Last month, PBS aired the newest film by distinguished documentarian Ken Burns, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. This month—we’ve got it! So if Chicago’s cold weather is keeping you indoors, pretend it’s summer and take a cinematic vacation through America’s National Parks.

It's almost been a year since then-Governor Blagojevich was arrested on federal corruption charges. And if you live anywhere near Chicago, you probably heard about the scandal—a lot. Well, if you just can't get enough of Blago, now you can read his side of the story in his recently published book, The Governor.

Not into parks? Tired or politics? Maybe unicorns are more your thing. And why not? Unicorns have captivated human imagination for over two thousand years. In his new book, The Natural History of Unicorns, Chris Lavers traces the origins and evolution of unicorn mythology as a means to further explore humanity’s changes over time.    

To see if any of our other new books sound good, look for the New Titles link in the catalog or check out the displays at the Lincoln Park or Loop Libraries. 

Are you a politically engaged and civically active person? Were you excited about last year’s election? Are you tired of your peers being referred to as the “apathetic generation?” Chances are you’re not alone. In The Good Citizen: How a Younger Generation is Reshaping American Politics, Russell Dalton dismisses the cynics who claim that American youth have no sense of civic duty and argues instead that younger generations are transforming the very notion of citizenship and reinvigorating democratic participation. (Lincoln Park Library: 324.0835 D1527g)

Not sure what to do after graduation? Have you ever considered the Peace Corps? The Insider’s Guide to the Peace Corps contains the most recent information and resources on Peace Corps programs as well as firsthand advice from recent volunteers. (Lincoln Park Career Information Collection 361.6 B2153I)

Have too many books on your summer reading list already? There’s always time for a good flick! Sit back, relax and enjoy HBO’s critically acclaimed John Adams. Based on David McCullough's bestselling biography, this 7-part miniseries offers an intimate look at the second president of the United States. If you enjoy American history you will not want to miss Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney as John and Abigail Adams. (Lincoln Park Library: DVD 791.4372 J65h2008)

If you're interested in other new titles, check out the New Titles link in the catalog or the displays at the Lincoln Park or Loop Libraries.

Do you read a lot of blogs? Do you have favorite websites you visit every day? Are you a news junky like me? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should definitely check out Google Reader.

Google Reader is a feed-aggregator that collects updates from websites you access regularly and conveniently displays them in a single location. It reduces the time spent visiting multiple websites and creates a personalized newspaper of sorts. In addition to the simplicity that feed-aggregators provide, Google Reader also makes storing and sharing information incredibly easy. You can put a star on articles you want to save for future reference and "tag" articles to keep similar pieces organized. Also, if you have really enjoyed something you've read, Reader makes sharing articles simple!

To give it a try, go to www.google.com/reader.