Spout Springs Branch

Birthday Spotlight: Garrison Keillor

2008-08-07T10:02:00.003-05:00

Garrison Keillor was born this day in 1942 to Grace and John Keillor at Anoka, Minnesota. Keillor began his broadcasting career while in college on a student-operated radio station. In 1994, Keillor was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame. You can hear his show, A Prairie Home Companion every weekend on Georgia Public Radio. In 1970, a fictional piece appeared in the New Yorker, thus heralding the beginning of Keillor's writing career. Keillor has written several articles for both magazines, newspapers, and websites. He has also authored books for both adults and children. Click on the picture to see his books at Spout Springs Library.

Birthday Spotlight: Nelson Mandela

2008-07-18T00:00:00.001-05:00

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born July 18, 1918 to a Tembu tribal chieftan at Qunu, near Umtata, in the Transkei territory of South Africa. Mandela renounced his claim to the chieftanship to attend the University of Witwatersrand to become a lawyer. In 1944 Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) and quickly rose through its ranks to become one of its leaders, renouncing the apartheid policies of the ruling National Party. Mandela was subsequently arrested and put on trial for treason from 1956-1961, from which he was acquitted. During this period, Mandela abandoned his nonviolent stance and encouraged acts of sabotage against the South African regime. In 1962, he was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison. During this time, charges were brought against Mandela regarding a raid that had led police to a large stash of arms and equipment of the military wing of the ANC, of which Mandela had founded. He pled guilty to a few of the charges brought against him and was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment. However, on February 11, 1990, South African President F.W. de Klerk released Mandela from prison. Within two years, Mandela, now president of ANC, and de Klerk had brought about a peaceful transition to nonracial democracy in South Africa. In 1993 Mandela and de Klerk were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts. In April 1994, South Africa voted and Mandela became President of South Africa. He worked to establish economic development initiatives and revamped many of the country's outdated policies. He did not seek a second term in 1999, and retired from active politics. However, he has since worked tirelessly to address injustices throughout the world. This is his ninetieth birthday. Please click on the photograph to see what you can learn about Nelson Mandela at your local library system.

Event Spotlight: Homeschooling 101

2008-07-10T09:41:00.006-05:00

On Thursday, August 14, 2008, homeschool students and their parents are invited to come to this informational session on the services and resources Hall County Library System offers homeschoolers. We will also have a scavenger hunt and private tour of the new Spout Springs Library.

All ages of student are welcome.

Spout Springs Library

Thursday, August 14, 2008

1:00 P.M.

This program is limited to 30 people, so starting July 14, please call (770) 532-3311, extension 192 or come into Spout Springs Branch to register. Leaving a comment on this site will not count as a registered spot for this program.

Birthday Spotlight: Thurgood Marshall

2008-07-02T00:00:00.001-05:00

Thurgood (originally Thoroughgood) Marshall was born this day in 1908 at Baltimore, Maryland. His parents were William Canfield Marshall, a railroad porter and steward at an all-white country club and Norma Williams Marshall, an elementary school teacher. Marshall graduated with honors from Lincoln University in 1930 and Howard University in 1933, graduating summa cum laude. Marshall had been rejected by the University of Maryland Law School for being black, but later won Murray v. Pearson in 1935, in which Marshall successfully sued the University of Maryland for denying an African American applicant admission to its law school simply on the basis of race. The next year, Marshall becomes a staff lawyer for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or NAACP and within four years is named chief of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Over the next twenty years, Marshall established himself as the nation's premier lawyer, winning 29 of the 32 cases that he presented and argued before the United States Supreme Court, the most formidable of which was Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. Marshall was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit by President John F. Kennedy, but Southern opposition delayed his confirmation for several months. President Lyndon B. Johnson named Marshall the United States Solicitor General in July 1965 and two years later, Marshall's appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court was confirmed by the U.S. Senate 69-11. Marshall led the Supreme Court as a stalwart liberal during the next twenty years. Marshall retired from the Supreme Court in 1991, and died January 24, 1993 at Bethesda, Maryland.

*Picture and information courtesy of Encyclopedia Britannica, via GALILEO

Calendar Spotlight: Happy Fairy Day!

2008-06-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

June 24 marks the official holiday for fairy collectors, believers, artisans, and the young at heart. Fairy Day is a holiday sprung from the imagination of a fairy artist and believer, and brought to life with the help of many of her talented friends and fellow fairy lovers. With the world enjoying a surge of interest in all things fairy, we feel that now is the perfect time to introduce a yearly holiday to celebrate the fae. This holiday is for everyone who believes in the magic of fairytales. It is for those imaginative souls who dare to dream impossible dreams. It is for the children of the world, wide-eyed and open to the magic that surrounds them. It is for adults too, who long to capture a bit of that magic they remember from their own childhood. Check out what Spout Springs Library has to offer by clicking on the picture.

History Spotlight: First Manned Private Spaceflight

2008-06-21T10:10:00.007-05:00

Four years ago, Michael Melvill, flying the privately financed SpaceShipOne, flew 62 miles in altitude, leaving the Earth's atmosphere. The spacecraft was designed by Burt Rutan, chief of Scaled Composites, a California-based aerospace company, and financially backed by Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. SpaceShipOne made the flight at Mojave Airport at Mojave, CA.

Birthday Spotlight: Jean-Paul Sartre

2008-06-21T10:00:00.005-05:00

On this day in 1905, Jean-Paul Sartre was born at Paris, France. Known as the "father of existentialism," or "Emo King," Sartre rejected the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1964 when it was awarded to him. He died on Aril 15, 1980 at Paris. He wrote: "All that I know about my life, it seems, I have learned in books." Click on Sartre's photograph to see works by him or about him in the catalog.

Birthday Spotlight: Chris Van Allsburg

2008-06-18T00:00:00.015-05:00

Born in Grand Rapids, MI on June 18, 1949, Chris Van Allsburg grew up to attend the University of Michigan. He studied bronze casting, wood carving, resin molding, and other skills. He met his wife, Lisa Morrison, at the Rhode Island School of Design, where he earned a Master's of Fine Art in 1977. In 1978, Van Allsburg's drawings were part of an exhibit at the Whitney Museum, after which his wife encouraged him to illustrate books. After his works made it to an editor of Houghton Mifflin, Van Allsburg was encouraged to not just illustrate, but create his own stories. He is the creator of such beloved children's books as Jumanji, Polar Express (both of which are Caldecott winners), and Zathura. All three of these books have been made into major motion pictures. Click on the pictures to see these books' availability at the Spout Springs Library.

Birthday Spotlight: Anne Frank

2008-06-12T10:36:00.010-05:00

Today marks what would be the 79th birthday of Anne Frank, or Annelies Marie Frank. Anne was born in 1929 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Anne moved with her family to Amsterdam where they subsequently went into hiding from the Nazi's. On August 4, 1944, the Frank family was discovered and shipped off to various concentration camps in Europe. Anne died with her sister at the age of 16 during a typhus epidemic at Bergen-Belsen just a few weeks before the camp was liberated by Allied forces. Anne's father, Otto Frank, published the diary (originally in Dutch) nearly two years after Anne's death. One of Anne's most famous quotes from her diary is that "In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart." Click on Anne's picture to see her diary in the library catalog.

Check out photos from our grand opening

2008-06-10T10:39:00.001-05:00

Check out photos from our grand opening

2008-06-10T10:36:00.001-05:00

Check out photos from our grand opening!

2008-06-10T10:28:00.005-05:00

The Spout Springs grand opening on May 24 was a huge success with an estimated 1500 people in attendance throughout the day.

GRAND OPENING!!

2008-05-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

Our Grand Opening is this Saturday, May 24, 2008 beginning at 10 am. We will have guided tours, face painting, StoryTimes, a moonwalk, good food, balloons, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Amelia Bedelia, a fire truck, and doorprizes. Did I mention that all of this is free? The event will culminate at 1:00 pm with a speech given by our keynote speaker, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle.

We can't wait to see you there!

Author Spotlight: Mary Pope Osborne

2008-05-20T08:27:00.004-05:00

Mary Pope Osborne is the author of the beloved Magic Tree House series. The series follows Jack and Annie, a time-traveling brother and sister team from Frog Creek, Pennsylvania as they help Merlin the Magician. Jack and Annie complete missions that save the world and keep history on track!

Ms. Osborne's series now boasts 38 titles but now she can add another feather to her cap - Magic Tree House: The Musical! That's right, there's a show and it is visiting Georgia in April of 2009. We hope you will stop by and check out some MTH books and enjoy Jack and Annie's adventures as much as we have!

Happy Birthday!

2008-05-15T11:40:00.003-05:00

Today we celebrate the birthday of Mr. L. Frank Baum. He is best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as well as thirteen sequels. Baum was born in New York in 1856 and eventually married Maud Gage, later dying in 1919. We enjoy The Wizard of Oz in all forms of media, from books, to movies, to theatre, to music. Happy Birthday Mr. Baum!

Click on the photo to be taken to our catalog.

This Day in Georgia History

2008-05-15T00:00:00.002-05:00

In 1879, Atlanta's first telephone exchange opened in the Kimball House with a total of ten telephones connected to the hotel switchboard.

Children's Book Week

2008-05-13T13:59:00.020-05:00

In honor of Children's Book Week, I have consulted with the very best in children's literature: the Spout Springs Youth Services librarians. Here are some recommended reads sure to tantalize your child's (or youth's) reading interests.

Children's Picks

Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes.

Any child who has yearned for anything will understand how much Kitten wants that elusive bowl of milk. Readers will giggle as she tries to lick the faraway moon and gets a bug on her tongue, or leaps to catch it and falls down the stairs. In an effective refrain, the narrator repeats, "Still, there was the little bowl of milk, just waiting." The winning combination here is the simplicity and humor of the story, paired with gorgeous black-and-white illustrations with thick black lines (mirrored by the thick bold sans-serif font) and shades of grey that are as luminous as a moonlit night should be. Full-moon circles and ovals appear throughout the design: white circle full moons on the endpapers, elliptical flowers by the porch, white circles of firefly light, oval pads on Kitten's paws, and her big round eyes (especially when surprised and soaking wet). Children will love Kitten's quest and ensuing comedy of errors, but what they will love even more is that there's an actual bowl of milk waiting on the porch for Kitten. (courtesy Amazon.com)

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.

Where the Wild Things Are is one of those truly rare books that can be enjoyed equally by a child and a grown-up. If you disagree, then it's been too long since you've attended a wild rumpus. Max dons his wolf suit in pursuit of some mischief and gets sent to bed without supper. Fortuitously, a forest grows in his room, allowing his wild rampage to continue unimpaired. Sendak's color illustrations (perhaps his finest) are beautiful, and each turn of the page brings the discovery of a new wonder.
The wild things--with their mismatched parts and giant eyes--manage somehow to be scary-looking without ever really being scary; at times they're downright hilarious. Sendak's defiantly run-on sentences--one of his trademarks--lend the perfect touch of stream of consciousness to the tale, which floats between the land of dreams and a child's imagination.
This Sendak classic is more fun than you've ever had in a wolf suit, and it manages to reaffirm the notion that there's no place like home. (courtesy Amazon.com)

Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

In this engaging, interactive book for the very young, familiar nursery-rhyme characters such as Mother Hubbard and Baby Bunting sneak their way into the gentle drawings. Even young children who might not know all the fairy-tale stars can find them lurking in the cupboard, on the stairs, or deep in the woods. In the happy finale, the whole cast meets up for plum pie in the sun, where the little one on your lap will gleefully find everyone. An American Library Association Notable Book.

Juvenile Picks

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick.

Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney.

Boys don’t keep diaries—or do they? The launch of an exciting and innovatively illustrated new series narrated by an unforgettable kid every family can relate to. It’s a new school year, and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up before you’re ready are uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary. In book one of this debut series, Greg is happy to have Rowley, his sidekick, along for the ride. But when Rowley’s star starts to rise, Greg tries to use his best friend’s newfound popularity to his own advantage, kicking off a chain of events that will test their friendship in hilarious fashion. Author/illustrator Jeff Kinney recalls the growing pains of school life and introduces a new kind of hero who epitomizes the challenges of being a kid. As Greg says in his diary, “Just don’t expect me to be all ‘Dear Diary’ this and ‘Dear Diary’ that.” Luckily for us, what Greg Heffley says he won’t do and what he actually does are two very different things.

Black Potatoes: The Story of the Irish Famine, 1845-1850 by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

In 1845, a disaster struck Ireland. Overnight, a mysterious blight attacked the potato crops, turning the potatoes black and destroying the only real food of nearly six million people. Over the next five years, the blight attacked again and again. These years are known today as the Great Irish Famine, a time when one million people died from starvation and disease and two million more fled their homeland. Black Potatoes is the compelling story of men, women, and children who defied landlords and searched empty fields for scraps of harvested vegetables and edible weeds to eat, who walked several miles each day to hard-labor jobs for meager wages and to reach soup kitchens, and who committed crimes just to be sent to jail, where they were assured of a meal. It's the story of children and adults who suffered from starvation, disease, and the loss of family and friends, as well as those who died. Illustrated with black and white engravings, it's also the story of the heroes among the Irish people and how they held on to hope.

Young Adult Picks

Gossamer by Lois Lowry

Littlest One is a tiny creature slowly learning her job of giving dreams to humans. Each night she and her teacher, Thin Elderly, visit an old woman’s home where she softly touches beloved objects, gathering happy memories, and drops of old scents and sounds. Littlest One pieces these bits together and presents them to her sleeping human in the form of pleasant dreams. But the dreaded Sinisteeds, dark fearsome creatures that plague their victims with nightmares, are always at work against the dreamgivers. When the old woman takes in John, an angry foster child with a troubled past, the Sinisteeds go after him with their horrifying nightmares. Can Littlest One, and her touch light as gossamer, protect John’s heart and soul from the nightmare of his dark past?

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Miri lives on a mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have quarried stone and lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king's priests have divined her small village the home of the future princess. In a year's time, the prince himself will come and choose his bride from among the girls of the village. The king's ministers set up an academy on the mountain, and every teenage girl must attend and learn how to become a princess. Miri soon finds herself confronted with a harsh academy mistress, bitter competition among the girls, and her own conflicting desires to be chosen and win the heart of her childhood best friend. But when bandits seek out the academy to kidnap the future princess, Miri must rally the girls together and use a power unique to the mountain dwellers to save herself and her classmates.

The Arrival by Shaun Tan (graphic novel)

The Arrival proves a beautiful, compelling piece of art, in both content and form. Tan has previously produced a small body of off-kilter, frequently haunting stories of children trapped in surreal industrial landscapes. Here, he has distilled his themes and aesthetic into a silent, fantastical masterpiece. A lone immigrant leaves his family and journeys to a new world, both bizarre and awesome, finding struggle and dehumanizing industry but also friendship and a new life. Tan infuses this simple, universal narrative with vibrant, resonating life through confident mastery of sequential art forms and conventions. Strong visual metaphors convey personal longing, political suppression, and totalitarian control; imaginative use of panel size and shape powerfully depicts sensations and ideas as diverse as interminable waiting, awe-inspiring majesty, and forlorn memories; delicate alterations in light and color saturate the pages with a sense of time and place. Soft brushstrokes and grand Art Deco–style architecture evoke a time long ago, but the story's immediacy and fantasy elements will appeal even to readers younger than the target audience, though they may miss many of the complexities. Filled with subtlety and grandeur, the book is a unique work that not only fulfills but also expands the potential of its form.

Why HCLS is so Cool

2008-05-12T13:49:00.003-05:00

So I must say that I am ecstatic. I am currently in the process of purchasing a new home computer and decided to see what Consumer Reports had to say about the newest models. Alas, I do not subscribe to this particular magazine and thus cannot logon to their website. However, I did not despair for I knew that our lovely library system does subscribe to CR and that anything I needed to find, I would be able to locate in the Spout Springs Branch Reading Room. Here you will see just a portion of our offerings:

Readers may peruse these volumes at their leisure in our super-comfy chairs:

Please don't forget May 24th is our GRAND OPENING!!!

Mark Your Calendars!

2008-04-30T07:58:00.004-05:00

Our Grand Opening will be held Saturday, May 24 beginning at 10 a.m.! We will host several activities throughout the day including a ceremony led by Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle in the afternoon, guided tours and themed storytimes for the kids. We will also host a Harry Potter Trivia Quiz and give away doorprizes at regularly scheduled intervals. Clifford the Big Red Dog will also be available for pictures with the youngsters.

Just in case you do not know how to get to our lovely library, here are some directions:

Coming North on I-985: Take Exit 12 (Spout Springs Road) and turn right. Continue straight through one traffic light (Hog Mountain Road) and go until you see the entrance to the Sterling on the Lake subdivision on the right. Enter the subdivision, take the first left, and we are on the left.

Coming South on I-985: Take Exit 12 (Spout Springs Road) and turn left. Continue straight through two traffic lights and go until you see the entrance to the Sterling on the Lake subdivision on the right. Enter the subdivision, take the first left, and we are on the left.

Don't forget that our Grand Opening is May 24th! We can't wait to meet you!

Just To Tease

2008-04-25T11:58:00.010-05:00

I just wanted to show you some of the nice things we have put in for the children and young adults...

We have four computer stations specifically for youngsters, with keyboards, mice, and chairs ergonomically sized for their little bodies. However, should there be a high demand for the stations, those waiting have the option of lounging on the luxiurious sectional, being fanned by their minions with palm leaves .... oh, wait, wrong century...

Over in the Young Adult room, we have computers, booths, and cool cafe seating:

And now, ladies and gentlemen, it is time to play Name That Textile! See if you can figure out what it is and where it goes:

One Small Step for LibraryKind...

2008-04-14T12:47:00.008-05:00

That's right, we have shelves! Also, take a peek at the first of many trucks delivering our books:

We will be sorting and shelving books for the next several days. "Who is we?" you may ask. Well, today you get the added treat of seeing just who will be your Spout Springs Library staff:

I am pleased to introduce (from front to back, left to right): David, Jim, Adrianne, Elizabeth, Pat, Allison, Leslie, Katy, Naromie, and Emily. Leslie James will be our lovely Branch Manager, Emily Strickland is our Circulation Services Manager, Allison Hallman is our Adult Services Supervisor, and Adrianne Junius is our Youth Services Supervisor. We are thrilled to be joining this fast-paced and growing community.

National Library Worker's Day

2008-04-07T13:55:00.007-05:00

Next Tuesday, April 15 is National Library Worker's Day! This is a special day when we can educate our patrons about the knowledge, skills and qualifications of library employees, the kinds of work we do, and the necessary services we provide. So come on in, say "Hello!" and let us know if you have any concerns or questions regarding your library experience. We will be delighted to help you in any way possible!

Snapshot Image Froze Without a Sound

2008-03-28T12:27:00.030-05:00

Okay, readers, time to use your imagination! The name of the game is . . . Name That Lyric! However, if you have to ask which lyric, you're out of the game. Also, if you have to use Google or iTunes, you will be disqualified. I jumped off my couch and commenced to boogie around my living room as Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon sang a passible version of this song on "Don't Forget the Lyrics" last night.

But in other news, the lovely Lisa visited Spout Springs this morning and do we have exciting news:

Pavement! It really shouldn't get us that excited, but us librarians like our snazzy shoes, and they were just getting muddy during previous trips. As she walked in the front door, dazzled by the beautiful weather and the cleanliness of her pumps, Lisa didn't know where to look first. Should she pay attention to the pretty wainscoting on the walls?

Or should she marvel at the progress in the coffee shop?

Lisa glanced up, asking for a sign when lo! Ceiling tiles offered immediate distraction:

Unable to handle such sensory overload, Lisa looked to the ground, thinking that surely there would not be anything else to astonish her, but alas, carpet defeated her!

Following the trail, Lisa swung into the Adult Department, only to gasp in astonisment:

Not only did carpet lay in this room, but the walls were freshly painted:

and the fireplace is complete!

Needing a moment to compose herself, she dashed for the bathroom, jostling poor bystanders out of the way:

Emerging calm, cool, and collected, Lisa looked around and was overwhelmed by the beauty of the Children's Department. Paint now adorns the walls where the bookshelves and the mural will reside:

Doors also partition the Storytime Room from the rest of the Children's Department:

Amazed at the progress completed since last week, Lisa drifted toward the front door, but was distracted by the activity in the Youth Room. The walls sported fresh paint and the windows were filled with glass. Very modern...

Finally making it back to the car, Lisa hurried to Headquarters, where she begged me to tell her story to all who would listen. Stay perched on the edge of your collective seats, for more news will surely be posted soon.

*note: colors in photographs are not true to life

Reading at a Library Near You

2008-03-28T10:45:00.026-05:00

I often catch myself watching film trailers on the television and thinking,"That looks like a good movie. I wonder if there's a book?" More often than not, there is, especially this season. So, before you hit the movie theatre this weekend, visit your local branch and pick up these bestsellers for an entertaining read.

Book: Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich

Movie: 21

Book: The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Movie: The Other Boleyn Girl

Book: Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
Movie: Prince Caspian

Book: Nim's Island by Wendy Orr
Movie: Nim's Island

Book: Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss
Movie: Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who

More Pictures!

2008-03-25T08:23:00.023-05:00

To keep our readership informed, we trekked out to Spout Springs to take pictures of the progress taking place within and without the library. Without further ado, I present the outside:

Paving should be completed shortly so we will be able to drive right up to the front walk on our next trip out there. But, you ask, what does the inside look like? I'm glad you asked! Here is the view upon entering our fine establishment:

You are immediately faced with three decisions: approach the circulation desk straight ahead, turn left to visit adult services or turn right for the children's department. Choices, choices. Should you choose Option #2, you will pass through non-fiction,

maybe jog around a card catalog or two, gambol through fiction,

before finally resting your weary self in front of our soothing fireplace and enjoying the scenery:

"But, wait!," you say. "My child wants to go over to the children's department!" After retracing your steps, you pass by the circulation desk and youth room:

and into the land of castles and unicorns and princes and princesses:

It's really there, I promise! But if your child is more interested in books than puppets, he or she may wander over to the bookshelves located here:

Please notice the entrance to the Storytime Room in the background. However, should you be visiting the library for a meeting, you will doubtless be interested in our meeting rooms:

Our meeting room can be divided into two separate rooms or left open to accomodate more people. There is a separate entrance/exit, for use during non-business hours and bathrooms are located at the rear of the meeting room. Speaking of bathrooms:

Should you wish to enjoy the outdoors, you may do so via this entrance onto our screened porch:

That's all for now, folks! Check back soon for more updates.