favourite fictional baddies

Eion Colfer, author of the YA science fantasy series, Artemis Fowl, finds baddies more interesting to write about than heroes. He reveals his 10 favourite villains:

Ernst Stavro Blofeld - Thunderball
Captain Hook - Peter Pan
Hawk Dove - Flight of the Doves
Count Dracula - Dracula
The Kurgan - Highlander
Agatha Trunchbull - Matilda
Professor Moriarty - Sherlock Holmes
John Silver - Treasure Island
Napoleon - Animal Farm
The Joker - Batman

The buzz on the "Bee"

The 86th Scripps National Spelling Bee begins today. Check ESPN listings to play along. This year's competition includes a new challenge; multiple choice vocabulary. Here's some study tips for success. You guessed it - #8 is reading.

Books for Soldiers

Those serving the military don’t often have access to books. Books provide a link to home, entertainment, an escape from the loneliness of deployment.

Books for Soldiers was started by Storm Williams to provide books, CDs, DVDs to our troops. The Alpharetta Friends group collects books, etc. along with goodies, snacks, and letters to send to those serving worldwide.

Operation Paperback provides books to military and veterans hospitals in the United States, USO centers at US Airport transit points, as well as overseas. They’ve recently added a program that provides books to military families.

 

 

... to honor those who have honorably served

 

The non-profit Johns Creek Veterans Association has embarked upon a grassroots and historic mission to build a world-class memorial dedicated to all veterans, their families and supporters in a quiet, wooded section of the City’s flagship public green space - Newtown Park. We invite you to join us to create a lasting, living Johns Creek landmark for future generations. Donations of any size are welcome - for the walkway, monuments, park benches, entrance plaza, gazebo, and engraved pavers.

 

www.JohnsCreekGA.gov/JCVA

Teen Summer Programs

The Teen Summer Reading Kick-Off  is 6 June at 11 a.m. Bring a friend and learn about the Summer Reading Programs. Activities such as Henna Tattooing, Decorate Flip Flops, Duct Tape Crafts, and Bridge Camp are among June offerings at Ocee.

Pick up a copy of access at the Circulation Desk for program descriptions/schedules. For more information or to register call 770-360-8897 ext. 253.

Our sister library, Northeast/Spruill Oaks, teens’ summer programming includes: Sundays for Teens Series (writers' club, poetry, book club, public speaking), Tuesdays for Teens Series (improv! and yoga), and a Summer Business Series. All programs require registration and some have limited space. Call 770.360.8820.

Summer Slide

Sliding can be a blast - until you've got to climb back up to the top!

“Slide” refers to the loss of academic skills and knowledge that typically happens to students over summer break. This occurs across all subjects and for some, the backwards “slide” can be equivalent to an entire grade level. Studies show a little summer reading goes a long way toward success in the classroom. Visit library to prevent slide and have fun, too!

On-going summer events for kids & tweens include:

Magnificent Monday Crafts,

Ocee Astronomy Club,

Chess Club, Atlanta Junior Bridge Camp (ages 8-18),

Beginner Reader’s Book Club (ages 5-8), and

Just Read It Book Club (ages 9-12).   

 

June events (sponsored by Friends of Ocee Library) are:

Children’s Summer Reading Kick-Off 6 June with the “ArchaeoBus”,

Dig into Reading with Digger Bill,

Balloon Storyteller, and

Jump and Jam with Miss Gail and the Jumpin’ Jam Band.
 

access lists program descriptions and schedules for all AFPL branches and available at the Circulation Desk; as is the Ocee calendar. Check AFPL events page.

Many of Ocee’s programs have limited space and require registration. For information call 770.360.8897.

Rockin' the Lib

Rolling Stones, Keith Richards admits, he has overdue books dating back to the 1960s from his hometown library in Dartford. Richards reckons the fines must be “astronomical”. Estimates are around 3000 GBP. Kent library director said, “...if he would like to come and visit and help us spread the word about what a great service this is, he would more than compensate us for the books he didn’t return.”


Richards’ autobiography, Life, is available in paper, audio, and e-book though the AFPL.

  “When you are growing up, there are two institutional places that affect you most powerfully-the church, which belongs to God, and the public library, which belongs to you. The public library is a great equalizer.” 

 

 

Trivia contest - shaken, not stirred

007 marked his 50th year in the movies with the November 2012 release of Skyfall. Which of the Bond novels just celebrated its 60th anniversary?

Answer: Casino Royale

Check it out

 

Get Low with Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek, and Lucas Black is loosely based on a true story. The movie used locations in and around Atlanta.

 

 

 

       

Benton House Book Club

We know that physical exercise is important for healthy aging, but so is staying mentally active and curious, as well as making and keeping social connections.

 Congratulations to Ocee Library's neighbors at Benton House on starting a book club! The Benton House Book Club will meet  weekly on Thursday afternoons beginning 6 June. The group is limited to seniors and reservations are required. For information on joining them, phone the Ocee Library at 770.360.8897

To OZ!

From Hollywood to Broadway and into the hearts of children both young and old...

Today is the birthday of L Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Baum never graduated school or lived in Kansas. He was father to 4 boys. He worked numerous jobs; including actor, salesman, and raising fancy chickens before writing his uniquely American fairy tale at age 40. His partnership with illustrator, W W Denslow, proved to be a winning combination. 13 more Oz books followed with artwork by John R Neill.

"And if I am to do any good in this world my highest ambition will be to make children happy."  

What's summer reading without a good mystery?

The Mystery Writers of America recently held their Edgars award banquet. Some of the 2013 winners of this prestigious honor include:

 

Live by Night by Dennis Lehane (Best Novel)

Midnight in Peking: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman... by Paul French (Fact Crime)

The Quick Fix by Jack D. Ferraiolo (Juvenile)

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (YA)

 

Visit the website http://www.theedgars.com/nominees.html for a complete list of winners and nominees or to search their database.

Dig it!

 

Dig into reading as the Archaeobus pulls in at Ocee Library Thursday morning 6 June! Experience hands-on archaeology activities while learning about Georgia’s past. After visiting the bus, stay for outdoor activities and get more information about Ocee Library's kids' and teens' summer programs. Ages 4-12 & 12-18. Want more information? Phone 770-360-8897.

...'If you are a gardener and find me,' said the little bunny, 'I will be a bird and fly away from you.' 'If you become a bird and fly away from me,' said his mother, 'I will be a tree that you come home to.'    The Runaway Bunny- Margaret Wise Brown

With rapidly changing technology and trends, some materials become quickly out of date and outlive their purpose.

      

Truly old books may warrant an online search or a consult with a used bookseller or antiques dealer for a valuation. You may find a niche market (and a little extra cash) for vintage books and music on site like ebay or etsy. Vinyl records, VHS, and cassette tapes are accepted at Goodwill. Organisations that serve the visually impaired may (please ask first) accept books on cassette tape for their clients. Better World Books has drop boxes in the area.

 

Soemtimes, books may serve a better purpose in another form; please consider recycling. If you don’t have curbside recycling service, take them to Roswell Recycling. Webb Bridge Middle School recycles as well. "Artfully" recycle by entering Ocee Library’s altered books contest (see 8 May post).

“She asked where he lived.”

“Second to the right,' said Peter, 'and then straight on till morning.”

9 May is the birthday of Peter Pan's creator; Scottish author J.M. Barrie. Relive your childhood or share Peter Pan with the young ones in your life... Download a copy (great for summer travels) or browse the AFPL catalogue for book, audio, and DVD/VHS formats. Barrie biographies along with Finding Neverland (with Johnny Depp) reveal the real life inspiration for Peter Pan and his band of lost boys.

 

More mystery sculptures

Peter Pan - JM Barrie
 

The anonymous Edinburgh book sculptor has "gifted" the country with five more sculptures portraying Scotland’s rich literary heritage. 

 

Tresaure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson

 

What will you create?

Express yourself! Ocee Library is having an altered book contest for ages 8 and up.  An altered book is one that has been artistically collaged, rubber stamped, cut/carved, painted, folded, or otherwise embellished. This is a fun, creative way to repurpose old or out-of-date books that might be headed for the recycling bin. You're only limited by your imagination!

The 1st place winner will receive an Amazon gift card and a ribbon. 2nd and 3rd place recipients will also be awarded ribbons. Altered books will be displayed in the library. The deadline to submit your artwork is Friday 26 July. For more information call 770-860-8897.

Friends of Ocee Library Book Sale

Friday & Saturday  26-27 July 2013

 Now accepting book donations - CDs and DVDs, too!

Check it out



Available in paper or e-book 

DVD, CD, and music score

           
                                                                                   

Hey diddle diddle... May 1st is Mother Goose Day.

 http://johnstevengurney.com/

You can view an illustrated 1916 copy  or Mother Gosse in Prose by Frank L Baum (Oz author) on-line. Visit the AFPL catalogue for contemporary verisons like The Top Secret Files of Mother Goose and Jaha and Jamil Went Down the Hill: an African Mother Goose. History buffs might enjoy scholarly research that examines who Mother Goose was, explores the social & political uses of the rhymes and Mother Goose in advertising.