Reference@TBML

Lincoln Penny Design Contest @ Branigan Library

Come and join us in celebrating the bicentennial year of Abraham Lincoln’s Birth!  Thomas Branigan Memorial Library is hosting a Lincoln penny redesign contest for students in Grades 6-12.  So harness those creative juices and redesign the penny with symbols and facts that represent our 16th President of the United States.

In order to compete, all contestants must pick up a template and entry form at the Young Adult Department.

Additionally, there will also be a “Guess How Many Pennies in the Bowl ” guessing game during the design contest.   The Guessing Game is also only for students in Grades 6-12.

The deadline for penny designs entries and the guessing game entries is Friday, November 20.

There will be both a First Place and Runner Up prize in both the middle school and high school categories.  First Place is a $75 Savings Bond and Runner Up is a $50 Savings Bond. The winner of the “Guess How Many Pennies in the Bowl” will receive 2 movie passes.
 
Winners for the Design Contest and the Guess How Many Pennies will be announced Tuesday, December 15.

This contest is sponsored by The Friends of Thomas Branigan Memorial Library.

Questions?  Call the Young Adult Department at 528-4102

Download the flyer here.  Download Penny112009

Picturing America

 

Paul Revere, 1768--John Singleton Copley

Thomas Branigan Memorial Library will host a print collection of America’s most notable art works.  The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded this important grant to the library and will bring works of American art to schools, libraries and communities throughout the country.  Picturing America allows us us to understand and experience America’s history through its art. This exhibit will be held at the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library’s Terrace Gallery during the entire month of September.  We invite everyone to experience this cultural event. 

The Terrace Gallery is located on the second floor of the library and will be open: 8 AM-9 PM Monday-Thursday, 8 AM-6 PM Friday, 10 AM-6PM Saturday, and 1-5 PM Sunday.

Anyone who will require accommodation for a disability to attend this event, please notify the library 48 hours in advance at 528-4005 or 528-4008 TTY. 

Visit the Picturing America site online for more detailed information the program, art, and American History.

Lost and Found Book Treasures

With greater frequency we are seeing rare and delicate collections move online.  This means that more of these rare antiquities are available to the everyday user.  While no one would argue that a virtual viewing of any of these objects replaces the real deal, it is refreshing to see access become more deomocratic and available to anyone with an internet connection.

An excellent example of this improved access is the recent (and widely touted) digitizing of the world's oldest bible, the fourth century Codex Sinaiticus.  The translation, digitization, and beautifully rendered presence on the web is an international project bringing together groups and institutions in Europe, Russia, Middle East, and the United States.  Those interested in rare and handmade books will find this fascinating.

As far as digitized books go, Project Gutenberg and Scrib'd are some large and interesting sites (see also this post).  But the heavy hitter of digitized books has to be Google books.  Publishing digitized images of books and magazines, Google books offers a wealth of lost treasures.  Looking for that 1981 issue of the Weekly World News?  How about The American Gentleman's Guide to Politeness and Fashion?  Well, Google Books has 'em. 

And finally, not all of the recent strides in digitization are concerned with books.  Recently, a collaborative project with the intention of providing access to the world's photography collections was born.  Cultural and arts institutions from around the world have contributed digital images to The Commons, an online space hosted by Flickr.  The National Galleries of Scotland, the Bibliotheque de Toulouse, and the Smithsonian Institution have all contributed, creating possibly the world's most unique and diverse digital collection.  Stop by today!

BES  

Gorgeous New Art Books

In support of the Las Cruces Art Museum's "Las Cruces Collects" exhibit, we offer a selection of new art books:

Asian American Art: A History, 1850-1970     A comprehensive and beautiful collection of works from around the country.  May be the new authoritative collection for this ethnic group of artists.

Post-Modern Art: 1945-Now     A strong collection of what is happening NOW and more recent predecessors.

Loot: The Battle Over The Stolen Treasures of the Ancient World    A fascinating look at the pathways pieces of art can be taken on and the controversies and battles that erupt over these routes.

The Street Art Book: 60 Artists in Their Own Words     This book offers up little-heard commentary on street art and the cultures and contexts surrounding this movement.

Street Art: The Graffiti Revolution     A more comprehensive look at this newer artistic movement.

Photography: New Mexico     A survey of artists based in New Mexico.  Some of the photography is specific to the landscape while other artists deal in more esoteric concepts.

Annie Liebovitz at Work     The famed photographer provides commentary and context for some of her more famous pieces of work.

Pictures From a Drawer: Prison and the Art of Portraiture     A fascinating series of photographs from a prison in Arkansas in the 1930's. 

BES

Chalk Wall Art

The Young Adult Department will have a Chalk Wall Art Program.  We'll provide the chalk, the large drawing surface and drawing books to look for ideas.  After the program, we'll display the art in the Young Adult Department for all to enjoy.  So, if you know of any Grades 6-12 students who like to draw, color, create, listen to music, meet new people, hang out and talk about art ..... direct them over to the Terrace Gallery on Thursday, June 11 at 1 pm for some chalk drawing. 

TH

Barricade Art

One of the great things about the construction of the new city hall is the proliferation of art.  Set up to mask the construction site, artists from all over the city have been contributing panels to the barricade fence.  Vibrant and colorful and a true celebration of city talent, the barricade is worth an appreciative look.

Recently, the library's Teen Advisory Group created a wonderful panel that promotes reading.  Keep an eye out for a panel depicting a pink car with two passengers and bumper stickers promoting reading.  See TAG's work below and in person!

 TH

Say It With A Flower

The Young Adult Department recently had a program on how to make an everlasting duct tape rose.  There was a great turn out and much fun was had.  Here are some of the lovely roses that were created.

 

For your own duct tape fun, consider the following books:

Ductigami: The Art of the Tape by Joe Wilson 

The Original Duct Tape Halloween Book by Jim and Tim

TH

National Recycle Week At Branigan

National Recycle Week came to a close on November 16th.  The City of Las Cruces' Public Services staff celebrated this event with an art-making competion featuring recycled materials.  

Congratulations to Tiffany Holder and Bobby Hernandez from the Museum of Natural History. Their entry, Drako the Recycled Dimetrodon won the grand prize.

Congratulations also go out to the City Recreation Department who took first place with their entry, Save the World it’s Up to You.

The Second Place Winner was Lanee Lujan from Branigan Library with her entry, Junk Food Art.  Third place went to Tina Huyge from Branigan Library with her entry, Pincushion Cupcakes.  And the Honorable Mention went to Teddie Riehl from Branigan Library.  

The pieces of art were on display Sunday the 16th.  TR

So You Like Your Words with Pictures? The Latest in Graphic Novels

It has been a great year for Graphic Novels.  There have been some really well written and pleasing-to-the-eye books released in the past few months. Here are a few:

Life Sucks by Jessica Abel 
Imagine being a vampire working a convenience store and hating
Your boss who happens to be the person who turned you into a vampire…wow.

Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle by Jim Butcher
The books are great and in this graphic novel we are presented with a story of  Harry Dresden before the first novel Storm Front(link to catalog) where he is solving a murder in the zoo that is mysteriously magic-related.

The Walking Dead Vol 8 Made to Suffer by Robert Kirkman
Yah!!! Hoorah for Zombies!!!!! If you haven’t experienced this excellent series, you are missing out on some of the best story telling in the zombie universe! Also, check out Kirkman's blog at http://www.kirkmania.com/

Comic Book Tattoo: Narrative Art Inspired by the Lyrics and Music of ToriAmos
The artwork and interpretation in this graphic novel is pretty amazing. Plus the book is so huge it can used also as a doorstop(just kidding). You don’t have to be a Tori Amos fan to appreciate the talent gathered in this collection.

Scalped Vol. 3: Dead Mothers by JasonAaron                                                  This series just gets better with every storyline. You have an undercover FBI agent on a reservation battling mob crime and at the same time battling the inner conflict he has with his own culture and upbringing. Powerful stuff!  

JS

A Look Inside

I recently came across fascinating feature at the Guardian (UK) Newspaper's online site.  It is called Writer's Rooms and it periodically features snapshots of prominent writer's (both contemporary and much earlier) workrooms.  There is usually a first-person account by the writer of their chosen workroom.  It is an intriguing feature that in some cases provides insights into the writer's process and in other cases serve as inspiration for home offices.

In a similar vein, the British blog Shedworking, is self-described as a "lifestyle guide for shedworkers."  Dedicated to the multitudinous forms in which home offices or sheds may take, the blog runs the gamut from extremely functional to wonderfully whimsical.

And finally, for a wonderful survey of tiny homes throughout American history, check out the book, A Little House of My Own: 47 Grand Designs for 47 Tiny Houses by Les Walker.  Whether you are a writer interested in creating a little hide-away or someone looking interested in the small house lifestyle, Les Walker's book will provide inspiration for all.  BES