News from Knowhere - 12/31/07

This is the last article of the year, which means it’s a great chance to look back at all the things we’ve done over the course of the year.

We had a great time with our programs this year: our Summer Reading Club had a lot of wonderful events, there were a lot of kids who enjoyed reading a lot of books (and staying inside where there was air conditioning!) and coming to our carnival. We had some incredible artists from Screven County and the surrounding area displaying their work in our library. We had fun being part of the Livestock Parade. Our Free Friday movies are a ton of fun. And, of course, we’ve gotten lots of wonderful new books, movies and audiobooks!

It’s also a great time to look ahead!

Do you have a teen or preteen in middle or high school? Are they worn out with all the reading they have to do to keep up with the requirements for advanced placement or accelerated reading? We have a way to make reading fun again: the Not Yo Mama’s Book Clubs! Everyone who comes will receive a copy of the book for their own collection, and when we meet next month, they’ll get a chance to talk about the book – and if they want, they can even write a review that we’ll post on our website!

We’re also looking to the future, trying to get artists from the area to display their works in the multipurpose room, as well as to show their collections and creations in the display cases in the lobby. If you or someone you know would like to display your art or collections, give us a call at 564-7526 and we’ll set things up for you!

We’re also introducing a brand-new kind of audiobook: the Playaway! It’s almost like an MP3 player or iPod, in that you can listen to it anywhere over the headphones. You’ll have a fully-loaded audiobook waiting for you to listen to it, and you only need to press a button to or two to make it work! Right now, all the playaways are aimed for teens and tweens, but if we have grownups asking, we just might expand our list of titles.

The library will be closed on Tuesday, January 1. We’ll all be sleeping after staying up late to watch the New Years Eve specials!

News from Screven

The first meeting of the Not Yo Mama's Middle School Book Club will be held on Thursday, January 17 at 4 pm, and our first book will be THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER. Come to the meeting to learn more and join in the fun!

The first meeting of the Not Yo Mama's High School Book Club will be held on Thursday, January 24 at 4 pm, and our first book will be BRAVE NEW WORLD. It's the fun way of working through that huge AP reading list!



News from Jenkins

The first meeting of the Not Yo Mama's Middle School Book Club will be held on Wednesday, January 16 at 4 pm, and our first book will be THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER. Come to the meeting to learn more and join in the fun!

The first meeting of the Not Yo Mama's High School Book Club will be held on Wednesday, January 23 at 4 pm, and our first book will be BRAVE NEW WORLD. It's the fun way of reading the books your teachers want read!



Now, on to the books - and remember, just a few clicks is all it takes to reserve them!

EGRETS TO THE FLAMES by Barbara Anton. The Hampton family has built a vast fortune on sugar cane, but it has come at a price: the flames that burn off the old growth after harvest have a terrible impact on the environment. Add to that the protests against their treatment of their sugar cane cutters, the family patriarch’s affair, his wife’s sordid secrets and the various dramas of the children, and you have a man desperately trying to keep his whole family from diving down like egrets to the flames.

MARK’S STORY by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. The next installment of THE JESUS CHRONICLES, LaHay & Jenkins’ latest book begins on the evening of the last day of Jesus’ life. Mark, who has witnessed Jesus’ prophesies of the events to come and seen them come true, asks his friend Peter to write for him the work that becomes the Gospel of Mark.

IF I DID IT: CONFESSIONS OF THE KILLER by O. J. Simpson. Here, Simpson writes how he would hypothetically have committed the murders of Ron Goldman and of Nicole Brown Simpson.

MR. MODEM’S INTERNET GUIDE FOR SENIORS by Richard A Sherman. Sherman, the writer of the “Mr. Modem” column for SENIOR WORLD NEWSPAPERS, introduces seniors to subjects ranging from how to get connected to online shopping, newsgroups and chat rooms, email and research. It’s even written in large print to help make it easier to read.

THE BIG BOOK OF DIABETIC DESSERTS by Jackie Mills. Think your diabetes means you’ll never be able to have a sweet, decadent dessert again? Think again! This cookbook contains over 150 recipes for delicious treats that won’t leave you looking for insulin!

Check out these cool websites!

Consumer Reports: Best Cell Phone Deals
This consumer article provides suggestions for choosing cell phone providers, following the 2007 national annual survey that "found that fewer than half of respondents were completely or very satisfied" with their cell phone service. Explanations and possible solutions are provided for problems such as poor coverage, unsatisfactory customer service, early termination fees, and mandatory extensions. Note: related articles only available to subscribers. From Consumer Reports.

Who Qualifies for Help, What Qualifies as Subprime?
Questions and answers related to the "'fast-track' [mortgage] interest-rate freeze" announced by the Bush administration in December 2007. Discusses the subset of borrowers covered by the agreement, how to find out if you have a subprime loan, who qualifies for a rate freeze, and related questions. Includes links to an article with more details about the mortgage plan. From Real Estate Journal, a Wall Street Journal website.

Deep Packet Inspection Meets 'Net Neutrality, CALEA
This July 2007 article discusses deep packet inspection (DPI) computer technology and its uses for compliance with CALEA (the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, which covers government-ordered Internet wiretaps). Describes how DPI boxes review and manage data that is sent to an Internet server, and how this technology might influence Internet neutrality by creating a mechanism for tiered payment options. From Ars Technica, a magazine that specializes in news and analysis of technology trends.

Religion and Politics '08
Public opinion, analysis, and other documents concerning religion in the 2008 U.S. presidential elections. Some of the issues discussed include candidate preferences of various religious groups, evolution, abortion, and social-issue voters. Provides profiles of candidates, and candidate view comparisons for issues such as church and state, faith-based initiatives, and stem cell research. From the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.

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

Hurry! Hurry! You need to get to the library by this Saturday, or you’ll be left without anything to read for Christmas. The library will be closed for Christmas from Monday, December 24 until Wednesday, December 26, and will be reopening on Thursday, December 27. The library will also be closed on Tuesday, January 1 for New Year’s Day.

We’d like to thank everyone for making this another great year at the library! We’ve had a lot of “firsts” here, and look forward to more in the year to come. But even better have been the things that have been here year after year: good friends, good books, and a great community to be a part of!

News from Screven

There will be no storytime this Tuesday or next Tuesday, but it will resume its usual schedule on Tuesday, January 8 at 10 am.

Our Free Friday Movies, on the other hand, are still going strong! Come in at 3:30 on Fridays and you can see our newest movies right up on the big screen!

News from Jenkins

We will have storytime today, Wednesday the 19^th, at 4 pm, but we will not have it next Wednesday, December 26 due to the library being closed.

JENCO will be starting off the new year with an art exhibit in January.

Now, on to the books - and remember, a few clicks is all it takes to request any of these!

SECRET SOCIETIES AND HOW THEY AFFECT OUR LIVES TODAY by Sylvia Browne. From well-known groups like the Freemasons and Knights Templar to religious orders such as the Opus Dei, political cabals such as Skull and Bones, and discussions of some of the more interesting conspiracy theories, Browne and her spirit guide Francine explore what goes on behind the closed doors of the movers and shakers.

REVOLUTION OF HOPE by Vicente Fox and Rob Allyn. From farm boy to CEO of his country’s branch of the world’s biggest soft drink corporation to president of his land… it sounds like a fairy tale, but it’s the real life of former Mexican President Vicente Fox. Here in his own words is that story, and the story of the beliefs that have driven him to succeed beyond anyone’s imagination.

FAMILY ACTS by Louise Shaffer. Katie Harder and Randa Jennings aren’t just from opposite sides of the country, their personalities are total opposites as well. When they are informed that they have inherited an opera house, they must find out what connects them… and what is the secret the old opera house conceals.

SECOND CHANCE by Jane Green. Paul is a happily married journalist. Saffron is an actress hiding a secret love affair with one of the most famous men in the world. Olivia runs an animal shelter. And Holly has the perfect house, perfect husband, and perfect kids. But when they gather to mourn a lost friend, they find there’s a lot more to life than what they have seen on the surface.

THE GHOST by Robert Harris. Adam Lang was Britain’s longest serving and most controversial prime minister in the last century. He’s looking for a ghostwriter to help him finish his memoirs… but the last ghostwriter he hired came down with a serious case of dead.

Click to check out these cool links!

Sharpbrains: Your Brain Fitness Center
This website features links to articles on topics of brain research and operation such as mental exercise, stress management, improving memory, nutrition, and workforce training and leadership. Also includes a blog, newsletter, and glossary. You can use the "Teasers" puzzles on the site to help keep mentally fit. From a consulting company promoting brain health and fitness.

Ways You Can Help Your Family Prevent Medical Errors!
Illustrated, easy-to-understand suggestions for preventing medical errors such as getting the wrong medicine, taking the wrong amount of medicine, getting sick from staying in the hospital, and doctors operating on the wrong part of the body. Includes links to related fact sheets and other resources on medical errors and patient safety. Also available in Spanish. From the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Library of Congress: Thomas: H.R. 418 [Real ID Act]
Official material for to the Real ID Act of 2005, an act designed to "establish and rapidly implement regulations for State driver's license and identification document security standards, to prevent terrorists from abusing the asylum laws of the United States, ... and to ensure expeditious construction of the San Diego border fence." Includes text of legislation, bill summary, list of cosponsors, and links to related bills. From the Library of Congress.

The Missing Peace: Artists Consider the Dalai Lama
Website for this traveling "multi-media art exhibition that brings together 88 respected artists representing 30 countries. With the full life of the Dalai Lama as inspiration, the intention for this project is to shift the world's attention towards peace." The virtual tour contains images of many of the works with descriptions, and curriculum materials. Also on the website are biographies of the artists, venue details, and news. From the Committee of 100 for Tibet.

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

News from KNOWhere - 12/13/207

This is the busiest time of the year, and one of the most stressful – why not take a few minutes to relax, enjoy yourself, and catch your breath before diving back into the holiday rush? The library has a great collection of magazines, plenty of computers to check your email or play a quick game, and comfy chairs to sit in. If you’d rather do your relaxing at home, we’ve also got lots of books and videos to take home with you, too!

If you know someone who’s a real bookworm, come in and check out our great book sale! It’s a dime for a paperback, a quarter for a hardback, or $1 for a whole bag of books! As if that weren’t a great enough deal, we have DVDs, videos and CDs for $1 as well.

Don't forget that the libraries will be closed Monday, Dec 24, Tuesday, Dec 25 and Wednesday, Dec 26. We will also be closed on Tuesday, January 1.




News from Screven

First things first, and the first thing we’d like to do is to give a big “THANK YOU!” to everyone who came by the Friends of the Library’s table at the Extravaganza. It’s always good to see old Friends and make new ones!

Don’t have time to read to the little ones? We have our great storytime every Tuesday at 10 am. Your preschooler will get to listen to a seasonal story, do a creative craft, and generally have a lot of fun while learning to be a life-long learner! And if you can’t make it to the library in the middle of the morning, our free Dial-A-Story is available 24/7 just by calling 564-7080!

Wondering who we have in the multipurpose room? We have the work of several artists on display: Wanda Woodcock, Karen Youngblood, and Barbara Akins have gotten together to create a group showing! Come see the work of these three talented artists this December!

We all know that the Sylvania Junior Woman’s Club does a lot of good here in Screven County. Well, so does the entire state of Georgia – the SJWC has been named the top Junior’s Club in the state of Georgia, among many other awards. Come to the library and see the silver awards they’ve won over the course of the past year!

News from Jenkins

First things first, and the first thing we’d like to do is to give a big “THANK YOU!” to everyone who came to hear the stories during Christmas in Millen. It’s always good to see old friends and make new ones!

Don’t have time to read to the little ones? We have our great storytime every Wednesday at 4 pm. Your child will get to listen to a seasonal story, do a creative craft, and generally have a lot of fun while learning to be a life-long learner!

The works of children’s book illustrator Michael White will be on display in the library throughout the month of December.

The library will be closed starting Monday December 24 and will reopen Friday December 28.

Now, on to the books - and remember, a couple of clicks is all it takes to put any of them on hold!

I DARE YOU: EMBRACE LIFE WITH PASSION by Joyce Meyer. Over the centuries, millions of people have asked what they are here for. One of the country’s favorite evangelists shares her view of the answer.

LOWCOUNTRY BOIL by Carl T. Smith. Sam Larkin was a Merchant Marine and an environmental officer in Louisiana… until he was unjustly imprisoned by an ambitious judge. He was finally released, and has started an art school in South Carolina. But the upper crust of Covington SC is hip deep in dirty money, and he finds himself an ally of an undercover agent who’s trying to track the drugs flowing through the Carolina coast.

THE SUNDAY LIST OF DREAMS by Kris Radish. Connie Nixon makes lists – in fact, she’s rewritten her list of deepest desires almost fifty times. But she hasn’t done anything to make that list come true. But now she’s discovered that her straitlaced daughter is part owner one of the most successful sex-toy shops in America, and that leads her to the wildest adventure of her life.

THE WHEEL OF DARKNESS by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child. A luxury cruise on its maiden voyage… an ancient Tibetan box, sealed with a terrifying warning… and an FBI agent destined to faced his greatest fear. What do they have in common?

Click to visit any of these cool sites!

Tax Reform at the Peach Pundit
Want to know what the fuss is about with Georgia Speaker Glenn Richardson’s GREAT plan? Want to know why so many people are speaking out against cutting property taxes? Here’s a page with links to articles from all over Georgia so you can check them out yourself.

Do Mandrakes Really Scream? Magic and Medicine in Harry Potter
Website accompanying a 2007 exhibition about medicine and magical lore in J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series of books. Articles and images of historical books and drawings explore alchemy, historical figures (such as Nicholas Flamel, a scholar and scribe who died in 1417), unicorns, mandrakes, potion-making, and related themes from the series. From the National Library of Medicine.

Balloon Resource Center
This website for balloon professionals features balloon artist profile (with images of their work), listings of new balloon products, industry news, "ask the distributor" interviews, balloon twisting instructions and ideas, and listings of industry events and classes. Also includes links to balloon industry associations, publications, and educational opportunities. From the producers of balloon industry conventions.

Philanthropy Statistics
Recent statistics on charitable giving in the U.S. Topics include percentage of households that give, average amount of contributions, types of giving (such as arts, education, health, and social services), types of corporate donations, number of charitable organizations in the U.S., number of religious congregations, volunteering activities, and related data. From the National Philanthropic Trust.

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
"The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December, recalls the date of the adoption, by the General Assembly, of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others ... [in] 1949." This site provides links to resources on topics such as forms of slavery, the slave route, and forced and child labor. From the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, United Nations (UN).

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

News from KNOWhere - 12-7-2007

It's the holiday shopping season! If you know someone who loves to read, come by the library and take a look at our great book sale – not only do we have some wonderful books for incredible prices, but you’ll be supporting your local library while you’re at it!

The libraries will be closed Monday, December 24 until Wednesday, December 26. They will resume their normal schedules on Thursday, December 27 - Millen folks, remember that the Jenkins County Memorial Library is closed on Thursday, so they'll be reopening on Friday!



News from Screven

Thanks to everyone who came to the Friends booth for the Extravaganza! It was a chilly night, but talking to good Friends can warm up the coldest December! And thanks as well to all the people who came to see Forrest Johnson's talk at the library. It was great to see you all here!

The Sylvania Junior Woman’s Club will be displaying the silver awards they have won this year for their wonderful work in the community. It’s a celebration of service to others by one of our most active community groups, so come by and see it all through the month of December!

The library has a new art exhibit in the multipurpose room! Wanda Woodcock, Barbara Akins and Karen Youngblood have pooled their considerable artistic talents and have created a magnificent display available to view all December!


News from Jenkins

Thanks to everyone who came to the storytelling at Christmas in Millen!

Don't forget that the library is collecting food for the hungry and toys for Toys for Tots. Bring in a contribution to either of these great causes and you'll be entered into the drawing for a wonderful painting by Jennifer Seemuller! Just make sure to bring the items in before Monday, December 10 and the winner will be announced on Tuesday the 11th.



Now, on to the books!

WORLD WITHOUT END by Ken Follett. On the day after Halloween, four children – a thief, a bully, a boy genius and a girl who seeks to become a doctor – flee the cathedral city of Kingsbridge, and see two men killed. As adults, their lives are shadowed by their memories…

CREEPERS by David Morrell. Creepers are urban anthropologists, breaking the law in order to investigate abandoned buildings before they’re demolished. Reporter Frank Balenger has followed them into their shadowy world to get a story – but the story he finds is one of an ancient evil that never should have been disturbed.

THE GIFT by Richard Paul Evans. Nathan Hurst hated Christmas. For him, the day of joy was just another reminder of how his childhood was destroyed. But when he meets a young mother and her very special son, he may just find that this Christmas will be a time to heal.

IT HAD TO BE YOU: THE GOSSIP GIRLS PREQUEL by Cecily von Ziegasar. Serena van der Woodsen, Blair Waldorf, and Nate Archibald were inseparable fifteen-year-old friends living on the Upper East Side of New York. They were rich, gorgeous, and had the best of everything… and they were stuck in a love triangle that could well tear them apart.

ANA’S STORY: A JOURNEY OF HOPE by Jenna Bush. Jenna Bush, daughter of President G. W. Bush, has used the experiences of one girl she met through her work with UNICEF to show the plight of far too many young people today. Ana is only seventeen, but she is far older than her years. She was born HIV-positive, abused by the people she lived with after her mother died of AIDS, and has a child. But Ana has found one boy she can trust, and that trust just might be the key to escaping the vicious cycle of poverty, abuse and illness that has ruled her life.

Click to check out these cool sites!

Coalition for Airline Passengers Bill of Rights
This group that promotes legal rights for airplane passengers (with an emphasis on rules for airlines when flights are delayed or canceled) was "formed by hundreds of passengers who were stranded on several American Airlines planes for up to 9 hours at Austin International Airport, December 2006." Includes a list of rights, links to federal legislation introduced on this topic, a discussion forum, and a summary of general complaints about airlines.

Recent Tax Law Changes May Affect People Giving to Charity: IRS Offers Tips for Year-End Donations
This fact sheet discusses changes from summer 2006 legislation that "offers older owners of individual retirement accounts [IRAs] a new way to give to charity. It also includes rules designed to provide both taxpayers and the government greater certainty in determining what may be deducted as a charitable contribution." Topics include a new tax break for IRA owners and rules for deducting clothing and household items and monetary donations. From the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The Online Menorah
Introduction to the meaning of Hanukkah and the Hanukkah menorah. Features background about why Hanukkah is celebrated, the basic rules associated with the use of the menorah (what one may use to light the candles, and how one lights the candles), and audio, with English translations, of three blessings that are recited when the candles are lit. Also includes links to more detailed material about Hanukkah. From a Jewish outreach and education group.

Stop Bullying Now!: Take a Stand, Lend a Hand
This government website designed for children and teens offers resources for recognizing and preventing bullying, which can take the form of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse, and "cyber-bullying" ("occurs when children or teens bully each other using the Internet, mobile phones or other cyber technology"). Features games, webisodes, and other resources for youth, and a section for families and educators. From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration.

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