Banned Books Lists

Find the American Library Association's 2016 banned books top 10 here.

Vogue recommends 5 banned titles to help understand current events.

BOOKGLOW has selected 30 quotes from classic banned books. 

   

Banned Books Week talking points

• Yes, books are still banned. Five of the 10 titles on the Top Ten list were removed from the location where the challenge took place. On average, OIF finds that 10% of challenges result in the removal of the book.
• The First Amendment guarantees all of us the freedom to read. The Library Bill of Rights, a foundational document of the library profession, states libraries should challenge censorship and present all points of view, for the enlightenment of all people.
• For the first time in Top Ten history, a book was challenged solely because of its author. Bill Cosby’s Little Bill series was challenged because of sexual allegations against the author.
• Challenges continue to target LGBT material, and there is a rise in “sexually explicit” as a challenge category. The rise in sexually explicit challenges suggests that parents are transitioning from “helicopter parents” to “Velcro parents.”
• The Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles the Top Ten list by documenting public challenges (challenges that are reported in the media), as well as censorship reports submitted through the office’s reporting form, in our database.

Why We Read

Barn’s burnt down-

Now

I can see the moon.

                                      - Elizabeth Alexander

Lorraine Berry says if hell exists, for her, it's a place without books. Books have provided her the chance to live others' lives, become a better global citizen, and helped her cope with loss. The biggest gift is relief from stress and fear. Read how books helped her through Hurricane Irma. 

Busy start to October!

Energy Yoga
Sundays:  October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29,  4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Introduces basic yoga and meditation techniques for beginners. Bring a yoga mat or towel and wear loose comfortable clothes. Open to adult patrons only.

Storytime for Babies
Tuesdays:  October 3, 24, 31.   10am. – 10:30am
Join us for a special themed story times for babies. Ages 0 to 2. 

Storytime for Preschool
Tuesdays:  October 3, 24, 31. 10:30am -11am
Join us for a special themed story times. Story times, songs, fun for toddlers, preschoolers, and their parents. Ages 2 and above.

Chess Club  
Wednesday October 4 - 6 pm – 7 pm
Club members will learn strategies, game variations and perhaps have the opportunity to participate in a tournament. Ages 5 and above.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Group Classes
Thursdays: October 5, 12, 19, 26. 4pm -- 6pm.
Group classes in conversational English as a Second Language (ESL) for beginner to intermediate English speakers. First come, first served. Free and open to the public. Ages 18 and up. No textbooks needed.

Water Works Story Time
Friday, October 6. 10:30am – 11:30am.
Join us for a water-themed preschool story time presented by Fulton County Water Works. 

Young Artists 
Saturdays:  October 7, 21. 4pm – 5:30pm.
Learn the basic techniques of drawing, painting, elements of art, principles of design, and cartoon/anime’ drawing.

Elementary Coding
Saturday, October 7. 11am – 12pm
Learn the basics of elementary school age coding with professional technical trainers. Parent must remain in the building. Laptops are welcome.  Ages 7 to 10 only. Limit first 30. Registration required. Register in person at Patron Services desk or call 770-360-8897. Sponsored by Youth Technology Learning Center (YTLC).

Nothing could be worse...

"Nothing could be worse than the fear that one had given up too soon, and left one unexpended effort that might have saved the world." — Jane Addams

All Libraries Closed September 25

Monday 25 September for staff development

Long Live the King

Steven King celebrates his 70th birthday today. BookRiot has compiled 70 quotes to commemorate the day. Here's a few to get you started-

“There is no bad time for good news." -Cujo

“A short story is a different thing altogether – a short story is like a quick kiss in the dark from a stranger.” -Skeleton Crew

“Come to a book as you would come to an unexplored land. Come without a map. Explore it, and draw your own map… ”—Hearts in Atlantis

“When all else fails, give up and go to the library.”—11/22/63

“If I have to spend time in purgatory before going to one place or the other, I guess I’ll be all right as long as there’s a lending library.”

Key West Kitties

In the midst of devastation, there's a little good news. Ernest Hemingway's Key West estate survived Hurricane Irma - along with 54 descendants of his 6-toed cat, Snowball. “When we started to round up the cats to take them inside, some of them actually ran inside knowing it was time to take shelter,” said the curator of the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum.

The Border: A Double Sonnet

Alberto Ríos, 1952

The border is a line that birds cannot see.
The border is a beautiful piece of paper folded carelessly in half.
The border is where flint first met steel, starting a century of fires.
The border is a belt that is too tight, holding things up but making it hard to breathe...

Continue reading The Border here and find more poetry to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (through 15 October).

Get a Clue!

   

Visit Country Living for a Halloween party theme 

that's as clever as Nancy Drew! Decoration ideas and 

recipes are included-

Man Booker Shortlist

       

    

Longlist for the National Book Award

Dark at the Crossing by Elliot Ackerman

The King is Always Above the People: Stories - Danial Alarcón

Miss Burma - Charmaine Craig

Manhattan Beach - Jennifer Egan

The Leavers - Lisa Ko

Pachinko - Min Jin Lee

Her Body and Other Parties: Stories - Carmen Maria Machado

A Kind of Freedom - Margaret Wilkerson Sexton

Sing, Unburied, Sing - Jesmyn Ward

Barren Island - Carol Zoref

Winners will be announced 15 November!

Florida Libraries

Here's how Frank Collia, Principal Librarian at the North Tampa Branch says libraries are helping their communities. “What I've seen out here is that we're providing a sense of normalcy and stability for people,” he said. “Just a place to go and relax, and maybe not think about the storm for awhile. You know, come in and charge your phone, get on social media and talk to your friends. We're here to try to alleviate as much stress as possible. We're providing free long-distance faxing, if needed. We have access to WiFi here in the library in a nice air-conditioned environment, which a lot of people still don't have.”

Here's how you can help Florida libraries. The Florida Library Association has set up a Florida Libraries Disaster Relief Fund at http://www.flalib.org/.

Wednesday

Libraries are scheduled to reopen tomorrow - Wednesday 13 September.

Virtual Book Club

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System (AFPPLS) is joining the virtual book club world, in collaboration with the American Library Association’s Book Club Central, a new online platform for reading resources, including recommendations, expert book lists and other content for book clubs and their readers.  Award-winning television and film actor, producer, designer, library supporter and avid reader Sarah Jessica Parker is partnering with the ALA to serve as the Honorary Chair of Book Club Central.

Learn more at http://www.afpls.org/news/2210-afpls-launches-virtual-book-club-sign-up-

Libraries Remain Closed

Libraries Remain Closed Tuesday, September 12

All branches of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System will remain closed Tuesday, September 12. All programs and meetings are cancelled. Please continue to monitor Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency (AFCEMA) and Fulton County Government for weather related news and information and updates on closings. All fines related to overdue books during our closure will be forgiven. Be safe!

Libraries Closed Monday, September 11

All libraries will be closed tomorrow, Monday, September 11. You can monitor our social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) by following @afpls for updates on weather-related closings. You may also follow Fulton County Government and Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency (AFCEMA) for updates on Hurricane Irma and Fulton County closings. Stay safe and be prepared!

Hurricane Harvey Book Club

Second grade teacher Kathryn Mills 'was moved by pictures of many of her students on social media taking shelter in bathrooms and staircases. She was moved even more by the fact that many of them clung to books and were reading to pass the time while they waited out the worst of the storm.

With a return to school up in the air, Mills decided to harness all that educational energy and keep kids engaged in their reading and keep their minds off the storm.

She started an online book club. With a simple Facebook page, Mills created a space for parents and their kids to share photos and videos of them reading their favorite books while floods raged outside. They could offer each other support to keep going and, more importantly, give each other a reason to smile.

"The main purpose is just to bring some normalcy in the middle of chaos," she says. "A little sunshine in the middle of the storm." 

Read more about this project that has worldwide participation and kids reading for kids here.

10-16 September programs

Music for Preschool
Tuesday, September 12. 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Preschoolers and their parents are invited to attend entertaining and educational programs. Learn how music teaches your child early literacy skills, improves motor function and deepens the bond between preschooler and parent.

Teen Java Coding
Wednesdays:  September 13, September 27, October 18, November 1.  6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Learn basics of Java. Laptops welcome. Grades 6 and above. No younger siblings, please. Registration required. Limit first 30. Register at Patron Services desk or call 770-360-8897.

Teen Advisory Board (T.A.B.)
Saturday, September 16. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Teens from the community have an opportunity to have a voice to help plan for their library. A teen leadership opportunity for future college applications. Ages 12-18 only. 

New Landscape of College Admissions Testing
Saturday, September 16. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
The SAT now emphasizes reading and critical thinking while the ACT covers more math and science and emphasizes speed. The tests have never overlapped to this extent, but significant differences remain. Let's discuss the optimal strategy to minimize stress and get your kids ready to hit their best scores for scholarships and admissions. Teens ages 13+ and parents. No registration required.