Library Limelight: Nishreen Akolawala, Public 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!

Nishreen Akolawala
Collection Support Aide
Cumming Library

Where is your hometown?

Mumbai, India

How long have you been at FCPL?

One year and five months

What other jobs have you had at FCPL?

This is my first.

Why did you choose to work in a library?

When I moved from Mumbai to Maryland in 1994, the local library was so important to me. I have always loved to read and I was amazed at the facilities and materials offered for free in so many languages, since that part of Maryland was so diverse. The library offered programs for my son, and that helped me meet other parents and make new friends.

Describe your job in five words or less.

Enjoyable, flexible, part-time, detailed, physical, and organized

What is unique about your job?

I’m always on the move. This is not a sitting type of job.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Getting to see all the books and resources that are available. And I absolutely enjoy the camaraderie that I share with my co -workers.

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

I think the US is the most interesting place. People from all over the world come here to visit or to live. If we choose to, we can sample cuisine and learn about other cultures from around the world in our own city.

What are your hobbies?

Crafting. I love making things – stamping, bow making, Zentangle.

What are you reading right now?

When Red is Black by Xiaolong Qiu. It’s a murder mystery set in Shanghai, but the book also describes what it’s like to live in modern Chinese society.

Paper books or eBooks?

Paper. I find it hard to focus on an eBook and that I easily forget what I’ve read when it’s in a digital form.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

We moved to Georgia four years ago and it’s been reassuring to find a community that is friendly, polite, accepting, and open-minded. It’s been a good experience and I really like it here.

Juvenile Series Worth Reading!

We have all been disappointed by a sequel or series title. They just never seem to live up to the magic of that first book! Here are a few exceptions to the rule if you’re looking to get hooked on a new series. If you're an audio book fan, all of these titles also come in very well done audio versions.

Spirit Animals by Brandon Mull
 Book 1: Wild Born 

This is a great series written by some amazing kids and teen authors. Set in a world where at the age of 11 some children begin to form a special bond with magically conjured animals, called Spirit Animals, the books follow the story of four such children who must band together to stop a growing evil.

Lockwood & Co by Jonathan Stroud 
Book 1: The Screaming Staircase 

The world is overrun by ghosts and it’s up to child agents with psychic powers to stop them. The perfect mix of great characters, spooky chills, adventure, and mystery.

The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
Book 1: The Raven Boys

Magic reigns in this atmospheric teen series about a group of friends trying to find the mythical grave of an ancient, sleeping Welsh king. This series has the perfect mix of romance, humor, danger, beautiful writing, and fantastic characters. Each book is better than the last as the mystery and characters                          continue to grow and unfold.


Cleo Slaughter
Youth Services Supervisor
Sharon Forks Library

FCPL Launches The New York Times Online

Do you like reading The New York Times? Now you can read your favorite news, business, and lifestyle columns online at any FCPL location.

Forsyth County Public Library is pleased to announce the launch of The New York Times Online, a service that will allow our patrons to view the newspaper online with a library computer or tablet, or by connecting their own device to the FCPL Unplugged wireless network.

Rather than waiting for the print version of The New York Times to arrive at a library branch, patrons can now view not only Today’s Headlines, but breaking news, videos, archives, and other features, as listed below:

• Easy to use, browsable international news, including breaking news that won’t be printed in the paper 
• Access to exclusive interactive videos, slideshows, and photos
• Ability to search and browse thousands of “Times Topics”
• Access to the past seven days of NYTimes print via “Today’s Paper”
• Access to New York Times articles published between 1851 through 1922, and between 1981 through current day 
• Full access to International New York Times to serve patrons the most relevant international content 
• Access to book reviews, including a full archive dating back to 1981 
• Market Data charts, indexes and interactive tools 
• Ability to create and manage personalized stock portfolios  
• Ability to share favorite articles with friends and family via Facebook, Twitter, and email

Here’s how to get started:

1. Visit any library branch and log onto a library computer or connect your own mobile device to the FCPL Unplugged wireless network
2. Create a user account and log in at nytimes.com/register
3. Enjoy complimentary unlimited access as long as you are in the library

If you have any questions about using FCPL’s new The New York Times Online service,  please visit the Information Desk.