Staff Picks

After a stunning and violent betrayal by a member of her own team, talented and beautiful FBI agent Kendra Donovan travels to England to carry out a plan for justice and revenge.

Before she can complete her plan she is mysteriously whisked back in time to an English country estate in 1815 where there is a serial killer on the loose. This genre mash-up was a quick and satisfying read. Think Downton Abbey meets Jack the Ripper with a modern day female detective thrown in the mix, and a hint of romance. 

With questions from Kendra’s own time left unanswered, it seems ripe for a sequel. I recommend A Murder in Time to fans of time travel and historical mysteries.


Kim Tomblin
Collection Development Librarian

Staff Picks

Shopgirl by Steve Martin

Funnyman Steve Martin reveals his softer side in a novel that offers insight into the daily life of a West Coast twenty-something, artistic wannabee and Neiman Marcus “Shopgirl”.

I really enjoyed this slim and quiet novel where even the minor characters feel true to life. Equal parts romance and anti-romance, insight and humor, Shopgirl chronicles the love life of Mirabelle, her paramours and one particularly memorable romantic rival.

At only 130 pages it’s a bit of brain candy that literary fiction lovers as well as fans of HBO’s Sex and The City will enjoy.  

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

Staff Picks: THE 14th COLONY by Steve Berry

Though fiction, each of Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone books revolve around a historical event. The 14th Colony is no exception.

Steve Berry’s latest book has his protagonist Cotton Malone back on the job. The title gives us a clue as to one of the directions the book will take, but there is more to uncover as old Cold War issues heat up.

Is there really a set of briefcase sized nuclear weapons surviving from the Cold War and hidden in the U.S.? Could these weapons still be activated and used in a modern day retaliation by ex-KGB Agents bearing a grudge?

The timing couldn’t be worse for all of these events to be coming up as the inauguration of a new president is days away. Suddenly the issues of presidential succession are not as straight forward as we have always thought.

One of my favorite parts in reading a Steve Berry book is the author notes that follow the story. They tell us exactly which parts of the book are fact, which are fiction, and which are unknown but rumored to be true. Reading about Mr. Berry’s research and findings about unlikely events can be as disturbing and fascinating as the main story.

Log into the library catalog (with your full library barcode number and PIN) to reserve The 14th Colony in print, eBook, CD audiobook, or eAudiobook.


Lola Nichols
Information Specialist
Sharon Forks Library

Staff Picks

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

You may find yourself shedding some tears over the bittersweet story of Ove, a widower whose self-destruction is continually thwarted by needy neighbors. While there’s plenty of humor in Ove’s dilemma, at its heart this unforgettable novel is all about friendship, loss and lasting love.

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

Staff Picks

A small-town librarian receives a mysterious journal that illuminates an unsettling family history in The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler.

I really enjoyed this unique novel of cursed “mermaids” and traveling sideshow shenanigans. I also enjoyed reading about the trials and tribulations of the modern day librarian, though I imagine most readers will prefer the tragic love stories of the circus performers. It's a fascinating novel and a very entertaining read.  

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

Important Update to Library Card Accounts

This week, the Forsyth County Public Library implemented a change to the login process for accessing library card accounts online.

Now, patrons must enter the full 10-digit library card barcode number, along with the PIN, to access library accounts online. This change applies to patrons using OneStops to check out physical materials, as well as patrons using the catalog and eLibrary services.

Patrons who log into their accounts with a username, rather than a barcode, may continue to do so.

Great Book to Get Teens Talking

Blackbringer by Laini Taylor

Magpie is a teen faerie who is busy ridding the world of evil while the rest of her race descends into frivolity and decadence. She is funny and irreverent and hangs out with cigar-chomping crows with hearts of gold. The pace really picks up halfway through as she begins to realize she has a destiny to fulfill. You'll be on the edge of your seat by the time you reach the very satisfying end.

The real fun, however, would be getting readers to think about the moral issues raised, but not addressed, in the book. Magpie is tough, and defies even the creator. Is she just a little too sure of herself? She despises the way humans are constantly killing each other, but is her quest to single-handedly imprison (in inhumane conditions) and eradicate an entire race of “snags in the tapestry of the universe” any nobler? She feels humans are brutal and shortsighted to destroy all the noble dragons, but giant spiders are just bags of venom that, were it not for their useful silk, would have no place in the world. And although she solves the mystery of the Blackbringer, she seems to feel no concern about the original betrayals that created it. These issues are all relevant in today’s political climate. I love the thought that you can purely enjoy a rousing, escapist fantasy and then when it’s all over you say, “Wait, what just happened here?”

Staff Picks

Perdido Street Station by China Miéville

I'm a fan of Sci Fi and when it comes to Steampunk vs Cyberpunk, I am firmly in the Cyberpunk camp. Especially when it comes to books (looking at you, William Gibson). Then I read Perdido Street Station. Perdido Street Station is so much more than its 'Steampunk' elements. There is a powerful sense of place in the novel. The world China Miéville creates feels lived in. The primary setting, the city of New Crobuzon, is as much a character in the novel as the humanoid ones. Which is not to say that the humanoid characters are lacking. There are plenty of memorable characters. Isaac, the clever rebel scientist. Yag, the bird-man without wings in search of redemption. Lin, the artist consumed by her work. The sinister Mr. Motley.   If you're a fan of Steampunk or Sci Fi and like a big book with memorable characters and lots of ideas to chew on, Perdido Street Station is for you.


Nicholas Yeatman
Information Specialist
Sharon Forks Library

Putting the "S" in S.T.E.A.M.

FCPL has a number of excellent electronic resources that support the popular S.T.E.A.M. initiative without the wait for standard print resources. You'll find them in the eResources section of the library's website.

Today's Science

Today's Science bridges the gap between the science that students learn in the classroom and the discoveries pushing the boundaries of science today. This science news database is updated weekly with timely and relevant articles explaining important developments in biology, chemistry, the environment, space, physics, and technology.

The easy-to-use interface provides not only excellent research materials, but also provides curriculum tools for students and educators, including:

• Tips for writing research papers
• A guide to putting together a science fair project
• Classroom games and simulations
• Experiments and presentations
• Science-related cartoons with thought-provoking questions

Science Online

Science Online offers a comprehensive, curriculum-oriented overview of a broad range of scientific disciplines in a variety of useful formats. Content is organized by subject area and type of resource, as well as by national and state science education standards.

Highlights and features include:

• More than 1,100 science experiments and activities, indexed by grade range, subject category, and time required
• Handpicked articles from Today’s Science highlighting recent scientific events and discoveries
• More than 7,500 printable diagrams, illustrations, and images
• More than 500 videos and flash animations
• Examples of full citations in MLA, 7th Edition; Chicago Manual of Style; and APA styles

As always, if you need help accessing these eResources or locating materials, please ask a library staff member.

Library Limelight: Cathy Pavlovich, Acquisitions Assistant, Materials

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!

Cathy Pavlovich
Acquisitions Assistant
Materials, Library Headquarters

Where is your hometown?

Hammond, IN

How long have you been at FCPL?

6 and half years, including my volunteer time

What other jobs have you had at FCPL?

I started as a volunteer at Cumming, and then worked as a CSA at Cumming.

Why did you choose to work in a library?

The library has always been one of my favorite places to visit, so I figured it would be a pleasant place to work.

Describe your job in five words or less.

Orders, invoices, books, numbers, accuracy

What is unique about your job?

It’s fun getting a peek at all of the new “fresh-out-of-the-box” books.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Being part of the process of getting the new books ready to go on the shelves.

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

We visited London and saw so many amazing things in a week.  I’d love to go back and see what we missed the first time!

What are your hobbies?

Reading, cross-stitch, sewing, making jewelry, crafty stuff of all kinds.

What are you reading right now?

I just finished Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly.

Paper books or eBooks?

Mostly paper

Library Begins Outreach for Summer Reading Program

Local children may be counting the days until the end of the school year, but there’s one more thing they can count on: a visit from a local librarian. The Forsyth County Public Library Youth Services staff is conducting an outreach campaign to encourage students to continue reading for fun over the summer.

Lorraine Lane, Information Specialist – Youth Services, leads an outreach
event at Chattahoochee Elementary in honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday.

“Our Youth Services team strives to visit local schools, preschools, and even day care centers throughout the year, but the weeks leading up to the launch of our Summer Reading Program are especially important,” says Laura Bradley, Program Manager. “Our staff goes into classrooms and assembly events with several storytime activities to help kids find joy in reading, even over the summer when they’re tempted to let their literacy skills get rusty.”

The Library and its Summer Reading sponsor, FCPL Friends and Advocates, reward children and teens who set and reach a summer reading goal with a free book. All registered Summer Reading participants will also be entered in raffle drawing for several grand prizes.

Readers up to grade 5 will be entered to win a Family Fun Pack, graciously donated from Stars & Strikes. Readers in grades 6 to 12 will be entered to win a gift card and basket from AMC Theatres. Adult readers will be entered to win an Apple iPad mini.

To earn a free book, or win a raffle drawing, patrons must be registered for the Library’s Summer Reading Program. Registration opens on the last day of school, Friday, May 27, and patrons can register online or in-person at any Forsyth County Public Library branch through July 31.

Families should also mark their calendars for the Summer Reading Kick-Off Carnivals, says Bradley.

“The Carnivals are among our most popular events all year. Based on patron feedback, this summer the Post Road and Sharon Forks Libraries will combine their events at the Forsyth Conference Center, where there is ample parking and sidewalks on the surrounding streets for families that prefer to walk.”

The combined Summer Reading Kick-off Carnival will be held on Tuesday, May 31 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Forsyth Conference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd. Participants can register for the Summer Reading Program, play carnival games, and watch balloon artists twist balloons into wild animals and zany objects. Lew-E the Clown will also give two performances of “READ-O-LYMPICS,” an exciting magic show and storytime for children of all ages.

The Cumming Library will host a Carnival for its patrons on Wednesday, June 1 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and the Hampton Park Library will host its Summer Reading Kick-off Carnival on Thursday, June 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Both events will include carnival games, balloon artists, and two performances from entertainer Todd Key. His show, “Cirque du Todd: The Flying Debris Extravaganza Juggle-Palooza,” combines juggling, circus skills, magic, and just the right mix of comedy and reading encouragement for children of all ages.

“Our summer reading theme this year is On Your Mark, Get Set...READ!, so we’ll be encouraging families to make sports and physical fitness part of their summer routine,” adds Bradley.

In addition to providing books, magazines, and digital materials on health and wellness, the Library will offer programs for teens and adults on cooking and eating healthfully on a budget. The full slate of summer programming for children, teens, and adults will be announced shortly.

Patrons are encouraged to check the Library’s online event calendar at www.forsythpl.org to view programs by age group or by location. Printed Summer Program Guides will also be available at each library branch starting May 15.