It's Valentine's Day and I hope that everyone finds love. Before you chuck a copy of 'He's Just Not Tha....eh, screw it. Look, there's lots of types of love. Find yours and cherish it. Love sonnets optional [but appreciated!].

And, on a serious note, let me also point out that today marks the annual V-Day event to end violence against women. Of course, this issue has been brought to the forefront this week by recent domestic assault accusations against singer Chris Brown toward his longtime girlfriend, singer Rihanna. Information is coming in daily regarding the charges and although the glossy world of celebrity buzz leans more toward spectacle, the news still serves as a reminder that domestic violence can affect anyone. Public or private. Regardless of image.

I pulled some stats from the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence:

Every year over 7,000 Maine women are physically or sexually assaulted by an intimate partner and over half of them (57%) are injured as a result of the violence. (Maine Center for Disease Control, 2008)

1 in 3 teen relationships are abusive. (http://www.teenrelationships.org/statistics/stats.htm)

Women ages 16 to 24 experience the highest per capita rate of intimate partner violence. (Rennison, Callie Marie and Sarah Welchans. 2003. Intimate Partner Violence 1993-2001. U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics. Washington, DC. Retrieved January 9, 2004. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/ipv01.htm.

Forty percent of girls age 14 to 17 report knowing someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend. (Children Now/Kaiser Permanente poll, December 1995. http://www.endabuse.org/resources/facts/)

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Here are some additional resources to learn about domestic violence:

Maine Programs:

Battered Women's Project

Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence

Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women

Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Note: many of these programs offer volunteer opportunities. Please consider getting a group of friends together to provide help.

National programs:

Love is Respect

Break the Cycle

Books in our collection:

'The Verbally Abusive Relationship' by Patricia Evans: 362.822 EVA

'The Macho Paradox' by Jackson Katz: 362.88 KAT

'When Men Batter Women' by Neil Jacobson and John Gottman: 362.82 J

'Helping Her Get Free' by Susan Brewster: 362.82 BRE

'Opposing Viewpoints: Sexual Violence: Young Adult 364.153 SEX

'When Something Feels Wrong' by Deanna S. Pledge, Ph.D.: Young Adult 616.858223 PLE

'Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes' by Chris Crutcher: Young Adult FIC CR

'The Tenth Circle' by Jodi Picoult: FIC PIC

'Black and Blue' by Anna Quindlen: FIC QU

'Speak' by Laurie Halse Anderson: Young Adult FIC AND

And we also have the DVD 'V-Day: Until the Violence Stops" on our spinner rack (070.1 VDA)

Of course, feel free to visit me at my desk or online for any additional resources.

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