556.

]]> http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?feed=rss2&p=2420 2 In Memory of Houston’s Internationally Acclaimed Artist Bert Long, Jr. http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2413 http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2413#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:50:10 +0000 sandra.fernandez http://blogs.houstonlibrary.org/?p=2413

The Houston Public Library mourns the loss of Bert Long, Jr., internationally-acclaimed artist and one of Houston’s most beloved treasures. Long died February 1, 2013 of pancreatic cancer. He was 72 years old.

On November 15, 2008, Long unveiled his ART/LIFE painting that he created just for the Looscan Neighborhood Library located at 2510 Willowick Rd (between Westheimer and San Felipe). The painting is located in the Library’s Children’s Area and can be viewed during Library hours. “We are very honored to have one of Mr. Long’s works as part of the City of Houston’s and the Houston Public Library’s civic art collection,” said Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson, director of the Houston Public Library. “Mr. Long began his distinguished career using the Houston Public Library’s extensive Fine Arts collection to learn about technique and to gain inspiration from the work of other artists. It is fitting that a significant work from this internationally-known artist hangs in one of our finest facilities, the Looscan Neighborhood Library. His amazing artistic talent and his great personality will be forever missed.”

ART/LIFE is massive 30’ x 7’ acrylic painting on canvas depicts a ship sailing towards a sunset and imbedded are copies of 17 masterpiece paintings. According to Long, the theme of this work is his personal journey. He is pictured steering a sailboat in the center of the stormy seascape.  Also in this sea–as well as in the sky–are iconic images from art history. Included are a Rembrandt self-portrait; a sculptured bronze head of a Benin woman; the sarcophagus mask of King Tut; Arrangement in Grey and Black: The Artist’s Mother by James McNeill Whistler; The Gulf Stream by Winslow Homer, and fifteen others. Long’s self image shares the boat with images of famous artists such as Frida Kahlo, Louise Nevelson, and Georgia O’Keefe.

Bert Long, Jr. is survived by his wife Joan Batson and children.

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