J. Ryan Stradal follows his excellent debut novel, Kitchens of the Great Midwest, with an equally delightful family saga filled with Minnesota characters, beer and pie. Stradal grew up in Minnesota so understands how the locals think, talk and act. He is gifted at writing about hard-working, seemingly ordinary people, revealing how they are extraordinary.…
Lynda.com is skill and program learning at your fingertips. As a patron of CMPLD, you are invited to explore a variety of courses this excellent resource has to offer. All you need is a viable CMPLD library card, an internet connection, and some curiosity! Check out the most viewed courses this month: Cert Prep: Project…
I was captivated right off the bat by this book’s title and cover. Both are such perfect representations of what is inside: enigmatic, a little dirt-stained, filled with many shades of gray — but mostly, two people holding each other. The book radiates with love flowering in the most difficult circumstances. It’s the story of…
You may have heard that CMPLD is growing it’s space with the Aspen Expansion (#SamePlaceMoreSpace), but recently we have broadened our selection of tech devices available for patrons to check out! The new circulating equipment includes: Sony HDR-CX440 camcorder These newer camcorders provide higher definition video-taking in an accessible way. Elgato Video Capture for…
The Kamchatka Peninsula is as far east as you can go in Russia. Set in the North Pacific Ocean, it is about the size of New Zealand but only has about 400,000 residents. Its isolation and beauty make it unique, as does its ethos – a juxtaposition of Russian culture, indigenous tribes, and the legacy…
Proprietor of the Huber Food Shop at 547 N. Milwaukee Avenue, the “little store with the big service”, Frank Huber was a World War I veteran, successful grocer, and community business leader. Born January 14, 1896 in Chicago, Frank Andrew Huber was living at 1509 S. Trumbull and working for Chicago Surface Lines as a…
One of the perks of working at a library is access to what we call pre-pubs, which are advance reader copies of books coming out in the next few months. So many terrific books are coming out this summer, and here are just a few I’ve enjoyed. Evvie Drake Starts Over is the delightful debut…
Ever wonder how movies of all different genres create fantastical worlds and amazing effects? With the use of a green screen, filmmakers and photographers create a plethora of scenery that would otherwise be nearly impossible to produce. Is there a project you’re working on that could use the magic of a green screen? As difficult…
Erica’s Picks of the Week use unusual structures to deepen their stories.
Library Director David Archer returns to give us an update on the 15,000 square foot addition to the Aspen Drive Library in Vernon Hills. Dave reviews the most exciting features coming to the library, how construction is coming along, and what we can expect in the coming months. He answers a few questions and concerns…
