Due to several generous donations the library has recently received, we are able to add 7 new Lit Kit titles this winter! Watch for these titles to start showing up during the next few months!

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
The Music of Silence by Andrea Bocelli
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

Click here for a complete list of titles.

New to Lit Kits? Click here to read all about them.

Bookpage has named Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn the Breakout Book of the Year! The library has both the print and eBook formats, so reserve a copy today!

Already read the book? Feel the need to talk about Amy and Nick and their relationship? Join us at Books on Tap on March 12, I'm sure there will be a lot to discuss!

Gillian is working on writing the Gone Girl screenplay which will star Reese Witherspoon, no word yet on who will be playing Nick.

 Thank you City Pulse for selecting The East Lansing Public Library as "Eye Candy of the Week".  Great article!  Also, if you haven't been in the library lately check out our new carpet, thanks to a very generous anonymous donor.  

Books on Tap will be taking December off.

Join us January 8, 2013 when we will be discussing The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer.

Paris, 1937. Andras Lévi, a Hungarian-Jewish architecture student, arrives from Budapest with a scholarship, a single suitcase, and a mysterious letter he promised to deliver. But when he falls into a complicated relationship with the letter's recipient, he becomes privy to a secret that will alter the course of his—and his family’s—history. From the small Hungarian town of Konyár to the grand opera houses of Budapest and Paris, from the despair of Carpathian winter to an unimaginable life in labor camps, The Invisible Bridge tells the story of a family shattered and remade in history’s darkest hour.

February 12: Wild: from lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
March 12: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Tomorrow, Tuesday November 27, the North Foyer Art Gallery, Meeting Room and Foyer restrooms will be inaccessible due to the carpet installation. But, the installation is ALMOST complete!

 If you are worried that the rush to eBook is killing the printed word this book is for you.  Check out our copy of:

This is not the end of the book

A conversation between Umberto Eco and Jean-Claude Carrier.  Read along as they discuss our digital future.  

Behind The Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo, this year's One Book One Community Selection, won the 2012 National Book Award for nonfiction.

The fiction award went to Louise Erdrich for her novel The Round House which tells the story of Joe, a young Ojibwe boy, whose life is forever changed when his mother is attacked and raped. Ms. Erdrich has been a finalist twice before this year's win.

Last year I made a ton (ok, around seven) different Bundts to celebrate National Bundt Day and participate in The Food Librarian's "I Like Big Bundts" project.  This year, it snuck up so fast I almost forgot about it.  

While I didn't make any Bundts (yet!), our baking books are filled with great recipes.  Bundts are easy, look good and taste great.  They are also perfect for people who don't like frosting.  

More ELPL Bundts:
Paula Deen Keeps It Real: Coconut Pound Cake Bundt
No Recipe Necessary: Rice Krispies Bundt Cake
The Go and Vote Bundt Cake
Jumping on the I Like Big Bundts Bandwagon: Pumpkin-Pecan Bundt Cake

Today is Carl Sagan's 78th birthday! Commemorate his life and work by checking out one of his books from ELPL!

Carpet Update on Tuesday, November 20: The Children's area is open again and most computers are available.  Unfortunately, the children's area computers may not be back in place until next week.  


Funding for the carpet was generously provided by an anonymous donor.

The library will be closed for Thanksgiving
at 6pm on Wednesday, November 21
Thursday, November 22
Friday, November 23

Enjoy your holiday!

In honor of National Novel Writing Month ( NaNaWriMo) (and as an antidote to Halloween ghoulishness or apocalyptic gloom), this month’s book selection is Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, a book which began its life as NaNoWriMo work. It’s a love story, set in a moody and mystical carnival.

The first few chapters are mostly dry exposition, introducing our protagonists at a young age and explaining, more or less, the point that drives the narrative. They are magicians pitted against each other by their teachers in a contest to see whose method of magic is better. That is all and the reader is told. Part of the novel’s fun is discovering what the rules and the stakes of the game are just as our heroes do. The titular circus is the venue for their demonstrations. It is a character in itself, peopled with lively and detailed characters, any of which could be the star of their own story, without intruding upon the main attraction. The story evokes a mood reminiscent of Edward Gorey or Charles Addams, somewhat melancholy, somewhat sinister, entirely enchanting.

If you have read (or are going to read) this novel, please join us on Wednesday the 28th, at 7PM, in the Storytime room (behind the Children’s area).

Have a great idea for a novel? Want help getting started? This is the month to do something! You can start by visiting The National Novel Writing Month website. This site will challenge you to write your novel in a month. You begin by creating an account, once that is done you"ll have access to resources to track your progress, get support, meet other writers online and much more. 

Want support closer to home? The library offers two groups for local writers. 

Drop-in Writer's Workshop which meets once a month on a Monday, 7-9pm.

MSU Writing Center Group which meets twice a month on Tuesdays, 7-9pm.

Check out our newsletter for future meeting dates.

Governor Snyder proclaims
November 1, 2012 as Literacy Day!

The Better Living Book Club will discuss the phenomena of December 21, 2012 on Monday, November 5 at 7:00pm.  Our book selection, The Complete Idiot's Guide to 2012 by Andrews and Andrews, hopefully answered all our questions ....or maybe not!  It turns out to be more complicated topic than one might think. Join us as we discuss whether to be afraid, curious, or hopeful. Local astrologer and expert in the metaphysical, Carole Ray, will offer her suggestions for survival!