Join the First Annual Great Reading Challenge!

Carnegie-Stout Public Library is doing something new this year. We are having a year-long reading challenge for our adult readers. You have until the end of 2016 to read 24 books - with the catch being (fun catch, I think!) that your books have to fit into one of our book categories.

The challenge was built to appeal to as many people as possible. People who want to challenge themselves and expand their reading horizons by reading from the different categories or genres will find lots of new areas to explore. But, our categories do fit just about any type of book, so don't worry if you like to keep reading in your favorite niche or genre.

Some examples of our categories (we have over 50 in all):

Read a love story
Read a book by a North American author
Read a book recommended by a friend
Read book you have always meant to read
Read a true crime book
Listen to an audio book
Read a book of poetry
Read a graphic novel
Read a microhistory

If 24 books seems like a lot to read in the next 11 months, never fear. You can substitute for up to 12 of those books by attending events at the library in 2016. The only rule is that the events have to be adult events. Events like Coloring, Nerf, Book Clubs, etc. will count toward the challenge.

You can register and submit your book logs online, or stop by the Recommendations Desk on first floor. There are small prizes at 12 books (50%) and 18 books (75%) read. When you complete the challenge, you will be invited to a reception in January 2017 and can put your name in to win a gift-basket, with prizes from our sponsors: Dubuque Food Co-op, Inspire Cafe, Mindframe Theaters, L. May Eatery, River Lights Bookstore, Rubix Coffee, Jumble Coffee Company, East Mill Bakeshop & Catering, Manna Java World Cafe and Outside the Lines Art Gallery.

Dubuque Tournament of Books: The Winners!

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, 31 votes
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, 38 votes


Dubuque has selected The Fault in Our Stars by John Green as the winner of the Dubuque Tournament of Books! We'll be contacting our overall bracket winners on Monday (no foolin'). Thank you to everyone who participated!

Dubuque Tournament of Books: Tremendous Two

Welcome to Final Round of the Dubuque Tournament of Books!

Voting for the final round will run from March 23rd - March 30th. The winner of the final round will be announced on March 31st along with the winners of our bracket drawing.

The results from the third round:
The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett, 8 votes
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, 14 votes

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, 15 votes
Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo, 8 votes

Cast your votes for the final round below!

Dubuque Tournament of Books: Final Four

Welcome to Round Three of the Dubuque Tournament of Books!

Voting for the third round will run from March 17th - March  23rd. Winners from round three will be announced on March 17th, when voting for the final round begins.

Results from Round Two:
Are You My Mother: a comic drama 10 votes
The Long Earth 13 votes

Gone Girl 15 votes
Batman: the court of the owls 10 votes

The Fault in Our Stars 15 votes
The Casual Vacancy 8 votes

50 Shades of Grey 7 votes
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: life, death, and hope in a Mumbai Undercity 17  votes

Cast your votes for the third round below!

Read Alikes: Fifty Shades of Grey

We're wrapping up the second week of voting in the Dubuque Tournament of Books, and there's still time to cast your votes (or to vote again!). Last Friday we put together a list of read alikes for Code Name Verity and The Fault in Our Stars. This Friday we've put together a read alike list for Fifty Shades of Grey which is up against Behind the Beautiful Forevers.


James' debut brought wide spread attention to the growing popularity and success of self-published eBook authors, fan fiction, and erotica. If you're one of the readers who has discovered a love for the steamier end of the romance spectrum, and you've already finished the Fifty Shades trilogy, you might want to check some of these books out!

Bared to You by Sylvia Day

You might recognize this title as the book that Fifty Shades of Grey beat in the first round of the Tournament of Books. Sylvia Day is an established romance author of everything from historicals to paranormals, with well-developed characters and sensual love scenes. Bared to You is the first title in her Crossfire trilogy, which came to attention after the success of Fifty Shades. Eva, just starting her career, is determined to make her own way without relying on her wealthy parents' connections. Gideon is the arrogent and successful businessman with whom she finds an instant and irresistible attraction.

Anything He Wants by Sara Fawkes
Anything He Wants is another story of passion between a woman working at the entry level and a powerful CEO that started life as an eBook, including a rather steamy scene in the office elevator. Originally published as five eBooks, the print copy available at Carnegie-Stout gathers all five stories into one volume. The later stories in this volume move beyond the attraction between Lucy and Jeremiah to introduce more characters and a suspense plot.

Saddled and Spurred by Lorelei James

Lorelei James has been publishing steamy erotica that explore the physical and emotional aspects of less vanilla relationships for several years, from BDSM to threesomes.Try Saddled and Spurred, the second book in her Blacktop Cowboys series. Despite her desire to move on from her life in a small Wyoming town, Harper can't quite resist the appeals of her boss, ranch owner Bran Turner.

Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas

Ms. Kleypas writes both historical and contemporary romances that combine steamy attraction with witty banter. Her heroes are always powerful, and often self-made men, but her heroines are every bit their match. Try Smooth Talking Stranger, Ella’s orderly life is upended when her sister Tara leaves without her infant son. Ella decides to confront the man who must be Luke’s father, millionaire playboy Jack Travis, and sparks fly.

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Jamie McGuire is one of the authors to come to prominence as part of the New Adult publishing trend. While her debut novel, Beautiful Disaster, is less steamy than Fifty Shades, readers are likely to enjoy McGuire's funny, conversational writing and character-driven romance. Travis Maddox, Eastern University's playboy, makes a bet with good girl Abby that if he loses, he will remain abstinent for a month, but if he wins, Abby must live in his apartment for the same amount of time.

Forbidden Pleasure by Lora Leigh

Ms. Leigh is an author of erotic romance, often with a suspenseful, fast-paced plot. Although some of her series include paranormal or fantasy elements, others focus on more realistic fantasies. Try Forbidden Pleasure, Mac attempted to suppress his less mainstream desires for the sake of his innocent bride, Keiley, but he longs to introduce her to pleasures possible in trying something, or someone, new.


Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!

Dubuque Tournament of Books: Elite Eight

Welcome to Round Two of the Dubuque Tournament of Books!

Voting for the second round will run from March 10th - March  16th. Winners from round two will be announced on March 17th, when voting for the third round begins.

The results from Round One:
Are You My Mother: a comic drama 23 votes
Wild: from lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail 18 votes

The Long Earth 27 votes
Redshirts 16 votes

Gone Girl 31 votes
Notorious Nineteen 8 votes

Building Stories 15 votes
Batman: the court of the owls 26 votes

Code Name Verity 15 votes
The Fault in Our Stars 22 votes

The Casual Vacancy 24 votes
Bring Up the Bodies 14 votes

50 Shades of Grey 20 votes
Bared to You 14 votes

Killing Kennedy: the end of Camelot 14 votes
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: life, death, and hope in a Mumbai Undercity 21 votes

Cast your votes for the second round below! Not sure which title to vote for? Check out this blog post.

The Fault in Our Stars VS Code Name Verity

Voting for the first round of the Dubuque Tournament of Books is wrapping up tomorrow, and we'll posting the winners on Sunday. If you haven't submitted a bracket for the prize drawing, we're extending the deadline to Saturday!

We posted post short descriptions of all the titles in the contest here on the blog, but today we're taking a closer look at a match up near and dear to our hearts here at Carnegie-Stout.

Several staff members have read and loved both The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, which has led to some interesting workroom discussions of which title we want to see advance to round two. Both have sharp writing, interesting characters, and emotional depth. If you haven't read them yet, we invite you to do so, and join us in the discussion! Even if you haven't read a YA novel since you were a teen yourself, these books are worth checking out.

On Tuesday, March 12th, our Let's Talk Books book discussion group will be examining The Fault in Our Stars at 7 p.m. Copies of the novel are available for check out at the Circulation Desk.  On Monday, March 25th, we'll be having our next meeting of YA Fiction Addiction, the book discussion group for adults who enjoy reading Young Adult novels.

If you've already read both The Fault in Our Stars and Code Name Verity, we've pulled together a few read alike suggestions for you!

The Fault in Our Stars Read Alikes

• Just One Day by Gayle Forman: a gentler look at the possibilities of first love, international travel, and self-discovery
• How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford: quirky outsiders and an emotionally intense friendship
• Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky: bittersweet story of bullying, suicide, and teenage outcasts that still makes you laugh
• Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell: Teen love rarely lasts, but for these two intelligent misfits, it's worth the risk
• A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner: Independent Cass struggles after her best friend's death

Code Name Verity Read Alikes

• Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson: Isabel, a slave in 1776 New York, becomes a spy during the Revolutionary War
• City of Thieves by David Benioff: Lev and Kolya are paroled from certain death in a Leningrad Prison during WWII, if they can accomplish an impossible quest
• A Train in Winter by Caroline Moorehead: (940.53082 MOO) the true story of 230 women of the French Resistance captured by the Nazis
• For Freedom: the story of a French spy by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley: based on a true story, French teenager Suzanne only dreams of becoming an opera singer, but she becomes a spy for the Resistance
• Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith: 18-year-old Ida Mae passes as white to become a WASP pilot in WWII

Dubuque Tournament of Books: Sweet Sixteen

The madness begins! Welcome to Round One of the Dubuque Tournament of Books!

Voting for the first round will run from March 3rd - March  9th. Winners from round one will be announced on March 10th, when voting for the second round begins.

You have until March 8th to fill out a bracket and be entered for a chance to win a prize! Blank brackets are available at Carnegie-Stout Public Library, on our website as a pdf, and in the February 28th issue of 365Ink. Your bracket must be turned into the library by March 8th to be eligible to win.

Cast your votes for the first round below! Not sure which title to vote for? Check out this blog post.

Dubuque Tournament of Books: Meet the Contestants

Voting for the first ever Dubuque Tournament of Books begins on Sunday, March 3rd. There's still time to enter the contest with your picks for the winning books. Entry brackets are available in the February 28th issue of 365Ink, you can download one from our website, or you can pick one up at Carnegie-Stout. All entries must be returned to Carnegie-Stout by March 8th to be eligible for the drawing.

Of course we don't expect you to have had a chance to read all the entrants in the contest, so today we're providing you with a brief introduction for each title!

Wild: from lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed 
Wild is a deeply personal and inspirational memoir about grief, hiking, and personal growth. This was the first title selected for Oprah's new book club, and was the topic of a Read Alike post on our blog. 

Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel 
Are You My Mother? is the second witty and intellectually challenging graphic memoir by cartoonist Alison Bechdel. Her first, Fun Home, will be the book under discussion at the April 9th meeting of Graphic Content here at C-SPL.

The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett
This stand alone novel by the prolific fantasy author is a thought-provoking exploration of parallel worlds told with Pratchett's trademark humor. The main character's journey starts out in a Madison, WI orphanage stretches to the bounds of reality.

Redshirts by John Scalzi
Scalzi is an award-winning author known for both his science-fiction and his blog. Redshirts is a darkly humorous and thought-provoking examination of many popular science fiction tropes with great appeal for any Star Trek fan.

Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich
How could we not include the latest installment in Evanovich's hilarious mystery series featuring hapless bounty hunter Stephanie Plum? Be sure to check out our Janet Evanovich Read Alike list if you haven't. 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 
Most readers hadn't heard of Gillian Flynn before the publication of her third novel, Gone Girl, but this suspenseful story of a dysfunctional relationship kept readers turning pages long into the night. Flynn's weeks at the top of the best seller lists earned her a Read Alike post as well.

Building Stories by Chris Ware  
Ware's unconventional take a graphic novel captured the attention of many critics, landing Building Stories on several Best of 2012 lists (as well as Andrew's Graphic Novels for People Who Don't Read Graphic Novels post). Melancholy and complex, the way the reader approaches the 14 pieces changes the experience.

Batman: Court of the Owls by Scott Snyder
Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, and Jonathan Glapion team up for a new look at an old comic book favorite: Batman. If you've never read a Batman story, this gritty murder mystery would be a good volume to start with.

50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James 
Everyone and their mother has heard of the self-published erotica turned #1 best seller that is the 50 Shades trilogy. This steamy read has convinced legions of readers to explore their inner goddess, or maybe just given them the giggles. This was the 2nd place choice in our November voting.

Bared to You by Sylvia Day
The popularity of 50 Shades brought long time steamy romance author Sylvia Day to wider recognition due to the similarities in her Crossfire trilogy: a dominant business man, a young woman just starting her career, and their steamy (and somewhat kinky) passion. Bared to You has also spent significant time on the best seller lists.

Killing Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly 
Librarians across Iowa will tell you that Bill O'Reilly and coauthor Martin Dugard's dramatic exploration of President Kennedy's assassination is a popular title. A follow-up to their earlier Killing Kennedy, readers shouldn't doubt the host of Fox News Channel's O'Reilly Factor's continuing popularity.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
This beautifully researched book about life in one of India's slums by journalist Katherine Boo was the winner of the 2012 National Book Award for Non-Fiction. You can read more about this book in Sarah's staff review.

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling 
The first novel from the author of the wildly successful Harry Potter series was bound to receive attention. The Casual Vacancy is a character-driven and darkly humorous novel of small town politics with not a single wizard. It also tied for 5th place in our November voting.

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
Bring up the Bodies is the sequel to Mantel's Man Booker winning Wolf Hall, the first two novels in a proposed trilogy about the life of Thomas Cromwell in King Henry VIII's court. In fact, Mantel was also awarded the Man Booker for Bring Up the Bodies. She is only the fourth novelist to receive two, and the first woman.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Wein's haunting novel about friendship in WWII received a Printz Honor for 2013, as well as being a C-SPL staff pick for the best books of 2012. Suspenseful, with moments of dark humor, and a powerful twist near the end, this is a great pick for readers old and young. 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
John Green's witty take on first love, and winning online presence, has earned him a wide readership. The bittersweet romance between two teens who meet at a cancer support group had most readers laughing and weeping by turns. Don't miss our March 12th meeting of Let's Talk Books, where Amy will be leading a discussion of this book!

Be sure to check back here on Sunday to cast your votes for the first round of the Dubuque Tournament of Books!

Choose your Favorite Haiku!

To celebrate National Poetry Month, Carnegie-Stout Public Library is having a Library Haiku Contest! We've received a number of wonderful haikus over the past week. Our winners will be displayed on the announcement monitors in the library, as part of our Poetry Month display, and posted to our Blog and Facebook pages.

Help us select our winners by voting for your favorite entries in the comments section of this post. No sign up or log in required! And yes! We're still accepting last minute entries.

Entry One
Library heaven
on any day of the week
perusing the aisles

Entry Two
Adventure, surprise,
mystery, romance, sci-fi
at your library

Entry Three
Eight plus points to staff*,
such care makes the Telegraph.
Deep joy, that's no laugh.
*Library

Entry Four
Discover yourself,
at your local library
live the adventure

Entry Five
under the fan
crickets chirp
unsettled weather

Entry Six
Books, books everywhere
as far as the eye can see
could life "be" more fair?

Entry Seven
Bluff blooming
spring winds
aha! gifts

Entry Eight
Lazy summer days
spent reading under a tree
near the library

Entry Nine
When I first met you
When I first hugged you,
I thought being by your side
Is where I should be

Entry TenOppressive silence,
Then anguished cries, crazed murmurs,
@ your library (tm)

Entry ElevenCollected wisdom,
Painstakingly curated.
Also, DVDs.

Entry TwelveWhere darkness once reigned,
A spark catches in the mind,
Kindled by reading.

Entry ThirteenWhere once we knew shame,
Our lustful clinch is now veiled.
Reading on Kindle.

Entry Fourteen
Wonderment is found,
Instilled in our minds by books.
I travel so far.

Haiku, brief phrases / and descriptive words turning / snow into blossoms

Cherry Blossoms By John-Morgan

To celebrate National Poetry Month, Carnegie-Stout Public Library is having a Library Haiku Contest!

To enter your library haiku, come in to the library and pick up an entry form at the Recommendations Desk on the first floor or the Reference Desk on the second floor. You may also submit your entry as a comment here, or you may use our Contact Us form found by clicking here.

Entries must be submitted by Friday April 6th to be considered for the contest.

Not sure how to write a haiku? We're using the simple rules.
A first line of 5 syllables
A second line of 7 syllables
A third line of 5 syllables

Our winners will be displayed on the announcement monitors in the library, as part of our Poetry Month display, and posted to our Blog and Facebook pages.

Need inspiration? Check out some of the haiku collections available at Carnegie-Stout:
Baseball Haiku: American and Japanese Haiku and Senryu on Baseball edited by Cor van den Heuvel and Nanae Tamura (811 BAS)

Cherry-Blossoms: Japanese Haiku by Basho, Buson, Issa, Shiki, and others (895.61 CHE)

Essential Haiku: Versions of Basho, Buson, and Issa edited by Robert Hass (895.613208 ESS)

The Haiku Handbook: How to Write, Share and Teach Haiku by William J. Higginson with Penny Harter (808.1 HIG)

Haiku: This Other World by Richard Wright (811.52 WRI)

Listen to Light: Haiku by Raymond Roseliep ( 811 ROS (Ia Bks)

Rabbit in the Moon: Haiku by Raymond Roseliep (811 ROS, IA Bks)

The River Knows the Way: Haiku and Senryu by Francine Banwarth, Cynthia Cechota, David McKee, Jayne Miller, and Bill Pauly (811 RIV, IA Bks)

Silent Flowers; a Collection of Japanese Haiku edited by R. H. Blyth (895.613 SIL)

Twenty Days on Route 20 by Michael Czarnecki (811.54 CZA)

Zombie Haiku by Ryan Mecum (818.602 MEC)

Woman's Day Essay Contest About Your Library

As the economy continues its slump, libraries nationwide continue to play an important role in communities everywhere, as people turn to them for free entertainment, to connect to the Internet and look for jobs. This spring, the Carnegie-Stout Public Library, the American Library Association (ALA) and Woman's Day magazine want to hear your thoughts on why the library is important to your community.

From now through May 9, 2010, women 18 and over are invited to tell their story in 700 words or less and email it to womansday@ala.org. Up to four stories will be highlighted in the March 2011 issue of Woman's Day. For more information and to read the official rules, visit www.womansday.com/ala.

The initiative was developed by Carnegie-Stout Public Library, Woman's Day and the Campaign for America's Libraries (www.ala.org/@yourlibrary), ALA's public awareness campaign that promotes the value of libraries and librarians. Thousands of libraries of all types – across the country and around the globe - use the Campaign's @ your library® brand. The Campaign is made possible by ALA's Library Champions, corporations and foundations that advocate the importance of the library in American society.

Adult Summer Reading Program 2009

Be Creative @ Your Library®
June 8 to August 7, 2009


Carnegie-Stout Public Library will begin its third Summer Reading Program for Adults on June 8, 2009. The Program will continue through August 7, 2009. The Rules "R" this easy:

Register at the Information Desk or on our web page
Read or listen to 5 books
Record the titles on your Reading Log
Return the completed Reading Log to the Information Desk.

Programs are designed to stimulate the imagination and explore subjects like gardening, beading and songwriting. Louis Ferrante, an ex-mafia thug, will share his journey from robbery to writing in his memoir, Unlocked. We will feature another program designed to encourage participants to write their own memoirs in only six words.

Adults with an artistic bent will also be given an eclectic list of materials to create an 11” x 14” poster visualizing a scene or character from a favorite book. These artworks will be displayed in the Library.

For more information, call the Information Desk at 563-589-4225, option 4. Get those creative juices flowing!

The first program for adults is on Tuesday, June 9 at Prescott School at 6:30 p.m. The Herb Society of Dubuque will present a workshop on container herb gardening. The program is free, but registration is required. Call the Information Desk at 589-4225, option 4.

~ Betty, Adult Services

Laurie Loves Libraries

Mystery author Laurie R. King has announced a contest in celebration of National Library Week (April 12-18). As King explains on her blog, she's inviting readers to send her stories about their favorite library. The author of the winning story will receive a signed copy of King's newest book, The Language of Bees. The library mentioned in the winning story will receive a complete set of King's Russell and Holmes novels. In other words, we could all be winners!