Book Review: 2030

Film director and funnyman Albert Brooks takes a fictional look at the condition our country will be in 19 years into the future in the novel 2030. Brooks draws from the headlines of today and predicts some very startling outcomes if the United States’ current path remains unchanged. Written with numerous characters introduced throughout the novel, Brooks weaves the country’s desperate economic state through a myriad of personal stories concerning the nation’s aging population, extreme healthcare costs, and a massive earthquake that levels Los Angeles in the first few chapters. The premise is very interesting and held my attention, but the payoff in the end didn’t quite hit the mark. 2030 reads more like a mediocre B-movie than an enthralling futuristic novel. However, the story will make all ages stop and think about what is happening right now in our country, and the possible future we could face. - Kathy (Downtown)

New Virtual Library Books

Can't come into the library to do research? Do you need book and encyclopedia resources, or Google doesn't have the quality you're looking for? You can access reference and research books for free through the library's website, and we just added four new encyclopedias to our Virtual Library:

Human Diseases and Conditions - Detailed medical information written for ordinary people, including personal stories and full-color illustrations.

Experiment Central - Nearly 300 science experiments for students, with step-by-step instructions and scientific background information.

UXL Encyclopedia of Biomes - A perfect substitute for your child's school report when the books on rainforests and deserts are checked out.

Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life - Look up countries, regions, and cultural groups around the world, and learn about history, politics, customs, religion, education, human rights issues, teen life, and more.

You'll need your library card and PIN numbers to access these ebooks from home. Look for the eTable of Contents and eBook Index at the top of the page to search inside the ebook. Each of these four ebooks is copied directly from a print encyclopedia, and students can get citations for their Works Cited pages using the Citation Tools link on the right.

These encyclopedias are also listed in the library catalog, where you can search by title. Or, find them on their relevant research topic pages - visit chandlerlibrary.org, hover your mouse over the purple RESEARCH tab, and choose a topic. Our Virtual Library ebooks are listed along with our databases in a highlighted box at the top of each page, giving you at-home access to thousands of encyclopedias, magazines, newspapers, and more! Ask library staff for more information.

Book Review: This Won't Hurt a Bit

Michelle Au describes her first years in medical school as "like a chain gang of 150 convicts locked together at the ankles for four years. Every single class, every exam... we attended together." Her introduction to clinical practice is a Psychiatry rotation, where, on her first day, a patient asks if she thinks he's crazy. "What can you really say to a patient who asks you that? Especially after hearing him tell you the story he has... about strangers on the street plotting to kill him, because they can see the power that he wields and are jealous of his third eye? I mean, really, what am I supposed to say?"

This Won't Hurt a Bit (And Other White Lies): My Education in Medicine & Motherhood is Au's memoir of her years in medical school and residency, a time of long hours, little money, overwhelming stress - and that's before she discovers she's pregnant with her first child. Au writes honestly about the ordeal of medical training, the self-doubt that afflicts young doctors, and the difficulties of balancing family and career, a problem for any working mother that is intensified when the career is as all-consuming as medicine. But she also describes the doctors, teachers, and especially the patients who have contributed to her learning and her life. Au's funny, irreverant tone makes even the most disturbing and heart-rending anecdotes readable, and lends a sense of humanity to an often idolized and misunderstood profession. - Michelle (Sunset)

Chandler Parade of Lights: Entry forms accepted now

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - at least it is for those early birds who want to enter the Chandler Parade of Lights. Start planning your float, automotive entry, dance or walking group now. Entry forms are available on this page, and copies of the form are available at the Chandler Libraries (while supplies last).

The 2011 Chandler Parade of Lights will take place Saturday, December 3.

Digital Library gets a new look!

Our Digital Library is getting a new look! You can still download ebooks, audio, and more, now with a cleaner, easier to use interface. Look for the boxes on the right for Help pages, Getting Started guides, and the free software required to use the Digital Library. Make sure to download and install the appropriate software on your computer or mobile device before you check out and download your ebooks.

Then you can search or browse for books. Use the search box at the top of the page (see the circle above) to search by title or author. View featured ebooks and audiobooks using the cover pictures in the middle of the page. Or use the expanding menu options under Browse Collections, on the left, to browse by format and/or subject.

Use your library card and PIN numbers to check out books. All ebooks and audio check out for 2 weeks. You can have 10 items checked out at a time. Adobe EPUB and PDF books can be returned early, but audiobooks cannot. See the Help pages for complete information, or ask library staff.