Library News: September 19th, 2024

This week, the library is highlighting two new non-fiction books.

I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine by Daniel J. Levitin.  Music is perhaps one of humanity's oldest medicines and its most universal.  Historically, multiple cultures have developed rich traditions for using sound and rhythm to ease suffering, stimulate healing, and calm the mind. However, despite this history, music therapy has long been considered alternative medicine, quackery, or pseudoscience. In the last decade, though, a body of scientific research has brought forth evidence that music can offer profoundly effective treatment for a wide range of ailments—from Alzheimer's to PTSD, depression, pain and cognitive injury. Levitin explores the critical role music has played in human evolution. Music insinuates itself into our earliest memories and it is closely connected to our emotional regulation and mental activities. Music can have profound benefits for both young and old.

Sailing Alone: A Surprising History of Isolation and Survival at Sea by Richard L. King.  In this book, King chronicles the daring, disastrous, and often bizarre history of those who chose to sail across the ocean in very small boats alone. When one sails alone and out of sight of land, the experience can be invigorating and terrifying, compelling and tedious and often all in a few hours. There is also a lot of time to think and reflect. This book tells the story of some of the remarkable individuals who, over the last four centuries, have spent weeks and months moving slowly over the world's oceans. These individuals have observed themselves, the weather, the stars and skies, and sea creatures both small and massive. King includes the account of his own nearly catastrophic solo crossing of the Atlantic, and the mystery of his inexplicable survival one sunny afternoon.

Upcoming Events at the Marcellus Township Wood Memorial Library:

Tuesdays:

Creative Social Circle: Tuesdays at 5 PM. Bring your crafts or work with our craft supplies! Enjoy coffee, tea and the company of other adults while you work on your creative projects. 

Southwest Michigan Reads: Tobin Buhk, September 24th at 6:30 PM at Arclight Brewing Company in Watervliet. Join readers from all over southwest Michigan to hear Tobin Buhk, author of Killer Women of Michigan cover the darker side of regional history. The true crime author will be signing books following the presentation. Food truck, Hendo’s BBQ will be on site beginning at 6 PM. 

Wednesdays:

Support Group for Parents of Challenging Kids, the 2nd Wednesday of every month— October 9th at 9 AM Parenting isn’t easy. If you are feeling overwhelmed, join others to gain valuable support coping strategies and information about community resources.

Preschool Story Hour, Wednesdays at 11 AM starting September 11th. Join us for music, movement, stories & crafts intended for ages 0-5 and their parents/caregivers.

Thursdays:

First Thursday Book Club, October 3, 2024, 12 NOON-1 PM. Join others to chat about what you have been reading or to get suggestions from others.

Comic Book Workshop, September 19th at 4 PM. Do Art Productions will cover the foundations of creating your own comics with this interactive and entertaining program aimed at ages 6-15. 

Community Read.  September 19 at 6 PM.  September’s Community Read will be focused on Lisa Wingate’s The Book of Lost Friends.  We’ll listen to the author being interviewed and then join in a discussion about her book.  If you would like us to obtain a copy of the book for you in time for this experience, just contact the library!

A Trail of Money and Death, September 26th at 5 PM. A virtual presentation on the Morris Murders by the author of A Trail of Money and Death, offering another perspective on the unsolved murders of Esther and Charles Morris in 1879. 

Fridays:

Lego at the Library, Fridays 3:00-4:30 PM. Build & create with our Lego & Duplo collections!  All ages are welcome!

Saturdays:

Tech Time, select Saturdays, September 21st, From 10AM-1PM. Are you struggling with your phone? Do you have trouble navigating the internet? Do you need help with mel.org, the Libby App or the Marcellus Library Catalog? Drop in the library to ask Justin your IT related questions and learn to navigate your device or our computers!