2014 Staff Favorites - 18th in a Series

These cookbooks all have easy to follow recipes that contain easy to find ingredients. And, best of all, they have impressive pictures! One of my pet peeves is cookbooks without pictures. If you like to try new things check out these cookbooks!

Seriously Delish: 150 Recipes for People Who Totally Love Food
by Jessica Merchant

Tacolicious: Festive Recipes for Tacos, Snacks, Cocktails and More
by Sara Deseran

The Chew, a Year of Celebrations: Festive and Delicious Recipes for Every Occasion

Gale Gand's Lunch!
by Gale Gand


Marta Peppin
Information Specialist

Library Limelight: Tonya Wallace, Support Services

Library Limelight is intended to be a quick read to help FCPL patrons get to know our librarians and staff.  We hope you enjoy learning about the people who make our libraries great!

Tonya Wallace
Accounting Assistant
Support Services, Headquarters

Where is your hometown?

Cumming, GA

How long have you been at FCPL?

11 months

What other jobs have you had at FCPL?

None

Why did you choose to work in a library?

I wanted to be close to home and my family.

Describe your job in five words or less.

Bills, bills, bills!

What is your favorite part of your job?

The 20 minute commute and the wonderful people!

What’s the most interesting place you’ve lived or traveled?

The Pacific Northwest.  I was not used to everything being so gray!  I am a Georgia girl and I was used to the red Georgia clay and the bright sunshine!

What are your hobbies?

Running, camping (RVing), and reading

What are you reading right now?

I just finished Chestnut Street by Maeve Binchy.  Lacrosse season just started for my girls, so my reading time will be limited over the next couple of months.

Paper books or eBooks?

Paper

Library to Host Resources Fair for Individuals and Kids with Special Needs

Parents and caregivers of children with special needs are invited to meet other families and connect with local support resources at the Special Needs Resources Fair on Saturday, March 28 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Sharon Forks Library at 2820 Old Atlanta Road, Cumming. The event is free and no advance registration is required.

While parents and caregivers are learning about resources available to address special needs, their children are welcome to participate in storytime and other creative activities led by library staff. Teens and adults with special needs are also invited to attend the Resources Fair.

Several groups dedicated to helping those with special needs will be available to share information with parents and caregivers, including Forsyth Autism and Special Needs Support Group, Forsyth County Schools, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Special Needs Awareness of Public Safety (S.N.A.P.S.) Program, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and Special Olympics.

“As a parent of a child with special needs, I’ve noticed that many caregivers and individuals with special needs discover resources through word of mouth,” says Jennifer Forbes, Information Specialist at the Sharon Forks Library and the event’s organizer. “The Special Needs Resources Fair will hopefully highlight community resources that many of our residents may not be familiar with,” adds Forbes.

Forsyth Autism and Special Needs Support Group was founded in April 2013 by Sharon Howell, a mother of teenage twins with Autism, and Mary Kathryn McDonald, a speech-language pathologist. The purpose of the group is to connect parents, grandparents, and caregivers of individuals with special needs to each other to share ideas and support one another by sharing information. Forsyth Autism and Special Needs Support Group meets monthly at The Vine Community Church.

In an emergency situation like a fire or an accident, it is common for individuals with special needs to feel uncomfortable and to resist being spoken to or touched by first responders and public safety personnel. The S.N.A.P.S. program led by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office meets second Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m at the Public Safety Training Center to allow individuals with special needs to interact with uniformed public safety personnel in a casual environment. Participants can talk with officers and first responders, role-play emergency scenarios, or just watch until they feel more comfortable.

Volunteers from Special Olympics Forsyth County will present information on upcoming sporting events and how athletes with special needs can get involved. In addition to local, regional, and state sporting competitions, Special Olympics also hosts outings the first Friday of each month at Stars and Strikes that allow participants to socialize and meet new friends.

Representatives from Region One of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities will distribute information about services such as: mental health care; crisis intervention and stabilization; peer support; supported employment; occupational, physical, and speech therapy; respite services; specialized medical equipment and supplies; and transportation services. Staff from the Special Education department at Forsyth County Schools will share information about programs available within the school system to support students with special needs.

The library also offers multiple accommodations for patrons with special needs and information about a new special needs storytime program will be available during the Special Needs Resources Fair.

“We have large print books, audiobooks, mailbox books for our homebound patrons, and ADA computer stations. Patrons can also reserve items from home to pick up all in one location at their branch. If someone needs a specific accommodation, we invite that patron to contact us and we will make every effort possible to accommodate that need,” explains Forbes.

For more information, please visit www.forsythpl.org.

Staff Picks - Adult Fiction

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Sarah Addison Allen's debut novel, Garden Spells, is quintessentially Southern without trying too hard. She weaves a story of family and love with lovable, quirky characters and you could imagine yourself living in Bascomb, North Carolina, gossiping about your neighbors.


Allen has answered all our prayers and given us another story about the Waverly Family, First Frost.

First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen

From the first paragraph, readers are transported back to Bascomb, North Carolina, to read more about the beloved quirky Waverlys. I really appreciated that the story doesn't pick-up where we left them, but rather, Allen picks the story up nine years later.   Some readers may find the story a bit repetitive in theme, but I loved every syllable. Allen has such a lovely prose that you find yourself wishing the book would never end.

Meredith Bowermeister
Information Services Supervisor
Sharon Forks Library

New Storywalk to Open at Cumming Library on March 7

The Storywalk in The Secret Garden has become a popular attraction for families at the Cumming Library, but now something else has taken up residence in the garden…fairies!

In partnership with the Forsyth County Master Gardeners, the Storywalk in The Secret Garden will be decorated with fairy houses and miniature fairy gardens. The Storywalk will feature the book Good Night, Fairies by Kathleen Hague and illustrated by Michael Hague.

“Good Night, Fairies offers an imaginative journey through a hidden world where fairies are responsible for painting rainbows, hanging stars, and teaching birds to sing,” says Holly Raus, Storywalk organizer. “It’s a particularly good fit for The Secret Garden and the fairy houses we’re creating with the Master Gardeners because its colorful and dream-like illustrations help the reader imagine the wonder of what might be happening in nature that we often can’t observe for ourselves.”

Children in kindergarten through 5th grade that believe in the magic of fairies are invited to a special Build Your Own Fairy House event at the Cumming Library on Saturday, March 7 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Children can exercise their creativity and imagination as they use natural materials such as sticks, bark, dry grasses, pebbles, shells, feathers, nuts, and pinecones to create their own tiny fairy house.

Participants will hear about fairy legends and folklore while they build their houses, then they will be among the first to take a stroll through the newly installed Storywalk to search for tiny houses tucked among the leaves and bushes of The Secret Garden.

Space in the Build Your Own Fairy House event is limited and advance registration at www.forsythpl.org is required.

Following the Build Your Own Fairy House event, the fairy abodes and Storywalk is expected to remain open in The Secret Garden through Spring Break. To access The Secret Garden and Storywalk, enter the Cumming Library and walk toward the back of the building. Signs point patrons to the exit door near the new study rooms.

For more information about The Secret Garden and Storywalk, or other library programs for families, please visit www.forsythpl.org.

2014 Staff Favorites -17th in a Series

The Solace of Leaving Early by Haven Kimmel

"This was one of the best books I read all year. It was recommended by Joshilyn Jackson."

- Recommended by Mary Helen McGruder, Chairman, FCPL Board of Trustees

Library to Celebrate Women's History Month with Girl Scouts

The Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta will help the Forsyth County Public Library celebrate National Women’s History Month on Monday, March 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cumming Library, 585 Dahlonega Road, Cumming.

This special guest lecture is part of the Library’s One World Forsyth program to help bring cultural information and issues from around the world to the local community. One World Forsyth is sponsored by the Forsyth County Public Library Friends and Advocates.

The 2015 theme for National Women’s History Month is “Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives” and representatives from the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta will discuss the history of the organization, beginning with its founder and Savannah, Georgia resident Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low. The presentation will also include information on the ways Girl Scouts have changed over the years and the new ways girls and young women build courage, confidence, and character though participation in scouting.

Girl Scouts are the largest organization dedicated solely to giving girls a diverse, inclusive, and nurturing environment in which to build skills for success. Guided by adult volunteers, Girl Scout members develop qualities like leadership, strong values, social conscience, and conviction about their own self-worth that will serve them all their lives.

“Learning about Juliette Gordon Low and the dreams she had for the development of young women as full participants in society and purposeful leaders in their communities is an ideal way for our patrons – male and female, young and old – to appreciate the valuable contributions of women to the fabric of our history,” says Laura Bradley, Program Manager.

Young attendees at the presentation may also enjoy a special craft activity in honor of National Women’s History Month. The event is free and all ages are welcome. Advance registration is not required.

At the next One World Forsyth event, the Library will celebrate El día de los niños, El día de los libros, or simply Día. Translated from Spanish, the event is also called Children’s Day, Book Day and is meant to honor children and connect them to literacy and the joy of reading. Día will be observed with special performances from The Center for Puppetry Arts on Saturday, April 4 at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. at the Post Road Library, 5010 Post Road, Cumming.

For more information on One World Forsyth and other programs at the Forsyth County Public Library, please visit www.forsythpl.org.

Come Celebrate the 111th Birthday of Dr. Seuss with FCPL

“We’re having a party! We’re making a fuss! We want YOU to celebrate with us!” is a popular refrain you’ll hear whispered in the stacks and sung during storytimes at the Forsyth County Public Library lately. March 2 marks what would have been the 111th birthday of beloved children’s author and illustrator Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel and the library will honor the occasion with special events at each library branch.

The Seuss Spectacular will include readings of Dr. Seuss books, silly songs, hilariously tongue-twisting puppet shows, and special appearances by some of the most recognizable costumed characters ever created by Dr. Seuss. All ages are welcome to attend these family-friendly events and advance registration is not required.

The Seuss Spectacular event will be held on Friday, February 27 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cumming Library, 585 Dahlonega Road, Cumming. Later in the afternoon, the Hampton Park Library will host a Seuss Spectacular event at 2:15 p.m. at 5345 Settingdown Road, Cumming.

The Post Road Library will host two events at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. on Saturday, February 28. The Post Road Library is located at 5010 Post Road, Cumming.

The final Seuss Spectacular event will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 1 at the Sharon Forks Library, 2820 Old Atlanta Road, Cumming.

“While it’s certainly fun to throw a birthday party in honor of one of our favorite children’s authors, each of these five events is also connected to the National Education Association’s Read Across America program,” says Laura Bradley, Program Manager.

Read Across America is a nationwide reading initiative that takes place annually in conjunction with birthday celebrations for Dr. Seuss.

“Thousands of libraries, schools, and community centers participate in Read Across America with the purpose of bringing more than 45 million kids, teens, and adults together to share in the joy of reading. Our goal is to continue building a community of enthusiastic readers on Read Across America day and every day, so we encourage each Seuss Spectacular attendee to take a stroll through the library and pick up something new to read,” says Bradley.

For more information about the Seuss Spectacular events, please visit www.forsythpl.org.

Bookmarks: A Book Club for Grades 7 & up - Cumming Library - February 26 at 1:00 p.m.

The tragic night when the Titanic sank is detailed almost minute by minute through the compilation of first hand accounts in this non-fiction classic by Walter Lord.

Told in a story format, the reader becomes engulfed in the doomed night filled with a series of mishaps, the brisk chilling air as confused passengers gather on deck, and finally, plunged into the deathly cold ocean while haunting screams fill the air.

This book is the selection for the Bookmarks book club for teens in grades 7 and up. The book club will meet at the Cumming Library on Thursday, February 26th at 1:00 p.m. and is designed for the schedule of homeschoolers, but all teens available at this time are welcome to attend. Registration is recommended.

Julie Boyd
Youth Services Supervisor

Cumming Library Launches Book Club for Leadership

Next month, readers and leaders in the Cumming area are invited to participate in the Forsyth County Public Library’s first Read to Lead book club event. FCPL Director Jon McDaniel will speak on the book God and Gold: Britain, America, and the Making of the Modern World by Walter Russell Mead at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 12 at the Cumming Library, 585 Dahlonega Road, Cumming.

Each meeting of the Read to Lead book club will include a local leader facilitating a discussion related to a book that has significantly influenced their life and approach to leadership. Participants will have an opportunity to read the selected book and engage in open discussion about leadership topics and situations.

Jon McDaniel, Director,
Forsyth County Public Library

“To create the future, one must understand how the past got us here,” says McDaniel about why he chose a work of non-fiction that reads more like a history book than a leadership guide. Read to Lead is a book club for those who love to read, have a passion for helping others, and a strong motivation to create a better world, so it makes sense to explore both big and small, global and local leadership situations.

“Our goal is to provide an open platform for the community to come together, get to know and become inspired by our leaders, and to learn from one another,” says Jennifer Kovac, Information Services Supervisor at the Cumming Library and Read to Lead organizer. “Everyone has a story that, if shared, could make a difference in another’s life.”

Wendy Blond, President,
Georgia Dental Hygienists Association

Wendy Blond, President of the Georgia Dental Hygienists Association, will lead a discussion on The Wizard and the Warrior: Leading with Passion and Power by Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal on Thursday, April 9.

“Many leadership books provide guidance on dealing with an organization's structure and its people,” says Blond. “This book addresses the political trials and underlying symbolism that change the stakes of nearly all real world situations leaders face in their journey.”

Sylvia Cardona, Executive Director of Mentor Me, a local non-profit that matches at-risk children with an adult volunteer mentor, will speak on The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho on Thursday, May 14. The Alchemist is a work of fiction that teaches the value of listening to your own heart through the experiences of one young boy.

Sylvia Cardona, Executive Director,
Mentor Me North Georgia

“The idea that finding your calling and following your passions isn't just a personal journey, but part of a shared experience – that was eye-opening to me. We are all connected,” says Cardona.

Read to Lead will meet the second Thursday of each month from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. No advance registration is required and participants are welcome to bring their lunch to the meeting.  Read to Lead is sponsored by the FCPL Friends and Advocates.

For more information, or to suggest a speaker for a future Read to Lead book club meeting, please contact Jennifer Kovac at kovacj@forsythpl.org.

Staff Favorites of 2014 - 16th in a Series

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

A Star For Mrs. Blake by April Smith



Mary Ann Kowaleski
Information Specialist

Reading Rules: A Book Club for Grades 3-6 - Cumming Library - February 26 at 1:00 p.m.

Reading Rules is a book club is designed for homeschooled students in grades 3 through 6. Other children who are available in the early afternoon are also welcome. This month, we'll focus on the book Flat Broke: The Theory, Practice, and Destructive Properties of Greed by Gary Paulsen. Fourteen year old Kevin is an entrepreneur. When his allowance gets cut off for lying, he cleverly orchestrates new ways to earn a little cash. His motivation of course, is a girl named Tina Zabinski. She is indeed the World's Most Beautiful Girl and he wants to ask her on a date, but he needs funds to do that. Dive into the pages of this hilariously funny book.

February 26, 2015 - 1:00 p.m. - Cumming Library. Registration Requested.

Lorraine Lane
Information Specialist-Youth Services
Cumming Library

2014 Staff Favorites - 15th in a Series

In July I posted My Favorites of  2014....so far. Here are ten of my favorites of the last half of the year.

The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens

Faithful Place by Tana French

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

Orphan Train by Christina  Baker Kline

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

The Wonder of All Things by Jason Mott

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

This was my absolute favorite of the bunch!





Beth Moore
Information Specialist

FCPL supports preservation of endangered languages with Cherokee language course

Forsyth County Public Library is excited to announce a brand new language course available through Mango Languages, a leading language and culture learning resource.

Accessible online through the library website, and via mobile apps, this online resource teaches the Cherokee language and examines its unique linguistic and cultural history. Patrons are able to freely access the Cherokee course, as well as over 60 language courses including English as a second language.

“We’re always looking to connect our patrons to cutting-edge and relevant online resources. With the addition of the Cherokee course, we are now providing a way for our community to take part in preserving this endangered language,” said Laura Bradley, Program Manager.

To access the Cherokee course and learn more about Mango Languages, visit www.forsythpl.org, click eResources, then click Languages and select Mango Languages.

2014 Staff Favorites - 14th in a Series

Here are some of my favorite reads from 2014.

Euphoria 
by Lily King

Love and Treasure 
by Ayelet Waldman

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena 
by Anthony Marra

Day After Night 
by Anita Diamant

A Wolf Called Romeo 
by Nick Jans



Joan Dudzinski
Collection Support Supervisor

Cumming Library Receives Grant for Medical Pioneer Exhibit

Forsyth County residents can now take a stroll through our community’s history at the Cumming Library thanks to support from the Forsyth County Arts Alliance Fund at the North Georgia Community Foundation and Citizens Bank.

A display of two historical murals created by local artist Bryan White, along with a segment of fence from the old Mary Alice Hospital, comprise a new permanent art exhibit at the Cumming Library, located at 585 Dahlonega Road, Cumming.

Local photographer and artist Bryan White of Whitelake Studios was commissioned to create a set of murals for the exhibit. White’s work is some of the most recognized in North Georgia. Several of his photos have won awards in state, regional, and national competitions, including an exhibit at Disney’s Epcot sponsored by Kodak.  White created artwork for the Post Road Library and the new pieces at the Cumming Library serve as the second library collection of White’s work which highlights the history of Forsyth County.

“From the very start, the Library Board members and myself wanted to make sure the artwork had a historical connection and provided an interactive approach for the viewers,” commented White.  The exhibit includes two photo collages including 76 distinct photos joined together on a field of historical newspaper clippings, prescriptions, hotel registers, and store ledgers.

Library Board Chairman Mary Helen McGruder notes, “From a small county seat in a small county in the 1950’s, Cumming and Forsyth County have become one of the most desirable places to live and work in the country.  While we continue to celebrate our successes, it is also helpful to be reminded of those who worked hard and had a vision for a better place for their children and generations to come.  We are reaping the benefits of those who fought to bring Lake Lanier to North Georgia, to build GA 400 and to bring business and medical facilities to our community.”

Long-time Forsyth County residents will recognize several landmarks that have been renovated, restored, or torn down over the years. For example, the old Forsyth County Hospital located on Samaritan Drive is featured in the upper right corner of the first mural. That building still stands, but today it serves as a home for several community-based service organizations, such as the Forsyth County Community Connection, Whispering Hope Women’s Resource and Pregnancy Center and Forsyth County Head Start.

A photo of the front entrance of the first Goodson Drug Company is included in the bottom right corner of the first mural. The pharmacy first opened on the Cumming square in 1959 and has been family-owned and operated since that time. A portrait of founder Jim Goodson is located near the store’s image.

The second mural expands past the medical pioneers of our community and highlights other key historic businesses, churches, and construction projects.

The most notable image is the groundbreaking ceremony at Buford Dam that launched the construction of Lake Sidney Lanier. Images of the groundbreaking and subsequent excavation are featured along the bottom edge of the mural.

Local businesses such as Dairy Queen, Parsons, Ingram Funeral Home, and Bagwell & Mathis Tire also feature prominently in the second mural. These businesses still exist today, though their buildings and locations have changed over the years.

Newcomers to the area will enjoy a glimpse of small-town history, with pictures of one of the old Courthouse that burned in 1973, the Bank of Cumming that has since been acquired by successively larger banks, or even the County’s first jail that was built in 1893.

“If a dose of history is just what the doctor ordered,” says Denise Leeson, Cumming Library Branch Manager, “our patrons can learn more about the history of medicine, commerce, or government in Forsyth County by accessing the source materials the artist used to create the exhibit.”

“Many of those resources are housed in the Library’s local history reference collection, and books by local authors Annette Bramblett and Gladys Barrett were vital to the creation of the murals,” Leeson added.

Research support for the project was also provided by the Historical Society of Forsyth County. The City of Cumming and the Heritage Village at the Cumming Fairgrounds also arranged for access to several historic artifacts pictured in the exhibit.

“We are grateful to those who helped us bring this project to completion and we are looking forward to our next murals which will be at the Hampton Park Library and will highlight the development of the poultry industry in Forsyth County,” says Chairman McGruder.

For more information, or to view the exhibit, please visit the Cumming Library.

2014 Staff Favorites - 13th in a Series

Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunhan

Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming

In Real Life by Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang

Born of Illusion by Teri Brown

Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 1: Cosmic Avengers
by Brian Michael Bendis and Steve McNiven

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Cress by Marissa Meyer







Jennifer Anderson
Information Specialist

2014 Staff Favorites - 12th in a Series

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

The Book Thief by Markus Zuska







Trina Schlecht
Information Specialist

Teens Invited to Murder Mystery Role-Playing Game

There’s been a murder at the Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball and only a dedicated team of middle and high school sleuths can figure out “whodunit” at the first-ever mystery role-playing game for teens to be held on Friday, February 20 at 6:00 p.m. at the Post Road Library, 5010 Post Road, Cumming.

“Our patrons have shown a strong interest in programs that include a little history, a little mystery, and an opportunity to become part of the story,” explains Lisa Echols, Youth Services Supervisor at the Post Road Library. “We first tried out this kind of role-playing game with adult patrons and the response was incredibly positive, so we’d like to give our teen patrons a chance to gather their friends and get in on the mystery-solving action.”

The game is set in New Orleans and the premise of the story is that local residents are thrilled that the owners of the old Madison Avenue Mansion are once again hosting a Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball. However, the mansion is rumored to be haunted by ill-spirited ghosts from the mid-1800s when the manor was first built. Everyone knows something is bound to go wrong when events are held there – wedding ceremonies end in divorce, travelers visiting the mansion go missing, and uninvited guests crash parties and choke to death on stolen cake. But this Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball will top them all for danger, deception, and intrigue.

Teens are invited to dress up in spectacular Mardi Gras style for the event. Thrill-seekers who want to help figure out which suspect committed the crime should register to attend this exciting event. Admission is free, and those who register by February 11 have a shot at winning a special part in the game.

“Middle- and high school students who register early will have a chance to be selected to perform as a suspect,” says Echols. All other attendees will act as detectives.

“During the game, we’ll get into character by designing masquerade masks,” explains Echols, “Then we’ll enjoy king cake and other refreshments while we study the crime scene, question suspects, and search for clues to solve the mystery.”

For more information about this event, or other programs for teens, please visit www.forsythpl.org.