Bookmarked: Book Recommendations & News from Forsyth County Public Library

Friday, July 29, 2016

#ShelfLife - July 29, 2016

This week in the #ShelfLife, a curious orange butterfly showed up at our photo shoot for an art book in The Secret Garden. The late morning light was lovely, and when the butterfly landed on some nearby orange blooms, we snapped a photo of that, too!

Among other selections this week, young readers who aren't very interested in getting back into their school-year bedtime routines might like to read A Whale in the Bathtub. Fans of historical fiction should also take a look at The Castaway's War.

Visit our online catalog at www.forsythpl.org and be among the first to place a request for these new materials. When you pick up your book, we hope you'll join the conversation by posting a picture of your own #ShelfLife on Instagram.




A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on



Thursday, July 28, 2016

Author Dennis Lehane to Visit Forsyth County


Dennis Lehane, best-selling author, screenwriter, and television producer, will speak and sign books at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 27 at the Forsyth Conference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Cumming. Admission to An Evening with Dennis Lehane is free, but advance registration is requested.

The event is the keynote presentation of the 2016 Forsyth Reads Together program sponsored by the Forsyth County Public Library, FCPL Friends and Advocates, Literacy Forsyth, BookLogix, and The Forsyth County Arts Alliance Fund at the Forsyth County Community Foundation.

Forsyth Reads Together is a county-wide annual event that encourages the entire community to read, discuss, and participate in programs associated with the same book. This year’s book selection is Mystic River by Dennis Lehane.

Mr. Lehane has previously described his crime fiction writing by saying, “In Greek tragedy, they fall from great heights. In noir, they fall from the curb.” That holds true for struggling Boston investigator Sean Devine in Mystic River as he confronts painful memories from his past. When a childhood friend’s daughter is brutally murdered in a public park, the investigation brings Sean face-to-face with a vigilante killer and a man with a dangerous secret.

Mr. Lehane will speak on his experience as a novelist, as well as screenwriting for HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and The Wire. Following his talk, Mr. Lehane will take questions from the audience briefly and then sign copies of Mystic River or his other books.

Barnes and Noble will be on-site selling copies of Mystic River, as well as other books such as Gone Baby Gone, Shutter Island, and The Drop. A portion of the sales will benefit the library.

Several other programs will be hosted at library branches in support of Forsyth Reads Together. The Post Road, Cumming, and Sharon Forks Libraries will host book club discussions of Mystic River.

“This year’s book selection is set in a fictional Irish-Catholic neighborhood of Boston, so we’re also offering a program on tracing Irish genealogical records through U.S. newspapers at the Post Road Library. The Cumming Library will host a new virtual tourism presentation focusing on the history and culture of Boston,” explains Laura Bradley, Program Manager.

Readers, writers, and moviegoers will want to mark their calendars for one special Forsyth Reads Together program. Demystified: From Page to Screen will be held at the Cumming Library on Tuesday, September 20 at 7:00 p.m. After a screening of the documentary Mystic River: Beneath the Surface, Ken Feinberg, Owner and Director of Creative Studios of Atlanta, will discuss the process of adapting a book for film, general screenwriting, and Georgia's growing influence on the film industry. This program is intended for adults only.

For more information on additional Forsyth Reads Together 2016 events or to register for An Evening with Dennis Lehane, please visit www.forsythpl.org.



When Bad Things Happen: Staff Picks


These summer reading recommendations were broadcast on WABE's City Lights earlier this month and one of our staff members was touched by these stories of human compassion in times of trouble.

Eve Bunting shows the Watts Riots through a child's eyes in Smoky Night, and David McPhail and Ann McGovern put a human face on homelessness in The Teddy Bear and The Lady in the Box.

Mr. Rogers once said: "When I was a boy and saw scary things on the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother's words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world."



Friday, July 22, 2016

#ShelfLife - July 22, 2016

This week's selections include a book that illuminates the secret strengths of "quiet" kids, two titles for the same story, crafty crochet characters (say that three times fast), road trip reading for teens, and BIG news about our Large Type collection.

Visit our online catalog at www.forsythpl.org and be among the first to place a request for these new materials. When you pick up your book, we hope you'll join the conversation by posting a picture of your own #ShelfLife on Instagram.







Stuck in the car this weekend? OverDrive is awesome for road trips! #libraryinmyhand #TeenReads #librariesofinstagram #roadtripreading

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on





Summer Reading Ends with 8 Magic Shows

Nationally acclaimed magician Ken Scott will perform eight free shows at local libraries next week.

Summer Reading finale week begins at the Post Road Library on Monday, July 25 with Ken Scott performing his interactive magic show at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. He will then perform at the Sharon Forks Library at 7:00 p.m.

Scott will perform two shows at the Cumming Library on Tuesday, July 26 at 11:00 a.m. and on Thursday, July 28 at 7:00 p.m. Two more shows will be presented at the Sharon Forks Library on Wednesday, July 27 at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Scott will also perform at the Hampton Park Library on Thursday, July 28 at 2:00 p.m.

All ages are welcome and admission will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. Hand stamps for admission will be given to patrons in line 30 minutes before each program begins.

“Our patrons love Ken Scott,” says Program Manager Laura Bradley. “He is a wonderfully talented performer and he’s toured all over the country – including The White House – entertaining crowds of all ages.”

Attending a Summer Reading finale show is also a great opportunity for kids and teens who have set and reached their goal for the library’s Summer Reading Fun program to select their prize books. Anyone interested in the Summer Reading Fun program must register by July 31. Readers should log the books they finish in the Summer Reading Fun online tracker and all prize books should be claimed by August 6.

“The prize books were generously donated by the FCPL Friends & Advocates,” explains Bradley. “The Friends also donated raffle prizes for participants that will be drawn at each library branch during the week of August 7. Registered adults have a chance to win an Apple iPad mini, teens could win a movie gift basket, and kids could win a Stars & Strikes gift basket.”

And, even if summer vacation is coming to an end, there are still a number of programs for all ages at the library in August. The Cumming Library will host a Coding for Kids series beginning August 16. Students from the Corina Brito Violin Studio will perform The Adventures of Egbert for children at the Post Road Library on August 20 and genealogy expert Kristin Harms will speak to adults on August 18.

FCPL will also celebrate its 20th anniversary on Thursday, August 25 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the Cumming Library. As part of the celebration, the library will provide a special bilingual storytime and appearance of Anna Dewdney’s beloved children’s book character, Llama Llama.

To participate in Summer Reading Fun, or to learn more about upcoming programs, please visit www.forsythpl.org.

Monday, July 18, 2016

Chatterbooks: A Book Club for Grades K-2

Chatterbooks is a book club designed for children in grades K-2 that incorporates a story, book discussion and a craft. This month we will be discussing two books from the I Like Inventors! series:

Who Invented Television? by Mary Kay Carson




 Who Invented Video Games? by Mary Kay Carson




Television and video games are found in almost every American home today. We will learn about the men and women behind these ever-changing inventions and, hopefully, inspire some future inventors.

Chatterbooks will meet at the Cumming Library on Thursday, August 18 at 4:00 p.m. Visit www.forsythpl.org for more information.


Lorraine Lane
Information Specialist - Youth Services
Cumming Library



Friday, July 15, 2016

Local Librarian Launches Little Free Library

Perhaps you have seen little wooden structures resembling birdhouses in neighborhoods or public spaces that are filled with books and have wondered what they are. They are Little Free Libraries which first began in Hudson, Wisconsin in 2009 when Todd Mol erected one in his front yard in tribute to his mother who was a book lover and school teacher.

These mini libraries revolve around the concept of “Take a Book, Leave a Book,” encouraging borrowers to keep up the supply of books. Thanks to one Forsyth County Public Library staff member, there’s a new Little Free Library in Alpharetta.

“I asked my family to help me set up a Little Free Library for our neighborhood as my Christmas gift last year,” explains Holly Raus, a member of the youth services staff at the Cumming Library.

“My husband ordered an unfinished model from Etsy and he painted it, painstakingly glued tiny cedar shake shingles on the roof, gave it a picket fence, and wallpapered the inside to look like a room full of bookshelves with a wooden parquet floor, thus turning it into a charming cottage.”

Once the Little Free Library structure was ready, the family contributed an initial collection of books.

“My son bought me several copies of classic novels to start off the book rotation and my daughter painted old bricks to look like books that I have placed in the small garden surrounding my library. It sits in front of our house near the street for easy access to neighbors passing by on power walks or dog walks,” says Raus.

Raus also shops at the Forsyth County Public Library Friends and Advocates Bookstore at the Cumming Library to keep her Little Free Library stocked.

“Since children’s literacy is very close to my heart, I keep my library stocked with books for all ages including board books, picture books, juvenile, teen and adult fiction. The Friends Bookstore has been a valuable resource for my start up collection.”

At a time when many parents are worried that their kids get too much screen time, Little Free Libraries offer a chance to get out of the house and meet other booklovers.

“My Little Free Library has been well received by my neighbors and the best endorsement was seeing a little girl sitting on one of the stepping stones that lead to the library and leaning against its post as she read a book,” says Raus.

#ShelfLife - July 15, 2016

This week's selections include several teen reads and a bit of historical fiction from the author of Queen of the South, now adapted as a series drama airing on USA Network.

Visit our online catalog at www.forsythpl.org and be among the first to place a request for these new materials. When you pick up your book, we hope you'll join the conversation by posting a picture of your own #ShelfLife on Instagram. 









Friday, July 8, 2016

Staff Picks

I love all things Brontë sisters - Charlotte, Emily and Anne! We've seen a flurry of Brontë-inspired fiction over the past few months and I can't resist reading them all.

#ShelfLife - July 8, 2016

This week's selections include a heart-wrenching story of loss and hope for teens and some lighter titles that would be perfect for reading by the pool or on the beach this weekend.

Visit our online catalog at www.forsythpl.org and be among the first to place a request for these new materials. When you pick up your book, we hope you'll join the conversation by posting a picture of your own #ShelfLife on Instagram.






Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Library Limelight: Cathy Fenton, Collection Support Aide, Hampton Park Library

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 Fenton
Collection Support Aide
Hampton Park Library

Where is your hometown?
I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, I but grew up in Atlanta, Georgia.
How long have you been at FCPL?
Since May 2010
What other jobs have you had at FCPL?
Shelving Volunteer
Why did you choose to work in a library?
I spent a lot of time in public libraries while homeschooling my son and really enjoyed the atmosphere! 
Describe your job in five words or less.
Serving patrons in practical ways
What is unique about your job?
You can get to know the library collection very well.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Fulfillment from doing my part of keeping the library in order.
What’s the most interesting place you’ve lived or traveled?
A vacation to Canada
What are your hobbies?
Puzzles (word and jigsaw), Reading, Crafts, Bargain Shopping
What are you reading right now?
The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection by Alexander McCall Smith
Paper books or eBooks?
Paper books
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Being a significant part of FCPL is a dream come true for me!

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Staff Pick: THE GOD'S EYE VIEW

The God's Eye View
by Barry Eisler

I listened to the audiobook version of this book, which was read by the author. The one word I would use to describe the book is: disturbing. Disturbing on several levels.

The book is set in a post-Edward Snowden NSA. The gist of the story is that Snowden’s revelations about the NSA were the tip of the iceberg, as far as their capabilities and their intent. A power-hungry NSA director is heading up several secret projects that are designed to gather data on everyone on a scale that made me pause and wonder. Is the technology described in this fictional book possible? Or, is it already in place monitoring our daily lives?

Our protagonist Evelyn is on the inside of the NSA and she notices that several people she has recently tracked turn up dead. Though their deaths seem separate and by different methods, she becomes suspicious and then horrified to think that her work could have caused their deaths. She just wants to protect her deaf son and keep him safe. A separate viewpoint comes from one of the NSA director's secret “enforcers” whose blind loyalty to the director becomes distorted when he meets Evelyn and her son.

Full of action and intrigue, The God’s Eye View does contain graphic violence when the enforcers set out to silence those trying to expose the director’s secrets. And, in the end of the book, you will be wondering: who really is the good guy?

Lola Nichols
Information Specialist
Sharon Forks Library


Friday, July 1, 2016

#ShelfLife - July 1, 2016

This week's selections include "time travel" and one last audiobook recommendation to wrap up June's national #LoveAudiobooks month.

Visit our online catalog at www.forsythpl.org and be among the first to place a request for these new materials. When you pick up your book, we hope you'll join the conversation by posting a picture of your own #ShelfLife on Instagram.










And, in honor of #SharkWeek, here are two bonus #ShelfLife selections:

Love watching Shark Week? Check out MISSON SHARK RESCUE from National Geographic Kids! #SummerReading #sharkweek2016 #shelflife

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on



Be sure to bite into a good book this week! #SharkWeek #ShelfLife #ForsythReads #SummerReading

A photo posted by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on



First Look Book Club

Join First Look Book Club and discover some great new reads. Sign up for the free email book club and receive daily excerpts from just published books in Mystery, Romance, Suspense, Nonfiction, Literary Fiction, and more. Excerpts come with witty introductions, recipes, contests, links to readers guides and/or author websites. Below are some recent titles:

Smoke by Dan Vyleta

A Country Road, a Tree by Jo Baker







Martha Amerson
Materials Selector


Large Type Collection Is Growing


Near the end of the library's fiscal year on June 30, 2016, we were fortunate to receive additional funds for the purchase of new materials. As a result, our Large Type collection will grow substantially.

We choose several standing order plans from Thorndike Press and they offer the largest selection of Large Type bestsellers available anywhere. Many Thorndike titles are published at the same time or within three weeks of the original publisher’s release date, so patrons that prefer to read Large Type can access newly published materials more quickly.

Patrons that prefer Large Type can expect to see more:
  • Blockbuster bestsellers‚ award-winners‚ and well-reviewed current “buzz” books
  • In-demand non-fiction titles that are highly engaging and have a broad appeal to many readers
  • The best in large print Christian fiction including many Christian Booksellers Association bestsellers and Christy Award winners
  • “Clean Reads” - a mix of appealing‚ wholesome general fiction‚ mystery and romance titles
  • Bestselling and well-reviewed biographies and memoirs
  • Titles that will appeal to today’s life-long learners on a range of topics including how-to, financial advice, health issues, and personal growth
  • Popular mystery sub-genres: classic whodunits‚ hard-boiled‚ cozies‚ police procedurals‚ true crime‚ and adventure/suspense

All four branches of the Forsyth County Public Library will receive a number of fresh, new Large Type titles each month. We hope staff and patrons enjoy these new materials!

Martha Amerson
Materials Selector
Library Headquarters