Bookmarked: Book Recommendations & News from Forsyth County Public Library: December 2019

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Fill your brain a little or fill your brain a lot at FCPL's How-To Festival

Forsyth County Public Library’s first annual How-To Festival is an event with a little something for everyone!

From "How-to Make Small Talk" to "How-to Pair Wine with Meals", and "How-to Dress for Your Body Type" to "How-to Save $50 a Week", stop by any library branch from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 18, 2020 and enjoy more than 20 free bite-sized sessions with experts on a wide variety of topics.

Come for one session and fill your brain a little, or stay the whole day and fill your brain a lot!

CUMMING LIBRARY
585 Dahlonega Street, Cumming

11:00 a.m.
How Not to Get Taken for a Ride at the Mechanics
Presented by Tom Burgess

11:40 a.m.
How to Make a Magic Wand
Presented by Forsyth County Public Library

12:10 p.m.
How to Make a Great Impression at an Interview
Presented by Nikki Watkins

12:50 p.m.
How to Make Smalltalk
Presented by Toastmasters International

1:30 p.m.
How to Create a Polished Image
Presented by Arlene Stearns of Image Up

2:10 p.m.
How to Save $50 Dollars a Week
Presented by Scott Keen

2:40 p.m.
How to Sell on eBay
Presented by Jessica Pate

HAMPTON PARK LIBRARY
5345 Settingdown Road, Cumming

11:00 a.m.
How to Start an Action Figure Collection
Presented by Jeff Fisher

11:40 a.m.
How to Save $50 Dollars a Week
Presented by Scott Keen

12:10 p.m.
How to Get Started Backpacking
Jeremy Echuck

12:50 p.m.
How to Begin Competitive BBQ
Jeremy Echuck

1:30 p.m.
How to Make Smalltalk
Presented by Toastmasters International

2:10 p.m.
How to Make a Great Impression at an Interview
Presented by Nikki Watkins

2:40 p.m.
How to Make a Magic Wand
Presented by Forsyth County Public Library

POST ROAD LIBRARY
5010 Post Road, Cumming

11:00 a.m.
How to Make Yummy Dips
Presented by UGA Extension

11:40 a.m.
How to Get Started with Dungeons & Dragons
Presented by Jared Mooney

12:10 p.m.
How to Develop a Character in Dungeons & Dragons
Presented by Jared Mooney

12:50 p.m.
How to Dress for Your Body Type
Presented by Nicole Borsuk, Personal Shopper

1:30 p.m.
How to Make a Magic Wand
Presented by Forsyth County Public Library

2:10 p.m.
How to Get Started in Simple Leatherworking
Presented by Mike Decherd

SHARON FORKS LIBRARY
2820 Old Atlanta Road, Cumming

11:00 a.m.
How to do Simple Chair Yoga
Presented by Lola Nichols

11:40 a.m.
How to Make a Magic Wand
Presented by Forsyth County Public Library

12:10 p.m.
How to Select a Diamond
Presented by Izzy Israeli, Atlanta Diamond

12:50 p.m.
How to Get Started in the Music Business
Presented by Bart Dorough

1:30 p.m.
How to Pair Wine with Meals
Presented by Talk of the Table

2:10 p.m.
How to do Simple Magic Tricks
Presented by Cliff Patton, Magician

2:40 p.m.
How to Stage Your Home to Sell
Presented by Pam Evans

Admission to each session is free and advance registration is not required. FCPL's How-To Festival is open to the public and a library card is not required to attend, so bring a friend!

Experts Lead Local Discussions on Global Issues at Cumming Library

Prepare to discuss the world as professors from the University of North Georgia (UNG) lead a series of eight discussions on complex global issues beginning Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cumming Library, 585 Dahlonega Street.

Each discussion is open to the public and registration is not required. The full schedule of topics is provided below:

Climate Change and the Global Order
Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Add to your smartphone calendar)
Presented by Jamie Mitchem, Ph.D. and Melissa Hopkinson, Ph.D.

Climate change has become one of the defining issues of our time. What is the rest of the world doing to combat climate change? What impact will the effects of climate change have on global geopolitics?

India and Pakistan
Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Add to your smartphone calendar)
Presented by Bibek Chand, Ph.D.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi rode a wave of Hindu nationalism to a historic reelection in 2019. His first order of business was to revoke the special status granted to the Kashmir region, inflaming the rivalry between India and Pakistan. How will the Kashmir situation affect the region, both economically and politically?

Red Sea Security
Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Add to your smartphone calendar)
Presented by Victoria Hightower, Ph.D.

The Red Sea has remained vital for global trade since the time of ancient Egypt. Once home to the spice trade, the Red Sea now sees millions of barrels of oil a day transported across its waters. With major nations like China, France, Italy, and the U.S. building large ports and bases in the region, what does the future of the region look like? How important is Red Sea security for global security? Can the region be a place of global cooperation?

Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Add to your smartphone calendar)
Presented by Carly Redding, Ph.D., HS-BCP

Almost every nation has enacted laws criminalizing human trafficking, and international organizations, governments, and NGOs sponsor a large variety of projects to curb trafficking and slavery. Billions of dollars have been allocated to these efforts. What is the international community doing to combat slavery and trafficking? What are the experiences like for those being trafficked?

U.S. Relations with the Northern Triangle
Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Add to your smartphone calendar)
Presented by Cristian Harris, Ph.D.

The Northern Triangle of Central America, made up of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, is responsible for the flow of migrants from Latin America to the U.S.

China's Road into Latin America
Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Add to your smartphone calendar)
Presented by George Danns, Ph.D.

As the Trump administration continues to withdraw from the world stage, China is looking to fill the void. How does Latin America fit into China’s “One Belt, One Road” plan? How will the relationship with China affect the region? Should the U.S. be concerned about China’s growing “sphere of influence”?

The Philippines and the U.S.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Add to your smartphone calendar)
Presented by Christopher Jespersen, Ph.D.

The Philippines has had a special relationship with the United States since the islands were ceded by Spain to the United States after the Spanish-American War at the end of the 19th century. However, since the election of Rodrigo Duterte, the country has pivoted more toward China, and away from the U.S. Duterte has also launched a largescale war on drugs that many criticize for its brutality. What does the future hold for U.S, relations with the Philippines?

Artificial Intelligence and Data
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Add to your smartphone calendar)
Presented by Ash Mady, Ph.D. and Bethany Niese

Policymakers in many countries are developing plans and funding research in artificial intelligence (AI). Global growth is slowing, and not surprisingly, many policymakers hope that AI will provide a magic solution. The EU, Brazil, and other Western countries have adopted regulations that grant users greater control over their data and require that firms using AI be transparent about how they use it. Will the U.S. follow suit?

This series is part of Great Decisions 2020, a national program developed by the Foreign Policy Association (FPA) to help local communities better understand global politics, government, and foreign issues that affect the United States and its citizens.

For more information on Great Decisions 2020 events, please visit www.forsythpl.org.

Friday, December 20, 2019

Winter Reading Fun for Adults: Library BINGO

Calling all readers…If you’re bummed that Winter Reading Fun is just for kids and teens, we’ve got exciting news for you!

This year, adult readers can play Library BINGO for a chance to win two movie tickets to New Vision Theatres Movies 400 and a gift certificate to Giorgio's Family Kitchen!

Here’s how to play:

Get Your Library BINGO Card

Pick up a paper Library BINGO card at the Ask Us desk of any FCPL branch or download your Library BINGO card.

Library BINGO is open to FCPL cardholders ages 18 and over, only. Limit one game card entry per person.

Standard BINGO Rules Apply

Standard BINGO rules apply and the center space is a freebie. Read books or complete activities on the card between December 20, 2019 and January 7, 2020 and mark them off to make a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line.

Submit In-Person, on Instagram, or on Facebook Messenger

Turn in your completed Library BINGO card at the Ask Us desk of any FCPL branch.

If you prefer to enter the Library BINGO prize drawing electronically, you can tag @forsythpubliclibrary in a photo of your completed Library BINGO card on Instagram.

You may also enter the drawing by sending a Message to the FCPL Facebook page, @forsythpl, with a photo of your completed Library BINGO card attached.

All entries, both paper and electronic, must be received by 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 7, 2020.

Random Prize Drawing

A winner will be randomly drawn from all completed Library BINGO cards submitted on paper and electronically and the prize winner will be notified on or about Friday, January 10, 2020.

Library BINGO Help

If you are having trouble selecting a book or completing an activity, please ask a librarian. We’d love to show you all the awesome things you can do with your Forsyth County Public Library card!

Friday, December 13, 2019

Library Wins Grant to Preserve Lake Lanier Memories in Forsyth Remembers Oral History Project

Forsyth residents can preserve their memories of life on Lake Lanier thanks to the Forsyth County Public Library (FCPL) and a Community Impact Grant from the North Georgia Community Foundation (NGCF).

Photo courtesy of North Georgia Community Foundation

Cumming Library Information Services Supervisor Joan Dudzinski accepted the grant on behalf of the library’s Forsyth Remembers oral history project in a special ceremony last month at the NGCF offices in Gainesville. The purpose of the Forsyth Remembers oral history project is to collect and archive moments of importance in history, with a special focus on recollections from local residents.

“We started small with the idea of a local oral history project. We used very basic equipment to capture the first interview recordings, but we realized that new skills and equipment would be necessary to create an archive that will stand the test of time,” says Dudzinski.

Forsyth Remembers launched last summer with “Lunar Landing Memories,” a collection of audio interviews featuring Forsyth residents and their memories of the time surrounding the Apollo 11 lunar landing in 1969.

Each of the four FCPL branches are now equipped to conduct and record interviews for the Forsyth Remembers oral history project and will begin collecting stories on the 2020 theme, “Lake Lanier Memories,” on Monday, January 6. The collected interviews will be compiled into an oral history archive on the library’s website later this year.

“We’re grateful to the North Georgia Community Foundation for their support of Forsyth Remembers and our staff is already training and practicing with the new recording equipment this grant made possible,” adds Dudzinski.

Local residents who want to share their memories of the construction of Buford Dam and the flooding of Lake Lanier or other stories of fishing, boating, and local folklore surrounding the lake now submerged under its waters should visit the Ask Us desk at any FCPL location or call 770-781-9840 to schedule an interview.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Library Limelight: Donna-Marie Wiktorski, Branch Support Aide, Post Road Library

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

Donna-Marie Wiktorski
Branch Support Aide
Post Road Library

Where is your hometown?

San Diego, California

How long have you been at FCPL?

Almost 14 years

What other jobs have you had at FCPL?

Collection Support Aide, Department Support Aide

Why did you choose to work in a library?

When we moved here, I needed to have something to fill my spare time. I have always loved to read and work with people, so this was the perfect fit for me.

Describe your job in five words or less.

Busy!

What is your favorite part of your job?

Helping with the Books and Babies program here at Post Road. I love the little ones and it is so sweet to see them progress to other programs. I also have had some of them come back and actually remember me and give me big hugs.

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

Rio de Janerio, Brazil. My father was in the Navy and was assigned to the Naval Attaché at the US Embassy.

What are your hobbies?

Reading and travel; I have always loved to read. As a child we moved a lot with the Navy and my books were my best friends. As for travel, my husband and I love to go on cruises. We have been to Alaska, the Caribbean, Mexico, and the Panama Canal. We just returned from a 13 day cruise to Canada and New England.

What are you reading right now?

Noel Street by Richard Paul Evans

Paper books, eBooks, or audiobooks?

Paper. I am old fashioned that way and prefer hardcover to paperbacks.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Staff Favorites of 2019: Adult Fiction

As the year comes to a close, library staff members and volunteers reflect on the best books they've read in 2019. A complete list of titles in all genres from Staff Favorites of 2019 is available in the library's online catalog.