News from KNOWhere - 10-25-2007

Ever wonder what helped lay the foundation for the Plantation system in the Old South? I bet you never thought that deerskins had anything to do with it! If you’d like to find out how the seeds were planted, come in to the Screven County Library on Tuesday, October 30 at 7 pm and listen to Dr. Jonathon Bryant discuss the genesis of the plantation economy in the South. This program is part of the “Southeast Georgia On Our Minds” series, a collaborative effort between the Screven-Jenkins Regional Library System and Georgia Southern’s Humanities Department funded by the Georgia Humanities Council.

Ever wonder about the origins of Halloween, or how it’s celebrated around the world? Come to the library and you’ll find information about the history of Halloween, various ways to enjoy it, and lots of fun ways to decorate for it!

News from Screven

We'll be celebrating Halloween this Tuesday, October 30! Visit the library in costume any time Tuesday and we'll take a picture of you to be used in a cool costume contest!

Deborah Bailey, owner of Southern Exposures photography in Statesboro, will be sharing her hand-tinted photography with us throughout the month of November.

Storytime is at 10 am Tuesdays – bring your little ones to share in the fun as they hear a story and do a cute seasonal craft!

On Thursday, November 8 at 4 pm we’ll be having another of our great craft days. Everyone is welcome, so sign up now to enjoy fun for all ages!

Dial-a-story is a great solution for those days when you just don’t have the time to read your child a bedtime story. Just call 564-7080 and listen to a new story every week.

The United Daughters of the Confederacy, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and Children of the Confederacy will be have their display in the library until the end of October. November’s exhibit will be by the Sylvania Junior Woman’s Club.

Are you an artist or a crafter? Do you have a great collection that you’d like to share with people? The library is looking for people to exhibit their work or collections in 2008! Just call Sharon at 564-7526 to schedule your display.

News from Jenkins

Storytime is at 4 pm Wednesdays – bring your little ones to share in the fun as they hear a story and do a cute seasonal craft!

Are you an artist or a crafter? Do you have a great collection that you’d like to share with people? The library is looking for people to exhibit their work or collections in 2008! Just call 982-4244 to schedule your display.

Dial-a-story is a great solution for those days when you just don’t have the time to read your child a bedtime story. Just call 982-5898 and listen to a new story every week.

Now, on to the books!

EVERY DAY DESERVES A CHANCE by Max Lucado. Suppose, neck deep in a tough day, you resolve to give it a chance, not to worry, drink or work it away. You stress less, are more grateful for what goes right, and count your blessings instead of your burdens. You give every day a chance.

CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS, CHANGE YOUR LIFE by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer. Dr. Dyer has read hundreds of translations of the Tao Te Ching and from it, he has created 81 essays on the nature of our existence and how to find peace by living in harmony with the natural world.

DEAD HEAT by Dick Francis and Felix Francis. Max Moreton is a culinary star – until the guests who enjoyed a meal he catered at a private event get severe food poisoning. He battles to make the next meal one that no one will forget – but the food is overshadowed by the bomb that kills many of his staff and the guests. After two hits like that, can he survive?

NINETEEN MINUTES by Jodi Picoult. A small town. A horrific school shooting. A lawyer representing a boy who desperately needs someone to stand up for him and a detective whose best witness is the daughter of the judge assigned to the case. A story of justice, power and what it means to be different.

THE BONE GARDEN by Tess Gerritsen. In 1830s Boston, a talented but penniless medical student decided to turn to graverobbing to finance his education. A nasty and illegal business – but it’s not murder, and murder is the crime he’s accused of when a nurse and a doctor become victims of grisly murder.

Check out these cool links!

International Slavery Museum
Website for this British museum in Liverpool that opened in 2007, the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in Britain. The museum "explores both the historical and contemporary aspects of slavery." The site provides images of highlights from the collection, a history of the transatlantic slave trade, and an interactive feature that follows four Africans on a sinking slave ship.

Make Textbooks Affordable.com
Website for a national student campaign to reduce college textbook costs. Features a discussion of why textbooks are expensive (such as new editions and supplementary material), suggestions for finding cheaper books and saving money (such as buying or renting online), reports on topics such as publishers' pricing tactics, and links to news about legislative activity. A joint campaign of various student organizations throughout the U.S.

National School Lunch Week
Website for this mid-October event, which recognizes the importance of school lunches in providing America's children with access to nutritious meals. Features recipes for five suggested meals (including a wrap with dip, a burger with potatoes, and a rice bowl), and an opportunity to vote for your favorite meal. Includes printable material about health and nutrition aspects of each meal. From the School Nutrition Association.

Facts for Features Special Edition: The 2008 Presidential Election
"To mark the start of the 2008 presidential election season, the Census Bureau has culled ... facts from previously released statistical reports." Data focuses on state and national voter turnout trends, including women, military veterans, registration methods, reasons for not voting, and related facts. From the U.S. Census Bureau.

Virtual Exhibits of the Max Kade Institute
Collection of online exhibits related to German-American history and culture. Topics for exhibits include bread baking traditions in Wisconsin, German American music, 19th and early 20th century German immigration to America, German-language literature in America (1830-1930), German-American documents (such as letters, an autograph book, and recipes), and a presentation "How German Is American?" From the Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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

News from KNOWhere - 10-19-2007

Ever wonder how the old Plantation system got started? Come to the library on Tuesday, October 30 at 7 pm and find out what unites deerskins, cotton fields and the Old South as Dr. Jonathan Bryant leads the discussion on “The Deerskin Trade in the Deep South”. After he talks about the genesis of the plantation economy, we’ll discuss what we’ve learned and enjoy some snacks as we chew on some food for thought. This event is the fifth in the “Southeast Georgia On Our Minds” series, a collaborative effort between our library system and GSU’s Humanities Department, and is funded by a grant from the Georgia Humanities Council.

The Jenkins County Memorial Library Board will be meeting at 10 am on Wednesday, October 24. The Screven-Jenkins Regional Library Board will be meeting at 4 pm on Thursday, October 25.

Do you have a teen who’s ready to get their driver’s license, but dread the thought of hauling them all the way to Statesboro and back to one of the state-approved driving schools and the expense of paying for the course? Come into the library and we’ll help your teen find the cheapest online classes, and help you to learn how to help them get their supervised driving hours to meet the requirements of Joshua’s Law. We have a list of approved online classes and dedicated computers paid for by a grant from the Georgia Department of Highway Safety – a grant offered just to make it as easy as possible for your teen to get the training they need to be safe drivers!

Teen Read Week is still going on! If you’re a teen or adult, why not let everyone know what your favorite teen book is by sharing your review on the Teen Picks board? It’s a super-simple thing to do, and it’s a great way to help teens find fun stuff to read!

New from Screven

If you to prefer a touching romance to the hard facts of history, come in on Tuesday, October 23 at 7 pm for an author talk offered by Elizabeth Ryan, better known to Screven Countians as Elizabeth Janney. In her book ENDLESS LOVE, a doctor’s faith walk is challenged when life takes him on a path of hardships and heartache as he learns how to stand on God’s promises.

Storytime is on Tuesdays at 10 am. It’s wonderful to see all those little faces light up as they experience the joy of books and create cute crafts. Bring your child in to experience the wonders of words and art!

New from Jenkins

Light up your child's life - bring them to the library Wednesdays at 4 pm for story and craft time. It's a chance for them to hear a story and do an adorable craft or artwork that you can use to help decorate your home for the season.




Now, on to the books - and remember, with just a couple of clicks, you can reserve any of our books!

SOMETHING MORE by Janet Dailey. Life in Glory, Wyoming isn’t exactly exciting – until Luke McCallister finds a human skull and the key to Glory’s oldest mystery: the location of a hidden hoard of gold, buried a century ago by outlaws.

SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN by Lisa See. In 19^th century China, the oppressed women of the time created a secret language: “nu shu”, painted on fans and shared between women who would become lifelong friends. But when a misunderstanding threatens to tear their friendship apart, Lily might lose the one person whose friendship has kept her soul alive…

BEYOND THE WHITE HOUSE: WAGING PEACE, FIGHTING DISEASE, BUILDING HOPE by Jimmy Carter. On his 70^th birthday, Barbara Walters asked Carter what the best time of his life had been. Thinking about it, he gave his answer, “By far, my best years are those I’m enjoying now, since Rosalynn and I left the White House.” See why in this book.

ALL-TIME FAMILY FAVORITES: GRANDMA’S OLD-FASHIONED COOKIES. The Original Toll House Chocolate Cookie recipe. Luscious Lemon Bars. Pecan Date Bars. Here are some of those old traditional recipes that will take you back to the days when Grandma’s kitchen was filled with the smells of fresh-baked cookies made just for you.

THE WAR: AN INTIMATE HISTORY, 1941 - 1945 by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns. From tales of boot camp days cut short by Pearl Harbor to the nurses who treated airmen injured in bombing raids over Germany, from the freezing cold infantrymen in France to soldiers hunting Japanese snipers through the sweltering summers in Okinawa, follow 40 people through some of the most pivotal and turbulent times in history.



Check out these cool links!

Arts Education Partnership (AEP)
AEP "is a national coalition of arts, education, business, philanthropic and government organizations that demonstrate and promote the essential role of the arts in the learning and development of every child." Its website features a searchable database with information on state arts education policies, publications and reports on the benefits of arts education, and links to resources for evaluation and assessment, national and state advocacy efforts, and more.

Monthly Reading Activities: A Month of Reading With the NEA
Collection of ideas for monthly reading activities for children. Includes ideas for Newbery and Caldecott Awards for January, Black History Month in February, National Poetry Month in April, Christopher Robin's birthday in August, National Book Month in October, and the winter solstice in December. Also includes short lists of author birthdays and links to reading lists. From the National Education Association (NEA).

Amiri Baraka
Official website for Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones), "the author of over 40 books of essays, poems, drama, and music history and criticism, a poet icon and revolutionary political activist." Features a biography, audio and video clips, essays and poems (including the controversial "Somebody Blew Up America," written about the September 11, 2001, attacks when Baraka was New Jersey's poet laureate), and related links.

PolishRoots®: The Polish Genealogy Source
Searchable directory of "materials of interest to those researching their Polish ancestry." Although the site focuses on genealogical resources (for example, surname search, online forum, databases), it will be of interest to anyone looking for information about Polish history, customs, geography, and heraldry. Includes links to information in both English and Polish.

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

News from KNOWhere - 10/10/07

Peter Christopher, Associate Professor of Writing at GSU and author of LOST DOGS AND OTHER TALES and CAMPFIRES OF THE DEAD, will be helping aspiring writers learn how to tap into their creative side. He'll also be illustrating some of his work by reading from his writings.It should be really fun, so come join us for learning, snacks, and some very interesting discussion afterwards!

This community discussion, part of our “Southeast Georgia On Our Minds” series, will be held on Tuesday, October 16 at 7 pm at the Jenkins County Memorial Library. “Southeast Georgia On Our Minds” is a collaborative effort between the Screven-Jenkins Regional Library System and Georgia Southern University’s Humanities Department, and funding for the series comes from a grant provided by the Georgia Humanities Council.

Next week is Teen Read Week – join us for some laughs as we celebrate the books that make teen life a blast! Not only that, but if you’re a teen (or remember being a teen) we’ll have a special display where you can tell us what your favorite teen book is and why, so come in and share the joy of reading your favorite books with us!

This month is also National Book Month, so even if you aren’t a teen, come in and share the joy of reading!

The Screven-Jenkins Regional Library Board will be meeting on Thursday, October 25 at 4 pm at the Screven County Library.

Do you have a teen who’s ready to start learning to drive? Are you dreading the thought of driving them to Statesboro all the time so that they can take the classes necessary to comply with Joshua’s Law? Come into the library and we can help you get them into an online class with a lot less time and trouble – plus, we’ll help you understand how you as a parent can help your teen get the supervised driving experience they need.

News from Screven

We will be having an author talk on Tuesday, October 23 at 7 pm. The author is Elizabeth A. Ryan (better known to Sylvania folks as Elizabeth Janney of Noah’s Ark Christian Academy and of Believer’s Church) and her book is “Endless Love”, the story of a man’s struggle to keep his faith and find what love truly is when everything goes wrong.

The United Daughters of the Confederacy, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and Children of the Confederacy have a display in the lobby.

News from Jenkins

Don't forget to go to the library tomorrow to put in your bid for one (or more!) of the great cakes and pies up for auction! The silent cake auction is being held by the Friends of the Jenkins County Memorial Library to raise funds for new children's books, so come in and support your local library - and get a cake made by one of the best cooks in Jenkins County while you're at it!



Now, on to the books!

THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO by Junot Diaz. Oscar was a sweet and romantic ghetto nerd with dreams of being the next J.R.R. Tolkien, but there was one problem with his dreams of fame and love: the family curse that has haunted his family.

GARDEN SPELLS by Sarah Addison Allen. In a garden surrounded by a tall fence, tucked away behind a house in a tiny town, there grows an apple tree with very special fruit. Here is the story of that magical tree, and the family who tends it.

HERE SHE LIES by Kate Pepper. When her marriage breaks up, Annie Milken goes to the one person she’s always trusted: her twin sister. But now, her sister has disappeared… and she’s taken Annie’s baby with her.

SKINNY COOKS CAN’T BE TRUSTED by Mo’Nique. Comedian Mo’Nique is large and in charge as she shares not only her recipes but food memories, cooking tips, strategies to make cooking easier, and even fashion tips, because “if done right, good food can lead to good lovin’!”

THE WORLD’S GREATEST HOTELS RESORTS + SPAS. A secret hideaway in New Zealand? Adventure in Argentina? A culinary getaway in Costa Rica? If you want to know where to go for your idea of fun, here’s the book for you.

Cool links to other sites!

ePodunk...The Power of Place
If you have ever pored over a U.S. map and wondered about the small towns, this is the site for you. ePodunk provides information about nearly 50,000 communities around the country, focusing more on small places than on cities. You can jump from museums to local claims to fame to electronic, historic postcards to college towns, and much more. It is easy to spend a lot of time on this well-designed, entertaining, and informative site. (Oh, and Sylvania folks – why is it that Millen has gorgeous pictures of their town up and Sylvania doesn’t?)

National Book Month
Collection of craft ideas inspired by National Book Month in October. Includes ideas for making bookmarks, learning about the Braille alphabet, and making handmade books. Also includes lesson plans with ideas such as making models of fantasy characters out of clay, and making a card and writing to an author. From Crayola. Note: While activities suggest the use of Crayola products, such use is not required.

Library Use Value Calculator
Use this online form to estimate the value of the library services you use each month. Services listed include materials borrowed (books, movies, audio books, museum passes), magazines used in library, interlibrary loan, children's programs attended, computer use, reference questions, and more. From the Maine State Library.

Crime Prevention Month
Collection of tips and publications for Crime Prevention Month, observed annually in October. "The month-long celebration spotlights successful crime prevention efforts on the local, state, and national levels." Includes Halloween safety brochures and links to other crime prevention material. From the National Crime Prevention Council.

Edible Gardens: Making a Scarecrow
Collection of tips for making a scarecrow, with ideas for a frame, head and face, hands and feet, hair, and clothing and accessories. Includes suggestions for assembling the scarecrow, and other ideas such as making scarecrow animals. From the website for the Victoria (Australia) government's "campaign to get Victorians physically active and eating healthily."

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

News from KNOWhere - 10-4-2007

Is it October already? Time flies when you’re having fun!

We’re having a great time with our “Southeast Georgia On Our Minds” series. Professors from Georgia Southern come to our libraries and share their information about Southeast Georgia’s history, culture, literature and more; then we have some snacks and talk about what we’ve learned.

Aspiring writers will be interested in the next program in the series: Mr. Peter Christopher’s “The Creative Impulse in Writing” focuses on how to become more creative and improve your writing skills by drawing on the inspiration that’s all around you. You’ll also get a special treat, as Mr. Christopher will be reading from his books CAMPFIRES OF THE DEAD and LOST DOGS AND OTHER STORIES. The event will be on Tuesday, October 16 at 7 pm at the Jenkins County Memorial Library, so don’t miss it! The series is a collaboration between GSU’s Humanities Department and the SJRLS and is funded by a grant from the Georgia Humanities Council.

The libraries will be closed to the public on Monday, October 8.

We’ve got a brand new type of audiobook available for checkout: the PLAYAWAY! It’s an MP3 player that comes pre-loaded with a complete audiobook inside, and it’s easy to listen to in your car, at home, or while walking the dog. Want to know more? Just ask!

News from Screven

We’ll be having one of our great craft days on Thursday, October 11 at 4 pm. It’s a wonderful time for all ages to come exercise their creativity by making a super seasonal craft project, but you need to sign up ahead of time so we’ll have enough materials to go around!

On Tuesday, October 9 the board of the Friends of the Screven County Library will be meeting at 12 pm. If you are a board member or committee chairperson in the Friends, please attend. Are you not a Friend, but would like to be? Just five seconds to fill out the form and $5 for dues, and you’ll be part of a group dedicated to helping the library become even better!

Those of you who have been patiently waiting for the driver’s ed computers to be ready – they’re here, they’re ready, and we can check them out to you now! These computers are designed just to let you attend online driver’s ed classes, and we’ll be happy to help you get enrolled in one.

Storytime is at 10 am on Tuesdays – it’s a great time for preschoolers to learn, laugh, and create, so bring your little ones to join the fun!

News from Jenkins

Our Super Saturday Book Sale will be held Saturday, October 6. If you think that our regular sale is a good deal, wait until you see these incredible books! Friends of the Library are invited to come in Friday – your membership in the Friends of the Library means you get the first shot at these great practically-new books!

Storytime is at 4 pm on Wednesdays. It’s a wonderful opportunity for kids to learn, laugh, and create, so bring your little ones to join the fun!

Don't forget the Fair on the Square! Not only will the library be having its book sale, but the Azalea Garden Club will have a Standard Flower Show in the library's multipurpose room, and the Friends of the Library will be holding a Silent Auction Cake Bake to raise money for new children's books! So come in and feast your eyes, fill your mind, and satisfy your sweet tooth all at once!


Now, on to the books - and remember, you're just a click or two away from getting any of these fine works!

DOING IT RIGHT by MaryJanice Davidson. Not one, but two sexy, funny romance novels tucked into a single cover. THIEF OF HEARTS has a gorgeous and dangerous thief falling for a sexy doctor after he catches her beating up a mobster she stole from. WILD HEARTS has a bad boy trying to steal a car – and finding out what a woman can be driven to.

DADDY’S GIRL by Lisa Scottoline. Natalie Greco just didn’t fit in. Not as a law professor who couldn’t keep her students from cruising porn sites during class, not as the only bookworm in a family of football fanatics… but she never thought she’d find herself on the run from cops and criminals alike.

THE AUDACITY OF HOPE by Barack Obama. Wondering what Obama stands for and where he comes from? Want to know his platform, and how he believes he can make America better? Read the book.

PHANTOM WARRIOR: THE HEROIC TRUE STORY OF PVT. JOHN MCKINNEY’S ONE-MAN STAND AGAINST THE JAPANESE IN WORLD WAR II by Forrest Bryant Johnson. Ever wonder why we named Highway 21 after J.R. McKinney? Here’s the story of how a hometown boy from Screven County became one of only six Georgians to earn a Medal of Honor in WWII.

Check out these cool links!

Fokus Deutsch
On-demand "video instructional series in German for college and high school classrooms and adult learners" originally produced for public television by WGBH Boston, Inter Nationes, and the Goethe-Institut. The episodes, which were filmed using native German speakers, cover topics such as school, work, travel, and personal relationships. Requires free registration. Includes links to other language learning programs. From Annenberg Media, part of the Annenberg Foundation

Acorn Housing
This nonprofit with offices throughout the U.S. provides "free housing counseling to low and moderate income homebuyers." Its site features information about obtaining credit for buying a home, predatory lending practices, and options when you are behind on your mortgage. Includes a list of local offices.

Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association: Fact Sheets
Some of the topics covered in this collection of fact sheets include wood stoves, pellet stoves, gas logs, fireplace inserts, zone heating, safe barbecuing, creating an outdoor room, and electric, gas, and wood-burning fireplaces. From the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, an international trade organization.

Children of Prisoners Library (CPL)
"More than one in forty children in the United States has a parent in prison. ... [This site] provides free information sheets designed for people serving children of prisoners and their caregivers." Features pamphlets on topics such as visiting mom or dad, jail and prison procedures, common stress points, and tips for fostering trust and safety. Also includes a glossary and links to related material. From the Family and Corrections Network.

Well, that's it for now - see you at the library!