We Can't Spell Ukulele Without U

For several months, my library has offered a beginning ukulele workshop for folks interested in learning how to play.  There's a new batch coming next month (see our online events calendar for details).

If these famous dudes can learn to play ukulele, why can't you?  You can uke, Luke, even if your name's not Luke.

L to R: Jake Shimabukuro; Barack Obama; George Harrison

But, wait, you protest.  You don't have a ukulele, so how can you attend our workshop? We're way ahead of  you.  Checkout a ukulele with your Evergreen Indiana library card, and then come to the classes.  How easy is that?

Our promo trailer (video) explains.

Can't make the workshops?  Checkout our books and DVDs to learn to play ukulele. They, too, are available in our Evergreen Indiana catalog.

This could be you among these ambitious beginners.

Or how about these guys?  (I think they're actually instructors.)

Anyway, you're out of excuses now.  Come on in and have some fun!  You could use it.

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  In 1994, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr performed "Ain't She Sweet?" on ukulele.  You can't get much more fun than that.

An Elkenfroster Plays a Dulcimer

It would have been really something to have seen a real elkenfroster (what humans call a reindeer) playing a dulcimer at the Library's portion of Mooresville's Victorian Christmas celebration today (December 5).  But real life isn't a Disney cartoon, so we had to have separate events.

Silly Safaris (with Candy Cane Chris) brought the elkenfroster for a meet & greet photo op with our patrons.  Click the photos to bigify.

While that was happening, the Central Indiana Folk Music & Mountain Dulcimer Society performed music in the Library's Grand Hall.

There was a lively turnout, as always for these programs.  If you weren't able to attend this time, there's always next year.  Or you could build a time machine and travel to the past to see previous celebrations.  Or you could just look at some photos I've posted from past events.  It's your call.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

Ketzel's ComPAWsition

We have a new book trailer featuring a delightful children's picture book.  Be sure to turn-up the volume when you watch our book trailer (below), so you may hear one of my Library's composer's original compositions as the soundtrack.

MPL Book Trailer #227

Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed, by Lesléa Newman

(Illustrated by Amy June Bates)

  

We felines are rather talented.  Based on a true story, Ketzel became a world-famous kitty composer, as did Ketzel's human, Rabbi (Morris) Moshe Cotel (1943-2008).  Ketzel's comPAWsition appears below.

Moshe notated Ketzel's improvisational score

Ketzel with Moshe Cotel

 Moshe Cotel (1981)

Newman and Bates have created a charming children's picture book commemorating both Moshe and Ketzel.  It is an affectionate portrait of two musically-gifted souls that is uplifting and life-affirming.  Plus it's really sweet.

In one of my previous lives, I enjoyed the piano, so I know how wonderful music can be to us kitties.  People seem to like it, too.

I hope you enjoy reading this book to your little peeps.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

Hoopla is Nearly Here

Hoopla will be launched on our website on Friday, March 13, 2015.  Lady RaDA, Casey at the Bat, and Crafty Gal have made a promo trailer about it.

Hoopla Promo Trailer #2, by MPL

Learn more about Hoopla from our website.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

Hoopla Promo Trailer #1, by MPL

Hoopla Promo Trailer #2A, by MPL

P.S.  Want to watch our other two Hoopla promo trailers?  Sure you do.

What's All the Hoopla (Now With Promo Trailer)

Recently I asked what all the hoopla was about at my Library.  Guess I should watch this promo trailer to find out.

Hoopla Promo Trailer, by MPL

Hoopla is coming to MPL in mid-March 2015.  More details are available on our website.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

Those Books Just Won't Sit Still

I recently blogged about our new Wowbrary email newsletter.  If you sign-up, you'll know about our latest books, movies, and music before most other folks.  That means you can place holds on them (the items, not the folks) early, so you'll be able to check-out stuff sooner.  After all, those books (and other materials) won't just sit quietly on the shelves waiting for you to meander into the stacks.  Our promo trailer elaborates.

Wowbrary Promo Trailer, by MPL

See what I mean?  Better sign-up for Wowbrary newsletters (click the logo below) and then grab those books before they waltz right out of here.

So Click It Already!

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  Here's some of our latest items to check-out.  Click the book covers (below) to jump to our Evergreen Indiana online catalog.

What's All the Hoopla?

What's all the hoopla about this new database subscription my Library has undertaken?

 

Oh.

'Nuff said.  Pretty much.

Seriously, what does this Hoopla do, exactly?  There's a video for that.

"Librarian's Life: A Day With Hoopla," by Hoopla Digital

Now, that's how to make a good promo trailer.  Scowl-Face, take note.

Simply log-in using your MPL-issued Evergreen Indiana library card number and start streaming or downloading movies, TV shows, music albums, and more.  When does the fun begin?  Our subscription starts in March, 2015.  So does Spring. Coincidence?  Read the book.

All jokes aside, Hoopla promises to be a wonderful database for our patrons.  I can't wait to use it!  Well, have my minions use it for moi.  Same thing, really.

Stay tuned to our website for further developments.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  Starship released its album Knee Deep in the Hoopla (1985), from which the hit single, "We Built This City," was taken.  Eighties glam-rock.  Grab a synthesizer and join-in.

Wowie-Wow-Wow!

Fans of the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) (1988-1999) will immediately recognize this movie quote:  "Wowie-wow-wow!"  (Apologies to Arch Hall, Jr.).  Need a further hint?

Yep.  Pretty Much.

The dialogue ("Watch out for snakes!" and "Wowie-wow-wow!") comes from MST3K episode #506, Eegah! (1962), a "monster movie" in which teen rocker Tom Nelson (played by Arch Hall, Jr.) reacts to his well-dressed girlfriend, Roxy Miller (played by Marilyn Manning) by speaking the "Wowie" line.  The film revolves around a prehistoric giant (played by Richard Kiel).  For the uninitiated, MST3K riffed bad movies like this (i.e., made jokes while the movie was playing).

Anyway, I mention the line because my Library now has Wowbrary.  (All together now.) Wowie-wow-wow!  See, it's fun to say and hear.  Well, maybe not so much.

Click to Visit Our Wowbrary Web Page

Wowbrary is an email newsletter to which our patrons may subscribe to keep abreast of all the latest books, movies, and music my Library has available to checkout.  Patrons click the book/DVD/CD covers shown in the email (or in "widgets" on our website and social media), and they will jump to our Evergreen Indiana (E.I.) online catalog, where they may place holds upon desired items or see which E.I. libraries have available copies.

Want to see what the Wowbrary email newsletter looks like?  Sure you do.

Here's what the "widget" looks like on our website and social media:

Click the Book Covers (Above) to Jump to

Our Evergreen Indiana Online Catalog

Click the marquee below to sign-up for our Wowbrary email newsletters.

Click Marquee to Sign-Up

Now you will know all the great new books, movies, and music that we add to our catalog each week.  I think Arch Hall, Jr. would approve.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  Here's the famous "watch out for snakes!" line from Eegah! (1962), as riffed by the MST3K gang.  (Visit the official MST3K YouTube Channel for more fun film riffing.)

P.P.S.  Here's Arch Hall, Jr. (playing the character Tom Nelson) in the movie Eegah! (1962), singing to Marilyn Manning (playing his girlfriend, Roxy Miller).  It's heavily riffed in the MST3K version, but this clip was taken from the original.  It's kinda sweet, in a teenager-kind of way.  Teen audiences who saw this film over 50 years ago could relate.