Today is Panic Day, so if you haven't started running around in a panic yet, you can start now! Wednesday is the anniversary of the day in 1876 when Alexander Graham Bell transmitted the first telephone message to his assistant in the next room. It is also the anniversary of the day in 1862 when the first paper money was issued in the United States. The denominations were $5 (Hamilton), $10 (Lincoln), and $20 (Liberty).

Friday is Employee Appreciation Day, to recognize the hard-working people who pitch in the extra effort all year long to get the job done! Saturday is National Open An Umbrella Indoors Day. The purpose of this day is for people to open umbrellas indoors and note whether or not they have any bad luck!

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

Wednesday's 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. storytimes focus on frogs. Crafts will include a frog finger puppet and a jump mural with frog and pond. Saturday morning's 10:00 storytime gets a head start on St. Patrick's Day, so wear your green and join the fun of making shamrock cards and mobiles.

BOOK TALK

The library's Bob Kerwick provides this week's book information, which focuses on novels dealing with the Second Coming of Christ. In "Blood of the Lamb" by Thomas F. Monteleone, a charismatic young priest suddenly discovers that he has miraculous powers - to heal the sick, raise the dead, walk through fire, etc. He also learns that, in addition to the power to restore life, he also has the power to take life.

"The Miracle Strain" by Michael Cordy centers on a team of genetic researchers trying to find cures for "incurable" diseases. They make a deal with members of an ancient religious cult who believe that the new Messiah has been born but is not yet aware of his divinity.

John Case's "Genesis Code" involves relics and cloning. An investigator, trying to solve the murder of his sister and her son, soon discovers that there are a number of similar cases where both a mother and her son have been killed.

Two other books of this type are "The Return" by Jan de Meers and "Sacred Heart" by Marcel Montecino. As always, the friendly reference staff will be happy to help you find others.

DID YOU KNOW?

Two weeks ago, we wrote about the anniversary of the Japanese attack on the US mainland, which was reported in "Chase's 1999 Calendar of Events." The book contains an editorial statement: "Events listed herein are not necessarily endorsed by the editors or publisher. Every effort has been made to assure the correctness of all entries, but neither the authors nor the publisher can warrant their accuracy."

A reader called to inform us that the Japanese, indeed, did not attack the US mainland. He indicated that the USS Concord, the ship on which he was stationed, had actually fired the shells so that people living on the coast would turn off their lights and make the coast less of a target. According to the caller, the lights went off and stayed off after the shells were fired.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: For the next few weeks, we'll be using quotes that the people quoted probably wish they had thought about more. This one comes from a Pratt & Whitney spokesperson, explaining why the company charged the US Air Force nearly $1,000 for an ordinary pair of pliers: "They're multi-purpose. Not only do they put the clips on, but they take them off."