Oh, Snow! Library Closed Tuesday

Due to expected inclement weather, all Fulton County Government buildings, including all libraries, will be closed Tuesday, January 29, 2019. All scheduled meetings will be rescheduled to a later date. The library may be closed, but our digital library is always open! Visit www.afpls.org/digitallibrary and download books, music, movies and more to keep you entertained on this cold winter day!

New Look - New Name

"FULTON COUNTY, GA — Fulton County kicked off 2019 with a new image, as it unveiled the first update to its logo since 1989.

This update, which was adopted in October 2018 by the Fulton County Commission, includes a redesign of the county's oak tree logo featuring fresh design elements and a new color palette emphasizing blue and orange. The logo and rebranding efforts were developed by county staff.
The new logo keeps the county's long-running symbol of the oak tree, which is a "symbol of strength, growth and dependability," the county said. The oak symbol dates back several decades and has seen many iterations. The tree is now surrounded by an open circle emphasizing Fulton County government's inclusiveness and transparency, with curves inside the circle denoting forward momentum.
Over the coming months, the new branding will be phased in across the organization, in signage, printed materials, and all other visual communications. The redesign will also inform elements of the redesign of Fulton County's new website."

Additionally, the new logo will be used for the library along with the legal name of Fulton County Library System.

Anime Club

NESO Library Anime Club at Ocee Library

Sunday. February 3. 2:30pm – 4pm

Join Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library’s Anime Club! Teens meet to discuss anime and manga, share fan art and fan fiction. Occasionally there may be snacks and videos! This program is by teens for teens. Ages 12-18. Registration required. Please email ellen.baxter@fultoncountyga.gov with participant's name, age, and a contact phone number to register.

Teen Author Visit

Spoken Word Poetry

Saturday February 9. 3pm - 4pm

Antonia Williams, 17 year old published author will perform her spoken word poems, "Roots Untold" and "Magic Treasure Box".  Other performers will join her for this open mic Black History event.  All ages welcome.

February for the Little Ones

Baby Story Time

Fridays: February 1, 8, 15, 22. 10:15 am – 10:45 am

Join us for a special themed story time for babies. Ages 0 to 2 with caregiver.

Preschool Story Time

Tuesdays: February 5, 12, 19, 26. 10:30am – 11am

Join us for a special themed story time for preschoolers.  Ages 2 to 4 with caregiver.

Music for Preschool

Tuesdays: February 12. 11am – 11:40 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.  Preschoolers ages 2-4 with caregivers only.

small, Small World

Tuesdays: February 19. 11am – 11:40pm
Grab your passports and join us as we travel the globe as part of the Johns Creek Art Center’s newest learning adventure. small, small World is a multi-sensory learning experience for children ages 2 to 4 and their caregivers. Participants embark on a 40-minute journey to far-off locales where they learn about children around the world through music, movement, art, and literature.

Get Moving @ Ocee

NESO Line Dancing with Jean Chen at Ocee Library
Tuesdays, February 4, 11, 18, 25. 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Join Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library’s line dancing group! Adults and teens. 

(Some of the Friends have been to this class - lots of fun! Give it a try!)

Dojo Karate Class
Saturday February 23. 11am – noon
A basic karate class for all ages. Learn self-control, balance, respect, discipline, and concentration. Register at 770-360-8897 or with aaron.brown@fultoncountyga.gov. All ages welcome.

Yoga & Meditation

Ocee library currently offers yoga/mediation classes 6 days a week! Join us for a fit body and mind. Bring a yoga mat or towel and wear loose comfortable clothes. Classes are open to adult patrons only - except for Family Yoga.

NESO Won Yoga at Ocee Library
Fridays, February 1, 8, 15, 22 – 12:15 p.m.
Join Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library’s Won Yoga class!

Energy Yoga
Sundays: February 3, 10, 17, 24. 10:15 am – 11:15 am
Physical exercises to open and clear energy. Utilizes Qi Gong and meditation techniques.

Yoga & Meditation
Mondays: February 4, 11, 18, 25. 11am – noon
Introduces basic yoga and meditation techniques for beginners.

Sahaja Yoga Meditation
Tuesdays: February 5, 12, 19, 26. 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
A relaxing afternoon meditation for beginners. 

Family Yoga (formerly Mommy & Me Yoga)
Wednesdays: February 6, 13, 20, 27. 11:30 am-noon
Yoga for families! Open to parents, grandparents, and preschool patrons.

Energy Yoga

Wednesdays: February 6, 13, 20, 27. 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Physical exercises to open and clear energy. Utilizes Qi Gong and meditation techniques. 

Core YogaThursdays: February 7, 14, 21, 28. 11am – noon
A new yoga class on Thursdays.

NESO Tao Meditation at Ocee Library
Thursdays: February 7, 14, 21, 28. Noon – 1pm
Join Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library’s relaxing meditation class.

Tutoring

Don't fall behind! Come to the library for help with your studies-

FAST Afterschool Tutoring

Thursdays: February 7, 14, 22, 28. 4:30 pm - 6:30pm

FAST tutors are high school students who can help younger students with English/language arts, math, sciences, and social studies.  Elementary and Middle schoolers welcome.

CAST Math Tutoring                 

Sundays: February 3, 10, 24. 2pm

Tutors will provide math instruction. Bring an assignment or a math topic that you are struggling with. First come first served basis. No registration required. Ages 8 and above

Python

Basic Python Programming for Middle School Students

Saturdays: February 2, 9, 16, 23. 1pm – 2:30pm

Learn basic programming in Python, a powerful programming language used in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. Learn through exercises and projects. No previous experience required. Please bring a laptop with Google Chrome installed. Registered participants are expected to attend all four classes.  For grades 6 to 8.  Register at www.teach-technology.org/python-registration.

MLK

"In a real sense, all life is interrelated. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be."

Book to Screen 2019

You'll have to wait a while for some of these adaptations but Publishers Weekly has a list of the 10 most anticipated movies. Among their top picks are Pet Sematary, The Goldfinch, and Artemis Fowl (3D/IMAX). Visit Publishers Weekly for cast information and release dates!

Text 4 Help

The school district, with the help of Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis, has established an anonymous crisis texting line for teens.

The program, called Text 4 Help, can help students reaching out for advice on issues ranging from academic stress to depression to substance abuse. The program includes Alpharetta, Banneker, Cambridge, Chattahoochee, Johns Creek, Langston Hughes, Milton, Riverwood, Roswell and Tri-Cities High Schools.

Through the program, teens can connect with a licensed clinician who will respond within three minutes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Students just need to text their message along with their school’s unique code to the number 1-844-823-5323. Texts are routed through a cloaking server to ensure anonymity.

“[Teens] certainly live in an electronic world and are comfortable with that medium, but I also know many of them have reticence about coming forward and sharing stuff with parents and others about the challenges that they’re facing,” Ellis said.

Friends Book Clearance Sale

                                                Inventory Clearance Book Sale

Friday, February 22. 2 – 5pm

Saturday, February 23. 10am – 4pm

We are depleting our remaining book inventory to prepare for renovations. Sales help support library programming throughout the year. Memberships also available. 

Please attend a public meeting Thursday 28 February 6:30-8pm to see plans and learn more about Ocee renovations from the design/build team!

Library After Dark - Civic Dinners at Ocee

Friday, February 8. 6pm -8pm

Civic Dinners follows a simple structure, with 6-10 people gathering over a meal to discuss a specific topic. The host follows a simple guide with three big questions, allowing everyone equal time to share with one voice at a time. This format is designed to avoid debate or dominant voices, and instead encourages listening and understanding of different perspectives. Teens ages 14 and above. Volunteer hours are available. Great experience for future college applications. 

Book Club

NESO Library Book Club at Ocee Library
Tuesday, February 5 at the Ocee Library. 11am – noon
Ocee Library will host Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library Book Club. New book club members are encouraged to attend! Resource Room. Adults and teens.

Tax Prep Help

Foundation Tax-Aide

Wednesdays: February 6, 13, 20, 27. March 6, 13, 20, 27. April 3, 10.

3pm – 8pm

Saturdays: February 2, 9, 16, 23. March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30. April 6, 13.

9:30am – 4pm

East Roswell, Milton, and NE Spruill Oaks libraries are also scheduled for Tax-Aide.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides free, in-person tax assistance. For more info, please visit www.aarp.org/taxaide. Registration required. Call 770-360-8897

Ocee Library Renovation Meeting

Thursday 28 February 6:30-8pm!

The design/build team will be at Ocee library to offer a 'sneak peek' of upcoming renovations at Ocee library. Attendees will have the opportunity to have their questions answered and to offer comments. This will be the final meeting before construction begins. 

61 for 2019

With the new year comes new books! Huffington Post has put together a list of 61 titles they're most looking forward to! The list includes drop dates and a synopses. Here's a few of the more intriguing titles:

Mouthful of Birds by Samanta Schweblin

Bowlaway by Elizabeth McCracken

A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story... by Sonia Purnell

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong 

Mostly Dead Things by Kristin Arnett

Library Closing

All Atlanta-Fulton Public libraries will be closed Monday 21 January 

in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Since 1994, MLK Day has been designated as a day of service - "a day on, not a day off". The day of service is intended to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, create solutions to social problems, and move us closer to Dr. King's vision of a "Beloved Community."

 How will you make a difference?

Teen Advisory Board (T.A.B.)

Saturday January 26.  3 pm - 4 pm

Teens from the community have an opportunity to have a voice to help plan for their library.  Ocee’s T.A.B. meets to discuss program ideas, new books and movies, and other community outreach possibilities. Teen leadership opportunity for future college applications. Ages 12-18 only. 

Last Thursdays at AHS

Ocee Library Outreach –
Atlanta Humane Society at MansellThursday: January 31, 2019

On the last Thursday of each month the library takes their newspapers to the Humane Society. If you have donations of towels and blankets, bring them to library and staff will deliver them, too. 

AHS has taken in some of the German Shepherds you may have seen on the news.
If you'd like to donate, volunteer, or adopt please contact or visit:
Atlanta Humane Society - Mansell Campus

1565 Mansell Rd, Alpharetta, GA 30009
(404) 875-5331 / www.ahs.org

Art at Ocee

Cosplay Workshop and Discussion with Cosplay for a CauseSaturday, January 19. Noon – 1pm
Ocee welcomes Cosplay for a Cause to discuss the craft of cosplay and how cosplay can help give back to the community. Costumes encouraged!

Young Artists

Saturday, January 26. 4 pm – 5:30 pm

Basic techniques of drawing, painting, elements of art, principles of design, and cartoon/anime’ drawing.

Art Night with Johns Creek Arts

Wednesday, January 23. 6 pm – 7 pm

Join us for a free art workshop with Johns Creek Arts. Adults only. Registration Required. Register at the patron services desk or call 770-360-8897.

Career Ready:

Social Media Professional Training
Saturday, January 26, 2019
3:00 PM-5:30 PM

Social media recruitment and hiring is at an all-time high percentage. More than Linked-In. Optimize the power of all your social media profiles to showcase your unique skills, give employers a reason to hire you, and obtain a fulfilling job. This is a must attend event for all career ready teens and adults.

The Peace of Wild Things

The Peace of Wild Things

by WENDELL BERRY

When despair for the world grows in me 

and I wake in the night at the least sound 

in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be, 

I go and lie down where the wood drake 

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. 

I come into the peace of wild things 

who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. 

I come into the presence of still water. 

And I feel above me the day-blind stars 

waiting with their light. For a time 

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Saathvik Needs Your Help Saturday

Saathvik Rukkannagari, a student at Chattahoochee High school is working towards Eagle Rank - the highest rank a Scout can hold. As part of his final Eagle project, he's collecting gently used/new books for the Books for Africa organization ( https://www.booksforafrica.org/ ) as well as assembling  school supply kits (spiral notebooks, pens, erasers, sharpeners, pencils, crayons, etc) for them.

If you have books or school supplies to donate to the project, please bring them by Ocee library THIS Saturday 19 January between 2pm and 4pm.

Do You Know Where the Escape Tunnel Is?

For a young Billy Connolly, the library was his salvation. He discusses 
his love of literature and how it has accompanied him through his adult life. 
The Scottish comedian and actor also gives his favorite book 
recommendations. You can find Connolly movie's in the AFPLS catalogue: 
"The Last Samurai", "Lemony Snicket's...", "Brave", "Mrs Brown", 
"What We Did on Our Holiday"and more!

Swearing

BookRiot wondered what book readers would use to be sworn in to public office. The article's author chose "Pale Blue Dot" by Carl Sagen - 

“Look again at that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every ‘superstar,’ every ‘supreme leader,’ every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there—on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.”