LEAP YEAR 2008

This year is a Leap Year. Instead of 28 days, February has 29 days. This Friday, February 29 is called Leap Day, and is celebrated as a festival in several places. Anthony, Texas, will celebrate its 6th Worldwide Leap Year Festival this weekend. Children born on February 29th are Leap Year Babies and can only celebrate their real birth days every 4 years [take a look at Leapzine for more information.] It might be an opportunity to do something special on this extra day.

LUNAR ECLIPSE TONIGHT

Assuming clear skies, a total lunar eclipse will be visible tonight in much of the United States, South America, and Europe. In the Midwest, the total eclipse will be between 9 and 10 p.m.

More links on the lunar eclipse:
MSNBC
Sky & Telescope
Space.com

PRESIDENTS DAY

Monday is the annual Presidents Day Holiday (at least, for some). Biographies, portraits, facts, and more about our past presidents can be found on many websites, including:
Whitehouse.gov--Presidents Day
Whitehouse.gov--Presidents
Info Please
C Span's American Presidents: Life Portraits
U.S. Senate: Inaugural Facts and Firsts
Cyber Grandma's Presidential Biographies [warning: annoying music]
Library of Congress: Portraits
America's Library: Presidents
PBS: American Presidents for Kids
PBS' The American President
Internet Public Library
Presidents USA
USA Trivia

Of course, the Elk Grove Public Library has many books, films, etc. about presidents and about the office of President [see displays in Adult and Youth Services]. Some recent acquisitions include:
NEW ADULT BIOGRAPHIES:
FDR (2007) by Jean Edward Smith
Lion in the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt (2007) by Aida D. Donald
Thomas Jefferson: Draftsman of a Nation (2007) by Natalie S. Bober
Richard M. Nixon: A Life in Full (2007) by Conrad Black
NEW ADULT NONFICTION:
The Greatest Presidential Stories Never Told: 100 Tales from History to Astonish, Bewilder & Stupefy (2007) by Rick Beyer (NEW 973.099 BEY)
A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign (2007) by Edward J. Larson (NEW 324.973 LAR)
Lincoln Legends: Myths, Hoaxes, and Confabulations Associated with Our Greatest President (2007) by Edward Steers Jr. (NEW 973.7092 STE)
Presidential Power: Unchecked and Unbalanced (2007) by Matthew Crenson and Benjamin Ginsberg (NEW 352.237 CRE)
Ike: An American Hero (2007) by Michael Korda (NEW 973.92109 KOR)
Anything for a Vote: Dirty Tricks, Cheap Shots, and October Surprises in U.S. Presidential Campaigns (2007) by Joseph Cummins (NEW 324.973 CUM) [in processing]

PHYLLIS WHITNEY, 1903-2008

Beloved author Phyllis Whitney has died at the age of 104. She had her first book published in 1941 and her last in 1997, over 70 in all, most of them mysteries or suspense for adults, children, and teens.

The Elk Grove Village Public library has some of her books, often in Large Print or as audio books. They include:
Feather on the Moon (1988) (PB WHI)
Rainbow in the Mist (1989) (Fic WHITNEY) and (LP WHI)
The Stone Bull (1977) (Fic WHI)
Silversword (1987) (Fic WHITNEY)
Thunder Heights (1960) (Fic PB WHI)
Woman without a Past (1991) (MYS WHI)
The Ebony Swan (1992) (MYS WHI) and (LP WHI)
Lost Island (1970) (Fic WHITNEY)
Star Flight (1993) (MYS WHI)
The Singing Stones (1990) (Fic WHITNEY)
Daughter of the Stars (1994) (MYS WHI) and (LP WHI) (Audio Cassettes WHI)
Amethyst Dreams (1997) (MYS WHI) and (Fic WHITNEY) and (Audio Cassettes WHI)

There are many, many more.

MARGARET TRUMAN, 1924-2008

Mary Margaret Truman Daniel, presidential daughter, aspiring soprano, and noted author of mysteries set in the Washington, D.C. area (Capital Crimes Mysteries) as well as other books, died this past week.

The Elk Grove Village Library has copies of her mysteries (in the Mystery section, Large Print section, and in Audio Books) as well as some of her other books, including
Bess W. Truman (1986) (BIO TRU)
Harry S. Truman (1972) (BIO TRUMAN)
The President's House: A First Daughter Shares the History and Secrets of the World's Most Famous Home (2003) (973.099 TRU)

Although there are no biographies available of Mrs. Daniel, she is featured in
First Daughters: Letters Between U.S. Presidents and their Daughters (2004) compiled by Gerard W. Gawalt and Ann G. Gawalt (973.099 FIR)

Adult Services has set up a display with many of her books available.