Wow, it’s almost July! Time flies when you’re having a wild and wonderful time at our great Vacation Reading Program! In case any of you were wondering, we will indeed be closed Friday, July 4 as we celebrate Independence Day. Before that, though, we’ll have a trip to Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory, arts & crafts, and storytimes! The Screven County Library Board will be meeting 4 pm on July 10. The Jenkins County Memorial Library Board will be meeting at 10:30 on July 16. The Screven-Jenkins Regional Library Board will be meeting at 4 pm on July 24. The public is invited to attend any or all of these meetings.



News from Screven

Tuesdays are busy this summer! At 10 am every Tuesday, we have a storytime for the youngsters, with lots of great stories and a craft project suitable for little hand and created to go along with the book that was read. It’s a ton of fun for the little ones, so don’t miss it!

Tuesday afternoons at 2 pm we have the cool “Movie Evolution” for the teens and tweens. As if it weren’t great enough to see a movie like CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, audience members will get a copy of the book to keep forever, thanks to a grant from Planters EMC!

Wednesdays we have the e-cool-ogical fun of the “Litter”acy Story and Craft time. It’s not only a good time to listen to stories with an earth-friendly message, but to create eco-friendly arts and crafts projects. Make sure to bring the kids by for this one every Wednesday at 2 pm!

Thursdays at 2 pm we have Miss Belinda’s cute and creative “Buggy Crafts” program. It’s a lot of fun for all ages as you create insect-themed craft projects that you can take home to put on your fridge or shelf. There are only so many seats to go around on this program, so make sure to sign up ahead of time!

News from Jenkins

Wednesdays are busy this summer! This Wednesday at 11 am we'll be celebrating the Fourth a couple days early with fun patriotic activities and stories!

Wednesday afternoon at 2 pm we have the cool “Movie Evolution” for the teens and tweens. As if it weren’t great enough to see a movie like CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, audience members will get a copy of the book to keep forever, thanks to a grant from Planters EMC! This will be the last of the "Movie Evolution" series.

Next Wednesday at 2 pm we'll be setting the butterflies free! They've been living inside the library until now, but they've almost completed their transformation from caterpillars to butterflies, and the ladybugs are almost ready to fly as well!

Friday, July 11 at 11 am, we'll have the last of our special "Catch the Reading Bug" activities with Barry Mann and his "Bugaboo, Bugazoo" program! He'll be sharing stories, songs, and even poems, all about our wiggly little six-legged friends!

Now, on to the books!

THE DREAMS OF HANNAH WILLIAMS by Linda Ford. Hannah Williams has built her life around being independent, and that’s the way she likes it. Jake Sperling has taken responsibility for his family, their ranch, and everything else the Sperlings own. Can a woman who prides herself on independence and a man whose deepest urges demand he take responsibility for others find a way to make things work?

WHEN DUCT TAPE JUST ISN’T ENOUGH: QUICK FIXES FOR EVERYDAY DISASTERS by Popular Mechanics. From plumbing and appliances to gardening and structural problems, there’s a host of problems around the house that you can fix yourself – easily!

LIVING LIKE ED: A GUIDE TO THE ECO-FRIENDLY LIFE by Ed Begley, Jr. The host of HGTV’s “Living With Ed” brings his 30 years of living green to you with tips and tricks for eco-friendly living – and his wife Rachelle’s sense of style.

THE SECRETS OF A FIRE KING: STORIES by Kim Edwards. The author of THE MEMORY KEEPER’S DAUGHTER brings us stories set in exotic locales about lives lived on the fringes of society.

FREE FALL by Kristen Heitzmann. When a young woman stumbles out of the mountains in Hawaii with no memory, it’s up to Monica and Cameron Pierce to put the pieces back together. But it doesn’t take long before there’s trouble in paradise…

SOUL SONG by Marjorie M. Liu. Kitala Bell can see the future… but only if it’s violent death. But now she’s seen a creature of legend, a prince of the sea held captive by a woman intent on using his seductive powers for evil.

Click to check out these cool links!

"An Expression of the American Mind": Understanding the Declaration of Independence
This 2-part lesson plan (grades 9-12) covers the structure of the Declaration of Independence ("introduction, main political/philosophical ideas, grievances, assertion of sovereignty") and the ideological and political origins of the ideas in the Declaration. Includes background for teachers, suggested activities, and links to additional material. From EDSITEment, a joint project of the National Endowment for the Humanities and other organizations.

The Edmunds Green Car Guide
This buying guide features articles on fuel-efficient cars, alternative fuels and new technologies (such as biodiesel, electric, and compressed natural gas), hybrid vehicles, improving gas mileage (covering "hypermilers," who try to beat the EPA average fuel economy ratings), and oil and gas prices. From Edmunds, producers of consumer automotive information.

Factors in Food Commodity Price Increases
Special feature from 2008 concerning "recent runup in global food commodity prices [which] reflects both long-term trends and short-term events." Topics including the Consumer Price Index, food insecurity, agricultural supply and demand, and other economic and agricultural aspects of the increases. From the Economic Research Service (ERS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Why Vote? A POV 2008 Election Issue Special
This website compiled for the 2008 presidential election explores "attitudes about voting and issues that are most important to Americans." It features documentaries related to election issues, action items, and educator resources (such as essays and speeches on voting in a democratic society by Susan B. Anthony, Martin Luther King, Jr., and others). Additional material to be added during the election year. From P.O.V.

Fourth of July Is Independence Day
Collection of links to material related to Independence Day. "Independence Day honors the birthday of the United States of America and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It's a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks, and a reason to fly the American flag." Topics include fireworks, summer safety tips, and virtual visits to historic sites. From USA.gov, the U.S. government's official Web portal.

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

News from KNOWhere 6-23-08

Jugglers, bugs, and lions, oh my! We've got them all coming up at the library this week!

The Screven County Library Board will be meeting 4 July 10. The Jenkins County Memorial Library Board will be meeting at 10:30 July 16. The Screven-Jenkins Regional Library Board will be meeting at 4 pm July 24. The public is invited to attend any or all of these meetings.



News from Screven

Tuesdays at 10 am is our wonderful storytime for the little ones! They can listen to a cute story, and then do a creative craft based on the story. It’s a lot of fun, so don’t let them miss it!

At 2 pm on Tuesdays is our Movie Evolution series, and it’s a blast! Your teen or tween can come to see a movie based on one of the best teen novels out there, and get a free copy of the book it’s based on to keep for their very own! You can’t get a deal like that over at the movie theater! Tuesday’s movie will be THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE and it’s going to be a fun ride.

Wednesday, June 25 at 2 pm, we’ll have juggler Carrie McQueen here to entertain and amaze you. It’ll be fun for everyone, so come on in!

We have a great display of artwork by the kids who were in Dawn Kullberg’s class! Come in and see how talented these elementary school students are.

News from Jenkins

At 2 pm on Wednesdays is our Movie Evolution series, and it’s a blast! Your teen or tween can come to see a movie based on one of the best teen novels out there, and get a free copy of the book it’s based on to keep for their very own! You can’t get a deal like that over at the movie theater! Wednesday’s movie will be THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE and it’s going to be a fun ride.

Would you like to take a class in “Bug-ology” this summer? You’ll need to get your sign-up forms in by Monday, June 23 if you want to be part of the “Bug-ology: Science on Saturday” program Saturday, June 28 from 1 pm – 2 pm. This program is aimed at kids 7 – 12 years old.

Wednesday, June 25 at 11 am, we’ll have juggler Carrie McQueen here to entertain and amaze you. It’ll be fun for everyone, so come on in!

Now, on to the books!

CITY OF THE SUN by David Levien. Jamie Gabriel was an ordinary 12-year-old delivering papers in an ordinary Indianapolis suburb. Now, he’s missing, and enigmatic PI Frank Behr has taken the case.

AMEN CORNER by Rick Shefchik. Augusta, GA – the body of the Masters rules committee chairman is found in a pond near the 12^th green. Two days later, a reporter from the NY Times is murdered on the grounds. The cops want the membership list for the club, but the club doesn’t want that information becoming public record. There’s only one way to avoid it: call in amateur golfer (and cop) Sam Skarda.

STANDING STILL by Kelly Simmons. Journalist and mom Claire Cooper suffers from panic attacks. It’s nothing unusual, nothing that can’t be treated with a little Xanax… until one night when she discovers an intruder standing over her sleeping daughter, and offers herself as hostage in her daughter’s place.

O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE COOKBOOK. From comfort food to quick treats, exotic dishes to ones your mama made, here’s a collection of recipes which have appeared in O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE.

Click to check out these cool links!

Phoenix Mars Mission
Background and updates about this NASA Mars mission "designed to study the history of water and habitability potential in the Martian arctic's ice-rich soil." Features press releases, images, background about the mission (which launched in August 2007 and landed on Mars in late May 2008), blogs, podcasts, a section for children, and more. From the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory.

The American Founders Online: An Annotated Guide to Their Papers and Publications
"The digital resources described in this guide provide online access, in varying degrees, to the personal papers and/or publications of the major founders of the American Republic -- that is, those men who served in roles of national political leadership between 1765 and 1815 -- and members of their families." Included are John Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, George Washington, and others. From the Library of Congress (LOC).

GasBuddy.com
"GasBuddy.com can help you find cheap gas prices in your city. It is a network of [over] 180 gas price information web sites that helps you find low gasoline prices." Search for prices by ZIP code." Information is member-supplied. Registration (free) required to post gas prices on most of the gas sites or to create a fuel log for tracking your expenses. Includes tips for conserving gas, links to news stories, and other resources.

Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns and Mermaids
Companion website to a 2008 exhibit that examines "the legend and the science behind some of the most fascinating creatures ever invented. ... [by displaying] preserved specimens, cultural artifacts and works of art." View exhibit highlights related to water (sea monsters and mermaids), land (griffin bones and unicorns), air (Pegasus and other creatures from Greek myths), and dragons from around the world. From the Field Museum.

Salmonellosis Outbreak in Certain Types of Tomatoes
This June 2008 alert warns consumers about a "salmonellosis outbreak [that] appears to be linked to consumption of certain types of raw red tomatoes and products containing raw red tomatoes. ... The bacteria causing the illnesses are Salmonella serotype Saintpaul, an uncommon type of Salmonella." Provides updates about types of tomatoes to avoid, affected U.S. states and territories, and related information. Includes links to general information about Salmonella. From the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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

News from KNOWhere 6-16-2008

We've got a great treat for you comic book fans out there! Professional comic book artist Steven Addlesee will be coming to our libraries on Friday, June 20 to talk about art, getting published, and the comic book biz. He's been a fanboy since he was seven and a pro artist for 15 years, so he really knows - and loves! - his stuff! He'll be at the Jenkins County Memorial Library at 11 am and at the Screven County Library at 2 pm, so let's give him a warm hometown welcome!

Georgia ParkPasses are available for checkout! You can check one out for one week and use it to get into one Georgia State Park or Historical Site for free!

Need to know where you can find a doctor around here to treat your problems? www.gahealthgolocal.org will show you where to go, and much more!

News from Screven

Tuesday is going to be slam-packed with activities! Tuesday at 10 am we’ll have our great storytime for the kids, who will get to listen to a story and then do a fun craft or art project.

Tuesday, June 17 at 2 pm won’t be a movie: magician David Ginn will show up and magically make our Movie Evolution move to 4 pm. He’ll be using slight of hand, illusion and a lot of humor to entertain and amaze kids from 1 to 101.

Tuesday’s Movie Evolution special will be THE SECRET GARDEN at 4 pm. It’s a great story and a wonderful movie, so don’t miss the show! Best of all, teens who attend will get a free copy of the book, thanks to the generosity of Planters EMC.

Friday, June 20 at 2 pm we’ve got a real treat! Professional comic book artist Steven Addlesee will be coming to our library to talk about art, getting published, and the comic book business. He’s a really fun and enthusiastic talker and one of the best inkers in the business, so make sure to come and see him June 20 at 2 pm!

On Wednesday, June 18 at 2 pm we'll have a fun "Litter-acy" storytime for the kids, sponsored by Keep Screven Beautiful. It's a great chance for your kids to learn about the environment and create a fun eco-friendly craft at the same time!

News from Jenkins

Magician David Ginn will be using slight of hand, illusion and a lot of humor to entertain and amaze kids from 1 to 101 on Tuesday, June 17 at 11 am.

Wednesday is going to be slam-packed with activities! Wednesdays at 10 am we’ll have our great storytime for the kids, who will get to listen to a story and then do a fun craft or art project.

Wednesday’s Movie Evolution special will be THE SECRET GARDEN at 4 pm. It’s a great story and a wonderful movie, so don’t miss the show! Best of all, teens who attend will get a free copy of the book, thanks to the generosity of Planters EMC.

Friday, June 20 at 11 am we’ve got a real treat! Professional comic book artist Steven Addlesee will be coming to our library to talk about art, getting published, and the comic book business. He’s a really fun and enthusiastic talker and one of the best inkers in the business, so make sure to come and see him June 20 at 11 am!

Now, on to the books!

THE LAST LECTURE by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow. A lot of professors give talks called their “last lecture” in which they contemplate their own deaths and what matters most to them. But Randy Pausch, whose recent diagnosis of cancer meant it might really be his last lecture, didn’t speak about death. He spoke about life, overcoming articles, enabling the dreams of others and seizing every moment because you never know when it will be your last. This is that lecture.

LADIES OF LIBERTY: THE WOMEN WHO SHAPED OUR NATION by Cokie Roberts. From first ladies to freethinkers, educators to explorers, this book is chock-full of females who made American history through their vision, forethought and courage.

HER LAST DEATH by Susanna Sonnenberg. Most women, if they received a midnight call saying that their mother had fallen into a coma, would rush to her side. Susanna Sonnenberg didn’t, and she had reason.

THE BLUE DOOR by David Fulmer. Boxer Eddie Gero didn’t think much of PIs – until he saved one from a beating and got a job in return. Eddie turned out to have a knack for it, and when he comes across a case involving the front man of his favorite soul band, he can’t restrain his curiosity.

BEAUTIFUL CHIILDREN by Charles Bock. One Saturday night in Vegas, 12 year old Newell Ewing disappeared. Now, the threads that tied him to so many people have been cut, and it’s up to his family to tie them back together again.

Click to check out these cool sites!

Stop Cyberbullying
This site discusses cyberbullying ("when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted" usually by another child, preteen, or teen, via "the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones") and provides prevention tips and action items. Includes details about the roles of parents, teachers, and police in creating a safe online environment. From WiredKids, a charity focused on the prevention of cybercrime and abuse.

Facts for Features Special Edition: Conversion From Analog to Digital TV
"On Feb. 17, 2009, all full-power TV stations will cease to broadcast analog programming. ... To mark this historic transition, the Census Bureau has assembled a sampling of statistics from its publications about television and the television industry." Statistics cover percentage of U.S. households with television sets, estimated sales for digital and analog TVs, projected spending on cable and satellite services, funding for digital transition projects, and more. From the U.S. Census Bureau.

Undiagnosed Diseases Program
Details about this National Institutes of Health program (launched in May 2008) to help patients with undiagnosed diseases by providing "answers to patients with mysterious conditions that have long eluded diagnosis and ... [advancing] medical knowledge about rare and common diseases. Features information for patients and care providers, a FAQ, a press release and audio announcing the program, and related material. From the National Institutes of Health Office of Rare Diseases.

Buginfo: State Insects
Quick list of the state insects for the "41 states in the United States [that] have officially designated State Insects." It also notes that "California was the first state of the United States to select a state insect. The Dogface Butterfly, Zerene eurydice, was officially adopted as the state insect of California in 1929." From the Smithsonian Institution.

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

News from KNOWhere 6-9-08

For those of you who have been wondering - we have had to cancel Slam & Jam 2008. We will hopefully be able to try again next year, but for this year, it's just not going to happen due to circumstances beyond our control.

Mrs. Barbara is back, at least for now - she isn't completely over her health problems, but she's feeling much better! We hope that she'll be back driving the bookmobile as soon as summer reading is over.



News from Screven

Summer reading has begun! We kicked off our first day with an all-day Wii trivia contest, letting all comers test their wits and knowledge. And how did we get that Wii, you ask? Why, our wonderful Friends of the Screven County Library donated it to us so that we could have events such as our Smarty Pants contest and the upcoming Dance Dance Revolution party we’ll be having July 11!

Between now and then, though, we have a lot more stuff going on – in fact, this afternoon at 2 pm we’ll be having the first of our “Buggy Crafts”, creative craft projects with a creepy-crawly theme! The Buggy Craft projects will be held every Thursday at 2 pm this month, so make sure to come and join in for some all-ages fun!

Tuesday at 10 am, we’ll be having our wonderful story time for the little’uns. It’s a great chance for the kids to listen to a story and do a fun little craft project related to the story.

Also on Tuesday, but at 2 pm, we’ll be having the second of our Movie Evolution programs. Teens and tweens can come to see a great movie (the week, it’s HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE) and they get their very own copy of the book to keep!

Friday the 13^th , get ready to welcome back Mr. Bob, the Singing Cowboy! It’s a real hoot to listen to him tell funny stories and play original songs, and he’s a great time for the whole family. He’ll be at the library at 2 pm, so don’t miss it!

News from Jenkins

Summer reading has begun! We kicked off our first day with a wonderful cookout and games. It was a lot of fun, and we were glad to see so many people join us for the festivities!

This Wednesday the 10th, we are going to be experiencing a Movie Evolution as we watch HARRY POTTER & THE SORCERER’S STONE and talk about ways that the book and the movie are different. Haven’t read the book yet? Well, come to the show and you’ll get a free copy of your very own!

Next Wednesday, June 11 at 11 am we’ll be having our Picnic & Play Storytime. Parents, make sure that you and your kids are wearing old, OLD clothes – I hear it’s going to get messy!

Friday the 13^th , get ready to welcome back Mr. Bob, the Singing Cowboy! It’s a real hoot to listen to him tell funny stories and play original songs, and he’s a great time for the whole family. He’ll be at the library at 11 am, so don’t miss it!

Just a few clicks can reserve any of these great books!

HOT WHEELS by Michael Zarnock. With loving detail, this book describes the world of Hot Wheels, the super-fast matchbox cars that have been captivating aspiring motorheads since 1966. It’s stuffed full of pictures of California customs, redlines, and many more. Includes a price guide.

AN INCOMPLETE REVENGE by Jacqueline Winspear. Maisie Dobbs thought that her investigation in Kent would be straightforward enough. But mysterious fires, petty crimes, and a shroud of secrecy lead her deeper into the maze of an intriguing case.

MAXIMUM RIDE: THE FINAL WARNING by James Patterson. Max figured that going to Antarctica would be a great way to escape the government watchdogs for a little bit, and to do some good by helping some scientists study global warming. Little does she know that the weather will soon be the least of her worries.

THE BAREFOOT BELIEVERS by Annie Jones. Once there were three Cromwell sisters, but then their father stole the baby and neither were ever seen again. For the two left behind, it’s a pain that’s never gone away. Now, they’ve returned to the cottage where it all began, and life will never be the same.

THE WINDING WAYS QUILT by Jennifer Chiaverini. Quilters have flocked to Elm Creek Manor to learn from Master Quilter Sylvia Compson and her colleagues. But with two of the founding members leaving, will the new teachers be able to patch the holes left by their departure?

Click to check out these other cool sites!

National Safety Month
Materials for National Safety Month (June), including safety tips (on topics such as distracted driving and poisoning prevention) and posters. The page will be updated throughout June and "will end the month on Monday, June 30 with tips for a safe 4th of July and summer safety." From the National Safety Council.

America's Eleven Most Endangered Archive
"Since 1988, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has used its list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places as a powerful alarm to raise awareness of the serious threats facing the nation's greatest treasures." Site features a FAQ and an archive listing places by threat, year listed, state, and other factors. Entries provide descriptions and update on endangered status for places such as California's state parks and the Michigan Avenue Streetwall in Chicago.

North American Truffling Society
Website for this organization whose mission is "to enhance the scientific knowledge of North American truffles and truffle-like fungi, and promote educational activities related to truffles and truffle-like fungi." Provides a truffle FAQ, truffle keys and lists on identification, a few truffle recipes (such as leberwurst and truffled game hen), and related links.

Same-Sex Marriage, Civil Unions, and Domestic Partnerships
Collection of news and analysis about same-sex marriage in the U.S. Topics include Massachusetts becoming the first state to allow same-sex marriages in 2004, the 2008 California Supreme Court ruling "that a state law banning same-sex marriage ... constituted illegal discrimination," and how the same-sex marriage issue may impact the 2008 presidential election. Also includes many links to related sites. From The New York Times.

Transportation Energy Data Book
Most recent edition (26th edition in 2007) of this "data book... [of] statistics and information that characterize transportation activity, and ... data on other factors that influence transportation energy use" in the U.S. Features spreadsheets on petroleum, energy (including fuel consumption by vehicle type), highway vehicles and characteristics, alternative fuel, fleet and household vehicles, non-highway modes (such as aviation, boats, and rail), greenhouse gas emissions, and criteria pollutants. From the U.S. Department of Energy.

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