Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit. I’ve got some new-to-the library DVD reviews for the next few weeks.

If you’re looking for a family film for your next night in, here’s a title to try.  Owd Bob tells the story of recently orphaned American teenager David Roberts.  David goes to live with his uncle, Adam McAdam, on a sheep-farm on the Isle of Man off the coast of Whales for the summer.  Uncle Adam is less than inviting.  However, David and Uncle Adam share a love of dogs, particularly the farm’s sheepdog Bob.  David, in search of companionship, makes friends with a neighbor girl, Maggie.  But Maggie’s father and Uncle Adam have had a long-standing disagreement related to sheep herding competitions.  To complicate matters, it looks as if Bob the dog might be responsible for several recent attacks on the local sheep.  Another sheep herding competition happens at the end of summer, but no one could have predicted the outcome.

If you’re wondering about the title “owd” is simply the Welsh version of the word “old”.  And this story is, indeed, old.  It was originally published as a book written by Alfred Ollivant in 1898, and has since been republished in the 1920s, 1960s, 1980s, and most recently in 2010.  Each time the story is updated a bit, but the central character of Bob the dog and a sheep herding competition remains.  The original story line has been updated again for this movie version that came out in 1998, 100 years after the book was first published.  Before this movie version, the story appeared twice on screen: in 1924 and 1938.  This story certainly has stood the test of time, so why not try it yourself at the next family movie night?

And don’t forget you can return DVDs at any time in the media side of our book drop, located on the outside front of the building, to the western end.

You can get the DVD reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit, on the North Campus. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”

Owd Bob. Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
1 disc, 105 min.
DVD. Family Feature.

Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit. I’ve got some new-to-the library DVD reviews for the next few weeks.

I have a small confession: my New Year’s Day this year did not start off quite right.  Every December 31st and January 1st for the last few years I have watched an episode or two of the Twilight Zone marathon on the SyFy Channel.  For some reason this year I missed out.  It’s a good thing, then, that the library now has 13 volumes with various episodes, on DVD.  The entire set contains 47 volumes, and if the public finds these DVDs interesting the library will purchase the remaining volumes.  The episodes the library has now skip around from season to season, so if you’re looking for a certain episode be sure to check our online catalog.

For those of you not familiar with the TV series, it originally ran 1959-1964 on CBS.  Each episode was introduced by the host and sometimes narrator, Rod Sterling.  Each episode was more of a short story, and characters from one episode did not appear in further episodes, although some actors returned many times for different roles.  One of the more famous guest stars was William Shatner (of Star Trek fame) who appeared as different characters both in 1960 and 1963.  The people in each episode face an important decision brought on by unusual circumstances (usually of the science fiction flavor) which leads to a personal realization.  The audience is meant to think about the circumstances, choices, and outcomes themselves.  These story lines can really stick with you!

Don’t forget you can return DVDs in the media side of our book drop, located on the outside front of the building, to the western end.

You can get the DVD reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit, on the North Campus.  This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”


The Twilight Zone (DVD)
Image Entertainment
13 Vols., 13 discs, ca. 100 min. ea.

Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit.   This is the last week that I'll be reviewing a book, while a few years old, is new to the Port Library’s shelves.

Sherlock Holmes is a popular character these days.  But say "Mycroft Holmes", and fewer people know who you’re talking about.  Sherlock Holmes may be the world’s greatest consulting detective, but according to the Holmes narrative, Mycroft is even greater.  A brother to Sherlock, Mycroft doesn't deign to do his investigating on the streets, but rather in the underworld of British politics.  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle only mentions Mycroft in 4 of the original Holmes stories, but that doesn't keep Holmes fans from wondering more about this enigmatic character.  Dame Jean Conan Doyle (Arthur Conan Doyle’s wife) authorized the publishing of a Mycroft Holmes novel, penned by Quinn Fawcett.  Published in 1998, Embassy Row follows Mycroft Holmes and his secretary Paterson Guthrie as they work deep within the British government.  Mycroft is involved in securing a treaty between the British and the Japanese for passage in Japanese waters.  The night before treaty papers are to be signed, however, a British diplomat is found with a dagger in his back.  It is up to the brilliant Mycroft to solve the case and secure the treaty, all the while keeping the peace and avoiding a dagger in the back himself.

This book will not appear on the new shelves since it wasn’t published recently.  To find it you can check our online catalog, or ask a librarian.  It will be in the fiction section under the last name of its author, Quinn Fawcett.  For easy returns, don’t forget our in-wall book and media drop, accessible on the outside of the building.

You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit, on the North Campus. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”


Embassy Row by Quinn Fawcett
ISBN: 0312863632, 384 p.
Adult Fiction

Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit. For the next few weeks, I’ll be reviewing some books that, while a few years old, are new to the Port Library’s shelves. 

Katharine Hepburn was not known for writing about herself or her experiences as an actress.  After a little research, this librarian only found two books Katharine wrote about herself.  The library now has both of them, the “newest” addition being a memoir published in 1987 titled The Making of The African Queen or How I went to Africa with Bogart, Bacall and Huston and almost lost my mind.  In a loose narrative style Hepburn recalls the filming of the motion picture The African Queen and all the trials that came with an American woman filming in the African jungles in 1950.  This slim volume is filled with full page black and white, behind the scenes photos and pages of narrative in an easy to read style. Hepburn is very conversational, and the stories she tells invite you right into the action. The story is confined to Hepburn’s experiences filming The African Queen. If you want to know more about the actress, be sure to ask a librarian to help you find the other books we have about Katharine Hepburn.  If you are curious about Africa, film making, Katharine Hepburn, or any of the other actors featured, be sure to check this book out.

This book will not appear on the new shelves since it wasn’t published recently.  To find it you can check our online catalog, or ask a librarian.  It will be in the non-fiction section with other books on television and film history.  We always encourage our patrons to browse – our books are free to check out, so take any that may interest your inner film lover!  For easy returns, don’t forget our in-wall book and media drop, accessible on the outside of the building.

You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit, on the North Campus. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”

The Making of The African Queen or How I went to Africa with Bogart, Bacall and Huston and almost lost my mind by Katharine Hepburn.
ISBN: 0394562720 
129 p., B & W photographs.
Adult Non-Fiction 

Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit. For the next few weeks, I’ll be reviewing some books that, while a few years old, are new to the Port Library’s shelves.

Cross stitch is a fun and easy pastime for many of today’s crafters.  Samplers of work can be found all the way back to colonial times, and even before.  The repeated act of stitching little x’s in a grid cloth with colorful thread produces many lovely scenes, sayings, and designs.  

If you’re looking for inspiration for your next project, or are in between projects, try a few designs found in 555 Little Sayings in Cross-Stitch by Marie Barber. The sayings and design subjects range over friendship, love, home, family, to motivational sayings and thank-yous as well.  Although published over 10 years ago, the style is timeless.  A short section at the back of the book provides an explanation of terms and instructions for the beginning crafter.  Winter may be leaving soon, but this book would provide handy inspiration to fill the time on summer road trips, or days just to wet or warm to get outside.

This book will not appear on the new shelves since it wasn’t published recently.  To find it you can check our online catalog, or ask a librarian.  It will be in the non-fiction section with other books on handicrafts and other hand-made works of art.  We always encourage our patrons to browse – our books are free to check out, so take any that may give you inspiration for your next artistic endeavor!  For easy returns, don’t forget our in-wall book and media drop, accessible on the outside of the building.

You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit, on the North Campus. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”


555 Little Sayings in Cross Stitch by Marie Barber
ISBN: 0-8069-4849-3
128 p., illustrated
Adult Non-Fiction