Book Review: The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher

"Harry Dresden - Wizard. Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment." So reads the newspaper ad for private investigator Harry Dresden, a wizard living in a Chicago slightly different from the one we know. Harry's adventures take him through a gritty, secretive underworld populated not only by mob bosses but by dark wizards, demons, werewolves - and a magical council that threatens to punish him or execute him for any mistake. And Harry makes a lot of mistakes. This fast-paced series is told through Harry's sharp, sarcastic voice as he tries to fight the bad guys, make enough money to pay his rent, and live something like a normal life. (Each novel is self-contained and you do not have to read them in the exact order.) - Michelle (Sunset)

Book 1: Storm Front
Book 2: Fool Moon
Book 3: Grave Peril
Book 4: Summer Knight
Book 5: Death Masks
Book 6: Blood Rites
Book 7: Dead Beat
Book 8: Proven Guilty
Book 9: White Night
Book 10: Small Favor
Book 11: Turn Coat

Book Review: Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

Jeannette Walls takes readers on an adventurous journey into what life was like growing up in the rugged Southwest in her account, Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel. The true life being that of her Grandmother, Lily Casey Smith’s - rich stories of survival, wit, and endurance during the early 20th Century on her family’s ranch and finally her own spread in Arizona. Walls explores not only Lily’s childhood and adulthood, but also enlivens us with funny and fascinating stories of her mother. In the characters’ sharp dialogue and pithy chapters, the reader can actually feel what life on the frontier of young Arizona was like, and experience the growing pains of a state as well as a family. A quick read with many personal insights, Half Broke Horses will have you asking, “Did that REALLY happen?” - Kathy (Sunset)

OverDrive's Most Downloaded Books

Want to know what ebooks and audiobooks are most downloaded from OverDrive?

Click on the link below to see what is checking out the most.

http://search.overdrive.com/Most-Downloaded-Audiobooks-eBooks-Library.asp

OverDrive and the Library eBook Accessibility Program

OverDrive is working to provide alternate or updated eBook software with "read aloud" and text-to-speech services built-into every title. While these efforts are underway, OverDrive has developed a new program entitled Library eBook Accessibility Program or "LEAP".

LEAP is the result of a partnership between OverDrive and Bookshare.org, a non-profit agency that provides individuals with print disabilities timely access to print materials in digital formats. Please see: http://bookshare.org. Under the partnership between Bookshare.org and OverDrive, LEAP will provide accessible eBooks and extend the Bookshare.org service to print impaired U.S. public library patrons serviced by OverDrive. OverDrive is fully funding this program and offering LEAP to your qualifying patrons at no cost to the library and at no cost to your patrons.

Visit OverDrive at ALA Midwinter 2010

OverDrive will be exhibiting at ALA Midwinter in Boston January 15-18, 2010.

If you or any of your colleagues are planning to attend, we invite you to visit our booth (#2446) and attend our theater presentations, which will be held every hour on the hour during exhibit hours, beginning Friday evening at 6:00 PM. We'll share information on new services and features, promotional ideas, usage statistics, and more. There will be MP3 player giveaways at the end of each presentation.

Holiday Events in Chandler

The holiday season in Chandler kicked off with the Parade of Lights and the Tumbleweed Tree lighting last weekend, but there are still more festivities to come!

Wed., Dec. 9 - TRC Holiday Toy Ride

Donate a new, unwrapped toy to the Tumbleweed Recreation Center from 9-11 a.m., and receive a ride in a Chandler fire engine around Tumbleweed Park.

Dec. 10, 12, 19 - Santa's House
Bring your children to Santa’s House at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park and get a free picture taken with Santa!
Thur., Dec.10, 6-8 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 12, noon-5 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 19, noon-5 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 12 - Chandler Fashion Center Holiday Toy Ride
Donate a new, unwrapped toy from 3:30-7:30 p.m., enjoy entertainment, and receive a fire engine ride around Chandler Fashion Center. The collection point is near the valet parking area outside the food court on the south side of the mall.

Sat., Dec. 12 - Holiday Marketplace in Downtown
The DCCP will be holding a Holiday Marketplace along the downtown streets, with vendors selling gifts and downtown merchants offering specials. The Dickens Carolers will perform from 3 to 5 p.m. All activities are free of charge with the donation of a canned goods item. Visit www.downtownchandler.org/ or call 480-855-3539 for more information.