The puzzle sensation that's sweeping the nation.

Sudoku. They're everywhere.

Maybe you've heard people talk about them, or seen them in the newspaper, or watched them pop up on the bestseller lists. The puzzles appear to have originated in the United States in the 1970s, but spent a couple of decades in Japan (where they got their name) before migrating back to the Western Hemisphere again. It's no wonder they've caught on: they require no math and are easy to learn how to play. Just be careful you don't get addicted — like I have.

The best web site I've found for playing Sudoku is websudoku.com. With four levels of play, and options that keep track of your best time and allow you to "pencil in" guesses, it's very flexible and, even better, very free.

If you're interested in more history of Sudoku, or want to read up on strategy or the theory that makes sites like WebSudoku work, the Wikipedia article on the subject is pretty good, as is this column from the website of the Mathematics Association of America. (I know, I said they require no math, and I promise they don't. Mathematicians just seem to be fascinated by them as much as everyone else.)

And, of course, if you like your Sudoku-training in print, we've got Su Doku for Dummies.

Berghoff

A company with a rich Fort Wayne history has been in the news recently. The Berghoff Restaurant in Chicago will close this spring after 107 years of service. From their Web site:

"The restaurant's founder, Herman Joseph Berghoff, an immigrant to America in 1870 from Dortmund, Germany, began brewing Berghoff Beer in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1887 as a family enterprise with his three brothers, Henry, Hubert and Gustav."

See some historic pictures from the Allen County Community Album. We also have a couple of books on the Berghoff family available in the genealogy department at the main library (may not be checked out).

boxing days

I've spent a number of hours these past few weeks before year's end boxing up books. It's kind of sad. These are good books that we won't be seeing on our shelves again for about a year. (Not that any books are "bad"; but these are books that are still in pristine condition. It's easier to say goodbye to the falling apart, clearly outdated books.) So as I boxed up the books, I couldn't help thinking about the BIG MOVE back to the new main library in early 2007. It's just a year away! And it's just that much work. Because the main reason I was boxing up books now is because we won't be able to do so over the next year. What space we have has to last until the move and any new books we get over the next year have to fit on our shelves here at Renaissance Square.

Soon, we will actually be starting to unpack the boxes we packed up before our move to Berry street. It's exciting. In just over a year, we'll have a new main library and access again to thousands of books we had to do without while in our temporary digs. So as the year 2006 comes into view, there's lots of work ahead and lots to look forward to as well.

Holiday hours

All locations of the Allen County Public Library will be closed on Sunday, January 1. Also, any location normally open until 6:00 pm on Saturday, December 31 will close at 5:00 pm. Happy New Year!