Audio/Visual

Memorial Movies: War Films to Check Out for Memorial Day Weekend

Tricia

Memorial Day, previously known as Decoration Day, is widely thought to have begun after the Civil War as a means of remembering fallen soldiers. Over the years, the holiday has evolved, and is now widely considered the beginning of summer vacation. However, the holiday’s true meaning remains the remembrance and honoring of those who have died in the United States Armed Forces. In honor of those who have lost their lives protecting their country, here are a collection of films that offer tribute to these soldiers, and give an important glimpse into our past.

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Famous Voices: Audiobooks Read by Celebrities

Tricia

Audiobooks have had somewhat of a renaissance in the past ten years, especially since the development of streaming audiobooks through library resources like Overdrive. Typically read by either the author or a voice actor, some books are able to secure some major star power for their audiobook narration. Here are some spectacular works of fiction narrated by Hollywood’s best and brightest actors.

Note: this list does not include audiobooks of celebrity memoirs, which are almost always narrated by the celebrity (as they are also the author of the book).

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Hidden Gems: Spectacular Documentaries in the Library Collection

Tricia

The non-fiction film collection at the Sewickley Public Library is easy to miss, mostly because the DVD’s are shelved in the reference area with the rest of the library’s non-fiction, separate from the location for television and movies. Next time you visit us at the library, take a peek at our non-fiction DVD’s and see if there’s anything that catches your eye. If you’d like some suggestions, here are some exemplary documentaries available in the Sewickley Public Library collection.

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Sewickley Public Library Guide to Preservation

Tricia

Whether you’re an amateur collector of antiques or the proud owner of an old family heirloom, the restoration and preservation of antique items can quickly get confusing and overwhelming. If you’re looking to preserve family heirlooms or other types of antiques, here is some helpful information about the process, including a list of preservation resources in the area generously provided by the Conservation Technicians at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh!

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From Screen to Page: Six Great Books Based on Movies

Tricia

In a time where almost every new movie seems to be based on a book or some other form of source material, a particular refrain has grown common among readers everywhere: “the book was better.” But there are still rare scenarios in which a movie is turned into a book after its release, often as an adaptation of the screenplay.

These adaptations are not always good, and are often ignored by literature fans due to their Hollywood connections. However, some novelizations have managed to rise above this stereotype, with some even becoming equally as famous as the films that spawned them. Here are six books based on movies that are actually worth the read.

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Staff Picks: Best of 2018

Tricia

As 2018 comes to a close, we wanted to look back on the great books and films that were released this year. Many big news sources like GQ, The Washington Post, and Publisher’s Weekly have announced their picks for the best of 2018, but how do these lists measure up to the favorites of our staff? Here are some of the Sewickley Library staff’s favorite books and movies from 2018!

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New Years Resolutions at the Library

Tricia

As 2019 creeps closer and closer, the pressure to think of some good New Years resolutions grows.  What goals would you like to accomplish? What challenges do you want to set for yourself? Do you want to make more than one resolution? While we don’t have all the answers, here’s some ideas for New Years resolutions that can be accomplished right here at the Sewickley Library.

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2019 Golden Globes: Award-Nominated Media at the Library

Tricia

With awards season just around the corner, the first batch of award nominations are beginning to trickle in. The nominees for the 76th Golden Globe Awards were recently announced, which acknowledge the arts of both film and television. While many of the nominated works aren’t available yet to purchase, here is a list of the nominated movies and television series owned by the Sewickley Public Library!

If you’d like the full list of nominees, click here!

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Binge-worthy Literary Web Series

Tricia

If you’ve been keeping up with YouTube in the past eight years, you might have noticed a growing trend in book adaptations. More and more, classic literature is being adapted are modernized as web series, typically available through video sites like YouTube.

The series tend to be shot vlog style, meaning they are presented as a video blog. Though the series still have actors, by mimicking the vlog formula, these adaptations tend to feel much more personal. The vlog setting, albeit fictional in this case, also functions on the idea that the characters are aware of their audience, and that other characters in the story are able to watch their videos.

Here are just a few literary web series that put fun new spins on classic tales!

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