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!

News from KNOWhere 12-11-08

Winter may not officially begin until December 21, but it’s certainly getting chilly out there! This is great weather to curl up in your coziest chair and read a good book, so come visit us at the library and get a little something to warm your soul and take your mind off all the holiday craziness.

Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 21. What exactly is Hanukkah, and how is it celebrated? And how and when is Kwanzaa celebrated? These stories and more can be found here at the library!


News from Screven

Want to see a movie, but don’t want to pay for those expensive theater tickets? Come to the library Fridays at 3:30 pm for Free Movie Fridays! This Friday, we’ll be seeing JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH with Brendon Frasier. Next week, it’s high-tech spy shenanigans with GET SMART. It’s on the big screen, and it’s free to all!

Tuesdays at 10 am, bring in the little ones to the library to enjoy our great storytimes! It’s a fun story and a creative craft every week, and it’s a lot of fun for the kids!

Come in and see the works of Dave Horn! He’s displaying his woodworking talents here at the library through the month of December, with everything from Christmas ornaments and manger scenes to plaques to let your nearest and dearest know that you’ve “Gone Fishing”.

News from Jenkins

Wednesdays at 4 pm, bring in the little ones to the library to enjoy our great storytimes! It’s a fun story and a creative craft every week! This Wednesday, December 10 we’ll be doing “12 Days to Christmas”, and next week, December 17 our theme will be “We can cook!”

Saturday, December 20 we're having a special double-feature program! It will start with author Bess Chappas signing and talking about her book "Kiki and the Red Shoes" and then will continue with a showing of the movie SAMANTHA: AN AMERICAN GIRL HOLIDAY. It'll be a lot of fun, and it starts at 12 noon at the Jenkins County Library!

Now, on to the books!

BIG SKY WINTER by Diana Palmer. Now together, two of Palmer’s best – RAWHIDE & LACE, in which a woman whose heart has been broken must save the rancher who had destroyed her life, and UNLIKELY LOVER in which a matchmaking aunt tricks an unsuspecting writer and an oilman into true love.

PALACE COUNCIL by Stephen L. Carter. In the summer of 1952, twenty men meet and form a plot to manipulate President Nixon. Soon after, Harlem writer Eddie Wesley finds the body of one of them. For the next 20 years, Eddie and his lady Aurelia dig for the truth… and try to solve the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Eddie’s sister.

DEATH ANGEL by Linda Howard. Drea Rousseau is a striking beauty with a taste for diamonds and dangerous men. After her last boyfriend, crime lord Rafael Salinas, tries to kill her, she turns to the FBI to help her escape his vengeance.

MORTGAGES FOR DUMMIES by Eric Tyson and Ray Brown. In these troubled times, many people are hesitant about getting or refinancing a mortgage. Here, MBA Eric Tyson gives simple, plain-English advice on how to qualify for a mortgage, figure out what you can afford, how to pick a lender and much more.

THE HERNDONS: AN ATLANTA FAMILY by Carole Merritt. Born a slave and reared a sharecropper, Alonzo Herndon seemed destined for a life of drudgery. But over the course of the next 40 years, he would become one of the wealthiest and most respected African American business figures of his time.

Click to check out these cool links!

Image & Sentiment: Five Publishers of Victorian Holiday Cards
This site features a browsable gallery of images of Victorian Christmas and New Year cards from five publishers. The site also provides users the opportunity to send electronic postcards of the images. Curated and designed by librarian Erika Dowell of the Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington.

Consumer Reports Blogs: Tightwad Tod
In this blog feature, launched in October 2008 in response to the U.S. economic downturn, a longtime Consumer Reports researcher and writer will be "posting on the news that affects your pocketbook, sniffing around for great buys, challenging offers that sound too good to be true, and heaping shame on the scams and ripoff artists that abound out there." Part of the Consumer Reports Money blog.

Holiday Survival Guide: Manage Stress and Simplify Your Holiday Season
Advice on reducing stress during the holiday season, including dealing with difficult relatives, loneliness, shopping, and party planning. An About.com site.

Everyday Mysteries: Who Invented Electric Christmas Lights?
This essay explores the invention of electric Christmas lights, noting that "[w]hile Thomas Edison and Edward H. Johnson may have been the first to create electric strands of light in 1880/1882, it was Albert Sadacca who saw a future in selling electric Christmas lights [in 1917]." Includes historic images and links to related websites. From Science Reference Services, Library of Congress.

StoryCorps National Day of Listening
StoryCorps (a nonprofit that has helped more than 40,000 Americans record oral histories) "is declaring November 28, 2008 the first annual National Day of listening." On this day after Thanksgiving StoryCorps "asks you to start a new holiday tradition -- set aside one hour ... to record a conversation with someone important to you." Site features a DIY recording guide and video, question generator, a few online oral histories, and related material.

Energy [R]evolution
"The energy [r]evolution is an independently produced report that provides a practical blueprint for how to half global CO2 emissions, while allowing for an increase in energy consumption by 2050. ... [I]t explains how existing energy technologies can be applied in more efficient ways." Site includes the report, examples of projects, policy recommendations, and related material. From Greenpeace International and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC).

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

News from KNOWhere 12-6-2008

December is here and so is the holiday cheer! Join us at the library to get the best holiday books and movies, and even special Christmas CDs!


News from Screven

Tuesday, December 9 at 4 pm we’ll have our fun teen book club meeting. Munch on a snack and get some food for thought as we talk about this month’s book, HOME OF THE BRAVES by David Klass. Then pick up next month’s book, CODE TALKERS by Joseph Bruchac. Can’t make it to our library Tuesday? Then come in to the Jenkins County Memorial Library in Millen on Wednesday, December 10 at 4 pm and join the fun there!

Free Movie Fridays are back from vacation! Every Friday at 3:30 pm we show a different great movie on the big screen, and it’s free to anyone who cares to join us! This Friday, December 5, it’s KUNG FU PANDA. Next Friday, December 12, it will be JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH.

Bring your little ones to the library Tuesdays at 10 and they can enjoy our wonderful seasonal storytimes! They can listen to a wonderful wintery tale and then they can create a holiday masterpiece suitable for decking your halls (or refrigerator.)

Thursday, December 11 at 4 pm we have our cool craft time, when kids from 3 to 93 can join in the fun of making a cool project with a seasonal theme!

News from Jenkins

Wednesday, December 10 at 4 pm we’ll have our fun teen book club meeting. Munch on a snack and get some food for thought as we talk about this month’s book, HOME OF THE BRAVES by David Klass. Then pick up next month’s book, CODE TALKERS by Joseph Bruchac. Can’t make it to our library Tuesday? Then come in to the Jenkins County Memorial Library in Millen on Wednesday, December 10 at 4 pm and join the fun there!

Bring your little ones to the library Wednesdays at 4 pm and they can enjoy our superb seasonal storytimes! They can listen to a wonderful wintery tale and then they can create a holiday masterpiece suitable for decking your halls (or refrigerator.)

Now, on to the books!

DEWEY: THE SMALL-TOWN LIBRARY CAT WHO TOUCHED THE WORLD by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter. The true story of Dewey Readmore Books, the world’s most famous library cat, and how he helped to put his library – and the small town that library served – on the map and in the hearts of people all over the world.

AMERICAN LION: ANDREW JACKSON IN THE WHITE HOUSE by Jon Meacham. Andrew Jackson was a battle-hardened warrior, founder of the Democratic party, and architect of the modern American presidency. When he won the election in 1828, he wrested control of our nation away from the elitist politicians and placed it in the hands of the common citizen. Learn more about this contradictory, brilliant, and controversial president in this book.

ASK THE EXPERTS GUIDE TO COLLECTIBLES: THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT. Toys, sewing items, hats, telephones, art glass, and so much more – there are so many varieties of collectibles out there that no book could tell you everything about them all. But you can learn about some of the hottest items (and some not-so-hot ones) in this book.

THE SOUTHERN BELLES OF HONEYSUCKLE WAY by Linda Bruckheimer. Rebecca Jean Wooten St. Clair and her sister Carleen pack up their troubles (and their less-than-enthusiastic teenaged daughters) and set off for their old hometown of Blue Lick Springs. But in Blue Lick, there’s trouble brewing between factions, and if they can’t work together, it just might be the end of their hometown as they know it.

THE WORDY SHIPMATES by Sarah Vowell. Forget that prim and proper pair of pilgrims we see everywhere at Thanksgiving. Find out about the real Puritans, their quirks and quarrels, and more.

MIDNIGHT: A GANGSTER LOVE STORY by Sister Souljah. Midnight is as black as his name, born in Sudan but come to New York as a young man. He sees African-American culture from both inside and outside, its flaws and strengths, and looks for a way out of the ghetto.

Click to check out these cool sites!

All Crafts
A collection of holiday, nature, needlework, basketry, computer, paper, soap, candle, wood, rubber stamp, scrapbooking, and many other kinds of craft projects. "Along with hundreds of crafting ideas in dozens of categories, there are reviews of craft kits, links to crafts magazines and suppliers, and a handy search engine that makes it easy to search for your favorite activity." There are also message boards on various topics.

Charity Navigator: Support Our Troops
Provides "a list of charities supporting [U.S.] soldiers and their families that have demonstrated exceptional financial health." Profiles of the charities include ratings (with breakdown by organizational efficiency and capacity), expenses, income statements, executive compensation, privacy policy details, and a description of each group's mission. Includes listings for charities supporting specific military branches and U.S. military veterans. From Charity Navigator, an organization that provides analysis and rating of charities.

Holiday Shopping, Circa 2008: Tips From the Federal Trade Commission
This consumer tip sheet provides holiday shopping advice for staying on budget, with suggestions such as making a shopping list and budget before shopping, comparing prices, checking sale ads and bargain offers, tracking your spending, and considering layaway programs. From the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Job Loss Help
Information about financial and other help available to workers who lose or leave a job. "Workers pay the taxes that fund many of these services. Employers provide other services. If you qualify, it is your right to receive certain benefits." Describes health insurance protections (such as COBRA, HIPAA, Medicaid, and CHIP), financial help (such as unemployment insurance and Supplemental Security Income), where to get help in finding another job, and more. From AARP.

How Lame Is a Lame-Duck President?
Material about the "incumbent president who's reached the end of his term." On this site, "read about some of the hits (and misses) some lame duck presidents have made in the final days of their terms in this article. But first, read about the Lame Duck Amendment [20th Amendment] to the Constitution," which shortened the lame duck period. Includes links to related material. From HowStuffWorks.

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