Happy Birthday, New Mexico! Today is the anniversary of the day in 1912 when New Mexico became the 47th state in the United States. Wednesday is the 216th anniversary of the day in 1782 when the first commercial bank in the US, the Bank of North America, was opened in Philadelphia.

Thursday is National Joygerm Day. Joygerms is a no-dues-just-do club devoted to spreading joy and cheer, kindness and courtesy, taking issue with crusty curmudgeons. They do this by infecting them with Joygerm Fever through Smile Check Up Clinics; Sulk Vaccine (one spray and a plague of pleasure ascends on you and yours); and by dispensing large doses of hugs, humor, inspiration, and hope! Let's all join this club!

WHAT'S HAPPENING?
Wednesday's 10:00 a.m. storytime features "Jack" tales, including a "Jack Be Nimble" shadowplay. At Wednesday afternoon's 3:30 storytime, youngsters can travel to Africa with Joan Wuchler as she shares stories and artifacts of dwellers of the Sahara Desert acquired during her service in the Peace Corps. Saturday's 10:00 a.m. storytime features stories and activities about giants.

BOOK TALK
The library's Bob Kerwick provides this weeks book reviews. If you enjoy "legal thrillers" and "courtroom drama" but you've read everything that Grisham, Patterson, and Turow have written, you might want to try some of the following: Steve Martini's "The Judge" or "Undue Influence" or Coughlin's "Heart of Justice" or "In the Presence of Enemies." Both authors have written several other books that you may enjoy as well. "Body of Crime" by Michael Eberhardt and "Breach of Trust" by Bonnie MacDougal are two more excellent alternatives.

If "medical thrillers" are more to your liking, try "Omega" by Patrick Lynch or "Positive Match" by Tony Chiu. Other good choices would be "Harvest" and "Life Support" by Tess Gerritson. Sarah Lovett's "Dangerous Attachments" will keep you turning the pages, as will Michael Palmer's "Silent Treatment."

Maybe you're a fan of Patricia Cornwell's, but she doesn't churn them out fast enough to keep you reading. You might want to try "Deja Dead" by Kathleen Reichs or "Deadly Harvest" by Leonard Goldberg.

The above lists should help, but they're not all inclusive. If you've read all of the above, ask one of the friendly reference staff for help in finding more!

DID YOU KNOW?
According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, approximately $62 million in IRS refund checks cannot be delivered because taxpayers haven't informed the IRS of new addresses. The average non-deliverable refund is $645 - but some checks are for more than $10,000! If you think you are due a refund, call 800-TAX-FORM for IRS Form 3911, Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund. To notify the IRS of a new address, file Form 8822, Change of Address!

Very deep breathing slows the heart rate, relieves tension, lowers blood pressure, and reduces stress hormones, according to "Tired of Being Tired." To deep breathe, start the breath in your abdomen. Let it fill your chest, then release it slowly. Make a habit of deep breathing 12 to 16 times per minute for 5 to 10 minutes every day to boost energy.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: "High interest rates have taught me how to live within my income, and high taxes have taught me how to live without my income." (unknown)

JUDY ARMSTRONG, ROSWELL PUBLIC LIBRARY, 624-7276 or 622-9218