Thursday, November 20, 2008

News from KNOWhere - 11-20-08


Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! The library will be closed from Thursday, November 27 until Monday, December 1 so that we can enjoy our Thanksgiving with our families and friends. Make sure to get in before close on Wednesday, November 26 if you'd like some books or movies to keep you entertained during the long weekend!

Did you miss seeing Linda McBride’s author talk on Nov. 11? Head over to the Jenkins County Memorial Library on Tuesday, December 2 at 6:30 pm and see her again – and she promises that she’ll have books for those of you who weren’t able to buy it before they were sold out!

Did you know that November is both Native American Heritage Month and National Novel Writing Month? Come to the library and we'll help you find more on both of these cool subjects!


News from Screven

It’s story time any time with DIAL-A-STORY! Just call 912-564-7080 and your child can listen to a different story every week – for free!

Speaking of storytimes, the library has a great storytime program every Tuesday at 10 am! Preschool kids can come in and hear fun seasonal stories and do creative craft projects. It’s a ton of fun for the little ones, so don’t miss it!

There will be no Free Movie Friday this week (we’ll all be home digesting those big turkey dinners) but next week on Friday, December 5 at 3:30 we’ll be showing KUNG-FU PANDA!

Tuesday, December 9 at 4 pm our great Teen Book Club will be meeting to discuss this month’s book, HOME OF THE BRAVES by David Klass, and picking up next month’s book, CODE TALKERS by Joseph Bruchac.


News from Jenkins

Local author Linda McBride will be at the library on Tuesday, December 2 at 6:30 to talk about her new book, MEMA HAS CANCER! It’s a warm, sweet tale of the love between a grandmother and her grandchild and how disease can’t change what’s most important about a person, and it was written by a cancer survivor for her own grandkids and all the other children whose families are touched by cancer.

It’s story time any time with DIAL-A-STORY! Just call 478-982-5898 and your child can listen to a different story every week – for free!

Speaking of storytimes, the library has a great storytime program Wednesdays at 4 pm! Preschool kids can come in and hear fun seasonal stories and do creative craft projects. We won’t be able to do it today, Wednesday November 26 but we will be resuming on Wednesday, November 3 at 4 pm.

Wednesday, December 10 at 4 pm our great Teen Book Club will be meeting to discuss this month’s book, HOME OF THE BRAVES by David Klass, and picking up next month’s book, CODE TALKERS by Joseph Bruchac.


Now, on to the books!

GRAVE SURPRISE by Charlaine Harris. Harper Connelly finds dead bodies, but she couldn’t find a missing Nashville girl a couple of years before. Not until she got hired to investigate a totally different set of dead bodies in Memphis and stumbled across a shocking surprise.


A BIGGER LIFE by Annette Smith. Joel Carpenter never meant for his life to turn out the way it did – as a single dad working at a hair salon in Eden Plain, TX. He regrets the choices he made that brought him to that point – until the worst happens, and he finds out just how much he has left to give.


THE GARDEN OF LAST DAYS by Andre Dubus III. One September night in Florida, a stripper brought her daughter to work, to watch children’s videos in the office while her mother danced. But it wasn’t long before a rich customer, a drunk one, and a mother desperately trying to make ends meet make explosive contact.

SILKS by Dick Francis & Felix Francis. Geoffrey Mason’s not your typical barrister. He’s quite happy to hope that a judge with throw the book at a cocky client, and when court’s over, he heads for the racetrack –not to gamble, but to ride. But when this part-time jockey is asked to help the prime suspect in a murder prove his innocence, it just might be his own life on the line.

CALL ME TED by Ted Turner with Bill Burke. He’s a media mogul, the largest landowner in the US, a champion sailor and one of the richest men in the world – and he grew up (and still bases his empire) right here in Georgia.


SEAVIEW INN by Sherryl Woods. Hannah Matthews is a tough PR executive and a single mother, but she’s being put to the test with an ailing mother, a pregnant daughter, and being stuck on Seaview Key. Luke Stevens is an Iraq vet who’s been dumped by his wife and is now sharing his business with the man currently sleeping with his wife. He’s come to Seaview Key to relax and revisit his old hometown… not fall in love again.


Click to check out these cool sites!

Sinkie: The International Association of People Who Dine Over the Kitchen Sink
URL: http://www.sinkie.com/

The day after Thanksgiving is designated as Sinkie Day (Standing In Nutritious Kitchens Ingesting Everything). With tongue in cheek, the author shares letters from guilt-free Sinkies, lists ways to spot other Sinkies, and provides other useful information to free us from the guilt, shame, and embarrassment of being discovered eating with fingers over the kitchen sink.

Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night
Companion to a 2008/2009 exhibit exploring painter Vincent Van Gogh's "nocturnal interiors and landscapes, which often combine with other longstanding themes of his art -- peasant life, sowers, wheatfields, and the encroachment of modernity on the rural scene." View "paintings, drawings, and letters from all periods of his career, as well as examples of the rich literary sources that influenced his work." Also includes audio commentary. From the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
URL: http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/2008/vangoghnight/

National Retail Federation: Annual Holiday Sales Information
Information about retail shopping activity in the U.S. during the winter holiday season. Information before and after the holidays variously includes spending projections, shopping on the Friday and Monday after Thanksgiving ("Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday"), online shopping, and consumer surveys. Also includes a report with "recent and historical data on holiday trends, including sales data, holiday hiring, and shoplifting." From a trade association whose membership "comprises all retail formats."
URL: http://www.nrf.com/modules.php?name=News&id=615

The HistoryMakers
Website for this national "video oral history archive headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The HistoryMakers is dedicated to preserving African American history as the missing link in American history." Provides a listing of programs and events, and brief biographical background about participants such as Ann Nixon Cooper, who was mentioned in Barack Obama's 2008 election night speech. Includes material about artists, business people, educators, entertainers, lawyers, journalists, politicians, religious leaders, scientists, sports figures, and others.
URL: http://www.thehistorymakers.com/

Bottled Water Quality Investigation: 10 Major Brands, 38 Pollutants
Executive summary and results from 2008 "laboratory tests conducted ... at one of the country's leading water quality laboratories [that] found that 10 popular brands of bottled water ... contained 38 chemical pollutants altogether, with an average of 8 contaminants in each brand." Includes description of methodology, policy recommendations, and suggestions for consumers (including avoiding plastic bottles). From the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
URL: http://www.ewg.org/reports/bottledwater

Native American Heritage Month
"The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans" by providing links to material on Native Americans. Features links to collections and exhibitions, historic places, images, audio and video sources, and related material.
URL: http://www.loc.gov/topics/nativeamericans/

Pack the 3R's While on Holiday Travel
This page suggests ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle during the holiday season, such as using electronic airline ticketing and hotel checkout systems, asking about alternative fuel when renting a car, and letting a hotel know it is not necessary to change sheets and towels every day. Also includes general holiday waste reduction tips, particularly for cooking and entertaining. From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
URL: http://www.epa.gov/osw/inforesources/news/2007news/12-pack.htm

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

Friday, November 14, 2008

Don’t forget that this Saturday, November 15 is NATIONAL GAMING DAY! Join us and other libraries across the country as we try to set a record for the most people playing a game at once! We will have board games such as Pictureka and checkers, card games like Uno, and more available or you can bring your own. This event is open to all ages and there’s something for everyone to play. It’s fun, it’s free and it’s ALL DAY at the library!

Make sure to come in and get your books before Wednesday, November 26, because we’ll be closed from November 27 until December 1 for the Thanksgiving holidays!

November is National Novel Writing Month! Pick up your pencil or fire up your computer, and get writing! Want more info and maybe to be part of the nation-wide action? Go to nanowrimo.com !



News from Screven

National Gaming Day's not the only fun free thing going on here! Every Friday we have Free Movie Fridays at 3:30 pm, and this week is going to be INDIANA JONES & THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL! Indy has returned and he’s just as adventurous as ever. Next week will be IRON MAN, in which Tony Stark finds a purpose to his life while kicking lots of butt!

Tuesdays at 10 am we have a great storytime for the little ones. They can listen to a story and then do a fun art or craft project related to the story. It’s lots of fun for the little ones, so bring them in and enjoy!

News from Jenkins

Wednesdays at 4 pm we have a great storytime for the little ones. They can listen to a story and then do a fun art or craft project related to the story. It’s lots of fun for the little ones, so bring them in and enjoy!


Now, on to the books!

LEAVE A CANDLE BURNING by Lori Wick. Dannan MacKay has come to Tucker Mills to take over his uncle’s medical practice, and he’s welcomed with open arms by his patients, his church family, and the town. His life seems full and complete until he meets a lively lady in the grocery store – one who can never be his.

BREAKING DAWN by Stephenie Meyer. The climax to the TWILIGHT series is here. Bella has made her choice, and the turning point has been reached. There is no going back now…


DEBT CURE$ “THEY” DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT by Kevin Trudeau. Self-help guru Trudeau promises in his latest book to help you find out why the financial industry wants to keep you in debt, tell you how to turn bad debt into good credit, and how to create wealth through financial health.

MOSCOW RULES by Daniel Silva. The death of a journalist has led Gabriel Allon to Russia – the new, wealthy Russia where expensive cars with bulletproof glass roll through streets where a dissident just might disappear and where former KGB members grow wealthy selling death to America’s enemies.

JUNK BEAUTIFUL: ROOM BY ROOM MAKEOVERS WITH JUNKMARKET STYLE by Sue Whitney and Ki Nassauer. Create a unique décor that’s all your own with thrift-store bargains and flea-market finds. Whitney and Nassauer take a fresh look at what other people call junk and find beauty in it.

WREATHS & BOUQUETS by Paul Pryke. Just in time for the holidays comes this gorgeously-illustrated book, full of ideas for every season and event you can imagine. From an elegant Easter egg wreath to a summery sweet-pea circle and a floral “cocktail”, all the way to a snowy six-pointed star wreath and a heart-shaped Valentine’s wreath, there’s no end to the inspiration you can find here.


Click to check out these cool sites!

Bedecked, Bedazzled & Bejeweled: Costume Ornamentation at New York City Ballet
Online exhibit and accompanying article about New York City Ballet costumes. "In photographs, the costumes bloom with a fierce poetry, products of wild imagination and painstaking industry. The tutus and tiaras, the grand gowns and flirty skirts, the formal men's jackets and dapper vests worn by generations of New York City Ballet dancers can now be viewed here." View images highlighting details of ballet costumes. From the New York City Ballet.

The Roald Dahl Funny Prize
Website for this competition inaugurated in 2008 that presents prizes for "The Funniest Book for Children Aged Six and Under" and "The Funniest Book for Children Aged Seven to Fourteen." Includes lists of nominated books, an article about the science of humor, and links to site about author Roald Dahl. From Booktrust, a British organization "that encourages people of all ages and cultures to discover and enjoy reading."

Europa Film Treasures
Watch hundreds of the treasures of European cinematographic heritage online. "All genres and time periods are on the playbill! From comedy to science fiction, from westerns to animation, from erotic to ethnological movies." Also includes background about each film. Available in several languages. As the site notes, users may experience viewing difficulties due to high traffic. Developed by a film restoration company "in collaboration with the legal successors (when they have been identified) and depositories."

Failed Bank List
"This page contains useful information for the customers and vendors of these [failed] banks. This includes information on the acquiring bank (if applicable), how your accounts and loans are affected, and how vendors can file claims against the receivership. This list includes banks which have failed since October 1, 2000." Banks listed include Washington Mutual and IndyMac. From the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

The Goody Parsons Witchcraft Case: A Journey to 17th Century Northampton
"Mary Parsons is perhaps the most infamous resident of Northampton's early settlement period. She was involved in witchcraft-related trials in 1656 and 1674, and possibly again in 1679. Her story is a fascinating one that sheds light on the workings of the Puritan mind and the complicated social and cultural situation of the period." Includes material about the trial, witchcraft, and related topics. From the Center for Computer-Based Instructional Technology (CCBIT), University of Massachusetts.


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

Thursday, November 6, 2008

News from KNOWhere 11/6/08

Did you know that November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? NaNo is a national initiative to help people get the word out that anybody can be a writer - all you have to do is write! Are you a teen or preteen? Sign up for their Young Writers Program, where you can set your own goals and write anything you like. For more information, go to nanowrimo.com and get writing!


News from Screven

Don’t forget to come to the library tonight at 7 pm to listen to Linda McBride tell us the story of how she wrote and published her brand new book, MEMA HAS CANCER! It’s a sweet, sensitive book about a little girl and her grandmother and about how sickness can’t change love, and it’s simple enough for even the youngest child to understand.

The Teen Book Club will be meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 4 pm. We’ll be discussing THE LAST BOOK IN THE UNIVERSE by Rodman Philbrick, and picking up free copies of next month’s book, HOME OF THE BRAVES by David Klass. If you’re between 11 and 20, please join us for a little food for thought (and maybe some snacks too!)

National Gaming Day is Nov. 15, and we’ll be celebrating it with a marathon games party! From Dance Dance Revolution to Yahtzee to Uno, we’ve got a ton of fun just waiting for you to enjoy all day Saturday, November 15! It’s free, it’s fun, and there’ll even be food!

Speaking of great free stuff, remember our Free Movie Fridays are every Friday at 3:30. This Friday, it’ll be car-razy retro fun with SPEED RACER. Next week, we’ll continue the old-meets-new theme with INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL. That’s 3:30 Fridays – don’t miss it!

Don’t have time to read your kids a story at bedtime? Call Dial-A-Story at 912-564-7080 for a new story every week! Would you rather your children experience the joys of live storytelling? Tuesdays at 10 am we have a wonderful storytime for the little ones, complete with a fun craft project to do after the story’s done!

We have a whole pile of contest winners to announce! Hannah Croom and Joselyn Wells won the jars of candy in our “count the candy” contest, and our costume contest winners were Alaysha Wright, Erin Thompson, Harley Oliver, Chasity Oliver and Annalisa Harter. Congratulations to all of you!


News from Jenkins

On Tuesday, November 11 at 6:30 pm, local author Linda McBride will tell us the story of how she wrote and published her brand new book, MEMA HAS CANCER! It’s a sweet, sensitive book about a little girl and her grandmother and about how sickness can’t change love, and it’s simple enough for even the youngest child to understand.

The Teen Book Club will be meeting on Wednesday, November 12 at 4 pm. We’ll be discussing THE LAST BOOK IN THE UNIVERSE by Rodman Philbrick, and picking up free copies of next month’s book, HOME OF THE BRAVES by David Klass. If you’re between 11 and 20, please join us for a little food for thought (and maybe some snacks too!

National Gaming Day is November. 15, and we’ll be celebrating it with a marathon games party! Bring your own or play ours, either way it’s a ton of fun just waiting for you to enjoy all day Saturday, November 15! Please sign up ahead of time – sign-ups began on November 4 and will continue until November 14.

Let your children experience the joys of live storytelling! Wednesdays at 4 pm we have a wonderful storytime for the little ones, complete with a fun craft project to do after the story’s done!


Now, on to the books!

ALIBI by Joseph Kanon. Adam Miller has come to 1946 Venice to visit his widowed mother and try to forget the atrocities he saw as a war crimes investigator in Nazi Germany. But when he falls in love with a Jewish survivor, he sees how, even though things in Venice look the same on the surface, they’ve changed underneath.

A PRISONER OF BIRTH by Jeffrey Archer. If Danny Cartwright had proposed to his girlfriend on any other day, he wouldn’t have been charged with the murder of his best friend. Now, he’s been sent to an inescapable prison… but the four whose testimony wrongly convicted him have underestimated his drive for revenge.

A GENTLE RAIN by Deborah Smith. Kara Whittenbrook isn’t anything like her stodgy, wealthy family, and after her parents die, she learns why… she was adopted. Her birth family are poor Florida ranchhands living on a Florida ranch that’s about to go under. Can they find each other in time to save them all?

THE LAST ORACLE by James Rollins. What if you could genetically engineer the next great prophet? What if you could create a Jesus, Buddha, or Mohammed? Would it mark the Second Coming, or cause the End Times?


THE BURNT HOUSE by Faye Kellerman. A small commuter plane carrying 47 passengers crashes into an apartment complex. LAPD Lt. Peter Decker and his wife Rina find themselves in the heart of the investigation – one that only becomes more puzzling when four unexpected bodies turn up on the plane, and one body, that of flight attendant Roseanne Dresden, just isn’t there.


Click to check out these cool sites!

Finding and Applying for Jobs and Evaluating Offers
Brief information from the U.S. government about where to locate job openings, job search methods, applying for a job (resumes, application forms, and cover letters), job interview tips, and evaluating a job offer. Also includes links to related articles from the Occupational Outlook Quarterly, a career magazine published by the government. Part of the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Immigration FAQ Central
Using a question and answer format, an immigration attorney provides lots of detailed answers to many common questions about immigration. Also includes immigration bulletins and updates containing recent developments and changes in immigration law.

Tools & Power Equipment: Leaf Blowers
This 2007 Consumer Reports overview of leaf blowers notes that the "best handheld electric blowers have long beaten their gasoline-fueled competitors with comparable power and less weight and noise." While the specific ratings and reviews are only available to Consumer Reports subscribers, the site's free section include the top model, a rake vs. leaf blower video, and sections on how to choose a leaf blower and leaf blower types. From the website for Consumer Reports.

Our Earth as Art
Landsat 7 is a U.S. satellite maintained by NASA. On this site "you can view our planet through the beautiful images taken by the Landsat-7 satellite." The online exhibit includes images of deserts, rivers, mountains, and other geographic features. Includes a discussion of how the colors of satellite images differ from photographs. Browsable by continent. From the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and NASA.

A Big List of Sites That Teach You How To Do Stuff
Annotated list of "general interest sites that give quality instruction on all sorts of fun and useful projects. Including, sometimes, how to build a deck or bake a cake." Includes links to sites such as Instructables, eHow, and About.com. From ReadWriteWeb, a blog that provides Web technology news, reviews, and analysis.

Create Calendar for Any Year
Use this site to create a calendar for any given year. Includes options to create calendars showing holidays for different countries. Also includes links to find the duration between two dates, adding a number of days to a given date, and other calendar-related information.


That’s all for now – see you at the library!

Monday, November 3, 2008

News from KNOWhere - 11/3/08

Can you believe it's November already? It really feels like it, too - falling leaves, crisp cool air and the morning is coming later and later. All of which makes it a great time to come in and enjoy our "talking leaves" - the books at your library!


News from Screven

Thursday, November 6 at 7 pm, we’ll be having an author talk with Linda McBride, whose book MEMA HAS CANCER has just come out. It’s a wonderfully sensitive book for youngsters who are dealing with family members who have cancer, and it’s simple enough for even young children to understand.

Tuesday, November 11 at 4 pm we’ll have our terrific Teen Book Club. This month we’ll be discussing THE LAST BOOK IN THE UNIVERSE by Rodman Philbrick, about a dangerous world where life is cheap and the only escape lies in downloading movies right into your brain and literacy is a dying art. We’ll also be picking up next month’s book, HOME OF THE BRAVES by David Klass. Remember – these are high-quality books that teens love, and they get to keep them, so don’t miss out!

Thursday, November 13 at 4 pm is our creative craft time. People of all ages are welcome to join us to create cute seasonal craft projects for free! Just sign up ahead of time so we know how many people to prepare stuff for, please!

Saturday, November 15 is NATIONAL GAMING DAY! We will be opening up the library’s multipurpose room for people to play DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION on the Wii, board games, card games, and more! It’s open to all ages, and everyone is invited!

Does your child love a good story? Tuesdays at 10 am we have our wonderful storytimes, when children listen to a story and then do a craft related to it. Can’t make it to storytime, but don’t have time to read them a story yourself? Call 912-564-7080 for Dial-A-Story and they can listen to a story on the phone!


News from Jenkins

Tuesday, November 11 at 6:30 pm, we’ll be having an author talk with Linda McBride, whose book MEMA HAS CANCER has just come out. It’s a wonderfully sensitive book for youngsters who are dealing with family members who have cancer, and it’s simple enough for even young children to understand.

Wednesday, November 12 at 4 pm we’ll have our terrific Teen Book Club. This month we’ll be discussing THE LAST BOOK IN THE UNIVERSE by Rodman Philbrick, about a dangerous world where life is cheap and the only escape lies in downloading movies right into your brain and literacy is a dying art. We’ll also be picking up next month’s book, HOME OF THE BRAVES by David Klass. Remember – these are high-quality books that teens love, and they get to keep them, so don’t miss out!

Does your child love a good story? Wednesdays at 4 pm we have our wonderful storytimes, when children listen to a story and then do a craft related to it. Can’t make it to storytime, but don’t have time to read them a story yourself? Call (478) 982-5898 for Dial-A-Story and they can listen to a story on the phone!

Saturday, November 15 is NATIONAL GAMING DAY! We will be opening up the library’s multipurpose room for people to play board games, card games, and more! It’s open to all ages, and everyone is invited! You can either play our games or bring your own.



Now, on to the books!

THE BOOK OF LIES by Brad Meltzer. In the Bible, Cain kills Abel. It’s history’s most famous murder, but the weapon used is lost to history. In 1932, Mitchell Siegal was killed by two gunshots to the chest, a murder which led his grieving son to create Superman, but again, the weapon was never found. What’s the link between these two deaths?

OUT STEALING HORSES by Per Petterson. It was July of 1948, and Trond’s friend Jon had just shown up on his doorstep, planning a fun day of joyriding on other peoples’ horses. But before the day is out, Jon is caught in a trance of grief, an event that begins a summer of losses

.

MULBERRY PARK by Judy Duarte. A woman shattered by grief finds herself answering a little girl’s letter to God. In the process, she sets off a chain of events that offers second chances to nine strangers

.

BEING ELIZABETH by Barbara Taylor Bradford. At only 25, Elizabeth Deravenel finds herself the head – and the youngest executive – of Deravenels, a business empire that spans the globe. But all is not perfect, as she finds herself surrounded by rumors and disloyalty. And at least one of her enemies is willing to kill for her position…

BOLD SONS OF ERIN by Owen Parry. Thousands of Irishmen are serving valiantly in the Union army, but when a Union general is murdered, the Irish are the first to be suspected. Can Union Major Abel Jones find the real killer – and the reason for the general’s death?


Click to check out these cool links!

New E-Scams & Warnings
This page lists alerts about scams and other warnings concerning malicious software (malware), viruses, phishing, e-mail schemes, threat and extortion e-mail messages, and more. Includes an option to get e-mail alerts when new warnings are posted on the page. From the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

U.S. Census Bureau Facts for Features: Veterans Day http://lii.org/images/clearpixel.gif
Contains facts and statistics regarding veterans in the United States, including women and black veterans, wars served, where veterans live, and what veterans receive in benefits. Features quotes and audio clips.

Parents: Autumn Tips to Help Keep Your Kids Safe and Healthy
This collection of fall health and safety tips suggests a family food tasting, indoor and outdoor activity, taking an active role in teen employment, checking toy and product safety, demonstrating healthy habits, and more. The sidebar includes a related article, "Kids' Autumn Activities," and several other health and safety features. From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Astronomy Cafe
An educational and professional resource in astronomy, calling itself "The web site for the astronomically disadvantaged." Includes descriptive articles, links, FAQs, an "Ask the Astronomer" archive of commonly asked astronomy questions, and more. Maintained by a research astronomer.

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
"NORD is committed to the identification, treatment, and cure of rare disorders through programs of education, advocacy, research, and service." Search the Rare Disease Database or browse an alphabetical listing for descriptions of the disease, or find a support group or other source of help in the Organizational Database. Reports are available for a fee.


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