NOTES FROM THE STACKS
DECEMBER 2023

Cloud Library

We are happy to announce our plans to offer eAudiobooks on cloudLibrary™ by bibliotheca! If you are already using cloudLibrary, you know that it is very easy to use. For those of you who are new to cloudLibrary™, please click here to get set up. We know you will love it.

If you have been using Libby by Overdrive with your Collier County Public Library Card, please be aware that our Libby by Overdrive eAudiobooks will be discontinued as of December 12. We sincerely regret any inconvenience. Migrating eAudiobooks to cloudLibrary™ will allow us to purchase more titles and more copies, as we have already been doing for years on this platform.  We are also partnering with other libraries in Florida, which greatly expands our collection of available materials, while reducing your wait times.

It’s very easy to sign up for and use cloudLibrary™. All you need is your Collier County Public Library card number. But if you find that you need a little help, feel free to reach out to staff at your preferred library branch.
Happy Reading and Listening!

Unlocking Limitless Reading:
Collier County Public Library's Digital Expansion

Your Collier County Public Library card just got a whole lot more powerful thanks to the introduction of our new e-resource, cloudLibrary NewsStand, which grants you access to digital magazines and newspapers. Gone are the days of waiting in lines or making trips to the library to browse your favorite publications. Now, with just a few clicks on your phone, tablet, or computer, you can dive into their impressive collection of over 7,000 sought-after titles in more than 60 languages on the cloudLibrary App or website.

Whether you crave the latest fashion trends from Cosmopolitan or Harper’s Bazaar, seek the insights of Vanity Fair or Newsweek, or indulge in culinary delights with Bon Appetit, the cloudLibrary NewsStand has something for everyone. From Men’s Health to Esquire, GQ to Reader’s Digest, this fantastic resource brings the world's most popular magazines and newspapers right to your fingertips.

Embrace the future of reading and immerse yourself in a universe of stories and insights, all with a swipe and a tap. Grab your Collier County Public Library card and visit collierlibrary.org/find-it/magazines to get started today!

Book Bundles

Are you a busy parent or caregiver stopping by the library to choose books quickly? Would you like to easily pick up five books on a topic such as bedtime, trucks, or a favorite book character like Pete the Cat?

Well, we have good news for you! Introducing, BOOK BUNDLES.  We have carefully selected five picture book titles, stacked them, then wrapped them up with a ribbon, so they are ready to be checked out and be shared with your child. Stop by your local branch library and check out a BOOK BUNDLE today!

To learn more about what's going on at the library, visit Collierlibrary.org. 

Winter Reading Program:
Reading Reindeer

December is the perfect time of year to cozy up with a good book, and what better way to do so than at your local library? This month, the Collier County Public Library is offering a special treat to those who stop by for a visit during the month of December. Simply check out a book or spend some time reading, and you'll receive a sweet surprise to enjoy while you peruse the shelves.

But that's not all - in the spirit of community and connection, libraries are also inviting visitors to add their names to a special collage. This collective artwork is a wonderful way to show your support for the library and connect with fellow readers. So next time you stop by, be sure to take advantage of these fun and rewarding opportunities!

November's Book Discussions

Mystery Book Club 

Monday, December 11 at 2:00 PM - Headquarters Regional Library

These Precious Days by Ann Patchett
Wednesday, December 13 at 2:00pm - South Regional Library 

Cozy Holiday Reading Circle
Thursday, December 14 at 2:00pm - Headquarters Regional Library

To learn more about or register for these book discussions, visit CollierLibrary.org/Events.

Employee Spotlight
 
Alaina Jackson is a full time Program Coordinator at Headquarters Library. She was born and raised in Williamsburg, Kentucky. She moved to Naples in 2017 and has worked for Collier County Public Library for over 6 years. Alaina is one of the many employees who help Headquarters Library function so well. I sat down and asked Alaina a series of questions, here are her answers:

1. What’s your favorite book?

Alaina: “The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. It’s not my favorite book ever, but it got me back into reading again!”

2. What’s the best part about working in the CCPL system?

Alaina: “The comradery with my co-workers.”

3. What’s a fictional world you want to live in?

Alaina: “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, specifically after Voldemort dies.”

4. How would your co-workers describe you?

Alaina: “Hilarious, confident, and inquisitive.”

5. If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be?

Alaina: “Dolly Parton, I want to know her inspiration for starting Imagination Library."

6.  What’s a place on earth you think everyone should see in person at least once?
Alaina: “Any place where you can see the Northern Lights.” 

Next time you’re at Headquarters Library, make sure to say hi to Alaina!

Woman I Know: Female Spies, Double Identities, and a New Story of the Kennedy Assassination by Mary Haverstick
The true story of a filmmaker whose investigation of her film’s subject opened a new window onto the world of Cold War espionage, CIA secrets, and the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Flirting With Danger: The Mysterious Life of Marguerite Harrison, Socialite Spy by Janet Wallach
The true story of socialite Marguerite Harrison, who spied for U.S. military intelligence in Russia and Germany in the fraught period between the World Wars.

The Dirty Tricks Department: Stanley Lovell, the Oss, and the Masterminds of World War II Secret Warfare by John Lisle
John Lisle reveals the untold story of the OSS Research and Development Branch—The Dirty Tricks Department—and its role in World War II.

The Last Honest Man: The CIA, the FBI, the Mafia, and the Kennedys--and One Senator's Fight to Save Democracy by James Risen
As witnesses were mysteriously murdered and the FBI, NSA, CIA and even the IRS were on the warpath in 1975, a senator named Frank Church stood almost alone in the face of extraordinary abuses of power.

Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East and West by Calder Walton
The “riveting” (The Economist), secret story of the hundred-year intelligence war between Russia and the West with lessons for our new superpower conflict with China.

Need to Know: World War II and the Rise of American Intelligence by Nicholas Reynolds
A historian, former CIA officer and New York Times best-selling author explores the birth, infancy and adolescence of modern American intelligence, combining little-known history and gripping spy stories to illuminate its key role in securing Allied victory, which laid the foundation for all other conflicts to come.

Wise Gals: The Spies Who Built the CIA and Changed the Future of Espionage by Nathalia Holt
From the New York Times bestselling author of Rise of the Rocket Girls comes the never-before-told story of a small cadre of influential female spies in the precarious early days of the CIA—women who helped create the template for cutting-edge espionage (and blazed new paths for equality in the workplace) in the treacherous post-WWII era.

Ghosts of Honolulu: A Japanese Spy, a Japanese American Spy Hunter, and the Untold Story of Pearl Harbor by Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll, Jr.
A U.S. naval counterintelligence officer working to safeguard Pearl Harbor; A Japanese spy ordered to Hawaii to gather information on the American fleet. On December 7, 1941, their hidden stories are exposed by a morning of bloodshed that will change the world forever.

The Liar: How a Double Agent in the CIA Became the Cold War's Last Honest Man by Benjamin Cunningham
The Cold War meets Mad Men in the form of Karel Koecher, a double agent whose shifting loyalties and over-the-top hedonism reverberated from New York to Moscow.

Code Name Blue Wren: The True Story of America's Most Dangerous Female Spy, And the Sister She Betrayed by Jim Popkin
The incredible true story of Ana Montes, the most damaging female spy in US history, drawing upon never-before-seen material and to be published upon her release from prison, for readers of Agent Sonya and A Woman of No Importance.

The Spy Who Knew Too Much: An Ex-CIA Officer's Quest Through a Legacy of Betrayal by Howard Blum
A retired spy gets back into the game to solve a perplexing case—and reconcile with his daughter, a CIA officer who married into the very family that derailed his own CIA career—in this compulsive true-life tale of vindication and redemption, filled with drama, intrigue, and mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Goodnight, it’s a real-life thriller whose stunning conclusion will make headline news.

Save These Dates!

Get ready for a holiday season like no other! But first, we want to keep you in the know about our library hours during the upcoming holidays. All libraries will be closed on Friday, December 22nd, Saturday December 23, and Monday December 25th for the Christmas holiday.  But don't worry - we've got something special in store to make these holidays unforgettable!

For the Kids
On Saturday, December 16th, we invite you to join us for a Santa Claus and ELF featuring a friendly visit with Santa Claus and his ELF!  This will take place at Headquarters Regional Library. Additionally, the Marco Island Branch Library will be hosting Crafter's Corner: Holiday Shell Craft on Thursday, December 7th.  

For the Adults
Enjoy musical performances featuring festive music! On Tuesday, December 5th at South Regional Library will be putting on their Winter Concert: A December to Remember.
The next day, Wednesday, December 6th, Headquarters Regional Library will be featuring a Holiday Concert with Sarah Hadeka! 

To register or learn more about these events, as well as the rest of our programming for this month, visit CollierLibrary.org/Events.