ACORN TV Available Via hoopla

With Acorn TV on hoopla, you now have streaming access to episodes of Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Marple, Doc Martin, The Commander, and many more British series.

While hoopla might carry more than one full season of these series, Patricia Nouhra, public services/distance education librarian, tells us that Yocum's DVD collection includes all available seasons for all of these same series and more. 

So if you feel like binging on one of these series or can't find a specific season, we probably have what you need.

Do-It-Yourself Film Festivals Using Yocum Library Materials

by Marcina Wagner, Reference Librarian

I’m attending a film festival this Friday evening—in my own home. Because I enjoy film almost as much as books, I feel incredibly lucky to work at The Yocum Library where we have an outstanding DVD collection in addition to a large film library. You can also research our databases with film inquiries, particularly Project Muse.

So how does the festival work? I may decide to focus on an actor, a genre, a director, or a time period; the possibilities are many. Recently, I’ve been examining American film of the 50s. First, I looked at Douglas Brode’s The Film of the Fifties from our collection. This led me to create my own categories including small town, sci-fi, young adult, social commentary, the world of business, and film noir.

In researching film noir, I discovered its darkness referenced World War II and the chaotic conditions following the war. My representative film is The Asphalt Jungle, located on a spinner devoted to the genre in the library. My nostalgic bent had me watching the three Tammy movies which I had enjoyed as a young teen but now found too saccharine.

What came as a surprise to me were the sci-fi films which I had rejected in the past and now found to be of interest because of the underlying exploration of the fact of the atomic bomb and the fear of Communism. Forbidden Planet is my choice.

Next week begins the 60s with The Valley of the Dolls. Sharon Tate acts in the movie, and we just received the new biography Sharon Tate, which I will be reading. 

[Editor's Note: Check out what Marcina's reading in What's in My Bag below and let us know what materials you check out of the library. If you plan a film festival, let us know what you watched and what you would recommend.]

What’s in My Bag:

• Voracious: A Hungry Cook Reads Her Way Through Great Books 
• Bonnie Cashin: Chic is Where You Find It
• Most Blessed of the Patriarchs: Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination.

Ukuleles: A Small Instrument with a Big Sound

Brenna Corbit (l.), Technical Services Librarian and author of this article, and Jolene Flamm, Library Assistant, play their ukuleles behind The Yocum Library with the Schuylkill River flowing behind them.

by Brenna J. Corbit,Technical Services Librarian

Ukuleles may evoke palm trees and grass skirts swaying on a Hawaiian shore or Tiny Tim’s 1968 falsetto rendition of “Tip Toe through the Tulips.” But there is a whole lot more to this obscure little instrument that has seen a growing musical underground, including in Berks County.  A new magazine has been covering that resurgence.

Ukulele magazine, one of The Yocum Library’s newest periodicals, includes history, world pop culture, current music reviews and instrument lessons and advice. One article shows how this small instrument is playing a big role in changing the hearts and minds of Jewish and Arab children through their participation in a ukulele orchestra. An interview with ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, a Hawaiian native, discusses the musician’s sophistication with the instrument.

Speaking of Jake, another Yocum acquisition is Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings, a documentary of the musician’s life and talents.  His 2006 rendition of The Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” has seen more than 14 million views on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSkP3uym5k

The ukulele craze originated as the machete, a small stringed instrument from the Portuguese island of Madeira.  Employment-seeking immigrants from that island took it with them to Hawaii in the late1800s.  Native islanders fell in love with the instrument and made it their own calling it ‘ukulele, a Polynesian word meaning “the jumping flea.”  American tourists to the islands took the instrument back to the U. S. where it found great popularity during the 1920s.  After that period, the instrument fell into obscurity with a few resurgences, especially with the aforesaid Tiny Tim.  But it seems Iz’s (Israel Kamakawiwoʻole) 1990 top-charting medley of “Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World” is what catapulted the instrument into today’s uke movement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z26BvHOD_sg

If you want to know more of its history, The Yocum Library has two books on the subject. The Ukulele: a Visual History by Jim Beloff (Backbeat Books, 2003) is a colorful look at the instrument’s history and current role in today’s music culture. For an in-depth exploration of the instrument read The 'Ukulele: a History by Jim Tranquada and John King (University of Hawai'i Press, 2012).  And if the craze takes hold of you, check out Funky Frets Music Store in Boyertown for upcoming ukulele events: www.funkyfrets.com.

Editor's Note: The URL above (for funkyfrets) was corrected from www.funkfrets.com to www.funkyfrets.com on 6/8/16.

Robin Williams items in The Yocum Library Collection

These are some of the Robin Williams items in The Yocum Library Collection

Mork & Mindy.
The complete first season
Features all 24 hysterically funny episodes from the series' award winning first season.
Film - TV
Year:2004.

DVD
Hook
A high-flying adventure from the magic of Steven Spielberg, Hook stars Robin Williams as a grown-up Peter Pan and Dustin Hoffman as the…
Film - Family
Year:c2000.

DVD
 The adventures of Robin Hood
Rebel outlaw Robin Hood outwits the Sheriff of Nottingham and Guy of Gisbourne, and saves the throne for the absent King Richard I.
Film - Family
Year:[2010]

Man of the year
Tom Dobbs makes an off-hand comment on his late night talk show that he would be a better president than the leader who currently occupies…
Film - Comedy
Year:2007.

DVD
Hamlet
Prince of Denmark, Hamlet, returns home to find his father murdered and his mother remarrying the murderer. Meanwhile, war is brewing.
Film - Shakespeare
Year:[2007]

Video Recording
 Good Will Hunting
A young working-class genius is hauled back from the brink of self-destruction by a gifted counselor.
Film - Drama
Year:c1997.

Video Recording
Dead Poets Society
Robin Williams portrays English professor John Keating, who, in an age of crew cuts, sport coats and cheerless conformity, inspires his…
Film - Drama
Year:1998.

Video Recording
Aladdin
Set in the mythical city of Agrabah, the story follows a street-smart peasant, Aladdin, and his mischievous pet monkey, Abu, through magical…
PN1997 .A367 1993
Ala
Year:1993.

Video cassette
 Dead Poets Society
An English professor, in an age of crew cuts, sport coats and cheerless conformity, inspires his students to live life to the fullest…
Film - Drama
Year:1992.

Video Recording
 Bicentennial man
A comedy about an android "household appliance" robot who just wants to be a regular guy.
Film - SciFi/Fantasy
Year:2000.

DVD
 The fisher King
 A deejay who finds himself penniless is plucked from disaster by a homeless history professor, who lives in a fantasy world full of castles…
Film - Comedy
Year:c1998.

Video Recording
 Good morning, Vietnam
Film - Comedy
Film - Military
Year:[2000?]

Video Recording
The birdcage
The story of a middle-aged gay couple's comic encounter with a self-righteously straight and conservative family. Armand and Albert…
Film - GLBT
Year:c1998.

DVD
 August Rush
A charismatic young Irish guitarist and a sheltered young cellist have a chance encounter one magical night above New York's Washington…
Film - Drama
Year:[2008]

DVD
 Happy feet two
Film - Family
Year:2012.

DVD
 The big wedding
To the amusement of their adult children and friends, long divorced couple Don and Ellie Griffin are once again forced to play the happy…
Film - Comedy
Year:[2013]

Video Recording
 The films of Barry Levinson
Barry Levinson talks about his films and the making of them, provides a brief autobiographical introduction of how he got started in his…
Year:2000.

DVD
Popeye
Olive Oyl, Wimpy, Bluto and others join Popeye in his adventures in the harbor town of Sweethaven.
Film - Family
Year:2003.

Free Magazines Online - Zinio Digital Magazine

Berks County Public Libraries  (BCPL) and RACC have chosen for the Zinio digital magazine platform.  RACC’s titles are now included on the platform

http://www.berks.lib.pa.us/sco/research/index.php?id=htm&page=zinio

http://www.rbdigital.com/berkscountypa/service/zinio/landing?

When you arrive you can create an account by using you Reading Public Library card numbers.  After you sign in you can look at the list of genre or type the name of the magazine you are interested in.

To checkout a magazine to your Zinio account, simply click on the magazine of your choice.

The Yocum Library Collection - Ireland

Listed are items that can be found in the Yocum Library Collection related to Ireland.

Books

1 - Ireland : the complete guide
Oram, Hugh.
Call number: DA980 .I74 1998
Subject:Ireland -- Guidebooks. , Northern Ireland -- Guidebooks. , Northern Ireland -- Maps.

2 - Ireland : a Smithsonian natural history
Viney, Michael,
Call number:QH143 .V555 2003


3 - The everything Irish history & heritage book :
from Brian Boru and St. Patrick to Sean Féin and the toubles, you all need to know about the Emerald Isle
Hackney Blackwell, Amy., Hackney, Ryan.
Call number:DA911 .H33 2004
Year:c2004.
Subject:Ireland -- History -- Handbooks, manuals, etc. , Ireland -- Civilization -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
Subject:Natural history -- Ireland.

4 - The confession of St. Patrick ; and, Letter to Coroticus
Patrick,, Patrick,, Skinner, John.
Call number: BR1720.P26 A3 1998
Subject:Christian saints -- Ireland -- Biography. , Christian saints -- Ireland -- Correspondence. , Patrick, Saint.


5 - Heritage of Ireland : a history of Ireland & its people
Harris, Nathaniel,
Call number: DA925 .H37 1998
Year:c1998.
Subject:Ireland -- Civilization. , Ireland -- History.

6 - Ireland /
Scotney, John.
Call number: DA980 .S29 2006
Year:2006.
Subject:Life skills -- Ireland. , Ireland -- Guidebooks. , Ireland -- Social life and customs -- 20th century.

DVD

7 - Ireland
Celtic myths & splendors
Mortimer, Sandy., Trailwood Films.
Features Irish stories and highlights of its history and scenery.
Call number: DA980.I745

Subject:Tales -- Ireland. , Ireland -- Description and travel. , Travelogues (Motion pictures, television, etc.)

8 - Music CD
Women of Ireland
Ceoltoiri (Musical group)
Call number: M1744 .C46 1998
Year:p1998.
Subject:Folk songs, English -- Ireland. , Folk songs, Irish -- Ireland. , Folk dance music -- Ireland.

9 - Fonn le fonn
traditional Irish dance music
O Ceannabhain, Tomas., Kelly, Eugene.
Call number: M1744 .F66 1998

Yocum Library Collection - Martin Luther King Jr.

Video Recording

The speeches of Martin Luther King
King, Martin Luther,, MPI Home Video (Firm)
Presents a collection of Martin Luther King, Jr's. major speeches and minor asides, tracing the development of his oratorical style.
Call number: E185.97 .K5 S63

DVD

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
a historical perspective
King, Martin Luther,, Wegman, Melissa., Friedman, Thomas., Berghardt, Arthur., Xenon Pictures.
Historical overview of the struggle for racial equality in America. Focuses on the extraordinary life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. using…
Call number: E185.97.L8 D7 2002

DVD

Martin Luther King
"I have a dream."
King, Martin Luther,, MPI Home Video (Firm)
I Have A Dream contains King's entire inspirational speech in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963.
Call number:E185.97.K5 A5 2005
Year:[c2005]

Book

The Martin Luther King, Jr., companion :
quotations from the speeches, essays, and books of Martin Luther King, Jr.
King, Martin Luther,, King, Coretta Scott,
Call number: E185.97.K5 A25 1993
Year:1993.

DVD

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
a historical perspective
King, Martin Luther,, Wegman, Melissa., Friedman, Thomas., Berghardt, Arthur., Xenon Pictures.
Historical overview of the struggle for racial equality in America. Focuses on the extraordinary life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. using…
Call number: E185.97.K5 .D75 2002

Video cassette

Martin Luther King, "I have a dream"
King, Martin Luther,, MPI Home Video (Firm)
Recording of Martin Luther King's televised speech given on August 28, 1963, to the civil rights marchers at the Lincoln Memorial, with…
Call number: E185.97.K5 A25 1988

Book

I have a dream /
King, Martin Luther,
Call number: E185.97.K5 A5 1993

Book

Letter from the Birmingham jail /
King, Martin Luther,
Call number: E185.97.K5 N446 1994


Book

I've been to the mountaintop /
King, Martin Luther,
Call number: E185.97.K5 A5 1994

Book

I have a dream :
writings and speeches that changed the world
King, Martin Luther,, Washington, James Melvin.
Call number: E185.97.K5 A25 1992

Book

The measure of a man /
King, Martin Luther,
Call number:BT703 .K5 1988

Book

The papers of Martin Luther King, Jr /
King, Martin Luther,, Carson, Clayborne,, Carson, Susan.
Call number: E185.97.K52 A2 2007


Book

The papers of Martin Luther King, Jr. /
King, Martin Luther,, Carson, Clayborne,, Holloran, Peter., Luker, Ralph., Russell, Penny A.
Call number: E185.97.K5 A2

Book

A testament of hope :
the essential writings and speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.
King, Martin Luther,, Washington, James Melvin.
Call number: E185.97.K5 A25 1991

Book

Martin Luther King.
Baker, Patricia.
Call number:E185.97 .B34

My life with Martin Luther King, Jr. /
King, Coretta Scott,
An inside look at the life and work of the noted civil rights leader, from the viewpoint of his wife Coretta Scott King.
Call number: E185.97.K5 K5 1993

Martin Luther King, Jr. /
Lazo, Caroline Evensen.
A biography of the influential civil rights leader who won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work.
Call number: E185.97.K5 L38 1994

Book

Martin Luther King, Jr. :
a life
Frady, Marshall.
Call number: E185.97.K5 F695 2006

Book

Martin Luther King, Jr. /
Fairclough, Adam.
Call number: E185.97.K5 F35 1995

Book

Martin Luther King, Jr. /
Frady, Marshall.
Call number: E185.97.K5 F695 2002

Book

Martin Luther King, Jr. :
the FBI file
Friedly, Michael., Gallen, David.
Call number: E185.97.K5 G35 1993

Audiobook on Cassette

My life with Martin Luther King, Jr.
King, Coretta Scott,
Call number: E185.97.K5 K5 1990

Book

Martin Luther King, Jr., on leadership :
inspiration & wisdom for challenging times
Phillips, Donald T.
Call number: E185.97.K5 P46 1999

The Yocum Library Collection - Tattoos

The Yocum Library collection has many books on the subject of tattoos, including, psychological aspects, classification, glossary of the symbols in tattoos and  piercings, and other body modifications. The list is just a sample of the books found in the Yocum Library Collection:

Book
Gangs and their tattoos :
identifying gangbangers on the street and in prison
Valentine, Bill.
Call number: GT2346.U6 V34 2000
Year:c2000.
Subject:Tattooing -- United States -- Classification. , Tribal tattoos -- United States -- Classification. , Gang members -- United States -- Identification.

Book

Body piercing and tattoos /
Roleff, Tamara L.,
Call number: GN419.25 .B63 2008
Year:c2008.
Subject:Body piercing. , Tattooing.


Book

Bad boys and tough tattoos :
a social history of the tattoo with gangs, sailors, and street-corner punks, 1950-1965
Steward, Samuel M.
Call number: GT5960.T36 S747 1990
Year:c1990.
Subject:Tattoo artists -- United States -- Biography. , Tattooing -- Psychological aspects. , Tattooing -- Social aspects.

Book

The body art book :
a complete, illustrated guide to tattoos, piercings, and other body modifications
Miller, Jean-Chris.
Discusses the history of body art, offers a glossary of the symbols in tattoos, and covers safety precautions.
Call number: GT2345.M55 B63 2004
Year:2004.
Subject:Tattooing. , Tattoo artists -- Directories. , Body piercing.

Book

The henna body art book :
everything you need to create stunning temporary tattoos
Marron, Aileen., Peios, Emma.
Call number: GT2343 .M39 1998
Year:1998.
Subject:Mehndi (Body painting) , Temporary tattoos. , Beauty, Personal.

Book

Ancient marks :
the sacred origins of tattoos and body markings
Rainier, Chris.
Call number: GN419.3 .R35 2006
Year:c2006.
Subject:Tattooing -- Pictorial works. , Body marking -- Pictorial works. , Body piercing -- Pictorial works.

Book

Celebrity skin :
tattoos, brands, and body adornments of the stars
Gerard, Jim.
Call number: GT2346.U6 G47 2001
Year:2001.
Subject:Tattooing -- United States. , Body piercing -- United States. , Celebrities -- United States.

Book

The body art book :
a complete, illustrated guide to tattoos, piercings, and other body modifications
Miller, Jean-Chris.
Call number: GT2345 .M55 1997
Year:1997.
Subject:Tattooing. , Tattoo artists -- Directories. , Body piercing.

Book

Looking for God :
an unexpected journey through tattoos, tofu, & pronouns
Ortberg, Nancy.
Call number: BV4501.3 .O769 2008
Year:c2008.
Subject:Spirituality. , Spiritual life -- Christianity.

Book

Tattoo /
Rio, Dale., Bianchini, Eva.
Call number: GT2345 .R56 2004
Year:c2004.
Subject: Tattooing. , Body marking.

Book

Tattoo /
Durfee, Dale.
Call number: GT2345 .D87 2000
Year:2000.
Subject: Tattooing -- Pictorial works.

Book

The world of tattoo :
an illustrated history
Dinter, Maarten Hesselt van.
"In this book the tattoos of geographical regions and their inspiration are discussed at length in separate chapters, accompanied by many…
Call number: GT2345 .D56 2005
Year:c2005.
Subject:Tattooing -- History. , Tattooing -- Social aspects.

Book
Coping with the dangers of tattooing, body piercing, and branding /
Wilkinson, Beth.
Gives information needed to make an informed decision about body modification including the laws and safety regulations surrounding this…
Call number: RD119.5.B82 W54 1998
Year:1998.
Subject: Tattooing -- Health aspects -- Juvenile literature. , Body piercing -- Health aspects -- Juvenile literature. , Branding (Punishment) -- Juvenile literature.

Book

Spiritual tattoo :
a cultural history of tattooing, piercing, scarification, branding, and implants
Rush, John A.
"Reviews body modifications from prehistoric times to present, outlining processes and procedures and discussing social and psychological…
Call number:GN419.15 .R87 2005
Year:c2005.
Subject:Body marking. , Tattooing. , Scarification (Body marking)

Book

Alphabets and scripts tattoo design directory :
the essential reference for body art
Hemingson, Vince.
Provides an introduction to and brief history of text tattoos and typography, and features a design directory of tattoo alphabets and…
Call number: GT2345.H46 A47 2010
Year:2010.
Subject:Tattooing. , Tattooing -- Pictorial works. , Tattoo artists -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Book

Tattoo nation :
portraits of celebrity body art
Call number: GT2345 .T375 2002
Year:2002.
Subject:Tattooing. , Tattooing -- Pictorial works. , Celebrities -- Pictorial works.

Book

The new tattoo /
Lautman, Victoria., Berndt, Vicki.
Call number: GT2345 .L38 1994
Year:c1994.
Subject: Tattooing.

Book

The art of the tattoo /
Ferguson, Henry., Procter, Lynn.
Call number:GT2345 .F47 1998
Year:1998.
Subject: Tattooing in art. , Tattoo artists.

Book

Tattooed bodies :
subjectivity, textuality, ethics, and pleasure
Sullivan, Nikki,
Call number: GN419.3 .S85 2001
Year:2001.
Subject:Tattooing. , Body, Human -- Social aspects. , Body, Human -- Symbolic aspects.

Book

500 tattoo designs /
Ferguson, Henry.
Call number:GT2345 .F46 2004
Year:c2004.
Subject: Tattooing -- Catalogs. , Tattooing -- Themes, motives. , Stencils and stencil cutting -- Catalogs.

Book

Tattoo design directory :
the essential reference for body art
Hemingson, Vince.
Call number:GT2345 .H46 2009
Year:2009.
Subject:Tattooing. , Tattooing -- Pictorial works. , Tattoo artists -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.