Celebrate National Library Week

The Forsyth County Public Library is celebrating the joy and unlimited possibilities of reading as part of National Library Week, happening April 12 – 18.

National Library Week was first sponsored by the American Library Association in 1958 and is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians. National Library Week is also a time to promote use of our local libraries by all members of our community.

Celebrate by Finding a Great Book

“We’re excited to announce that the Forsyth County Public Library is launching our very own readers’ group on Goodreads.com, a popular book recommendation website, in conjunction with our National Library Week activities,” says Stephen Kight, Assistant Director for Public Services.

Best-selling author David Baldacci is serving as the Honorary Chair of National Library Week 2015. Baldacci has written 30 novels for adults and 4 novels for young readers. While he won’t be visiting the Atlanta area until after National Library Week, the library is honoring Baldacci’s efforts to support family and adult literacy by creating a special bookshelf on its new Goodreads group where users can find links to his books in the library’s collection.

In addition to this special shelf dedicated to National Library Week and David Baldacci, library staff members continue to post and rate their favorite books in nearly two dozen genres and categories, such as mystery, urban fantasy, romance, thrillers and suspense, chick lit and non-fiction.

“Many of our patrons already use Goodreads.com to keep track of the books they’ve read and to look for new reading material. Now, those users can join the Library’s group and find out which books our staff are reading and recommending, see book reviews from real readers, and participate in discussions about the books that matter most to them,” adds Kight.

The library’s Goodreads group will also have a special section devoted to new and upcoming books that will soon be arriving in the library’s collection.

“We think this is a perfect opportunity to give our patrons a sneak peek at the new material being published by their favorite authors that they’ll soon be able to check out. It also gives patrons a chance to learn about new authors and books that are perhaps a departure from what they normally like to read,” says Kight. “Goodreads is simply one more way we can connect with patrons and help them find even more books to love.”

Celebrate by Discussing a Great Book

The library is also celebrating National Library Week with several book discussion events for adults, teens, and children.

The Coffee Talk book club will meet at the Cumming Library on Tuesday, April 14 at 1:00 p.m. to discuss The Men Who United the States: America's Explorers, Inventors, Eccentrics, and Mavericks, and the Creation of One Nation, Indivisible.

The Lit Chicks book club will meet at the Post Road Library on Wednesday, April 15 at 10:15 a.m. to discuss Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Childcare will be provided by the library’s youth services staff, so advance registration is requested.

The Literazzi book club will meet at the Sharon Forks Library on Wednesday, April 15 at 2:00 p.m. and again at 7:00 p.m. to discuss Sister by Rosamund Lupton.

Teens in grades 6 and up who love to write poetry, short stories, articles, or other long-format pieces are invited to join in the Teen Writing Club meeting at the Cumming Library on Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. Participants will learn tips for writing and may share samples of their work.

Teens who love to read should head over to the Post Road Library on Wednesday, April 15 at 5:30 p.m. for the Pizza and Books book club meeting. Papa John’s will donate pizza for participants to snack on while they share what they’re reading with the group.

Young readers in grades K through 2 are invited to participate in the Chatterbooks reading group at the Sharon Forks Library on Thursday, April 16 at 4:00 p.m. The group will be completing crafts and activities related to The Dot, a story of how one child’s simple dot turned into a real work of art.

Students in grades 3 through 5 will enjoy S.T.E.A.M. Reads, a group dedicated to discovering science, technology, engineering, art, and math through the joy of reading. The group will also meet at the Sharon Forks Library on Thursday, April 16 to work on activities and experiments related to The 8th Continent, a story of two children that want to turn a floating garbage patch into new continent.

“The library gives our community a free and convenient way to explore unlimited possibilities through special programs, workshops, job-seeking resources, and the power of reading,” says Laura Bradley, Program Manager. “Celebrating National Library Week with these book discussion events and the launch of our Goodreads group is a special way to connect our patrons with the services and information they want and need.”

More information on each of these National Library Week events, as well as the new readers’ group on Goodreads.com, is available at www.forsythpl.org.