Far North Adventure

With the annual running of the Iditarod coming up, it’s a great time to go back to some old favorite adventure novels.  The books of Jack London have always been a favorite of mine along with some of Gary Paulsen’s. I still remember reading them in middle school.

For some other great winter adventure and mystery titles, check out Sue Henry or Dana Stabenow

If you like graphic novels, there is an adult graphic novel called MUSH!: Sled Dogs with Issues by Glenn Eichler, that is a little off color but funny nevertheless.

For teens, there is a new “Jack London” adventure series to check out.  The little ones might enjoy watching Balto and Balto II, as well.

Here are some informational facts about the race and dog sledding in general.

• The Iditarod will start March 3, 2013 from Willow, Alaska to Nome, Alaska.  
• Ric Swenson has won the Iditarod race five times over three different decades.  
• The Iditarod commemorates the famous race to get the diphtheria vaccine to the community of Nome in the middle of winter in 1925.
• The Yukon Quest is an international sled dog race that runs 1,000 miles between Whitehorse in Yukon, Canada and Fairbanks, Alaska.  They alternate the direction that the race is run each year.  This year's will be run on February 2, 2013.
• These races are not just for the men and there is an ever increasing number of female mushers every year.  A couple of the more famous ones are: Susan Butcher, Libby Riddles, Aliy Zirkle, and DeeDee Jonrowe.

Joan Dudzinski

Information Specialist

Youth Media Awards

Readers of all ages waited with bated breath this morning for the announcement of the 2013 Youth Media Awards which name the best titles in children's and young adult literature. Here's a list of the winners and honorees. Did your favorite title make the cut?

Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished picture book for children

This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
A tiny minnow wearing a pale blue bowler hat has a thing or two up his fins in this underwater light-on-dark chase scene.

Caldecott Honor Books
Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett
Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue
Green by Laura Seeger
One Cool Friend by Tony Buzzeo

Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Appelgate
When Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall, meets Ruby, a baby elephant that has been added to the mall, he decides that he must find her a better life.

Newbery Honor Books
Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz
Bomb by Steve Sheinkin
Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature

In Darkness by Nick Lake
In the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake, fifteen-year-old Shorty, a poor gang member from the slums of Site Soleil, is trapped in the rubble of a ruined hospital, and as he grows weaker he has visions and memories of his life of violence, his lost twin sister, and of Toussaint L'Ouverture, who liberated Haiti from French rule in the 1804.

Printz Honor Books
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Dodger by Terry Pratchett
White Bicycle by Beverly Brenna

Why I Love Working at the Library

People envy me.  To be surrounded by all those books, to work in such a peaceful place–it must be heaven!  And it is, although I don’t have much time to browse for myself and the quiet can be quickly shattered when a toddler decides he, "does not want to!"  But that’s not why I love being here.  I like helping people.  It just does wonders for my ego!  And if you don’t need my help, that’s fine.  We’ve made our systems as user-friendly as possible so you can easily do what you need to do all by yourself.  I’m here for anyone who needs a little help, or even a lot of help.  If you want to learn to do it yourself, I’ll teach you.  If you’d rather I do it, that’s fine too.  And the best part is you don’t have to pay a fee for my services.  The county provides the majority of our funding as an investment in your quality of life.

So when I wish you good morning, just smile and go about your business.  But if you need help finding a good read for the weekend, just ask me.  I’ll use my experience and resources to match you up with the perfect book.  And who knows?  Maybe I’ll find something for myself while I’m looking amidst all the books in this peaceful place.

Mary Kretsch
Information Specialist

Interested in the important global issues of our time?

The Great Decisions lecture series that was held at the library in past years has returned this year, but now with a new location.  The series is still sponsored by the University of North Georgia and will be held at their Forsyth Campus on Thursdays, starting January 17 and running through March 7.  A list of the eight discussion topics for 2013 and the complete schedule can be found here on the University of North Georgia’s web site:
http://ung.edu/news/_uploads/files/GreatDecisionsSchedule2013.pdf

I have attended these lectures for the past two years and plan to attend again this year.  If you are not already familiar with the series here is how it works.  Each year the Foreign Policy Association selects eight foreign policy challenges that are currently facing the United States and provides current information for national civic discussion on these eight global issues.  Great Decisions lectures are offered around the country.  Here in north Georgia the lectures have been offered by the University of North Georgia for four consecutive years.  Each of the eight lectures is given by a different professor with in-depth knowledge of the topic at hand.  The North Georgia professors do a wonderful job of providing an overview of the featured topic, current data and policy options.  There is then time at the end of each lecture for audience participation in the form of questions for the speaker, facilitated by a moderator.

There is a briefing book and a DVD produced by the Foreign Policy Association that goes along with the lecture series each year.  The briefing book contains one chapter devoted to each of the eight discussion topics in the lecture series.  You do not need to read the briefing book to attend the lectures but it gives you added insight and information and helps to make the lectures even more enjoyable.  The library has both the Great Decisions 2013 briefing book and Great Decisions 2013 DVD available for checkout or to place a hold.

If you enjoy the Great Decisions lecture series you may also enjoy reading some of these current titles on foreign affairs and global issues from the library’s collection.

American Foreign Policy Since World War II by Steven W. Hook (2013)

The Next Decade: Where We've Been -- and Where We're Going by George Friedman (2011)

Drift: the Unmooring of American Military Power by Rachel Maddow (2012)

Going to Tehran: Why the United States Must Come to Terms with the Islamic Republic of Iran by Flynt Lawrence Leverett (2013)

On China by Henry Kissinger (2011)

Pakistan on the Brink: the Future of America, Pakistan, and Afghanistan by Ahmed Rashid (2012)

The Post-American World: Release 2.0 by Fareed Zakaria (2011)

Restless Empire: China and the World Since 1750 by Odd Arne Westad (2012)

Strategic Vision: America and the Crisis of Global Power by Zbigniew Brzezinski (2012)

The Twilight War: the Secret History of America's Thirty-Year Conflict with Iran by David Crist (2012)

Winner Take All: China's Race for Resources and What It Means for the World by Dambisa Moyo (2012)

The World America Made by Robert Kagan (2012)

Kim Tomblin
Collection Development Librarian


 

Passport to Puppetry

In 2013, Georgia Public Library Service began a partnership with The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta.

The Passport to Puppetry program includes free admission of up to 4 visitors to the Center for Puppetry Arts museum and discounted performance prices for Georgia’s library cardholders. Patrons may place a hold on the Passport to Puppetry in the library catalog or visit the Ask Us desk at any FCPL branch for more information.

Please make reservations with The Center for Puppetry Arts at least 48 hours in advance and mention that you will be redeeming a Passport to Puppetry.