Listen Up!

The winners are in for the 51st Grammy Awards. Have you ever asked yourself, what is the difference between song of the year, record of the year, and album of the year?

1. Song of the year goes to the composer(s) of the song.

2. Record of the year is awarded for a single or for one track from an album. The award goes to the performing artist, the producer, recording engineer, and mixer for that song.

3. Album of the year is awarded for an entire album. The award is presented to the artist, producer, record engineer, and mastering engineer for that album.

The nominees for song of the year:

1. "American Boy" by Estelle on her compact disc Shine.

2. "Chasing Pavements" by Adele Adkins on her compact disc 19.

3. "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz on his compact disc We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.

4. "Love Song" by Sara Bareilles on her compact disc Little Voice.

5. "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay on their disc Viva La Vida or, Death and All His Friends.

***The winner for song of the year is "Viva La Vida"

The nominess for record of the year:

1. "Chasing Pavements" by Adele Adkins on her compact disc 19.

2. "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay on their disc Viva La Vida or, Death and All His Friends.

3. "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis on her disc Spirit.

4. "Paper Planes" by M.I.A. a track off of Slumdog Millionare: Music From the Motion Picture.

5. "Please Read The Letter" by Robert Plant and Alison Kraus on Raising Sand.

***The winner for record of the year is "Please Read The Letter".

The nominees for album of the year:

1. Viva La Vida or, Death and All His Friends -- Coldplay

2. Tha Carter III -- Lil Wayne

3. Year of the Gentleman -- Ne-Yo

4. Raising Sand -- Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

5. In Rainbows -- Radiohead

***The winner for album of the year is Raisng Sand.

Mr. Hollywood Speaks

Spring is almost here, so why not get some spring back in your step and take advantage of all of the great exercise DVD's we have here at Riverhead Free Library!

Bellydancing has been gaining quite a following lately for exercise enthusiasts, so if you're looking to break into it have a look at Bellydance Fitness for Beginners: Slim Down. Instructors Veena and Neena Bisdasha will teach you the rhythm, movements, and benefits of bellydancing fitness.

While you are in the dancing mood, you might also be interested in Dance Fitness for Beginners: Urban Street Heat featuring dance instructor MaDonna Grimes.

If you are feeling flexible you can always give pilates a try. For those that are new to the routine, there is Pilates for Beginners. This DVD includes pre-Pilates fundamentals, a selection of three workout levels, and each routine comes with modifications for beginners. Once you've mastered the beginner's workout its time to move on to Pilates Complete for Weight Loss. Featuring a wide selection of workouts and instruction by Karen Garcia, this DVD will be perfect for those who are looking for an intense pilates session.

As this next title implies, Chubby Hubby Workout: Building a Better Husband targets older men that may have gotten a little lazy over the years. Combining stretching, aerobics, resistance, core training, and flexibility exercises, this DVD is meant to ease you back into a steady exercise routine. Be sure to keep an eye out for all of these workout programs and much more in our DVD section.

The Green Spot

Visit our new permanent display providing library users with free information about local "green" activities, including land and water preservation, organic farming and gardening, hiking, wildlife conservation, environmental advocacy, and energy awareness.

In support of our adult winter reading club, Riverhead Reads: The Green Spot, this display also features environmental literature and related books. Here's a sampling of some of the books available.

New York Times bestselling author Mark Kurlansky is a hit with Riverhead readers. His captivating book Cod spans thousands of years and four continents, introducing explorers, merchants, writers, chefs and, of course, the fishermen, and chronicling the cod wars of the sixteenth and twentieth centuries. The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell, also by Kurlansky, recounts the dramatic incidents surrounding the oyster that changed the course of New York history.

For those less fish-friendly, The Ferocious Summer: Adelie Penguins and the Warming of Antarctica by Meredith Hooper is a timely book that provides an absorbing and alarming report from the frontlines of global warming. Hooper's firsthand account evolves from a summer of living and working with scientists studying this phenomena.

The Greatest Gift: The Courageous Life and Martyrdom of Sister Dorothy Strang by Binka Le Breton is a revealing new biography about an extraordinary woman and her mission to protect the Amazon jungles and the people eking out a life there. Featured on newsmagazine shows, Sister Dorothy's story provides lessons for a powerful and beautiful life that was cut short abruptly.

Check out these and other environmental books on The Green Spot display and on the standing display nearest the circulation desk.

Blue Ribbon Book Stop

In honor of Black History Month this February 2009, the Library is featuring two displays. Visit the standing display nearest the Reference Desk to see a wide selection of African American biographys. Awardwinning author, Louis R. Harlan's praiseworthy biography Booker T. Washington: The Wizard of Tuskegee, 1901-1915 examines the final fifteen years of this controversial leader's life.

For a look at a legendary black woman, Harriet Tubman: Myth, Memory, and History by distinguished historian Milton C. Sernett, peels back the layers to help reveal the real Harriet Tubman, and studies how she has been portrayed in film, painting, music, theater, and books.

For those wanting quick reads about various African Americans in history, check out Black Abolitionists by Karen Coddon and The Great Black Jockeys: The Lives and Times of the Men Who Dominated America's First National Sport by Edward Hotaling. Whatever your area of interest, a librarian can help you get started by recommending specific books.

To get more ideas, visit the display behind the Public Information Desk and read the notes and photos on famous and inspirational African Americans.