Merry Christmas (almost!)

The libraries will be closed December 24, 25 & 26 for Christmas. Happy Holidays!



News from Screven

Don't forget to come to storytime Tuesdays at 10 am! It's always a ton of fun for the little ones! In the meantime, call our fun Dial-A-Story at (912) 564-7080

We will be closed on January 1 to let us recover from staying up until midnight to greet the new year!

News from Jenkins

We will not have storytime this Wednesday, December 24. We will resume our normal Wednesday storytimes on January 7 at 4 pm. In the meantime, call our great Dial-A-Story at (478) 982-5898

The library will be closed on Friday, January 2 to celebrate New Years.



Since we have a few more days off than usual, here's a double-dose of books to keep you entertained!

8 MINUTES IN THE MORNING TO A FLAT BELLY by Jorge Cruise. From a simple way to portion control (think you can’t figure it out? Just look at your plate!) to moves that just about anyone can do – moves that are simple, but can have a big impact on your waistline.

LOVE YOUR LIFE: LIVING HAPPY, HEALTHY AND WHOLE by Victoria Osteen. It’s hard enough being a working mom with two kids. Imagine the pressure if your job was to be co-pastor of America’s largest church! Osteen talks about her family, her faith, and how she keeps it all together.

TESTIMONY by Anita Shreve. At the prestigious Avery Academy, the students are expected to get high grades, not get filmed having sex. Now, headmaster Mike Bordwin fights to contain the scandal, while others struggle with the consequences of their mistakes.

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows. Juliet Ashton was looking for a new subject to write about when she got the letter from a man living on the island of Guernsey. From there, the story of the Guernsey Island Occupation and of England’s recovery from WWII are told in letters.

CROSSROADS by Belva Plain. Cassie Wright never expected to have her life turned upside down, but when a tragic accident leaves an orphaned girl in her care, she will raise the child as her own. As the child grows to a young woman, though, things change, and envy and greed may destroy all of their lives.

MURDER INSIDE THE BELTWAY by Margaret Truman. Rosalie Curzon, a call girl, has been found dead in her apartment. Detectives investigating the murder find that many of her customers are high-ranking politicians...

THE TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD by J. K. Rowling. Mere Muggles may never have heard the tales of Beedle the Bard, but they’re considered classics by the wizards at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Written and illustrated by J. K. Rowling, and with extensive commentary by Albus Dumbledore, this little book packs a lot of fun for Harry Potter fans.

THE VICTORIA VANISHES: A PECULIAR CRIMES UNIT MYSTERY by Christopher Fowler. A lonely hearts killer is targeting middle-aged women at English pubs. Sad but not unusual, one might think – until you realize that some of the pubs in question have been torn down decades ago or just don’t exist. Then, it becomes Peculiar.

THE MEMORY KEEPER’S DAUGHTER by Kim Edwards. On a snowy winter night, a doctor is forced to deliver his own twin children. The son is born healthy, but his daughter has Down’s syndrome and the doctor asks his nurse to take the girl to an institution. Instead, the nurse adopts the child, and two families become inextricably intertwined.

HOME MADE BEST MADE: HUNDREDS OF WAYS TO MAKE ALL KINDS OF USEFUL THINGS by Reader’s Digest. From homemade catsup and flavored oils to painted floorcloths and window dressings, from candles to lotions to flowerpots to clothes… there’s many a way to make your own instead of paying premium prices in stores.

JUST WHO WILL YOU BE? by Maria Shriver. Maria Shriver was an award winning network newswoman when her husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, became governor of California and she was forced to retire. About the same time, her nephew asked her to speak at his graduation, and in writing her speech, she rediscovered herself.

CREATIVE COOKING FOR RENAL DIETS by The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Is someone in your family having kidney problems? Do you have problems figuring out ways to make their meals nutritious and delicious? Here is a whole cookbook full of tasty and tested recipes to wow their taste buds while keeping them healthy and happy.

Click to check out these cool sites!

The Gift of Holiday Traditions: Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Christmas
Lesson plan about December holidays. "December is a month of holidays, celebrations, gift giving, and ... school vacations. Before taking time off to enjoy the holidays, take the opportunity to discuss with students the way different cultures contribute to what becomes a popular holiday tradition." Includes links to material about and activity ideas for Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Christmas. From EDSITEment, a joint project of the National Endowment for the Humanities and other organizations.

Get Ready for Digital TV
Preparation guide for "Feb. 17, 2009, [when] all television stations will stop sending out program signals on their analog channels." It notes that if "you already have a digital TV or if you have cable or satellite service you most likely don't need to do anything," and provides resources for those with analog sets and no cable/satellite service. Includes links to related content. From AARP.

A Homemade Christmas
Collection of craft and food ideas for Christmas. Includes instructions for easy-to-make stockings, advent calendars, cards, games, decorations, gifts from the kitchen, recipes for party foods, and more. Also includes how-to videos on making a gingerbread house made from graham crackers, mini wreaths, and other crafts. From Disney FamilyFun.com.

The New Team
Profiles of members and potential members of President-elect Barack Obama's new administration. Covers individuals such as Rahm Emanuel (White House Chief of Staff), Timothy Geithner (Treasury Secretary), and Eric Holder (Attorney General). Includes links to related articles and resources. From The New York Times.

Christmas Season Celebrations in Australia
Learn how Christmas is celebrated in Australia, where Christmas comes at the beginning of summer. Topics include where Australians spend Christmas (often out of doors, such as at a beach or camping), how "many people no longer serve a traditional hot roast dinner" (serving cold turkey and Christmas plum pudding with cold custard instead), and Australian Christmas carols. Also includes brief information about Indigenous Australians' summer celebrations. From the Australian Government.

12 Rules for Regifting Without Fear
This article provides a "frank discussion" on regifting, "a grand old holiday tradition we all practice and pretend we don't." Presents a dozen rules for regifters including not mentioning that you are regifting, updating wrapping, keeping track of who gave you the gift, and not regifting certain items that are an "instant giveaway" that they are regifted (such as candles and soap). From MSN Money.

Ballyhoo! Posters as Portraiture
This "exhibition from the National Portrait Gallery's collections examines how a famous face can enhance a poster, and, conversely, how posters have defined reputations of prominent Americans." Browse exhibit sections (such as "Export of American Culture"), view an audio slide slow, and read an exhibition introduction and a blog entry about the exhibition. From the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.

Shmoop
This website provides study materials for selected literature, poetry, and U.S. history topics. Titles and subjects include sections for summaries, study questions, website links, and related material. The website launched in late 2008 and is in beta testing stage; see the "Coming Soon" tab for planned subjects and a place to request topics for coverage on the site. Website "content is written primarily by Ph.D. and Masters students from top universities."

How Pawnshops Work
This feature provides an explanation of the workings of pawnshops, which lend small amounts of money in exchange for collateral, and buy and sell used merchandise. It includes an example of a pawnshop transaction, an example of how a pawnshop is regulated in one state, details about paperwork and interest rates, description of what types of bargains might be found in a pawnshop, and related material. From HowStuffWorks.

New Rules Requiring an Automated Voice or Keypress Opt-Out for Recorded Message Telemarketing Calls Take Effect Today [December 1, 2008]
This December 1, 2008, press release describes how "any telemarketing call that delivers a prerecorded message [a 'robo' call] must include a quick and easy way to opt-out of receiving future calls." Release also notes that as of September 1, 2009, prerecorded telemarketing calls may only be made to those who have agreed in advance to accept such calls. From the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Yule Log (Buche de Noel) Recipe
Background and recipe for "the most famous dessert made with a roulade (sponge cake) [which] is the Buche de Noel ... or Yule Log. ... The story goes that an innovative French pastry chef (in the late 1800s) came up with the idea of replacing the real 'yule' log with a cake that was log shaped." Also includes a link to a recipe for meringue mushrooms. From a cooking enthusiast.

This I Believe
"'This I Believe' is an international project engaging people in writing, sharing, and discussing the core values that guide their daily lives. These short statements of belief, [are] written by people from all walks of life. ... The project is based on the popular 1950s radio series of the same name hosted by Edward R. Murrow." Includes transcripts and audio of current essays, a 1950s essay database, essay writing tips, and related material.

Well, that’s all for now – see you at the library and have a happy holiday!