Library Service Pairs Free State Park Pass with Binoculars and Backpacks

Patrons of the Forsyth County Public Library can now check out a backpack kit at any of its four branches and, in combination with an already available Georgia State ParkPass, take it with them on a free visit to any of Georgia’s State Parks & Historic Sites.

The backpack kits are the latest additions to the popular ParkPass library loan program administered by Georgia Public Library Service and Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites. The program will celebrate its 10-year anniversary in 2018 and more than 100,000 families across the state have checked out and used a ParkPass, saving over $1 million in admission and parking fees.

What's in the Backpack Kit?

Each kit includes a sturdy, five-pocket backpack containing a pair of 5x30 binoculars, a guide to Georgia’s State Parks & Historic Sites, and three foldout Pocket Naturalist Guides to Georgia Wildlife, Georgia Birds and Georgia Trees & Wildflowers.

How do I check out a Backpack Kit?

The loan period for the backpack kits is one week, and patrons can find them in the library catalog by searching for "Georgia State Parks Discovery Backpack."

Library patrons may place holds on the backpack kits, which check out separately from the ParkPass.

How do I checkout a ParkPass?

Library patrons may place a hold on a ParkPass in the library catalog.

The passes are good for free parking or admission at any of the 63 parks and historic sites statewide for up to five days.

Go Enjoy Georgia

“Our goal for these backpack kits is to help families learn about nature and the natural wonders we have throughout the state,” said State Librarian Julie Walker, “and this objective aligns well with the important role that libraries play in education for all Georgians. From backyards and local parks to any — or all — of Georgia’s state parks, historic sites and National Park Service lands, the learning opportunities here are endless.”

This project is made possible, in part, with funds provided by a grant to GPLS from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

#ShelfLife - September 29, 2017

We're wrapping up Banned Books Week and our patrons seemed really "fired up" about the banned books display at the Hampton Park Library! But, not to worry, no actual books were harmed in the making of this display.

Though it (still!) doesn't feel like it, fall is here and we're looking forward to camping trips and reading by campfires with great books by author Mark Warren, who will visit the Cumming Library next week. We also enjoyed "leafing" through several non-fiction books, along with the October Book Sleuths book club selection, Little Deaths.

So, tell us: what's on your to-be-read pile this weekend? Leave a comment below and your book could be featured on Instagram next week!

The American Library Association recognizes September 24 – 30, 2017 as Banned Books Week. Take a look at these books on display at the Hampton Park Library and check one out for yourself! #ShelfLife #BannedBooksWeek #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #readersofinstagram #amreading #georgialibraries #ForsythReads

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Sep 25, 2017 at 7:08am PDT

“Taylor’s resplendent prose evokes the emotional journey of making peace with the past, the sanctuary that is driving in a car with the windows down, radio at full blast and the sense of timelessness inherent in days measured only by fuel and miles.” – Atlanta Journal Constitution If you’re hitting the road for fall break this week, be sure to pack a copy of THE LAURAS by Sara Taylor, critically-acclaimed author of THE SHORE. Reserve your copy at catalog.forsythpl.org today! #ShelfLife #amreading #roadtrip #roadtripreads #travelreads #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #readersofinstagram #booksofinstagram #theshore #thelauras #sarataylor @hogarthbooks

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Sep 27, 2017 at 7:45am PDT

We’re so excited about author and naturalist Mark Warren coming to speak at the Cumming Library next week and we’ve been combing the shelves for books about enjoying the great outdoors. Look what just arrived in the stacks: KIDS’ GUIDE TO CAMPING by Cherie Winner and CAMPFIRE CHEF by Tyler Omoth. Use your library card to place a hold on these books at catalog.forsythpl.org and take them hiking or camping with your kids! #ShelfLife #nonfiction #cookbook #naturewalk #kids #tweens #camping #getoutside #amreading #readersofinstagram #librariesofinstagram #FCPLstories #forsythreads

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Sep 27, 2017 at 10:27am PDT

Get ready to laugh out loud with behind-the-scenes stories about your favorite audiobook recordings as RBdigital presents The Johnny Heller Audiobook Experience at the Post Road Library on Sunday, October 8 at 3:00 p.m. Mr. Heller narrated over 600 titles for adults, young adults and children, including several in our RBdigital collection, as well as the forthcoming audiobook THE IMPROV: AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE COMEDY CLUB THAT REVOLUTIONIZED STAND-UP by Budd Friedman with Tripp Whetsell and foreword by Jay Leno. BONUS: The RBdigital team will show the audience awesome features and secret shortcuts for the new RBdigital website and mobile app at the event! @recordedbooks @johnny_heller #RBdigital #ShelfLife #audiobooks #loveaudiobooks #lovebooks #johnnyheller #voiceover #narrator #FCPLstories #ForsythReads #readersofinstagram #librariesofinstagram

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Sep 28, 2017 at 5:23am PDT

We've got two reasons to celebrate: it's North Carolina Day and National Drink Beer Day, so we're toasting our friends at @fcpubliclibrary in Winston-Salem, NC with this collection of books about beer (including a non-fiction graphic novel for grown-ups), North Carolina history, and stories set in the mountains of that beautiful state. If you'd like to "leaf" through a good book, place a hold on one of these titles at catalog.forsythpl.org: NORTH CAROLINA: THE OLD NORTH STATE by John Hamilton NORTH CAROLINA'S AMAZING COAST: NATURAL WONDERS FROM ALLIGATORS TO ZOEAS by David Bryant A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES by Diana Gabaldon ALONG THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL: GEORGIA, NORTH CAROLINA, AND TENNESSEE by Leonard M. Adkins THE COMIC BOOK STORY OF BEER: THE WORLD'S FAVORITE BEVERAGE FROM 7000 BC TO TODAY'S CRAFT BREWING REVOLUTION by Jonathan Hennessey and Mike Smith BEER MONEY: A MEMOIR OF PRIVILEGE AND LOSS by Frances Stroh TRUE BREWS: HOW TO CRAFT FERMENTED CIDER, BEER, WINE, SAKE, SODA, MEAD, KEFIR, AND KOMBUCHA AT HOME by Emma Christensen THE COMPLETE HOMEBREW BEER BOOK by George Hummel THE WORLD ATLAS OF BEER: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO THE BEERS OF THE WORLD by Tim Webb and Stephen Beaumont #ShelfLife #NorthCarolinaDay #DrinkBeerDay #nonfiction #history #geography #fiction #historicalfiction #graphicnovel #memoir #howto #homebrewing #librariesofinstagram #bookstagram #amreading #FCPLstories

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Sep 28, 2017 at 7:34am PDT

It’s the selection for October’s Book Sleuths book club, and you’ll want to get it now….reserve your copy of LITTLE DEATHS by Emma Flint at catalog.forsythpl.org and come share your reaction to the story at the Post Road Library on October 24. About the book: A gripping suspense tale set in 1960's New York and inspired by true events follows the investigation of a cocktail waitress whose two young children have been brutally murdered and a rookie tabloid reporter who would uncover the truth. Reserve your copy at catalog.forsythpl.org. #ShelfLife #crimefiction #fiction #mystery #thriller #suspense #booksleuths #bookclub #EmmaFlint #LittleDeaths #amreading #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #librariesofinstagram #ForsythReads @picadorbooks #FridayReads

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on Sep 29, 2017 at 5:23am PDT

Four Authors Help Aspiring Writers this Fall at the Cumming Library

Local writers aspiring to publish their work can get free advice from four authors at free Forsyth Writes Together events this fall at the Cumming Library.

On Thursday, October 5 at 6:30 p.m., author and naturalist Mark Warren will speak and sign copies of his book Secrets of the Forest Vol. 1: The Magic and Mystery of Plants and the Lore of Survival.

“Local writers will want to hear about the time Warren spent with the Cherokee people researching lore, gathering source material, and learning survival skills that add realistic detail to the Secrets of the Forest series and to his memoir, Two Winters in a Tipi,” explains Branch Manager Denise Leeson.

Warren also wrote the forthcoming Adobe Moon, the first in the Wyatt Earp, an American Odyssey trilogy of historical fiction published by Five Star, an imprint of Gale.

On Thursday, November 16 at 6:30 p.m., authors Susan Jimison, Ray Chandler, and Daniel Lovelace will gather to share their experiences researching, writing, and publishing soldier stories.

Jimison is a supporter of organizations for veterans and author of Through the Eyes of a Tiger: The John Donovan Story, a work of WWII military non-fiction released in 2015 by Deeds Publishing.

Chandler is a journalist and Scripps News correspondent, as well as the author of The Last Days of the Confederacy in Northeast Georgia, a non-fiction account of the last days of the Civil War in northeast Georgia published by The History Press, an imprint of Arcadia Publishing.

Lovelace is a former political science professor and senior intelligence analyst, as well as the author of Tory Spy: A New York Frontier Family’s War Against the American Revolution, an account events leading to the capture and execution of Loyalist Thomas Loveless published by Heritage Books.

Following their presentations, the panel of authors will take questions from the audience. Participants may also purchase autographed books directly from the authors at the event.

“Each of these authors’ books capture the sense of uncertainty faced by both soldiers and ordinary citizens during three different wars,” says Leeson. “Aspiring writers can take their advice, research tips, and writing processes and adapt them to improve the settings, imagery, and dialogue to make their own stories come alive for readers.”

The Forsyth Writes Together series is designed to connect experienced authors with local writers and, like other services provided by Forsyth County Public Library, participation in these writing workshops is free.

“Libraries offer so much support for writers. We provide free resources like online writing tutorials, research databases and reference materials, and we even host groups for writers to share their ideas or work-in-progress and receive constructive feedback from their peers,” explains Leeson.

In addition to the Forsyth Writes Together series for adults and the Teen Writers Club at the Cumming Library, the Post Road Library also hosts a semi-monthly writing group for adults and a monthly group for teens moderated by The Last Monster author Ginger Garrett.

For more information on the Forsyth Writes Together series or other writing groups at the library, please visit www.forsythpl.org.