Proteus

Image via Wikipedia

I had a lovely blog post completely written...and then internet service went down before it was saved, sigh.

I've always stopped to look at the books with artwork by Ernst Haeckel in Dover Publications' catalog. I bought the book Art Forms in Nature and then eventually the copy with the CD. Dover has recently started publishing books of vector art and other clip art with great sources. A price check led me to purchase a book on microscopic botanicals an Amazon and while there I discovered a more complete book of paintings and a movie. A DVD I was sure would never be in the county holdings, but it was and it's an amazing film.

Twenty-two years ago, long before computer graphic software could have cut down on production time, David Lebrun began an investigation into Haeckel's art and life. The film cuts across so many disciplines: art, science, taxonomy, religion, evolution, creationism and literature that there's something for every naturalist, artist or scientist to appreciate. I give the film way above five stars!

Next to explore: some of Haeckel's own writings, the museum created in his house in Germany, Gustave Dore's etchings and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

Vietnam, I know so little

Image via Wikipedia

One of my relatives gave me a title for my Mifflin Community Library combined "Book and a Movie" requirement and our Veterans Day program. Larry Stimeling suggested, as a vet himself, that We Were Soldiers would be a vet-approved selection. I'm still in the request queue, but in the meantime I checked out a copy of Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried. I'm finding it extremely hard to put down. Disturbing, comic, gory, but it's so much more than the few paragraphs in my high school textbook. I'm hopelessly uneducated about something that I vaguely recall seeing on TV. If you want to learn more, http://nam-vet.net/.

http://w1n5t0n.com/

http://w1n5t0n.com/

• What is it? "An annotated version of Cory Doctorow's Little Brother"
• What's Little Brother? A novel by Cory Doctorow
• Why's Lynn posting this way? Because this book requires a well-written review, a few minutes won't do it justice
• Why should I read this book? Because Americans are allowing their civil liberties to be taken away in the name of patriotism against terrorism
• How can I read this book? Download it free and save a copy, check it out from your library and increase their circulation numbers, buy copies of the book to give to friends, donate money through Cory's website to send a free copy to a library in America

Update on Date Rape

I've recently read two Young Adult books that inadvertently brought me to facts unknown. Roofies, GBH or any of the street names for date rape drugs can be impossible to avoid at parties unless every foodstuff is tested (questions I haven't found answers for: do kits work on food? does heating break down the drug?) You may know not to abandon your drink, but have you thought about your plate? Know your hostess/host. Keep test kits with you. Learn more about how to avoid this awful scenario at this website http://www.roofie.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 interestingly enough, this is a United Kingdom site and I haven't found a US equivalent in a fast Google search. The books in question: Fade by Lisa McMann and The Christopher Killer by Alane Furguson.

The Angel of Already Seen

Cover of The Angel of Death (Forensic Mystery)

SPOILER ALERT: I'm reading The Angel of Death by Alane Ferguson. The author describes the state of a dead dog found alongside a road. Paraphrase "Looks like his eyes have exploded." The real murder is announced and as our protagonist reaches the scene things like flowers have shriveled to dust, the corpse has an unusual smell, and, my god, this body has been cooked says the medical examiner! Since I happen to have read Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child's 2005 book Brimstone, I just happen to know what caused the murder in both books. Angel of Death was published in 2006. Granted one may have been in the works before the other, but when the entire book revolves around the same means of unusual murder, shouldn't publishers hold the release date? Are there any other microwave murders out there I've not come across?!

Vampiric Readings

Opinions of Twilight Read Alikes to date:

Vampire Academy - thumbs down, dull, dull, dull

House of Night - thumbs up, loved the characters and the situations, will read more when there's time

Vampire Beach: Initiation - snore. Read a few chapters before returning

City of Ashes - thumbs up, mostly. Coming in on book two is a challenge. Somewhat predictable, but interesting teens, scenarios, good visual cues

Already read and liked:

Followers care to weigh in on the choice of this image? It's relevant! Image via Wikipedia

The Hollow Kingdom - Clare B. Dunkle

The Study Series - Maria V. Snyder

A much better listing that I can ever do:

http://www.mcfls.org/shorewood/booklists/ya/Twilight%20read-a-likes.pdf

9/9/09 House of Night revisited: finally received book one, Marked, from my request list. Might need to modify my opinion. It does seem awfully juvenile in places, yet I'm enjoying the characters. Will go back and read Vampire Academy Book One - perhaps it requires a second chance.

Facebook Cause

Just put together a Facebook Cause with info on contacting the 6 PA Budget Committee members (and about joining or donating to Pennsylvania Library Association) http://apps.facebook.com/causes/327631/18413902?m=fb5a6ed7 Let them know how much you value libraries and lifelong learning!

Wish Radar

Can't recall if I've blogged this once before or not. If so, it bears repeating! Thanks to friend Tracy Brant, I stumbled upon www.wishradar.com. This handy website has a bookmarklet app that you click while browsing Amazon.com. If there's a book/DVD/CD (and maybe even other items though I haven't tried) that you are interested in as new or used, click, type in the highest price you're willing to pay for that item. When the item is at or below your price you'll get an email and the BUY box will also be highlighted on your wish list. It also lets you know how much competition you'll have for the item just from Wish Radar. You're still competing with the rest of the world to be the first to click the Amazon checkout button!

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

Best of the "survivor" type books I've read yet. Interesting for the intro of woodcraft, the characters have been extremely well-written and the reason for the games to exist is brilliant. We've had woodcraft in Scott Westerfield's Uglies series, there was Arctic Survior which also featured teenagers, and of course D.J. MacHale has Pendragon competing in game-like challenges, but The Hunger Games is so well-written that I'm elevating it to one of my best books read this year. There's a sequel being released September 1...looking forward to another suspenseful read!

Untamed - P.C. Cast

This is the first of the post-Twilight vampire books that I've really enjoyed. The characters have unique quirks that make them intriguing, the plot is varied and well-paced. I'd say if anyone else had trouble getting through Vampire Academy like I did, but still wants to read contemporary vampire stories, this series is the one to try next.

Vampire Academy/Chloe King

I have two teen friends who are reading these and as I'll be organizing Teen Read Week in October, I thought I better catch up on the latest titles in fantasy and sf. And so Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead was the book of the day. Can't say I was moved by the characters or the plot in the least. Maria V. Snyder writes more interesting combat training. The Godfather already did the dead animals in beds, and we all saw Obi-Wan influence the Storm Troopers. Vladimir appears a tasty romantic interest, but certainly no Valek.

My other book was a reread of the first in the Celia Thomson Chloe King series, The Fallen. Quirky characters that are instantly likeable/hateable, contemporary references, unusual gifts, suspense, a little gratuitous sex and some strong language. Which means I probably can't push this book for TRW.

Must read fantasy

A few days ago one of our enthusiastic patrons asked for further recommendations in YA lit. Why am I able to rave about a book on a blog, or remember straight where to go in a bookstore, but not able to suggest a great YA book on the spot? For Debbie, then, and anyone who realizes YA lit is not just for teens:

Jane Yolen - a prolific writer who crosses age groupings without a hitch. She can write simple children's books, slightly more complex juvenile works and full-blown YA and straight fantasy. I've most recently been captivated by her Great Alta series: a religion formed around groups of warrior and priestess women who were raised by other women who were either left to die of exposure on the hillsides, or who sought out a sanctuary away from men. Each sister is partnered by a dark sister, pulled from the shadow world to share the earth when there is moonlight, candlelight and firelight. The pairings are sexual as well, though some women welcome the contact with village men and soldiers. Her tales are amusing in that they are presented first with the "archeological" reports and scholarly studies of these "Hames" followed by the local myths and stories that are told, ending with the action of the story itself. To add more credence to her tales, she partnered with a musician who scored the teaching songs and legends sung throughout the county. I will be buying these books to have to reread!

I wish I could use them at the library for the Teen Read week, but know that we'd get in trouble for the sexual aspect of the books. Yet we have so many classic fantasy novels in which women are paired but still cannot use them without fear of a backlash from the community. So sad. These classic books were where I first learned of lesbians, and while it was a hard notion for me to grasp at first, I was not emotional devestated or corrupted as some patrons would expect us to be. I guess when you're used to accepting mantis-like insectoids or otherworldly stuff in general it was easy for me to adjust to households with two supportive caring women in a relationship. Sigh

Sister Light, Sister Dark

White Jenna

Unread: The One-Armed Queen (the daughter of Jenna)

Multiple Books!

Lost the entire post!

Coronet Among the Grass, the second installment in Charlotte Bingham's early autobiography. Stylistic change as writing matures? The author is maturing? Whatever the reason, Among the Grass is much more readable. Perhaps it's due to the sentence structure's improved flow, or even that short sentences seem more visually jarring, Among the Grass may not be as comic a tale, but was more pleasant to read.

Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow by Faiza Guene. I feel this book was a wonderful discovery. So many of the new YA books coming into our library are based in the US, Britain or Australia. Here's a book based in France, which also begs the question, why are we not seeing more books from other countries? The book would be readable for any teenager: an only child has hit her teens and is struggling through the normal teenage troubles, crushes, schoolwork, etc., yet also dealing with the psychological effects of being abandoned by the father of the family. This has a slight twist, as the family is Muslim and the father has left to marry a second wife so that he might have a male heir. Interesting glimpse into the life of a low-income single-parent immigrant Muslim family. More interesting: I borrowed my copy from the book sale shelf. There is only one cataloged copy of the book in Berks County Public Libraries.

I'm always behind the times when it comes to reading bestsellers. I prefer reading before the hype, or long after the hype has died down. In this case I'm finally getting around to reading Ice Bound by Dr. Jerri Nielsen, most likely commonly known as the woman who developed breast cancer while in Antarctica. At this point in my reading list, McMurdo Base and the Dome are old friends and I'm enjoying revisiting these places through another author's eyes.

Also got around to Stranger Than Fiction, delightful, and am currently enjoying season one of My Family starring Zoe Wanamaker and Robert Lindsay.

Coronet in the Weeds

At age 20 Charlotte Bingham decided to write the first installment of her autobiography Coronet Among the Weeds and it was published in 1963 (perhaps because of her father and mother's influence) whereupon it became quite a sensation. Really. In Britain. Maybe because the family was titled. And that pretty much descibes the sentence structure for the entire book. Easily read in a few hours with the delivery of a stand-up comic monologue. Humorous in parts, but also requires Brit-speak or a long acquaintance with BBC broadcasts.

Where does the time go: or why I'm still awake at 4am

Image by Angels Gate via Flickr

Recent Reads:

Young Adult

Cybele's Secret by Juliet Marillier - Always read the sequel first! I'm a sucker for the new book section and rarely stop to see if there's a book I should have read previously. The book does have a great cover, incidentally, Kinuko Y. Craft whom I'll be Googling. Cybele's Secret will be enjoyed by teens who've matured beyond Theodora Throckmorton, and by mothers who aren't ready for teens to be reading Libba Bray's The Sweet Far Thing. I'm always tickled by how relevant my reading choices seem to be so reading about Cybele's Gift so close to the announcement of the female fertility figure discovery was appropriate.

Paper Towns by John Green. Three for three. John Green has once again created a plot and characters that both sexes will enjoy equally. It has to be read. Similar emotional pull: the Watching Alice series by Daniel E. Parker (which also shares traits with the Gossip Girls series, which I sampled at approximately the same time).

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Companion to Life As We Knew It which has to be one of my top ten YA books, but not neccesarily for young adults. The moon has fallen into an orbit closer to earth and the dominos fall as geophysic events cascade. LAWKI graphically describes the aftereffects of the event in a rural/suburban landscape while TDATG occurs in an urban setting where information seems less easy to obtain. For a good freak-out high, read LAWKI first.

Adult, or mature teens

The Cobra Event by Robert Preston. Graphic in forensic anatomy and epidemiology, The Cobra Event is probably the best bioterrorism book I've ever read. As gripping as Crichton with data spot on the latest in viruses, even for a book written in 1999. There are a few passages that date the book, but then The Andromeda Strain has those as well. Once again, I finished reading just BEFORE I read the article on the emergence of a class similar to Ebola/Lassa Fever.

September 11 causes the most glaring problem: can a forensic pathologist still travel with his/her own prosector knife even if it's in checked luggage? The book also answered a question that came up in this house after a photo of the CDCs representatives were in Berks County for swine flu. Yes, they were wearing uniforms and the CDC is a branch of the Navy. If I worked at the CDC I'd be up in arms about having to wear what looked like a Girl Scout vest.

Currently Reading:

Fiction

Surving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083 by Andrea White. So far I'd catalog it in the YA section, but BCPL Bookmobile has it in Fiction. Five teens enter a contest to recreate Scott's fatal voyage to the South Pole, without knowing that the gear and materials will be appropriate to 1912, or knowing the show's producers don't play fair.

Over One Whole Month?!

Have been practicing using Illustrator most evenings so this has been neglected.

Relistened to Garth Nix's Old Kingdom series and have read that we get both a sequel and a prequel in the next two years!

Let's see: Emily Windsnap and the Montser from the Deep, Labyrinth by....hmmmm...Kate Mosse, The Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding, The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson, Antarctica by Kim Stanley Robinson, Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder, Doctor Illuminatus and Soul Stealer by Martin Booth, Firebirds: An Anthology of Original Fantasy and Science Fiction and most likely others I will remember later on. 

I'm also finding lots of books that I want to read are not in the county collection. Let's hope the new library spending act does not get passed, because I won't be able to afford to pay for inter- library loans.

Quick bedtime post

Still refreshing on horseshoe crab details - hope I can see Dr. Carl in May @ Green Eggs and Sand this year. (And hoping the population is strong again this year.)

Sabriel as read by Tim Curry - gifted, gifted performer

Ankle Deep by Angela Thirkell. How many times have I now marveled over how modern her books are in topic and writing?

On the web: lots and lots of play-dough recipes for the library National Library Week cookie cutter workshop.

(And read all the Twilight books as well as Midnight Sun since last post.)

Still open and recently closed...

Melting Stones by Tamora Pierce

Part of the Circle series, which seems I read so long ago. The irony of this book is that Mt. Redoubt continues to puff and blow. I loved images of being inside the crystaline structure of the different minerals. A book rockhounds will enjoy. YA

Hand of Isis by Jo Graham

I'm still reeling from the pedigree charts, but it's somewhat more clear and I remember some things from I, Claudius. I know how the story is supposed to end, so why am I surprised that I have tears running down my cheeks? The characters are well-written, it may help explain history, and it also falls into Sue Lange's category of "what women once did." How historically accurate? Unknown without research, but truly enjoyable.

Getting up to date

Many Angela Thirkell novels later, I have also been reading: 

Dingo by Charles de Lint. YA but I'd put in J. Fantastic cover, interesting premise, but felt like it had been cut short.

If You Are Reading This It's Too Late, by Pseunonymous Bosch. Not high on my list to finish, but enjoyed the protagonists enough that I eventually will.

Women Who Wrote the War fascinating account of the earliest female war correspondents.

The Annotated Frankenstein by Leonard Wolf. Footnotes become as interesting as the story.

Against the Clock Illustrator 9.0 and Photoshop 5.0.

Princess Ben. Not bad. Enjoyed her tower scenes.

ST Deep Space 9 Season 4 - must have missed most of this season. It's nice to find new episodes.

Inspiral Carpets - Revenge of the Goldfish. Named for Sandy Skoglund's installation piece. I'm impressed. I haven't listened to a disc I've enjoyed as much for quite some time. Lyrics may be a little shallow and not certain that music would receive great marks from professionals, but the big point is I ENJOYED IT and didn't turn it off!

White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison. Old friends in a new scenario - will wait quietly for next volume.

Farley Mowat and the Mammoth Finders

A few months ago a patron donated a complete set of Farley Mowat books. They're yellowed, but otherwise in great shape. I'm starting with fiction, Lost in the Barrens, but will happily switch to nonfiction.

California paleontologists are to be given a mammoth task of excavating the most complete fossil environment of its era to date. What an incredible time to be in that field! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29266903/

Book Reader

Anglophile at Heart

My previous reports on two books from the Barsetshire collection by Angela Thirkell were mixed: loved Wild Strawberries, was bored by Peace Breaks Out. The Old Bank House tipped the scale in the direction of a favorite author. I want to say that the writing is cheerful, spirited, with witty dialogue and dialects. It's the equivalent of a wonderfully soft teddy bear on a chilly, windy day (sort of like the last few days in Reading, PA.) It's also full of wonderful words. I'm looking up word definitions in a fiction book! How odd is that? Mostly the strange words are British-isms, but there are also many, many literary allusions and references to products and historical events. Knowing that I'm going to devour these nebulous references and play wiki-detective, I started searching Amazon and half.com. What a surprise! I'm lucky that the trio of books were on the shelf at SMU because prices per book were rather shocking for old novels, but not unsurprising for out of OOPs. Finding several for between $.75 and $1, I scarfed them up for future enjoyment and possible resale. Also check out the Angela Thirkell Society page http://www.angelathirkell.org/index.htm for book synopses, the cast of characters and a shopping guide to make certain you won't miss a single volume!

Stop by the library, or watch from home Feb 13 - 16

Lincoln's 200th Birthday

The final result of an all-nighter to celebrate Lincoln's 200th birthday. President Obama was also lent to Mifflin Community Library and was photographed with various patrons. Lincoln the favorite of children, Obama the favorite of adults.

What's in the DVD Player Now

2/3/2009 Boston Legal Season Two

Absolutely brilliant writers and performances. I heard Spader's lines from the concluding episode played on NPR and was dumbstruck. Why didn't anyone tell me how great a show this was?! I still prefer to watch on DVD though. No commercials and can indulge in an entire disc if one has time.

What's in the CD Player Now

2/12/2009 Baraka directed by Ron Fricke, 1992

Watch the astonishing non-narrative footage, or listen to the exceptional soundtrack on its own.

2/3/2009 The Storm by Michael Stearns

A Goodwill find, this is the second CD I own of Michael Stearns, the other being Encounter. Ambient and world music combine in this CD - not a CD to fall asleep to due to a crow and a lot of Balinese chanting that increases in volume, but otherwise peaceful. 

 JOHN UPDIKE 1932 to 2009 --To David, Linda, Mary Ann and Barry: So sorry you've lost a good friend.

Library Elf Starts Subscription Service

Berks County Public Libraries is not participating in a free Library Elf program. County patrons who enjoy Elf as much as I do should now consider their usage of Elf in determining what level of subscription is best for you. Since I can monitor my mother's account, and therefore also my father's account as well as my own, I have no doubt that the $20 per year services is right for us. Granted I've never racked up a 40 day overdue video or ILL ($.50/day) but Library Elf just might cause me to get more organized returning books. And for the convenience of checking status right in my email? Definitely worth it! 

New Obsession

What's Open Now: Fiction

1/31/2009 Missed entering altogether, What Looks Like Crazy by Charlotte Hughes, who's following Mifflin Community Library on twitter. A light-hearted read I enjoyed. Love that the adopted dog "Mike" ends up having puppies and retains the name "Mike." I probably know a Junque Lady or two.

Also, Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell. Wow. It is remarkably modern compared to Jane Austen (commentary included in Wives and Daughters and Cranford BBC production.) Must compare dates of writing.

Still have Poison Study open. What else is hanging around at the foot of the bed...Should add that reading has been postponed while DVDs of Boston legal Season Two are viewed!

1/23/2009 A Presumption of Death by Jill Paton Walsh Does not draw me in with as much intensity as those authored by Dorothy L., yet parts are staying with me. The tune sung by the young schoolchild (especially as sung falsetto by Petherbridge in the Book on CD), has been bouncing around in my head. To the tune of "Colonel Bogey March" (corps of Getty servicemen marching in parade, Bridge on the River Kwai) the ditty sings of Hitler's testicles, or lack thereof. I was very pleased that this novel offered additional insight into WWII Britain (and nice to be reading Austerity Britain at the same time).

1/16/2009 Poison Study, UK release, Maria V. Snyder Looking forward to the release of Maria's new book Storm Glass that follows a character from Fire Study. See pictures from Maria's visit to Mifflin Community Library through the library's website at www.berks.lib.pa.us/mifflincl Yelena and Valek's world parallels ours in flora and fauna, but with the inclusion of magic, empathic horses, and a geography that defies placement. I admit to being deeply disappointed that Criollo has a direct connection with our world's confectionery, and is more exotic only in my imagination. Still, one can but dream of that most perfect concoction!

Advance Reading Copies Received

To Buy or Not to Buy:Why We Overshop and How to Stop, by April Lane Benson, PhD

Received 1/16/2009  (1/24/2009: This book seems to have strayed from the kitchen pile...I wonder who's reading it now.)

The Power of Who: You Already Know Everyone You Need to Know, by Bob Beaudine

Received 1/15/2009 So far is following the same lines as Barbara Sher's Wishcraft. I can't help thinking that my Alumnae Thread on Facebook is following the basic theory of applaud the accomplishments of your friends, send encouraging messages, thank them for being available, give them strength when things are rough...

What's in the DVD Drive

1/24/2009 Boston Legal. Have just finished Season One of this gem of a show. I don't recall having watched too many bratpack movies that I should adore James Spader so, but it's hopeless. Even in his slimyness he's still exquisite. I do believe William Shatner should be remembered for his perfection in the role of Denny Crane rather than the lifeless Kirk. Watching an un-Odo in Boston Legal while still viewing DS9 Season Six is another treat.  

Star Trek Deep Space 9: Disc 5 

I've been enjoying the character makeup as well as the characters themselves. Probably my favorite of the Star Trek franchises.

The Music On Right Now

1/24/2009 Winterlude: Instrumentals for a Contemplative Christmas - a Goodwill find, quite peaceful, good addition to our solstice music collection

A demo CD from Jody Rush.

What's Open Now: Nonfiction

1/24/2009: Have abandoned Pliny/Vesuvius for Austerity Britain, David Kynaston, a scholarly work on the privations Britains continued to experience, 1945 to 1951. Changes in architecture and city planning as Britain  sought to rebuild bomb-scarred cities, and the dramatic social repercussions of the war in the workplace, at home, in governement and in schools. Includes notes from the impressive Mass Observation studies and makes references to fiction books that recount the various aspects of post-war Britain.  

1/15/2009: Ghosts of Vesuvius, Charlie Pelligrino. Pelligrino is the author of one of my favorite science fiction/science speculation books, Dust. At the same time I also have open Natural History by Pliny the Elder. Try the light Juvenile Roman Mystery #2 The Secrets of Vesuvius by Caroline Lawrence that has as one of the characters, Admiral Pliny.

What's Playing Right Now - Books on CD

1/31/2009 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

1/15/2009: A Presumption of Death, Jill Paton Walsh and Dorothy L. Sayers. Read by Edward Petherbridge. I grew up with Ian Charmichael playing Lord Peter and can't watch Petherbridge (sorry, Marianne) but I find I can listen to him. This is a book that I'll have to read a printed version before I can completely appreciate the story. There's a lovely quote about germs I'm looking forward to seeing in print. At least I think it was "germs" and not "Germans." =^..^=

What's Open Right Now - Books, Juvenile

I read books from every shelf in the library. I think we all need a change of persepctive every now and then. Pick up a book from a shelf you've never visited!

1/16/2009: Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors, Jenny Nimmo, This was another case of being drawn in by the cover. Lovely pastel drawing similar to Mary GrandPre. I just find these magically endowed kids very amusing. I love the idea of the Pets' Cafe where there is a bouncer who will not let you in without a pet. This was my "waiting for Harry Potter" series. It's much more light-hearted than the later Harry Potters. =^..^=

1/15/2009: Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris, R. L. LaFevers,  sequel to Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos.  Adult fans of Amelia Peabody mysteries will enjoy these tales of a precocious young Egyptologist, her cat Isis, and the disturbingly cursed artifacts shipped to Britain from Egypt. Young readers starting the Harry Potter series would most likely find young Theodosia's adventures thrilling. =^..^= Also melds well with A Great and Terrible Beauty. I'm not the only one in the house to relish bright Theodosia, my mother read Staff of Osiris through two times in one evening. I do hope there will be more plucky Theodosia adventures.

Card Pocket

Here you'll find dribs and drabs I've stumbled upon while surfing the Internet and the most important book related information I've collected.

Can't live without these!

LibraryThing: librarything.com

Catalog your entire library, or keep track of books you've read, online, accessible from the Web anytime. Great groups to join for common interests. Search other member's libraries for books similar to those you enjoy. Let LibraryThing digest the titles and discover unusual statistics based on your tags and authors. Don't forget your library cat, a :CueCat.

LibraryElf: libraryelf.com

Cede your library system's, your account number and PIN. Library Elf sends you daily email reminders of what is due, overdue, what's on hold for you, and what will be due in three days. Can't live without it. While I personally believe that all people working for libraries should be magically endowed with powers to locate any borrowed materials hidden within the house, alas, it cannot be granted.