What is Bibliotherapy? It’s using books as a way of coping. In reading about others who are facing various issues, you can gain insight and understanding into your own challenges as well as into the challenges that your peers may be facing. Bibliotherapy can be helpful in understanding depression, substance abuse, anxiety, eating disorders, the death of a loved one, and many other issues.

Listed below are some books in our teen collection that might be of interest.

Si estas aburrido del sol y la arena, quizás te gustaría ir…

There are all different kinds of readers.

There are readers who read for adventure, fantasy, thrills and chills, a plot that keeps them on the edge of their seats - to escape from the challenges of daily life. There are readers who read science fiction perhaps to imagine what the future world, or some other world, might look like.

Some readers enjoy solving mysteries and studying the methods of clever detectives. Some readers read only non-fiction because they believe that reading anything that cannot be substantiated by facts is not a productive use of their time. Some readers like graphic novels best, some read cookbooks, self-help, art, or home decorating books for inspiration. Some people love to read biographies and autobiographies.

There are readers who prefer history or historical fiction. Some readers enjoy romance or contemporary stories that take place in a setting similar to their own.

There truly are all kinds of books to suit all kinds of reading preferences!

Reading tastes are as varied as are people and their assorted moods!

I read a variety of books and am usually simultaneously under the spell of at least two. Often one is a novel while the other will be nonfiction. Because I love stories, I love novels, and though they are fiction and so are not true exactly, the feelings they depict and evoke are most definitely true because they are, after all, written by real people with true feelings and experiences.

I gravitate to novels that are well-reviewed in the numerous reviewing sources that I read. I also love discovering new authors. My novel choices are often a bit ‘under the radar’ which contributes to my thrill of finding them!

Books that I especially enjoy are ones that I have come to think of as ‘quietly powerful’ novels. These are books in which very little actually happens. I know I’ve lost some of you already by saying that! Plot is definitely not their strong suit, but oh, the character development and the prose are exquisite!

Some writers have the gift of being able to craft sentences that truly transport a reader – thankfully, that kind of writing can be found in books of many different genres. Once you’ve had a taste of expertise like that, it is difficult to settle for anything that is less sumptuous.

Reading great writing envelops you in a warm, restorative, and soothing cocoon, one from which you will be reluctant to take your leave. One trait that these quietly powerful novels all share is this kind of prose - oftentimes downright ethereal.

Another trait these books share is their humanity. The characters are flawed - none of their choices are right or wrong, good or bad, but rather they are complicated, with untidy outcomes – just like in real life. We see the flaws of the characters while we learn to accept and forgive our own and those of the real characters in our own lives.

My Top​ 'Quietly Powerful' Book Recommendations

Two recent quietly powerful novels that I loved are My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout and Someone by Alice McDermott. Both stories are about one woman’s inner life. Events are shared in both novels, but it isn’t the events that matter – it’s the woman’s thoughts and feelings about the events - how she grows, what she observes, what she perceives. We are invited to share her experience in a very personal way.

Annalisa Quinn, a book reviewer for NPR wrote this in her review of My Name is Lucy Barton:

“…a novel of gorgeous simplicity and restraint…some novels, regardless of their

relationship to actual events feel true. It’s like something gentle has taken you to one side, where things you already half-knew but couldn’t articulate are finally explained to you.”

“Our inner lives are unaccountable in so many ways…the heart is moved by a tiny kindness, a smell, a breeze, an impulse.”

Reviewer Susan Jane Gilman, a book reviewer for NPR wrote this of Someone:

“McDermott writes with spare poetry and deep compassion. Her prose is unhurried, sometimes elliptical — she trusts us to grasp the story as it unfolds. She mesmerizes with very little, taking readers in unexpected directions through familiar territory.”

“In Someone, nothing extraordinary happens to an ordinary woman. But McDermott's novel manages to be gripping and resonant.”

A selection of other books I place in the category of quietly powerful are: Brooklyn by Colm Toíbin; A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler; Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf; The Last First Day by Carrie Brown, The Maytrees by Annie Dillard, Clever Girl by Tessa Hadley, Florence Gordon by Brian Moore, The Odds by Stewart O’Nan, and the many delicious short stories of both Jhumpa Lahiri and Alice Munro.

Want To Discover New Books That YOU Will Love? Let Us Help!

What is your favorite kind of book? Stop by the Library and ask one of the librarians at the Reference Desk for some recommendations - we will help you find something you’ll love!

Graphic novels have come of age since I became a Librarian in 2007. As the technology to design and print them has developed, so has the artistic vision of many old and newer authors. Today, you can find graphic novels that are tailored to many different demographics. Being a rabid reader of comics and graphic novels in my youth, and being influenced with the ideas I found in them, I am sure that my life would be different (and dull) if I had not read Spiderman, The Hulk, The Adventures of Tin Tin and my two personal favorites from European authors, Lucky Luke and Asterix. As of late I am glad to see more acceptance of the genre by libraries and parents, and I am sure that Hollywood superhero movies and manga now play a large part in popularizing graphic novels of newer artists among kids.

If you have not had the chance to read some of the older adult modern classics of the genre like The Sandman series by Neil Gaiman, Maus by Art Speigelman, and Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, you may not be aware of the strides comics have made in the last two decades in terms of how they have pushed the boundaries of what can be done in the genre. The storytelling, artwork, and the presentation of many novels has improved greatly from the days of the corner store five cent comic book.

In the same way the novels above elevated the genre, there are also some very clever and exciting graphic novels now being written for children by a few talented authors. Here are a few of my favorites.

• Neil Gaiman → (Click here for our catalog listing)

A little fact: He created The Sandman, one of the most intellectual and revolutionary series of children's graphic novels. Mr. Gaiman is a graphic novel “god”!

Why I like his work: Dark and mysterious in his work most of the time, Mr. Gaiman can take a morally ambiguous character like a ghost or Lucifer (yes, the devil) and really get us to like him!

• Jennifer L. Holm → (Click here for our catalog listing)

A little fact: The illustrator for the Baby Mouse series is none other than her brother, Matthew Holm.

Why I like their work: Baby Mouse is a phenomenon! Girls like the assertive character that gets into everyday trouble. With Squish, Ms. Holm shows she can come up with more quirky characters that we love.

• Kazu Kibuishi → (Click here for our catalog listing)

A little fact: He went to the University of California, Santa Barbara to earn a film degree. His graphic novel series Amulet feels like a sweeping Hollywood golden age epic.

Why I like his work: Dark and Light, Mr. Kibushi puts characters that seem to be from kids’ television shows and places them in situations from Star Wars or the Lord of the Rings.

• Jarret Krosoczka → (Click here for our catalog listing)

A little fact: A Universal Studios movie based on his Lunch Lady series will star Amy Poehler.

Why I like his work: He’s funny. And Mr. Krosoczka makes me really like my school lunch lady.

• Matt Phelan → (Click here for our catalog listing)

A little fact: He illustrated many books for children, including The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron.

Why I like his work: Mr. Phelan is a master at making history come alive by relating the minutiae of the everyday lives of historical figures like Buster Keaton.

• Raina Telgemaier (Click here for our catalog listing)

A little fact: She is married to Dave Roman, a great graphic novel writer and editor in his own right!

Why I like her work: Ms. Telgemaier is a modern voice that tells it like it is for girls and how it is to grow up in America today.

• Doug TenNapel → (Click here for our catalog listing)

A little fact: If you are a Gen’Xer like I am, you may just remember Earthworm Jim, that marvel of marvels in the videogame world that Mr. TenNapel created.

Why I like his work: Mr. TenNapel’s work is fun! The characters are wacky and there is social commentary hidden in his novels.

I should also mention that the graphic novels El Deafo by Cece Bell, and Rollergirl by Victoria Jamieson won Newbery honors in 2015 and 2016 respectively. These are the first two graphic novels to win honors in the history of the award! If you want to read a good book, either one is a great introduction to the genre.

In the meantime, if you have a favorite children's graphic novel I did not mention, please leave a comment below!

Did you ever think you could benefit from playing video games? Video games have been a highly debatable topic over the last decade or so. Concerns arose over violent video games and the idea that they might encourage negative behaviors and make players more aggressive. There is much still to debate, but some research has shown that those claims are not true. Research has also shown that video games can have a variety of positive effects on gamers of all ages.

Playing video games requires high level thinking and hand-eye coordination skills. Playing games exercises these skills and gives your brain a workout. Some of these skills are not taught in school. Let’s take a look at how you can benefit:

1. Reading skills are improved by reading and following instructions, game information, and clues to complete tasks and follow storylines.
2. Math skills are developed by using quantitative analysis to manage resources. In games like Clash of Clans and SimCity, gamers need to manage limited resources and make decisions about how to spend those resources most efficiently. These skills can be applied to management of personal finance.
3. Although shooting games are violent, they can be very efficient in teaching hand-eye coordination, motor, and spatial skills. In a shooter game (like Call of Duty and Halo), the gamer may be running and shooting at the same time. The gamer has to keep track of the enemy, (where they’re going and how fast they’re moving), focus the crosshairs on the enemy, and make sure gunfire is hitting the target. While interpreting all of this information the gamer has to coordinate proper reactions with their hands and fingers to move and shoot with certain buttons on the controller. Hand-eye coordination and spatial skills are required to be successful.
4. Video games that simulate stressful situations found in action & adventure games (like Tomb Raider and Uncharted) and can be training tools for real-world situations. Action video games require gamers to think and analyze quickly, and make decisions based on the situation. These games can increase skill and speed for critical thinking and situational awareness.
5. If you fall down, get back up! Games like Candy Crush provide what seem like an endless number of levels with each level getting a little more difficult as you progress. When a gamer starts to get out of the basic and intermediate levels, it is very common to lose on the first try at a harder level. Gamers continue trying to beat the level to be successful and move on. This teaches a valuable lesson in perseverance - if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try, again!
6. In many games, strategy and multitasking come into play. Whether the game is action/adventure (Batman Arkham Series), fighting (Mortal Kombat), platform (Super Mario), puzzle (Tetris), racing (Forza Motorsport), real-time strategy (StarCraft), role-playing (Dragon Age), shooter (Titanfall), turn base (Final Fantasy), or something else, there is always a strategy involved. Gamers need to plan for a long term goal, but also need multitasking skills when unexpected surprises (like new enemies arriving) take place. Gamers will need to alter their strategy to address the immediate problem while keeping their long term goal in reach. This helps gamers develop an ability to adapt and to prepare for unexpected challenges and changes in games, and in real life.
7. Online gaming affords opportunities for socialization. Early in the history of gaming, there were concerns about gamers becoming socially isolated because they were playing games by themselves. However, online games are quite socially active. Communication with other players is available by vocal and/or text communication. In a lot of online game modes, gamers need to work together to achieve their goal. This develops teamwork skills and helps gamers become better collaborators when working in a group.
8. Gaming can promote family bonding. Some games have multiplayer game modes for a night of fun with the whole family. I can remember game night “back in my day”, playing Mario Kart 64 and Mario Party with my parents and brother. Those nights were a ton of fun!
9. You might be thinking you’re too old to play video games. Believe it or not doctors are telling patients of all ages to play video games. Studies show that playing games can improve attention, focus, memory, problem solving skills, and spatial recall. The Islip Library is offering a Brain Fitness Computer Games Course - Friday June 17, 2016 - 10:00 am → Register now to reserve your seat!
10. Video games can help you lose weight! . . . What? Nintendo Wii U, Playstation 4 and Xbox One have the ability to monitor your motions for certain games. Additional accessories may be required. In a bowling game, you simulate the motion of throwing a bowling ball. Based on your mechanics, the ball will go down the lane or in a gutter. This also applies to exercising games, you can do a workout program on your console and the better your form is the more points you get in the game. Although this is a fun way to exercise, you should still get outside as well!

Concerned parents should monitor game play just like they would television viewing. Decide what games are acceptable for your child by considering your child’s maturity, and by the game rating located on the cover of the case. Explain to your child the reason if a game might not be appropriate for them.

Come on in and get a game! The Library offers video games available to check out for the following systems: Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Wii U, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

For more information on the pros and cons of video games and brain fitness, search our online magazine, newspaper, & journal databases for scholarly articles. A good place to start is MasterFile Elite which is accessible from our website; you will need your Library card to access the resources.

May is a month of fresh beginnings. Perennials bloom once again, blazing a trail of bright color. May is also when we celebrate Older American’s Month, acknowledging the perennial contributions of older adults to our nation.

Proclaimed as a national observance by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the month of May provides us an opportunity to honor older Americans and acknowledge their contributions.

Every President since Kennedy has issued a formal proclamation during or before the month of May asking that the entire nation pay tribute in some way to older persons in their communities. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter’s proclamation changed the name to Older Americans Month. Older Americans Month is celebrated across the country through ceremonies, events, fairs, and other such activities.

Seniors, join us at the Islip Public Library throughout the month of May to learn, socialize and have fun!

Senior Fitness Classes​

Senior Fitness classes are held on Wednesdays from 9:30-10:30 am. Have fun and get fit while learning basic weight training and body-toning with Ellyn Seltzer.

​Medicare Made Easy for Open Enrollment

Medicare Made Easy for Open Enrollment will be held on Wednesday, May 11 at 7 pm. The basics of Medicare will be be reviewed: supplementary insurance, advantage plans, prescription drug plans, the “donut hole,” eligibility requirements, and enrollment windows. There are frequent changes in Medicare plans and pricing -- attend this program and get informed!

Concert: Just ‘n Time

Concert: Just ‘n Time on Sunday May 15 at 2:00 pm. Enjoy this vocal/piano duo featuring music from the past decades. Sing and dance along to some well-known songs with vocals by Richie V. - with Frankie D. on piano.

Living Healthy Series for Older Adults

Living Healthy Series for Older Adults on Fridays from 10:00 am - 12 noon, May 20 - June 24. Put life back in your life during this six-week workshop series that empowers older adults to take charge of chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic pain, obesity and anxiety.

Guest Speaker Vincent DeSantis: Long Term Care Options

Vincent DeSantis, a Long Term Care Professional will be at the library on Tuesday, May 24 at 7 pm to discuss various long term care options.

FREE Health Screenings

The St. Francis Hospital Mobile Bus, staffed by medical professionals, will be in the Islip Library parking lot on Tuesday, May 31 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm for free health screenings. No registration required.