Closed May 28 - Get ready for Summer Reading

All four branches of the Chandler Public Library will be closed Monday, May 28 for Memorial Day. Starting May 29, you can join the Summer Reading Programs for kids, teens, and adults. Wondering what to read? Try these sources for suggestions!

NoveList helps you find books by a favorite author, "read-alikes" that are similar to favorite authors or books, award winners, and more. You can also find recommended reading lists by subject for adults, teens, and kids.

Books and Authors offers book suggestions and the "Who What Where When" feature, which lets you browse by Character, Subject, Location and Time Period.

Find interactive books for kids using TumbleBooks! Read story books, fact books, read-along books, and more in a fun format with text, sounds, and animation. No ebook reader required - just access them on your computer. Some titles are also available for iPad.

Use your library card and PIN numbers to access these resources, and come in starting May 29 for more information and to sign up for Summer Reading!

Book Review: The Book of Madness and Cures

"Melancholia seeps into one's life like the metallic sand of an hourglass... My friend Messalina grew so disconsolate that no one could find a cure, not even my father... It is said that the black bile of melancholia devours even stone with its terrible acid."

Such descriptions made up the understanding of medicine in Renaissance Italy, and they punctuate Regina O'Melveny's debut novel The Book of Madness and Cures. Gabriella Mondini, the only female doctor in Venice, leaves home to find her father after receiving a puzzling letter from him. Following the trail of the letters he sent over the years, Gabriella visits cities all over Europe and the Mediterranean, as far north as Scotland and as far south as Morocco. Meanwhile she tries to complete the book she began working on with him, a compendium of medical conditions and their cures, from the souls of the dead that infect the living to the blue earworms that absorb words spoken to women. The novel is not only a fascinating tour through the Renaissance world but a glimpse into the near-magical attitude medical practitioners had about illness and its treatment, all related in gorgeous writing.

Historical fiction is an ever-popular genre. Other recent historical fiction titles include The Divining, a similar story featuring a woman traveling throughout the ancient Roman Empire; Four Sisters, All Queens, about four 13th-century monarchs; and The Rebel Wife, set in the years after the American Civil War. - Michelle (Sunset)

Happy Birthday Chandler!

Chandler celebrates its 100th birthday on May 17th. Join the party during this weekend's Centennial Celebration! Visit www.chandler100th.com for complete information.

Thursday, May 17, 2012
Happy 100th Birthday Chandler! Celebration 
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
City Hall Plaza

Check out the new 50-year time Capsule and plaque dedication; hear local entertainment and special speakers; see our community Birthday Cards and try a piece of the winning Centennial Birthday Cakes!

Friday, May 18, 2012
100 Artists Celebrating 100 Years 
4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Historic Downtown Chandler

Enjoy a relaxed evening in downtown Chandler, where our city’s history began, with artists, music, food, history and more.

Saturday, May 19, 2012
Chandler Bash of the Century 
4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Tumbleweed Park

Bring the family to Tumbleweed Park for classic games with prizes, entertainment from local talent, history exhibits, special speakers, flyovers, and a fireworks display!

Sunset Library Grand Reopening

Renovations are complete at the Sunset Library. Join us for a Rededication Ceremony on Saturday, May 12 at 10am.

There will be a special event for kids - Celebrate Sunset - at 10:30 in our renovated meeting room. Join us for stories, fingerplays, songs and a craft for ages 5 and under.

Get an inside look at the renovation process: find our pictures on the library's Facebook page!