News from KNOWhere - 8-30-2007

The library will be closed September 3 for Labor Day.

So, did everyone enjoy the wonderful discussion with Dr. David Dudley? We’d like to thank everyone who came, it was a real pleasure to see you all! And remember, that was just the first of the series – if you’d like to see the whole schedule, go to this post and check it out!

The next event in the series will be Dr. Patrick Novotny’s presentation “This Georgia Rising: Education, Civil Rights and the Politics of Change in 1940s Georgia”. Dr. Novotny is Associate Professor of Political Science over at Georgia Southern, and he really knows his stuff when it comes to the changes in the local political and social climate during and after World War II. It promises to be pretty interesting, particularly for you WWII enthusiasts out there, but if you have any interest in history, civil rights, or just how things changed from what used to be to how they are today, you won’t want to miss this! The event will be on Tuesday, September 11 at 7 pm at the Screven County Library.

News from Screven

Speaking of interesting and informative talks, have you been attending the diabetes workshops the Screven County Hospital’s Community Outreach Office has been giving Mondays from 5 – 6 pm and Wednesdays from 12:15 – 1:15 pm? It’s important stuff to know, because diabetes has hit epidemic levels in the US, and the South has some of the worst rates… in fact, the odds are that if you don’t have it, you know someone who either does or is at high risk for it. Want to know more? Contact the Screven County Hospital’s Outreach Office at 564-5238 Monday, Wednesday or Friday. And don’t forget to check out some of the books on diabetes here at the library, especially the ones that teach you how to make a diabetic diet anything but boring!

We’ve got a lot of adorable little preschoolers attending our storytimes Tuesdays at 10 am. Why not bring your little one to join them as they listen to a story, create a cute craft or adorable artwork, and take a little break yourself while one of our staffers helps teach them to love learning?

Better hurry if you’re going to see Jessica Mock’s incredible origami sculptures! You’d never believe that someone could turn some flat sheets of paper into intricate 3D sculptures the way she does.

Time’s also running short to see Michael White’s fun (and pun-filled) artwork, now on display in the multipurpose room. Better hurry or you’ll miss the jokes!

The River of Words is currently flowing through our main room. Come see the art and poetry of Georgia’s youth as they share their love for the waters in and around Georgia.

News from Jenkins

We’ve got a lot of kids attending our storytimes Wednesdays at 4 pm. Why not bring your little one to join them as they listen to a story, create a cute craft or adorable artwork?

Now, on to the books - and remember, a couple clicks is all it takes to get them!

THE WOODS by Harlan Coben. Twenty years ago, four teenagers at summer camp walked into the woods. Two were found dead, two were never seen again, and four families were forever changed. Now, another body is found and their lives are about to change again.

WAKING WITH ENEMIES by Eric Jerome Dickey. When you sleep with strangers, you wake up with enemies – or so it is for hit-man Gideon, who wakes up in a London hotel room with three very different women… and a contract out on his own life.

THE WOMEN WHO RAISED ME: A MEMOIR by Victoria Rowell. Her mother was a Yankee blueblood, her father an unknown black man, so it was no surprise that she wound up a ward of the state. What is surprising is that she rose above such humble beginnings to become an award-winning dancer and actress in shows such as Diagnosis Murder and The Young and the Restless.

MY FRIEND LEONARD by James Frey. Leonard is the best friend James has ever had. When he needed help, Leonard provided it, when he needed money Leonard gave him a job. But Leonard is also a mobster, and has a sizable dark side – and more invested in James than he ever knew.

CREATIVE JUICE: 45 RE-CRAFTING PROJECTS TO MAKE WITH RECYCLED STUFF by Cathie Filian & Steve Piacenza. The hosts of DIY Network’s CREATIVE JUICE share projects from towel beach bags and game-piece charms to spicy tea soaps and fire and ice sculptures.

Links to the following sites can also be found at www.sjrls.org, our library home on the web

Blogging for a Good Book
This blog provides a book review every weekday, from librarians at the Williamsburg Regional Library (Virginia). Browse past reviews by reviewer and by subjects and genres such as literary fiction, nonfiction, science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, mysteries, young adult, and thrillers.

Born on a Mountaintop? Davy Crockett, Tall Tales, and History
This lesson plan (for grades 3-5) uses the legend of Davy Crockett to teach students about the characters, events, and literary characteristics of tall tales. Includes suggested activities and links to online material about Crockett and tall tales. From EDSITEment, a joint project of the National Endowment for the Humanities and other organizations.

Shades and Shadow-Pictures: The Materials and Techniques of American Portrait Silhouettes
Historic overview of the development of American portrait silhouettes (also known as "profiles," "shadow portraits," and "scissortypes"). Discusses the derivation of the term "silhouette" (from the surname of an eighteenth-century finance minister to Louis XV), how silhouettes are presented (such as in albums and mounted), types of paper used, tracing devices, and more. From the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works Book and Paper Group.

Karl Rove: The Architect
Companion to a program that looks at the life and career of Karl Rove, chief political adviser to President George W. Bush; the full program can be viewed at this site. Features biographical information, a chronology, essays about the Republican Party and politics in the state of Texas, interviews with political figures, news articles, and lesson plans. A joint report of PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) Frontline and the Washington Post.

Center for Citizen Media
Website for an "initiative aimed at helping to enable and encourage grassroots media, especially citizen journalism." Features updates and analyses of current news, description of projects including "Principles of Citizen Journalism" (such as accuracy, fairness, and independence) and a law project, and a blog. The nonprofit center is affiliated with the Graduate School of Journalism, University of California, Berkeley, and the Berkman Center for Internet and Society, Harvard Law School.
URL: http://citmedia.org/

Well, that’s it for now – see you at the library!

News from KNOWhere - 08/23/2007

We’ve got a ton of things coming up here at the library, and – surprise, surprise, adults – these programs are for you!

Want to know more about the cultures, history and heritage of Southeast Georgia? Then you won’t want to miss “Southeast Georgia On My Mind!” It’s a series of workshops which will be held every two weeks, each of which will focus on one particular aspect of the Southeast Georgia experience. The first of these, presented by Georgia Southern professor and winner of the 2006 International Reading Association’s Best Novel for Intermediate Readers Award David Dudley, will focus on his journey from Lutheran minister to teacher and award-winning author, and the history, heritage and people of Southeast Georgia which have inspired and challenged him to share the truths lying behind ordinary life in our area. This free workshop will be held on Tuesday, August 28 at 7 pm in the library, and refreshments will be served. Other workshops in the series will be held every other Tuesday from 7 pm until 9 pm either in Sylvania or in Millen, and the series is a collaboration between Georgia Southern University and the Screven-Jenkins Regional Library System. Want to know more? Watch this space, or call the library at 564-7526!

News from Screven

You may have heard about the Diabetes Awareness Programs that the Screven County Hospital’s Outreach Program is offering here at the library. If you’d like to know more about diabetes, how to spot it and what to do to stay safe from it, come to the lectures on Mondays from 5 to 6 or Wednesdays from 12:15 to 1:15. If you’d like more information on the series, contact the Screven County Hospital’s Outreach Office at 564-5238 Monday, Wednesday or Friday. And while you’re at the library – why not check out one of our dozens of books (and cookbooks) about diabetes?

Don’t think that we’ve forgotten the little ones entirely, though – we’ve still got our wonderful storytimes at 10 am on Tuesdays! It’s a great chance to let them listen to a story and create a cute craft while you take a little break from taking care of them.

Got a son or daughter in the AP English program at SCHS? Don't have a lot of time to come to the library to get them that pile of books they need to read this year? SCHS AP Reading List is the place to go to see what the library has, if it's available, and even to reserve a particular book - right from your computer!

The River of Words will be flowing into our library on Tuesday, August 28. It’s a brand-new and wonderful display of children’s art and poetry expressing their love of Georgia’s waters, and it will be on display in the lobby until September 8.

News from Jenkins

Don't forget to bring the little ones to join us Wednesdays at 4 pm for our great storytimes!



Now, on to the books!

STILL SUMMER by Jacquelyn Mitchard. It started off as a relaxing sailboat cruise in the Caribbean. But when a small mistake sets off huge consequences, they find themselves fighting for survival against the ocean, modern day pirates… and themselves.

FORGIVIN’ AIN’T FORGETTIN’ by Mata Elliott. Cassidy’s past left her a bitter woman, hiding behind her career and her faith. She doesn’t want anything to do with the handsome widower and single father who’s moved in with her and her aunt – does she?

REDEEMING LOVE by Francine Rivers. The California Gold Rush: a time when men sold their souls for a sack of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep… and the woman named Angel was herself sold into prostitution as a child. But Michael Hosea saw something that no one else did in Angel. Can his love and faith heal Angel’s shattered heart?

THE JUDAS STRAIN by James Rollins. From the depths of the Indian Ocean, a horrific plague has arisen. Can the covert operations team SIGMA foil terrorists attempts to turn the disease into the ultimate weapon? And what is the connection between the deadly infection and the fabled explorer Marco Polo?

Links to the following sites (and a lot more!) can also be found at www.sjrls.org, our library home on the web

Edinburgh Festival Fringe
In 1947 "eight theatre groups turn up uninvited to the first Edinburgh [Scotland] International Festival. The inn is full so they check in at venues away from the big public stages. The first Fringe has been born." This festival takes place each summer and features theater, comedy, music, and dance performances. The site includes a history of the festival, a festival calendar, a photo gallery, maps, and Edinburgh tourist information.

Grocery Savings and Coupon Zone
"Resources for helping you save on food. Find information on double coupons, grocery store contact links and contact information, tips on saving on groceries, free menu lists, and shopping lists and other valuable information for saving on groceries." Also includes discussions about how grocery stores get you to spend more, starting a small coupon exchange club, and the pros and cons of grocery store loyalty programs. From About.com.

Librareo
Companion to a 2007 contest in which "more than 175 public, school and academic libraries ... submitted video for the 'I Love My Library!' video contest." Includes a link to YouTube where the videos are posted. From Gale.

Galaxy Zoo
This interactive project invites "members of the public to help [astronomers] make major new discoveries by taking part in a census of one million galaxies." Participants sort digital images into spiral and elliptical galaxies. Provides project background, a FAQ, a discussion board, and related material. Free registration required to participate in the project. From a team of scientists and web designers.

Act for Libraries: ALC Reports
Compilation of Americans for Libraries Council (ALC) reports on issues related to libraries and society, including economic valuation, health information services in public libraries, libraries and productive aging, innovation in American libraries, and planning and implementing an intergenerational and intercultural reading and discussion program. ALC is "a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing innovation and investment in the nation's libraries."

Well, that’s it for now – see you at the library!

AP READING LIST SCHS 2007-2008

A Absalom, Absalom by William Faulkner Adam Bede by George Eliot The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain The Aeneid by Virgil Agnes of God by John Pielmeier The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren All My Sons by Arthur Miller All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy America is in the Heart by Carlos Bulosan An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser The American by Henry James Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy Another Country by James Baldwin Antigone by Sophocles Anthony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz by Mordecai Richler Armies of the Night by Norman Mailer As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner As You Like It by William Shakespeare Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson The Awakening by Kate Chopin B "The Bear" by William Faulkner Beloved by Toni Morrison A Bend in the River by V. S. Naipaul Benito Cereno by Herman Melville Billy Budd by Herman Melville The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter Black Boy by Richard Wright Bleak House by Charles Dickens Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Bone: A Novel by Fae M. Ng The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Brighton Rock by Graham Greene The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevski C Candida by George Bernard Shaw Candide by Voltaire The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer The Caretaker by Harold Pinter Catch-22 by Joseph Heller The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood The Centaur by John Updike Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov "Civil Disobedience" by Henry David Thoreau Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier The Color Purple by Alice Walker Coming Through Slaughter by Michael Ondaatje Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevski "The Crisis" by Thomas Paine The Crucible by Arthur Miller D Daisy Miller by Henry James Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens "The Dead" by James Joyce The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Delta Wedding by Eudora Welty Desire under the Elms by Eugene O'Neill Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri The Diviners by Margaret Laurence Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen The Dollmaker by Harriet Arnot Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Dove and Sword by Nancy Garden Dreaming in Cuban by Cristina Garcia Dutchman by Amiri Baraka/Leroi Jones E East of Eden by John Steinbeck Emma by Jane Austen An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen Equus by Peter Shaffer Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton The Eumenides by Aeschylus (in The Orestia) F The Fall by Albert Camus A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway The Father by August Strindberg Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev Faust by Johann Goethe The Federalist by Alexander Hamilton Fences by August Wilson Fifth Business by Robertson Davis A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry The Fixer by Bernard Malamud For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway Frankenstein by Mary Shelley G A Gathering of Old Men by Ernest Gaines A Gesture Life by Chang-Rae Lee Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams Going After Cacciato by Tim O'Brien The Good Soldier by Ford Maddox Ford The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck Great Expectations by Charles Dickens The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin Gulliver's travels by Jonathan Swift H The Hairy Ape by Eugene O'Neill Hamlet by William Shakespeare The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood Hard Times by Charles Dickens Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen Henry IV, Parts I and II by William Shakespeare Henry V by William Shakespeare The Homecoming by Harold Pinter House Made of Dawn by N Scott Momaday The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne I The Iliad by Homer The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O'Brien In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott J Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Jasmine by Bharati Mukherjee J.B. by Archibald MacLeish Joe Turner's Come and Gone by August Wilson Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan Joseph Andrews by Henry Fielding Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare The Jungle by Upton Sinclair K King Lear by William Shakespeare L A Lesson before Dying by Ernest Gaines Letters from an American Farmer by de Crevecoeur Light in August by William Faulkner The Little Foxes by Lillian Hellman Long Day's Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neill Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad Lord of the Flies by William Golding The Loved One by Evelyn Waugh Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T. S. Eliot Lysistrata by Aristophanes M Macbeth by William Shakespeare Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert Main Street by Sinclair Lewis Major Barbara by George Bernard Shaw Man and Superman by George Bernard Shaw Mansfield Park by Jane Austen Master Harold...and the Boys by Athol Fugard The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy M. Butterfly by David Henry Wang Medea by Euripides The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Middlemarch by George Eliot Middle Passage by V. S. Naipaul A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot Miss Lonelyhearts by Nathanael West Moby Dick by Herman Melville Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe Monkey Bridge by Lan Cao Mother Courage and Her Children by Berthold Brecht Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf Mrs. Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare Murder in the Cathedral by T. S. Eliot "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning My Antonia by Willa Cather My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok N Native Son by Richard Wright Native Speaker by Chang-Rae Lee 1984 by George Orwell No Exit by John Paul Sartre No-No Boy by John Okada Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevski O Obasan by Joy Kogawa The Odyssey by Homer Oedipus Rex by Sophocles Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey O Pioneers! by Willa Cather The Optimist's Daughter by D. H. Lawrence The Orestia by Aeschylus Orlando: A Biography by Virginia Woolf Othello by William Shakespeare Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens Our Town by Thornton Wilder Out of Africa by Isaak Dinesen P Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov Pamela by Samuel Richardson A Passage to India by E. M. Forster Paradise Lost by John Milton Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen Père Goriot by Honore de Balzac Persuasion by Jane Austen Phaedre by Jean Racine The Piano Lesson by August Wilson The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde The Plague by Albert Camus Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov Pocho by Jose Antonio Villarreal Portrait of a Lady by Henry James Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene Praisesong for the Widow by Paule Marshall Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw R A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope Redburn by Herman Melville The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro Richard III by William Shakespeare A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf A Room with a View by E. M. Forster Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard S Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Sent for You Yesterday by John Edgar Wideman A Separate Peace by John Knowles The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx Silas Marner by George Eliot Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence The Stranger by Albert Camus A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams Sula by Toni Morrison Surfacing by Margaret Atwood The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway T A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare Tarftuffe by Moliere The Tempest by William Shakespeare Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zorah Neale Hurston Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas Trifles by Susan Glaspell Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne The Turn of the Screw by Henry James Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare Typical American by Gish Jen U Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe V The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith Victory by Joseph Conrad Volpone by Ben Jonson W Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett The Warden by Anthony Trollope Washington Square by Henry James The Wasteland by T. S. Eliot Watch on the Rhine by Lillian Hellman The Way of the World by William Congreve The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys The Wild Duck by Henrik Ibsen Winter in the Blood by James Welch Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte Z The Zoo Story by Edward Albee Zoot Suit by Luis Valdez

Southeast Georgia on my Mind

You've been hearing about the community discussions we're hosting, right? We're calling it "Southeast Georgia on my Mind" and it's a series of presentations that are being done as part of a way to celebrate our Southeast Georgia heritage.

The program touches on universal themes such as morals and values, social conflicts, human rights, the sources of inspiration and creativity, challenge and sacrifice, and survival with and against nature. We've got something for everyone here, no matter whether you're black or white, rich or poor. The ones at the Screven County Library will focus on regional histories and cultures, the ones at Jenkins County Memorial Library will focus on contemporary regional writing and authors. Each discussion will involve a lecture by one of the professors from GSU followed by a question and answer session, and refreshments will be served.

Before you go thinking we're doing this all on our own, well - we're good, but we're not that good! We have the expert faculty members of Georgia Southern University's Humanities Department to do the actual talking about the culture, history people and literature of Southeast Georgia, and we're being funded by the Georgia Humanities Council. We'd like to give huge thanks to the people in both of these fine institutions for making this possible!

You're probably wondering by now if I'm ever going to let you know when and where we're having these events, right? Well, here's the schedule:

Tuesday, August 28 at 7 pm - Screven County Library
Dr. David Dudley (Associate Professor & Chair of Literature and Philosophy at GSU) will be presenting "Can't Get Southeast Georgia Out Of My Mind, No Matter How I Try" at the Screven County Library. He'll be talking about how a Yankee outsider came to love Southeast Georgia, and how our area's rich history inspired him to write his International Book Award-winning young adult novel THE BICYCLE MAN and continues to inspire him as he writes his second novel, CALEB'S WARS.

Tuesday, September 11 at 7 pm - Screven County Library
Dr. Patrick Novotny (Associate Professor of Political Science at GSU) will be presenting "This Georgia Rising: Education, Civil Rights and the Politics of Change in 1940s Georgia", a discussion of the tidal wave of social change that began in the 1940s and forever altered life in rural Georgia. It's a look at the far-reaching political and social changes of the 1940s in the context of wartime and postwar Georgia and it's based on Dr. Novotny's books THIS GEORGIA RISING.

Tuesday, September 25 at 7 pm - Jenkins County Memorial Library
Dr. Mary Hadley (Associate Professor of Writing at GSU) and Mr. Charles Martin (Writer & Art Restorer) will be presenting "Writing Detective Fiction Where We Live: Confessions of a Statesboro Couple" about how they came to be the mystery-writing duo known to fans as "Mary Charles", authors of CASEY'S REVENGE, SAVANNAH SCORES, NIGHTMARE IN SAVANNAH, and THE RELUCTANT CORPSE. They pay particular attention to the craft of writing crime fiction and offer advice for budding writers.


Tuesday, October 2 at 7 pm - Screven County Library
Dr. Howard Keeley (Director, Center for Irish Studies at GSU) will be presenting "Two Waves of Settlers from the Emerald Isle: The Scotch-Irish in the Georgia Colony and the Irish in 19th Century Savannah" about the Irish influence upon our area's history and culture. Of particular interest are the ways that the Presbyterian Scotch-Irish and the mostly Catholic Irish have come together in Georgia, especially here in the Southeast.

Tuesday, October 16 at 7 pm - Jenkins County Memorial Library
Mr. Peter Christopher (Associate Professor of Writing at GSU) will be presenting "The Creative Impulse in Writing: Situation and Story" and using examples from his own works, CAMPFIRES OF THE DEAD and LOST DOGS AND OTHER STORIES to demonstrate how the creative impulse manifests in writing.

Tuesday, October 30 at 7 pm - Screven County Library
Dr. Jonathan Bryant (Associate Professor of History) will be presenting "The Deerskin Trade in the Genesis of the Plantation Economy in the Deep South" on how the deerskin trade presaged and influenced the way the plantation system developed.

Tuesday, November 13 at 7 pm - Jenkins County Memorial Library
Dr. Theresa Welford (Associate Professor of Writing at GSU) will be presenting "Word Portraits of Southeast Georgia: Memories of Family and Home". Dr. Welford is a local poet and writer of creative nonfiction, and she will be giving a reading and pointers on writing a "snapshot essay." One of her former students, Sylvia Kline, will be assisting her and they will be talking about several prominent leaders in Statesboro's African-American community.

Tuesday, November 27 at 7 pm - Screven County Library
Dr. Alan Downs (Associate Professor of History at GSU) will be presenting "Sherman's March to the Sea: Myth vs Reality" which will discuss many of the legends which erupted after Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman drove his way across Georgia as he attempts to sort fact from fiction.

So, anything sound interesting? Then come to the library* and join us for this great series! You can attend one or all, they're all totally free and we will be providing light refreshments before and after the event.

Want more information on the project or on individual event? Call the Project Director, Prof. Martha Pennington, at GSU. Her number is (912) 871-1326.

Want to know who to thank for the chance to do this? Dr. Martha Pennington is the proposer and project director. Mrs. Wendy Weinberger is the co-proposer and regional coordinator for the project. Dr. David Dudley is the co-proposer and session coordinator.

*The Screven County Library is at 106 Community Dr in Sylvania, please call (912) 564-7526 for directions
The Jenkins County Memorial Library is at 223 Daniel St in Millen, please call (478) 982-4244 for directions

News from KNOWhere - 08/16/07

Summer’s over, the kids are back in school – so why not take advantage of the quieter days to beat the heat with some cool reads? We’ve gotten a lot of new books in lately, and the daytime is the perfect time to enjoy them, or to pop onto one of our computers to check your email.

People have been asking if the online driver’s education classes we’ve been talking about are free. Unfortunately, no. All we can offer is a chance to work on your driver’s ed class and a couple pointers on which course is the cheapest – however, it does keep you from having to wait in line to get to a computer when things are busy, and we won’t kick you off when time’s up!

News from Screven

Have you heard that the Screven County Hospital’s Community Outreach Program is gearing up to start a series of free diabetes education classes? We’re providing the space, but if you’d like details call the hospital at 912-564-5238 and ask the folks in the Outreach office what’s going to be covered when. The first class will be on Monday from 5 – 6 pm, and the next will be on Wednesday from 12:15 – 1: 15 pm. Come in and learn about diabetes – and if you have any questions that the presenter, Dr. Christine McFarlin, can’t answer, come into the library and check out one of the books from our display. We have a ton of books on diabetes just waiting for you, ranging from what diabetes is, to how to help kids live with it, and even a whole lot of great cookbooks designed for the diabetic but healthy for all of us!

Jessica Mock has a wonderful collection of origami art that she’s sharing with us all. There’s all sorts of incredible folded-paper art in our lobby display case, ranging from boxes to birds! Make sure to look for the peacock, made with over 400 pieces of paper – it’s absolutely spectacular!

Michael White is an award-winning children’s book illustrator whose art made THE LIBRARY DRAGON spit fire, made HARRIET’S HORRIBLE HAIR DAY truly terrible, and revealed THE SECRET OF OLD ZEB. Not only that, but he’s a man on a mission to let everyone know that you don’t have to have a “god-given gift” to do art… you just have to love it and be willing to keep trying. His work has been donated to the library and will be on display throughout the month of August.

News from Jenkins

Bring your kids in Wednesday at 4 pm for storytime. It’s a great chance for them to listen to a story and do something creative, so don’t miss it!

Many thanks to the Camellia Garden Club for donating the school supplies that we will be giving away in our special back-to-school drawing Wednesday August 15.

Now, on to the books!

PEONY IN LOVE by Lisa See. Travel back to 17^th Century China and meet Peony, a girl betrothed from birth to a suitor she has never met, and see how her cloistered life changes when she is given the chance to see the epic opera “The Peony Pavilion” and finds love in the most unexpected and forbidden of places.

THE WHITE HOUSE CONNECTION by Jack Higgins. Someone is killing off the members of a splinter group called the Sons of Erin. Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem for the English or American governments – but right now, it could bring down two governments and derail the Irish peace process.

THE FOURTH ORDER by Stephen Frey. When businessman Michael Rose pushes his company’s board to acquire global informational technology company CIS, he’s just after the big score – the one which will put him in the CEO’s chair. But what he doesn’t know is that CIS is the cover for The Order, an ultra-secret government agency that dates back to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln… and which is sanctioned to defend the country and itself by any means necessary.

EARLY NEGRO WRITING 1760 – 1837 selected & introduced by Dorothy Porter. From poems to sermons to essays, African-American authors from the pre-Civil War era speak up on subjects such as freedom, slavery, politics, religion and more. Many of the works here are no longer in print, and even original copies are rare. This is one of the most extensive collections of writings by and about early Black Americans.

Links to the following sites can also be found at www.sjrls.org

Hitchcock's Style
"Alfred Hitchcock is perhaps Britain's most famous and highly regarded film director, yet he is best known today -- even in Britain -- for the films he made after he left the country in 1939 for a career in Hollywood." This site describes how the style ("the themes, preoccupations, tricks and techniques") of this "Master of Suspense" was in place by the time he went to Hollywood. Clips only available to British educational users.

Riding the Rails
Brief essay about the "more than two million men and perhaps 8,000 women [who] became hoboes" during the Great Depression. Includes illustrations, a short list of people who rode the rails and later became famous, and an oral history from one man who became a hobo during this period. From Wessels Living History Farm, a project devoted to the history of American agriculture.

50 State Summary of Breastfeeding Laws
Summary and chart of state laws related to breastfeeding of infants, including those allowing women to breastfeed in public or private locations, exemptions of breastfeeding from public indecency laws, employment laws (such as allowance for breaks and breastfeeding areas in the workplace), exemptions from jury duty service, and more. Includes links to laws. From the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

Keeping Memories Alive: Peace Archives
This site created in 2005 (60 years after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945) describes "numerous radio and TV programs relating to the atomic bombings and peace ever since those tragedies occurred. Approximately 400 of such programs are stored in the NHK Archives." Also includes selected video clips. In English and Japanese. From NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation).

Well, that’s it for now – see you at the library!

News from Knowhere - 08-10-07

It's hot out there, but it's not in here - come chill out at the library!


News from Screven

I hope you’re all ready for some fun – today (August 9) at 4 pm we’ll be having our monthly craft day here at the library! It’s always a great way to exercise your creativity and make something cute and seasonal, so please join us.

Just when you got used to coming to the library on Wednesday for storytime, we’ve gone and changed it. We’re holding our preschool storytimes at 10 am on Tuesdays, just like we did before our summer reading program stirred everything around. Bring the little ones and let them listen to a story and do a craft while you take a little you-time to check your email or read a newspaper… or, for that matter, join in the fun yourself!

Do you have a baby or toddler too young for storytime? You’re in luck – Miss Gina’s Twinkle Time kids have graduated to the big-kid storytime, which means that this is the perfect chance to help her find a time that works for you! Just call the library at 912-564-7526 and she’ll be thrilled to set up a new schedule for lapsitting, nursery rhymes and fun-for-you-too games that help your baby’s mind grow!

Did you hear that the Screven County Hospital will be hosting a series of free diabetes education classes here at the library? They’ll be held on Mondays at 5 – 6 pm and Wednesdays from 12:15 – 1:15 pm starting on August 20 and going on until October 3, and Dr. Christine McFarlin will be the presenter. If you’d like more information, please call the Screven County Hospital Outreach Program at 912-564-5238 Monday, Wednesday or Friday. (And while you’re at the library for the class, check out some of the books from our diabetes display!)

Have you seen Jessica Mock’s wonderful origami? She’s got spectacular peacocks, intricate boxes, and even an adorable puppy with his own dog house! Come marvel at the meticulous craftsmanship she puts into every one of her creations.

And speaking of things you shouldn’t miss, pop into the multipurpose room and see the work of the Library Dragon! Michael White, the artist who brought THE LIBRARY DRAGON and many more beloved children’s book characters to life, gave us a wonderful set of drawings when he was here to share his love of art with our kids. Now, you can see his work up close – and better yet, you can see both the work he did at Screven County Library and what he did at Jenkins County Memorial Library!

News from Jenkins

It’s been a busy summer, and we’re taking a little bit of a break from storytimes while we gear up to bring our wonderful library storytimes into the schools. However, we’ll be back and ready to go again on Wednesday, August 15 at 4 pm with stories, crafts and fun for everyone!

We’d like to thank everyone who came to the reception for Donna Johnson August 3, it was wonderful to see you and Donna was so glad to hear how much you enjoyed her great drawings.

Now, on to the books - and remember, a click or two and your ID & PIN numbers are all it takes to reserve any of these great summertime reads!

THINGS WE ONCE HELD DEAR by Ann Tatlock. A suspicious death had rocked Neil Sadler’s world years before. Now another loss has reawakened memories he’d thought lost, and with it his feelings for his childhood friend Mary. Their friendship had been lost in the wake of one tragedy – could another bring them back together again?

STALIN’S GHOST by Martin Cruz Smith. Arkady Renko is chasing a suspect police officer, a former commando who’d served in Chechnya. His job would be a lot easier if it weren’t for the fact that his girlfriend is dating the man he’s chasing, his adopted son wasn’t missing, and the ghost of Stalin wasn’t being seen by passengers on the metro’s last run of the night, every night.

UNDEAD AND UNEASY by Mary Janice Davidson. It’s not unusual for a soon-to-be groom to disappear when talk turns to seating charts and flower arrangements, even if he is a Vampire King. But when half of her friends and loved ones disappear at the same time, it’s up to the new Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor to fight fang and nail to get them back.

COMPLETE IDIOT’S GUIDE TO MOTORCYCLES by Motor Cyclist magazine with Darwin Holmstrom and Charles Everitt. Get ready to roll, people! Here’s where you can find out which bike to pick, what gear you’ll need, how not to get into trouble on the road (or with your fellow bikers) and all you want to know about taking your bike off-road.

Cool Links

Enjoyment of Music Online Tutor
"Listen to a selection of more than 250 musical excerpts as you take the quizzes, review transitions between eras, or learn more about 80 composers." Also includes timelines relating to musical eras (Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th century), and links to additional material for composers such as Johannes Brahms, Claude Debussy, Franz Liszt, and Richard Wagner. From W.W. Norton and Company.

Harry Potter
This site lists the seven Harry Potter books, suggests other books for children and young adults who enjoyed reading them, and includes links to official and fan Harry Potter sites. From the Baltimore County Public Library.

MedlinePlus: Breast Feeding
Compilation of links to breastfeeding, including general information and overviews, research, law and policy, statistics, and organizations. Includes many links to specific topics related to breastfeeding, such as breast pumps, breastfeeding compared to formula feeding, nutrition, and medications. From the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Sacred: Discover What We Share
This online version of a 2007 British Library exhibit allows visitors to explore over 60 Jewish, Christian, and Islamic scriptures by looking at rare books and turning the pages. Browse chronologically, by faith, or by featured themes such as pictures and portraits and "firsts and oldests." Also includes video clips, podcasts, and an interactive map showing where the books were produced.

Press TV
"Press TV is the first international Iran-based news network to broadcast in English on a round-the-clock schedule." It "offers broad news coverage, specifically focusing on the Middle East," and aims to "tackle the controversial global news agenda and broadcasts cutting-edge documentaries with political, social and economic contents." The site features news articles and the opportunity to watch live coverage.


Well, that’s it for now – see you at the library!

News from Knowhere - 08/02/07

Oh, my goodness - is it August already? Time flies when you're having fun!

News from Screven

First things first: rumors to the contrary, the library IS NOT CLOSING for renovations. We’re not sure how that rumor got started, but that happened last year when we got our spiffy new carpet installed. Sorry for the confusion some of you experienced, but if you’d like to know what’s really going on at the library, check this column or our blog at sjrls.blogspot.com!

It’s hard to believe, but it’s back to school time again, and we can tell by how many kids aren’t in the library these past few mornings. Best of luck to all of the kids in class as they start a new school year!

Speaking of classes – we won a great grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. We’ve been granted funds to get two computers to be used exclusively for young drivers to learn how to stay safe and legal on the road, so if you’ve got a teen who’s ready to start learning how to drive and you can’t afford the price of the private schools, bring them on over to the library as soon as we have them set up!

Storytime has gone back to Tuesdays at 10 am. It’s a wonderful way to help your child learn about the magic of reading while having a fun time!

Next Thursday, August 9, we’ll be having a great time at our monthly craft day at 4 pm. It’s a wonderful way to stretch your imagination and learn to see things in a little different light. It’s suitable for all ages, so everyone from Grandma to her grandbabies will enjoy this chance to have a little creative fun!

News from Jenkins

It's hard to believe that it's August already. Best of luck to all the kids as they prepare for a new school year!

We're taking a little break from storytime to catch our breath before school starts. But we'll be back spreading the joy of reading on Wednesday, August 15 at 4 pm, so come join us for stories, crafts and fun!

Now, on to the books!

A LOVA’ LIKE NO OTHA’ by Stephanie Perry Moore. Zoe Clarke has a strong prayer life, a good job, loyal friends… and a cheating fiancé who just dumped her at the altar for his pregnant girlfriend. That’s just the start of the trouble, as her life begins to fall apart around her. Is there anything – or Anyone – that she can believe in?

CHOCOLATE by Jacqueline Bellefontaine. 120 delectable chocolate recipes from around the world, including some low-fat versions as well as the usual chocolate decadence one expects from a book on everyone’s favorite sweet.

ULTRAMETABOLISM: THE SIMPLE PLAN FOR AUTOMATIC WEIGHT LOSS by Mark Hyman, M. D. The author of the bestselling ULTRAPREVENTION turns his attention to igniting your fat-burning DNA. He identifies the seven most basic problems with dieting and points towards solutions.

THE DANGEROUS BOOK FOR BOYS by Hal Iggulden & Conn Iggulden. Want to know what that bug you caught in a jar is? Want to know how to build a tree fort or a race car? All the stuff that boys love to know collected in one spot for you and your boys to enjoy!

THE MANNY by Holly Peterson. What’s a working mom to do when her son desperately needs a male role model, and her own husband is too busy in his own job to provide one? Why, she hires a nanny – a male nanny who can teach the boy all the “guy stuff”.

Links to the following sites can also be found at www.sjrls.org, our library home on the web!

Wish You Were Here: Artists on Vacation
"Like everyone else, artists view vacation as a time to get away from the grind. ... Getting away, however, does not mean leaving the canvas or sketchbook behind." This exhibit "include numerous items that show artists on vacation, from snapshots and sketchbooks to letters and postcards." Browsable by topics such as anticipation, city, woods, summer homes, passports, and abroad. From the Smithsonian Archives of American Art.

Sunscreen Summary -- What Works and What's Safe
"In a new [2007] investigation of 785 name-brand sunscreens, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found widespread evidence that many products on the market are not safe and effective, including one of every eight high-SPF sunscreens that does not protect from UVA radiation. [EWG has] also identified 130 products that offer very good sun protection with ingredients that present minimal health risks to users." Includes a summary of the report and details about products.

National Hot Dog & Sausage Council
The website for this industry organization provides a collection of materials promoting hot dogs and sausage, such as hot dog history and trivia, a hot dog factory tour, glossary of sausages and prepared meats, and hot dog etiquette. Also includes a recipe collection and brochures featuring recipes for crockpots, tailgating, holidays, and other themes.

Television: Simpson Family Values
In anticipation of the July 2007 release of "The Simpsons Movie," this article provides a "behind-the-cels oral history from the TV show's voices, writers, animators, and ultimate boss -- Rupert Murdoch." Also includes links to a Q&A with former Simpsons writer Conan O'Brien and picks for the ten funniest Simpsons episodes. An expanded website feature from Vanity Fair magazine.

Design for the Other 90%
Website companion to this 2007 exhibition that "demonstrates how design can be a dynamic force in saving and transforming lives, at home and around the world." Includes descriptions and images of design projects concerned with shelter, health, water, education, energy, and transportation. View projects by topic of region of the world. Also includes a blog, panel discussion video, and related links. From the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, New York.

Well, that’s it for now – see you at the library!