Staff Picks - The View from the Cheap Seats (Adult Non-Fiction)

The View from the Cheap Seats by Neil Gaiman

You may know Neil Gaiman from his books for children, like Coraline or Fortunately, the Milk. Or maybe you know him from his works for adults, like the book American Gods or the Sandman comic series.

The View From the Cheap Seats isn't like any of those other books. It's a collection of introductions, articles, speeches, and other miscellany that Neil Gaiman has written or spoken over the years.

The book feels like a long conversation with a friend, complete with interesting episodes from Gaiman’s life and recollections of the many interesting people he has known. Gaiman is a lifelong fan of fantasy, science fiction, and horror and has a lot to say about each of these genres. Give the audiobook a try - it's read by the author and Neil Gaiman is talented at both speaking and writing.

#ShelfLife - December 22, 2016

We are so excited to see that the Red's Planet team stopped by to comment on our UFO photo on the #ShelfLife feed on Instagram this week! We had such a fun time reading the story and studying the illustrations for inspiration for the photo.

It's getting pretty quiet around the library this week as many patrons gather at home with their families to celebrate the holidays. We'll be taking a break from our #ShelfLife feed on Instagram next week, too.

All Forsyth County Public Library branches will close Friday, December 23 at 5:30 p.m. and remain closed on Saturday, December 24 through Monday, December 26.

Just remember that our eLibrary is always open, so you can check out eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, videos, music, and reference materials at www.forsythpl.org any time. Seasons Readings!

Hiking around a strange planet is hard when aliens run off with your shoes. See what happens to Red in the first book of the RED'S PLANET series by Eddie Pittman (@redsplanet), former writer/storyartist for Disney's Phineas and Ferb. #ShelfLife #RedsPlanet #DisneyAnimation #PhineasandFerb #Scifi #comics #graphicnovel #kidlitart #kidlit

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 20, 2016 at 7:30am PST

You may have heard of Mother Jones or Charley Parkhurst, the most celebrated stagecoach driver in the West, but do you the stories of women like gold miner Nellie Cashman? Do you know Maria Amparo Ruiz De Burton, the first female Mexican-American novelist? Or Donaldina Cameron, who rescued thousands of Chinese girls from trafficking rings on the west coast? Learn more about these brave women in FRONTIER GRIT by Marianne Monson. #ShelfLife #nonfiction #womenshistory #history #frontiergrit #mariannemonson

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 21, 2016 at 11:14am PST

And, before he heads back to the North Pole to give Santa his scout report, Jingles the Elf on the Shelf recommends Bears in the Bath by Shirley Parenteau as a relaxing book for young readers.

Being a scout elf is a hard job, but Jingles knows just how to relax: a hot bath and a good book! Keep up with all the antics of Jingles, the Elf on the Shelf at the Post Road Library, at https://www.facebook.com/108166622536919/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1339091872777715. #elfontheshelf #libraryelf #librariesofinstagram #fcplstories

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 20, 2016 at 10:47am PST

Find these book recommendations and more in the online catalog at www.forsythpl.org. Happy Reading!

Staff Picks: The Underground Railroad

By now you’ve at least heard of Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad, as it launched as an Oprah Book Club selection, won the National Book Award for Fiction, and has ended up on multiple best-of-the-year lists. What gets lost under the growing pile of accolades, though, is just how readable the book is. The story of Cora’s harrowing journey through the American South is told as equal parts adventure yarn and alt-history fantasy. Colson Whitehead plays fast and loose with American history to explore American’s fraught racial past in a surprisingly imaginative way.

Central to the novel’s reimagined past is a very literal approach to the Underground Railroad itself. This is a railroad in its truest sense with tracks, train stations, station masters, and a chugging locomotive. Cora, after escaping her enslavement on a plantation in Georgia, uses this subterranean escape route to find a new life in a number of different Southern states. However, in Whitehead’s reimagined America, the Civil War never appears to have happened, and instead each state has dealt with the issue of slavery in its own unique, and often horrible, way.

Cora’s desperate race to freedom is also complicated by the vicious slave catcher, Ridgeway. After failing to find Cora’s escaped mother, Ridgeway is relentless in his pursuit of young Cora and unfeeling for those who stand in his way. Cora meets many fellow escapees and a number of white men and women who offer varying degrees of help or hindrance on her journey, each with complex motivations and backgrounds. By rearranging the past, Cora’s journey in The Underground Railroad is able to provide a thoughtful condemnation of not just slavery itself, but the whole of America’s checkered racial past.

The Book Buzz Book Club will be discussing this novel at the Cumming Library on Thursday, February 9. We’d love to have you drop in and talk about it with your fellow readers.

Ross Gericke
Branch Manager
Hampton Park Library

Book Chat - A Book Club for Adults at the Sharon Forks Library

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

A memoir by a man who will die from pancreatic cancer before his three young children ever get to know him sounds like a grim read.  But Randy Pausch’s inspiring story is more about living than dying. In fact he originally titled his lecture, “Living your Childhood Dreams”.  Under either title this powerful message has resonated across the globe with millions of readers and viewers.

Join us Wednesday, January 18th for our first Book Chat of 2017 at the Sharon Forks Library.  We’ll discuss The Last Lecture and share our own ideas about what we’d include in a “last lecture.”   Newcomers are always welcome!  We look forward to seeing you in 2017.

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

#ShelfLife - December 16, 2016

So many of our patrons are science enthusiasts, so we know you're looking forward to the Christmas Day release of the new film Hidden Figures. While you're waiting, be among the first to check out The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars by Dava Sobel.

And, speaking of pioneering women, what would happen if a woman became an NFL quarterback? It's an interesting premise and the focus of The Legend of Jesse Smoke, a new novel by Robert Bausch.

Scroll down to see more books in this week's #ShelfLife or visit us on Instagram. Seasons Readings!

Today is National Gingerbread House Day! Show us your gingerbread houses with the tag #fcplstories. Need inspiration? Check out A YEAR OF GINGERBREAD HOUSES by Kristine Samuell. #nationalgingerbreadhouseday #ayearofgingerbreadhouses #kristinesamuell #gingerbreadhouse #librariesofinstagram #shelflife

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 12, 2016 at 8:03am PST

Finders keepers, right? When Ruben picks up someone’s lost money, he finds out how hard it can be to do the right thing in A BIKE LIKE SERGIO’S by Maribeth Boelts. #ShelfLife #maribethboelts #abikelikesergios #picturebooks

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 13, 2016 at 8:41am PST

From Pushcart Prize nominee Danny Johnson comes a powerful debut novel that explores race relations, first love, and coming-of-age in North Carolina in the 1950s and '60s. Check out this new voice in Southern literature and read THE LAST ROAD HOME. #ShelfLife #fiction #southernliterature

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 14, 2016 at 8:51am PST

A female quarterback in the National Football League? Around this surprising premise, Robert Bausch explores the way America's most popular and most violent sport defines--but could dramatically change--gender attitudes in THE LEGEND OF JESSE SMOKE. #ShelfLife #fiction #football #thelegendofjessesmoke #robertbausch

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 15, 2016 at 5:28pm PST

This seems like a good month for recognizing women in science, particularly in astronomy and space travel. While you’re waiting for @hiddenfiguresmovie, check out THE GLASS UNIVERSE by Dava Sobel. #womeninscience #davasobel #astronomy #harvard #theplanets #galileosdaughter

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 16, 2016 at 9:01am PST

Book Buzz - A Book Club for Adults at the Cumming Library

A House Without Windows by Nadia Hashimi 

Zeba, an Afghani woman, is charged with murdering her husband.  The story of injustice, sisterhood, and the lengths that a mother will take to protect her child (or another’s) will keep you on edge.  The story revolves around Zeba’s arrest, time in prison and her lawyer’s attempts to defend her against a justice system that only considers a woman’s word as half that of a man’s. Family secrets are slowly revealed throughout the book adding twists and surprises along the way. The book brings to light the many injustices done to women, even today, in a country caught between the past and the future.

Nadia Hashimi has also written The Pearl that Broke Its Shell and When the Moon is Low.

Join us for Book Buzz on January 12th at 1:30 at the Cumming Library for a discussion of this fascinating novel.  

Joan Dudzinski
Collection Support Supervisor

Staff Picks The Golden Son by Shilpi Somaya Gowda - Adult Fiction

The Golden Son by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

Whether you enjoy reading or listening to books, The Golden Son is a great choice. This novel is set in India and in Dallas as it follows one of the main characters from his home to medical school in the United States. This novel has everything. Romance, check. Family drama, check. Hateful bad guys, check. Redemption, check.

Kim Ottesen
Youth Specialist

#ShelfLife - December 9, 2016

Seasons Readings! We hope you got a laugh out of a few photos of Jingles, the Elf on the Shelf at the Post Road Library, this week. If you'd like to see more of Jingles and his crazy antics, check out our Facebook Page.

Packing books for your holiday travels? We've got a few recommendations for you in the #ShelfLife this week. Place a hold on any of these books by visiting the online catalog at www.forsythpl.org.

Join The Lit Chicks book club at the Post Road Library on Wednesday, December 14 to discuss THE NEST by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (@cynthiadsweeney). #ShelfLife #bookclub #thenest

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 5, 2016 at 1:14pm PST

Today is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. In COUNTDOWN TO PEARL HARBOR, Pulitzer Prize winner Steve Twomey examines the twelve days leading up to the attack on the morning of December 7, 1941 and unravels the crucial characters and moments, producing an edge-of-your seat drama with fascinating details about America at this moment in its history. By the end, the reader understands how assumption is the root of disaster, and how sometimes a gamble pays off. #ShelfLife #WWII #pearlharbor #pearlharborday

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 7, 2016 at 8:46am PST

Make sure you have tissues on-hand before you sit down to read THE LAST LECTURE by Randy Pausch. When you finish, meet us at the Sharon Forks Library for a casual Book Chat conversation about Randy’s advice for following your dreams. . Book Chat will meet on Wednesday, January 18 at 2:00 p.m. #randypausch #thelastlecture #ShelfLife #bookclub #bookchat #forsythreads

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 8, 2016 at 11:55am PST

And, if your New Year's resolution is to learn a foreign language, get a head start with Mango Languages! Access Mango in the eLearning section on www.forsythpl.org and learn over 60 languages at home, in the library, or from anywhere on your smartphone or tablet.

Happy Holidays! Get a head start on your New Year’s resolution to learn a foreign language with @mangolanguages! Access to Mango Languages is free with your FCPL library card account and can be used in the library, at home, or on your mobile device. #mango #ShelfLife #elearning #languagelearning

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 9, 2016 at 9:27am PST

Staff Picks: A Gentleman in Moscow (Adult Fiction)

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles features a wonderfully unique premise: in 1922, during the tumultuous times surrounding the creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Count Alexander Rostov is sentenced to house arrest in his current residence, the grand Metropol Hotel, for the rest of his life.  (“…make no mistake: should you ever set foot outside of the Metropol again, you will be shot.”)

The aristocratic and erudite Count Rostov, who is only 32 at the time he is sentenced, is considered to be a “Former Person” by the authorities, the term used for those who lost their status after the October Revolution in 1917. Despite his confinement, Count Rostov enjoys a social life with a number of memorable personalities, including hotel staff members, an actress, and a precocious 9-year-old girl.

A Gentleman in Moscow is a delightful and satisfying read, not only for those who have an interest in Russian history but also for anyone who finds the idea of living in an old hotel glamorous (fans of The Grand Budapest Hotel, perhaps?).

If you enjoy A Gentleman in Moscow, you might also like The Mayakovsky Tapes by Robert Littell, Selected Stories by Anton Chekhov, and Towles’s first novel, Rules of Civility.

Stephen Kight
Assistant Director for Public Services

Literazzi Book Club for Adults - Wednesday, December 14 at 2:00 p.m.

Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City
One Step at a Time by Mark Adams

Join us at the Sharon Forks Library on Wednesday, December 14 at 2:00 p.m. as we discuss Mark Adams' travelogue of his adventures as he re-traces Hiram Bingham's exploration of Peru and ultimate "discovery" of Machu Picchu. I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook version. If you're a fan of Bill Bryson, you'll love Mark Adams! Adams does a brilliant job balancing the historical aspects with his own journeys through Peru. You'll long to lace up your own hiking boots by the end of the book.

Meredith Causey
Information Services Supervisor

#ShelfLife - December 2, 2016

December is finally here! Thanks to local Girl Scouts, all our branches have lovely trees decorated with handmade ornaments. Check out photos of their handiwork on Facebook.

The Post Road Library received a special visitor after Thanksgiving to help us celebrate the season: our very own Elf on the Shelf! Photos of our clever Elf's antics will appear on Instagram and you'll find pictures from our Elf on the Shelf Welcome Parties on Facebook.

We hope you're all finding a moment to escape the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations and snuggle up with a good book. Not sure what to read next? Take a look at what's happening in the #ShelfLife this week...

Check out an eBook from the recently updated OverDrive website! #OverDrive #ShelfLife #ebooks #libraryinmyhand #librariesofinstagram # #christmaswithtucker #dogs

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 1, 2016 at 7:18am PST

When scientist-in-the-making Madeline Little starts sixth grade, she soon learns that middle school is nothing like a perfect lab experiment. Now she must find the cure for her newly messed-up life in THE FRIENDSHIP EXPERIMENT by @ekteagan. #tweenreads #teenreads #ShelfLife #ya

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Dec 1, 2016 at 2:44pm PST

“Dorie has written the perfect book to satisfy the Cookie Monster in all of us,” says Ina Garten of DORIE’S COOKIES by @doriegreenspan. Be among the first to check out a copy and you’ll be the envy of all the holiday cookie swaps this season! #ShelfLife #dories_cookies #cookiemonster #cookbooks #baking #cookies #cookieswap #librariesofinstagram

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 22, 2016 at 11:37am PST

Did you sign up to bring cupcakes for your kid’s class holiday party? Get in the kitchen with them and try a recipe from PINKALICIOUS CUPCAKE COOKBOOK by Victoria Kann. There are even recipes for gluten-free yellow and chocolate cupcakes! #holidaybaking #cookwithyourkids #pink #glutenfreerecipes #pinkalicious #victoriakann #classparty #ShelfLife #librariesofinstagram

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 30, 2016 at 5:08pm PST

Reclaim, repurpose, refurbish, or restore your way to the country home of your dreams with RUSTIC HOMES: BARNS, CABINS, COTTAGES & FARMHOUSES from @countrylivingmag. #magazinemonday #ShelfLife #crafty #homedecor #diy

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 29, 2016 at 3:11pm PST

Need to bake a spectacular cake for your holiday gatherings? You need to check out SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL HOMEMADE CAKES by Lindsay Conchar (@lifeloveandsugar)! #ShelfLife #simplybeautifulhomemadecakes #cake #cakedecorating #cookbook #christmas #thanksgiving #parties #partyfood

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 21, 2016 at 1:00pm PST

Visit our online catalog at www.forsythpl.org and place a request for the materials featured in #ShelfLife this week. Seasons Readings!

Free Holiday Events for Families at the Library

Escape the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations and enjoy some time with the family at your local library. Throughout the month of December, Forsyth County Public Library will host free holiday-themed storytimes, movies, craft sessions, and activities for patrons of all ages.

Photo Credit: Richards Studio

Sensitive Santa

“Sitting on Santa’s lap can be uncomfortable or scary for children with special needs, as well as frustrating for their parents who just want to give their child a positive experience with such a beloved part of the holiday season,” says Program Manager Laura Bradley. “This is the third year we’re offering Sensitive Santa events where the lights are dim, voices are quiet, and children can enjoy a visit with Santa at a slower pace.”

Parents or caregivers may take as many photos of their child with Santa as they like. Advance registration is required to participate. Events will be held on Saturday, December 10 starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Cumming Library and at 2:00 p.m. at the Hampton Park Library. The program will be hosted at the Post Road Library on Sunday, December 18 starting at
1:45 p.m. Please visit the library’s website to learn more about these special programs and about how to register to attend.

Special Character Visit

Fans of Laura Numeroff’s If You Give a Mouse a Cookie can meet Cookie Mouse at a series of special events promoting the library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program.

Listen to holiday stories, sing, dance, make a special Cookie Mouse craft, and take a picture with Cookie Mouse on Thursday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cumming Library and on Thursday, December 15 at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. at the Hampton Park Library. The Post Road Library will host events on Friday, December 9 at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. and Saturday, December 10 at 11:15 a.m.

“The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program helps parents understand the importance of reading aloud with children from birth to age five,” explains Bradley. “The library offers special recognition to children as they meet 100-book milestones on their way to reading 1,000 books to encourage their language development and to foster a love of reading.”

Popular Polar Express Storytimes Return

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg is a favorite holiday story and the library will host several events to get families into the spirit of the season. Children are invited to wear their pajamas and listen to The Polar Express and make crafts. A special visitor from the North Pole may also stop by! This program is sponsored by the FCPL Friends & Advocates.

The Polar Express storytimes will be held at the Hampton Park Library on Tuesdays, December 6 and 13 at 6:00 p.m, at the Post Road Library on Monday, December 12 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 17 at 11:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m., and 3:15 p.m., at the Cumming Library on Monday, December 5 at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday, December 14 at 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

For more information on these and other December events at the library, please visit www.forsythpl.org.

Library Limelight: Jinhee Yang, DBA/Webmaster, Library Headquarters

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!

Jinhee Yang
DBA/Webmaster
Library Headquarters

Where is your hometown?

Seoul, South Korea

How long have you been at FCPL?

It has been almost 4 months.

What other jobs have you had at FCPL?

This is my first job at FCPL.

Why did you choose to work in a library?

Since we’ve moved to Georgia, one of my most favorite things is visiting FCPL with my kids, looking around bookshelves and finding fancy and interesting books. Working at the library as a DBA/Webmaster is playing with big data related to books and people who love books.

Describe your job in five words or less.

All about the data.

What is unique about your job?

Everything starts and ends with a computer.

What is your favorite part of your job?

This job is technical and creative at the same time.

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

Prague. It was so beautiful and unique.

What are your hobbies?

Playing piano

What are you reading right now?

Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco

Paper books or eBooks?

Paper books 

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

There are so many delicious Korean restaurants in Duluth. I recommend trying them!

Author Scott Vaughan Speaks on Second Novel

Scott Douglas Vaughan, author of the National Indie Excellence Awards finalist Brookwood Road: Memories of a Home, will return to the Cumming Library on Sunday, December 4 at 3:00 p.m. to speak and sign copies of his second novel, Elm Street.

The event is free and open to the public with no registration required.

Elm Street is scheduled to publish in late November and Douglas expects to have advance copies of the book available for purchase and signing at the event. The book will also be available for checkout from the library’s collection.

Elm Street picks up just where Brookwood Road ended and follows the story of Frank Wilcox as he and his friends attend primary school in rural north Georgia.

“Frank gets his first look at the world beyond the family farm,” explains Vaughan. “With the support of his parents, other relatives, and wonderful teachers he learns how to dream big and pursue his goals.”

Though the book is a work of fiction, Vaughan draws heavily on experiences from his own childhood in Forsyth County. Elm Street includes “obsessing over school spankings, exploring an old house with Cub Scout friends, confronting a school bully, struggling with the cursed honor roll, [and] ushering at Georgia Bulldogs football games,” says Vaughan.

Vaughan will discuss how these experiences influenced his writing and the course of his career. He is also expected to share a few stories about life in Forsyth County before the first Walmarts and shopping malls replaced the area’s rural pastures and forests.

Copies of Vaughan’s first novel, Brookwood Road, are available for purchase at Humpus Bumpus Books in Cumming and online at Amazon.com. Copies of Elm Street are also expected to be available for purchase at those locations in time for holiday gift giving.

To learn more about Vaughan’s books, please visit www.brookwoodroad.com and www.elmstreetmemories.com.

For more information on this author talk or other upcoming events at the library this holiday season, please visit www.forsythpl.org.

Georgia Aquarium Offers Discounts for Library Patrons

The Georgia Aquarium, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspiring awareness and conservation of aquatic animals, is pleased to announce a partnership with Georgia Public Library Service to provide free or discounted admission to the Aquarium for library patrons through two new programs.

Free Admission on Your Birthday

Go to any Georgia Aquarium ticket window and show proof of your birthday with either a valid ID or a copy of your birth certificate and you will receive free General Admission to the Aquarium.

The ticket must be redeemed and used on the day of your birthday, with no exceptions and no refunds for previously purchased tickets. This offer is valid for Georgia residents only.

Other attendees in your party can save on their tickets by purchasing online in advance of your visit, as described below.


General Admission, Membership, and Special Experiences

Visit www.georgiaaquarium.org/libraries to purchase discounted admission tickets, annual memberships, and special experiences such as the Journey with Gentle Giants Dive.

Follow the instructions near the bottom of the page to create an account and purchase your tickets online in advance of your visit to the Aquarium.

All programs are administered by the Georgia Aquarium and are subject to change. Learn more about the Georgia Aquarium and plan your visit.

Graphic Novels Tackle Tough Topics

Take it as a Compliment by Maria Stoian

Sometimes you need to make a heavy topic more accessible.  Take It as a Compliment uses the words of twenty abuse survivors combined with images that tell the story but are not explicit. It's a powerful graphic novel that will leave you outraged at the injustices.

Trauma is Really Strange by Steve Haines

Trauma Is Really Strange is short and informative.  Not only will it help you understand what's going on with PTSD, but it also gives tips on recovering from everyday stress. These would both be good choices to leave lying around  where young adults can find and read.

 

#ShelfLife - November 18, 2016

It's almost Thanksgiving! Can you believe it?!?

On Monday, we enjoyed the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Sharon Forks Library Expansion and Renovation Project. We look forward to providing the community with a more spacious facility for the busiest library in the state of Georgia.

This week we also shared resources to help you prepare for your big Thanksgiving meal. We shared new cookbooks and we even got a shout out from Ashley English, author of A Year of Pies: A Seasonal Tour of Home Baked Pies.

Don't forget that you can also access a variety of food-related eMagazines through our eLibrary. Be sure to share photos of your dishes (including the book, too!) with the hashtags #ShelfLife and #FCPLstories on Instagram, so we can follow along and see what your Thanksgiving looks like.

Visit our online catalog at www.forsythpl.org to place a request for the materials featured in #ShelfLife this week.

Trying to plan a holiday meal? Check out a few ideas from @rachaelray when you download the magazine from @zinio. Simply visit www.forsythpl.org, click Zinio on the eBooks & eMags page, and login with your library card account. . . #magazinemonday #Zinio #ShelfLife #everydaywithrachaelray #happythanksgiving #merrychristmas

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 14, 2016 at 7:03am PST

It's about to begin! We're so excited to break ground on the expansion and renovation of the Sharon Forks Library today! #sharonforks #librariesofinstagram #fcplstories

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 14, 2016 at 11:05am PST

Targeted by an ambitious grandmother who would exploit her magical talents to reclaim their dynasty's ruling power, Hazel forges an unlikely alliance with a servant boy who was sent to the city to spy on Hazel's family in IMPYRIUM by @henryhneff. #Impyrium #harpercollins #teenreads #ShelfLife #ya

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 14, 2016 at 5:24pm PST

GIRL ON A PLANE, based on the real experiences of author @miriam_moss during a hijacking by Palestinian terrorists in 1970, was just nominated for the 2017 CILIP Carnegie Medal. #teenreads #ShelfLife

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 15, 2016 at 11:37am PST

Start with Thanksgiving, then cook your way through the holidays all year round with over 250 seasonal vegan recipes in THE SUPERFUN TIMES VEGAN HOLIDAY COOKBOOK by @isachandra. #ShelfLife #cookbooks #holidays #isachandramoskowitz #vegan

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 15, 2016 at 4:06pm PST

If 2016 is your rookie year for hosting the family feast, you need THANKSGIVING: HOW TO COOK IT WELL by Sam Sifton. #turkey #gravy #ShelfLife #librariesofinstagram #thanksgiving

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 16, 2016 at 1:05pm PST

If you liked SNOW LIKE ASHES by Sara Raasch, check out METALTOWN by Kristen Simmons. Raasch describes the story as a “raw, heart-racing tale of teens trying to survive in a world with nothing to lose.” #teenreads #metaltown #kristensimmons #ya

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 16, 2016 at 4:42pm PST

Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother’s house you go! And don’t forget to pack your reading materials in our stylish new tote bag. Get yours for just $6 at the Ask Us desk of your nearest FCPL branch. #forsythreads #lovemylibrary

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 17, 2016 at 12:55pm PST

Think you know pie? Check out A YEAR OF PIES: A SEASONAL TOUR OF HOME BAKED PIES by Ashley English (@smallmeasure) and shake up your Thanksgiving menu with recipes like Curried Winter Vegetable Pie, Maple Orange Walnut Pie, and Ratatouille and Polenta Pie. #ShelfLife #librariesofinstagram #thanksgiving #pie

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 17, 2016 at 5:13pm PST

Before her older sister died, Carrie was a science nerd, obsessed with the stars. But now Carrie finds herself within the orbit of her sister’s friends, a close-knit group of seniors who skip school, obsess over bands (not science), and party hard. LOST STARS by @lisaselindavis is the perfect story for anyone struggling to find their place in the world. #teenreads #ShelfLife #FridayReads

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 18, 2016 at 5:39am PST

Spice up your dinner routine with the turbo-charged recipes in LUCKY PEACH PRESENTS POWER VEGETABLES! by Peter Meehan @luckypeach. #powervegetables #cookbooks #ShelfLife

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 18, 2016 at 11:03am PST

Sharon Forks Library Groundbreaking Ceremony

Patrons, local officials, volunteers, and library staff gathered for a Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Sharon Forks Library Expansion and Renovation Project on Monday, November 14 at 2:30 p.m.

Several dignitaries spoke during the event, including Senator Michael Williams, Senator Jack Hill, Forsyth County Commissioner Brian R. Tam, Library Board Chairman Mary Helen McGruder, and FCPL Director Anna Lyle.

Senator Williams detailed the arduous process of securing $2 million in a State Construction Grant for the project and invited Senator Hill, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, to share additional information. Commissioner Tam stressed the importance of the project, given that Sharon Forks is the highest-circulating library in the state of Georgia but also the county's smallest library in size. Anna Lyle then provided additional celebratory remarks about the project before inviting the guests outside for the ceremonial groundbreaking.

The Forsyth County Public Library Board of Trustees, members of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, and Senator Michael Williams joined Anna Lyle for a ceremonial groundbreaking outside of the library.

Following the groundbreaking, guests were invited back inside for light refreshments. They were encouraged to sign up for email or text updates about the project at a computer station set in the room. Guests also had the opportunity to view a slideshow presentation showing the plans for the project and highlighting the features of the new space.

To learn more about the Sharon Forks Library Expansion and Renovation Project, or to sign up for text or email updates, please visit here.

Ceremonial Groundbreaking of the Sharon Forks Library Expansion and Renovation Project
From Left: Senator Michael Williams; Bob Keller, Library Board Vice-Chairman; Jim Boff, District 5 Commissioner; R.J. "Pete" Amos, District 1 Commissioner, Chairman; Cindy Jones Mills, District 4 Commissioner; Brian R. Tam, District 2 Commissioner; Anna Lyle, Library Director; Kristin Morrissey, Library Board Secretary/Treasurer; Mary Helen McGruder, Library Board Chairman; and Tim Plotner, Library Board.

STEAM Rollers to Read About the Hindenburg

This month, STEAM Rollers Book Club will read I Survived: The Hindenburg Disaster, 1937  from the popular I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis.

For eleven year-old Hugo Ballard, flying on the Hindenburg is a dream come true. Hugo, his parents, and his four-year-old sister Gertie, are making the thrilling four thousand mile journey across the Atlantic in a zeppelin as big as the Titanic.

But as the zeppelin gets ready to land, a blast rocks the Hindenburg and fire consumes the ship. The entire disaster lasts a mere thirty-two seconds, but in those few seconds, Hugo finds himself separated from his family and in a desperate race to escape the flames. The Hindenburg is doomed. And so, it seems, is Hugo. Will he survive this historic disaster?

See footage of this real life disaster, learn about airships, and participate in hot air experiments.

The STEAM Rollers book club for children in grades 3-6 will meet at the Cumming Library on Thursday, December 1 at 4:00 p.m.


Holly Raus
Youth Specialist
Cumming Library

#ShelfLife - November 11, 2016

This week in the #ShelfLife, chefs from Homeroom510.com stopped by our Instagram feed to like our photo of The Mac + Cheese Cookbook by Allison Arevalo and Erin Wade.

We've already noticed an uptick in demand for that book as patrons plan side dishes for their Thanksgiving feasts, so please share photos of your dishes (include the book, too!) with the hashtags #ShelfLife and #FCPLstories on Instagram. We'd love to follow along with your culinary adventures!

Visit the online catalog at www.forsythpl.org to reserve any of the books you see in this week's #ShelfLife.

#FieriFamilyFood by @guyfieri is just what your family ordered for dinner tonight! Check out great recipes and funny stories from Guy’s family – there’s even a note from his dad! #foodpyramid #ShelfLife #librariesofinstagram #cookbooks #red

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 7, 2016 at 8:40am PST

Think Grandma’s mac ‘n cheese is the best? Maybe you should try a recipe from THE MAC + CHEESE COOKBOOK by Allison Arevalo and Erin Wade of @homeroom510 this Thanksgiving. #homeroom #macandcheese #ShelfLife #librariesofinstagram #thanksgiving #cookbooks #orange

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 9, 2016 at 8:11am PST

THE MORTIFICATIONS by Derek Palacio is a soulful, heart-wrenching story about family and a perpetual longing for a home left behind. #ShelfLife #Cuba #cubanamerican #themortifications #derekpalacio

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 10, 2016 at 9:27am PST

Miss Kay’s Hot Spinach Dip, Cheesy Corn Casserole, Jase’s Favorite Sweet Potato Pie, and Melt-in-Your- Mouth Biscuits sound like a great addition to a Thanksgiving meal. Check out MISS KAY’S DUCK COMMANDER KITCHEN by Kay Robertson with Chrys Howard before you plan your own menu. #missKayRobertson #ShelfLife #librariesofinstagram #thanksgiving #fridayreads

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 11, 2016 at 9:45am PST

If you loved the movie LOVE ACTUALLY, you need to reserve a copy of THE HEART OF HENRY QUANTUM by @pepperharding at www.forsythpl.org. #ShelfLife #theheartofhenryquantum #pepperharding #yellow #loveactually

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Nov 11, 2016 at 11:18am PST