This Just In

Thank you to everyone who made our book sale a success, from the Friends of Socastee Library volunteers who staffed the tables to the patrons who bought the books!

Speaking of books (how's that for a segue?), here are some highlights from our new non-fiction shelves:

• Southern Plate by Christy Jordan -- As someone trained to eat in the South, I can verify that these recipes are deliciously authentic. This book is unique in that it's divided into seasons: "summer days and family reunions," "the cooler days of fall," Christmas (its own eating season here), spring, and "family favorites."


• The Art of Comforting by Val Walker -- Practical, insightful advice on what to do and say during difficult times.


• Adam Smith: An Enlightened Life by Nicholas Phillipson -- According to Phillipson, Smith "saw himself as a philosopher rather than an economist and would never have predicted that the ideas for which he is now best known were his most important." A timely intellectual biography.


• Blur by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel -- Subtitle: "how to know what's true in the age of information overload." Required reading for anyone who reads websites, reads a newspaper, or watches TV.

Happy reading!

-Alan

Reminder: Patron Appreciation Day tomorrow!

...we can almost smell the delicious Cashua brewing, taste the succulent Benjamin's pastries, and hear Dennis Sergent's classical guitar.  

And what will our special, surprise book sale hold?  You'll have to come tomorrow to find out.  See you there! 

Patron Appreciation Day

Join us this Friday, December 10, for our annual Patron Appreciation Day. We will have treats from Benjamin's Bakery and coffee from Cashua Coffee all day, as well as a special book sale. In the morning we will have music from classical guitarist Dennis Sergent.

See you there!

Computer Classes Return!

I'm glad to say that computer classes are back on a regular schedule. If you or anyone you know need a course in the basics or just a refresher, join us Tuesday, December 7th, at 10:15AM for Computers for Beginners.
In this class we learn about the parts of a computer, practice using the mouse and keyboard, and learn about the Windows 7 operating system. No experience is necessary, but signup is required, so stop by the circulation desk or call today!

What's on the menu for Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, hands down. It has everything a holiday should, and nothing it shouldn't -- you get food, a day off, more food, time with family, and glorious leftovers without having to buy a single gift, send a card, or decorate. So I like it because it's probably the least-commercialized of the "major" holidays. But mainly the food.

That said, here are a few ways you can use your library to make the most of your Thanksgiving holiday:

• How to Cook a Turkey: and All the Other Trimmings -- Get the basics down first...
• The Healthy Hedonist Holidays -- ...unless you're doing something different. This is "a year of multicultural, vegetarian-friendly holiday feasts."
• Thanksgiving: the Biography of an American Holiday -- Get some background information about this uniquely American holiday's fascinating history.
• Thanksgiving: the True Story -- Don't forget something to read to the kids.
• A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving -- Finally, get something to watch...
• I Love Coffee! -- while you enjoy your after-dinner coffee.
  

Click on any of the titles above to request a copy in our catalog. Happy reading/eating!
-Alan

This Just In

Once more we have something for everyone. Take a look at a few of our latest non-fiction arrivals:

• Point, Click and Save by Rachel Gordon -- Financial tips from "Mashup Mom... a widely read blogger who combines high-and low-tech strategies from multiple sources to help readers achieve financial objectives."
  
• My Reading Life by Pat Conroy -- "Storyteller Conroy revisits a life of passionate reading. He includes wonderful anecdotes from his school days, moving accounts of how reading pulled him through dark times, and even lists of books that particularly influenced him at various stages of his life."
  
• College Access & Opportunity -- A guide to "promoting college enrollment and retention for those with the least support: first generation, low income, and/or rural students. It features more than 230 college profiles highlighting opportunities and incentives for under served students."
  
• Decision Points by George W. Bush -- "George W. Bush offers a strikingly candid journey through the defining decisions of his life while writing honestly and directly about his flaws and mistakes, as well as his accomplishments"
  
• You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know by Heather Sellers --"An unusual and uncommonly moving family memoir, with a twist that give new meaning to hindsight, insight, and forgiveness. The author is face blind--that is, she has prosopagnosia, a rare neurological condition that prevents her from reliably recognizing people's faces. Growing up, unaware of the reason for her perpetual confusion and anxiety, she took what cues she could from speech, hairstyle, and gait. But she sometimes kissed a stranger, thinking he was her boyfriend, or failed to recognize even her own father and mother..."

Happy reading!
-Alan

Universal Class

What do Business Accounting, Adobe Photoshop, Chakra Meditation, Dog Training, Parenting, the Civil War and Poetry Writing have in common?

Answer: they're all classes you can take for free in our new Universal Class database! Universal Class has hundreds of classes on these and many other topics. Each class is instructor-led (meaning that an actual teacher creates the content and answers your questions) and self-paced (meaning you complete the class at your own rate). A class consists of about 10 separate lessons, with quizzes to pass before proceeding to the next lesson. The classes do not count for college credit, but UC is an authorized IACET provider, so they do count for Continuing Education Units if they're required in your field.

But try them out for yourself! To get to Universal Class (and to all of our databases):

• Visit www.hcml.org
• Click "databases" in the middle of the screen
• Scroll down to Universal Class (near the end of the list, in alphabetical order)
• Enter your barcode # and PIN when prompted if accessing from home

A representative from UC will be here Thursday, 11/4, from 4:20pm to 6:00pm to demonstrate the database and answer any questions you have.

Happy learning!
Alan

New Art

If you've been in the library lately you may have noticed our recent exhibit from Seacoast Artist Guild. We've been fortunate enough to host a second large exhibit from an all-new set of artists.

To see some selections from the exhibit, visit our Facebook photos or Flickr page.

Some of our exhibiting artists include:

• Bonnie Berchielli -- "Bonnie Berchielli is an award-winning photographer with the Seacoast Artist Guild. She grew up in northern New Jersey and lived in Rockland County, New York, before settling seven years ago in Murrells Inlet. Photography is a special hobby for Bonnie and she feels honored to present her work here at the Socastee Library alongside so many accomplished artists and photographers."
  
• Deborah Broad -- "Deborah Broad was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. She studied fine art at the New York Phoenix School of Design and the Art League School in Alexandria, Virginia. She is represented in corporate and private collections worldwide. Broad was the recipient of the Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Award from the Pastel Society of America and her contributions have been recognized by The Artist Magazine."
  
• Diana Cochran Johnson -- "Diana Cochran Johnson has been taking photos since she was about twelve years old. Though her education veered into what she 'should' take instead of what she wanted...eventually passion won out. Though classically trained in B/W photography and darkroom techniques, she now feels the digital revolution makes it possible to take photography to degrees only dreamed of before."
  
• Yvonne Smoak Knight -- "Yvonne Smoak Knight grew up in the small town of St. Matthews, SC. She graduated from the University of South Carolina and is retired from the State of South Carolina. Since first signing up for an oil painting class in 2002, she has studied under numerous artists including Gloria Perkins, William McCullough, Betsy McDonald, and Mary Manos. Her award-winning art includes First Prize in advanced oils and her paintings have been displayed at Applewood, Mercy Hospice, Belin United Methodist Church, Calhoun County Museum, and the Orangeburg County Fair. She is a charter member of the Seacoast Artist Guild."
  

For more information about the exhibit or about any artist, please email us at the address listed above.
-Alan

This Just In

Here are just a few of our recent arrivals in non-fiction. Even after seeing these books every day, it's amazing how broad a spectrum they cover -- literally something for everyone!

• Growing up Laughing by Marlo Thomas -- Not just Thomas' memoir of her years in comedy, it also includes interviews with dozens of comic legends, including Alan Alda, Stephen Colbert, Billy Crystal, Don Rickles, Jerry Seinfeld, and many more.
  
• Getting it Wrong by W. Joseph Campbell -- Do you trust everything you read? These are "10 of the great misreported stories in American journalism," ranging from Murrow vs. McCarthy and the Bay of Pigs to Hurricane Katrina.
  
• Earth: the Book -- The follow-up to America: the Book from The Daily Show team.
  
• Knit Fix by Lisa Kartus -- A book that covers what other knitting books leave out: what to do when you drop a stitch, botch a pattern, need to change a finished pattern, and more.
  
• The Best American Comics 2010 -- This installment, edited by Neil Gaiman, is brought to you by the "Best American" series (Best American Short Stories, Essays, etc.) Recommended reading for this rapidly evolving art form!
  
• Our Patchwork Nation by Dante Chinni -- It's not as simple as red states and blue states, or urban and rural. Chinni identifies twelve community types that make up our nation. (Horry County? "Boom Town" with a side of "Evangelical Epicenter.")
  

Click any of the titles above to visit our catalog, where you can request a book to be held for you at the library. Happy reading!
Alan

Book suggestions for Young Adults

"Somebody Everybody Listens To" by Suzanne Supplee is a Young Adult novel about a recent high school graduate who wants to become a country music star. Retta Lee Jones is a talented singer, known for her beautiful voice in her small hometown, but can she compete in Nashville with all the other girls pounding the streets to stardom. Will she become "somebody everybody listens to," or end up going home defeated?
This newly acquired book is recommended for anyone interested in music and in chasing dreams. It can be found in the Young Adult section of the library.

Need a good book to get you in the mood for Halloween? Check out one of the novels on display in the Young Adult area. Among the titles are:
Doppelganger by David Stahler Jr.
Blood Beast by Daren Shan
The Ghosts of Kerfol by Deborah Noyes
Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber


Linda

Christopher Paolini

Fantasy fans: Christopher Paolini will be signing books at Market Common in Myrtle Beach Monday, October 25. Click here for event details.

If you're reading, re-reading, or would like to read Paolini's Inheritance Cycle, check out some of the formats we carry:

• Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr in print
• Eragon, the 2007 film version
• Eragon or Eldest on CD audiobook
• Eragon on Playaway(Never used Playaway? It's a self-contained digital audiobook -- just plug in headphones, no other equipment required!)

And, of course, this wouldn't be a library blog post without recommending some further reading! If you enjoy the world of Eragon and have already read Tolkien, try some of these other series that are great for readers of any age:

• Earthsea trilogy by Ursula K. LeGuin
• Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen by Garth Nix
• His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman
  

Happy reading!
-Alan

Mystery Book Club

This Monday, October 11, the Mystery Book Club will be discussing The Godwulf Manuscript and Robert B. Parker's work in general. Feel welcome to attend if you've read The Godwulf Manuscript or if you're a fan of Parker, Spenser, or mysteries in general.

Parker is often mentioned as the heir or even the equal to great detective novelists like Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and Ross MacDonald. Does he live up to the hype?* Join us Monday to find out or add your voice to the discussion! For more information about Parker's Spenser novels, check out this site: http://www.thrillingdetective.com/spenser.html.

We meet at 6:00. Hope to see you there!

-Alan

*My opinion: yes, kind of.

Banned Books Week

A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone. -Jo Godwin

It's here! Banned Books Week is our favorite time to celebrate those works which have been challenged, suppressed, protested, stifled, censored, restricted or, yes, banned.
Visit bannedbooksweek.org to see some of these titles -- you might be surprised to see one of your favorites on the list!

Why celebrate this week? The ALA explains it this way:

"Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States...
The books featured during Banned Books Week have been targets of attempted bannings. Fortunately, while some books were banned or restricted, in a majority of cases the books were not banned, all thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, booksellers, and members of the community to retain the books in the library collections. Imagine how many more books might be challenged—and possibly banned or restricted—if librarians, teachers, and booksellers across the country did not use Banned Books Week each year to teach the importance of our First Amendment rights and the power of literature, and to draw attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society."

Visit facebook to see more photos of our Banned Books display, or stop by the library!

-Alan

Word to the wise

I posted this junk email we received at the library because it's so cartoonishly obvious.


Needless to say, if you receive an email congratulating you for winning the "Microsoft World Lottery," and unsubtly asking you to open an attached file, please don't open it. :)

After the Spill

The Reader's Advisor has a list of books to read after the September 2 oil rig explosion (and, of course, the BP spill in April). Two of the titles here are:

• Oil on the Brain by Lisa Margonelli - Starting at a local gas station, Margonelli sets off to meet the people behind the pump, who lead her deep into the economics, politics, chemistry, and culture of petroleum. Along the oil supply chain, through the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the NYMEX oil market, she finds unexpected delights and troubling contradictions.
  
• The Prize by Daniel Yergin - The Prize recounts the panoramic history of oil -- and the struggle for wealth power that has always surrounded oil. This struggle has shaken the world economy, dictated the outcome of wars, and transformed the destiny of men and nations. The Prize is as much a history of the twentieth century as of the oil industry itself. The canvas of this history is enormous -- from the drilling of the first well in Pennsylvania through two great world wars to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and Operation Desert Storm.
  The cast extends from wildcatters and rogues to oil tycoons, and from Winston Churchill and Ibn Saud to George Bush and Saddam Hussein. The definitive work on the subject of oil and a major contribution to understanding our century, The Prize is a book of extraordinary breadth, riveting excitement -- and great importance.

Click on the titles to see our catalog and request a copy. Happy reading!
-Alan

Readers and e-readers

If you're an avid reader, at some point you've probably grappled with the issue of e-readers. Is it worth it to spend $200 or more on a gadget when you could be spending it on books themselves (or reading books free from the library)? Is reading a novel from a screen the same as reading from a page? Can you get away with reading trashy books on a Kindle since no one will see the cover? :)

The debate has been going on for years and may never be settled. I saw an article, though, with a slightly different perspective. Emma Silvers writes:

"Out of every argument I've heard in favor of e-readers -- no dead trees, portable research, "it's the future," etc. -- my least favorite might be the central point of the thing: the fact that it allows you to choose from thousands of books at any given time. I simply don't want that kind of potential for distraction. Would I have ever made it through any book by Herman Hesse if I'd had the choice, with a press of a button, to lighten the mood with a little Tom Robbins? Will anyone ever finish "Infinite Jest" on a device that constantly presents other options?"

The whole article is here at http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2010/09/02/why_i_wont_buy_ereaders/index.html and is worth a read. What do you think?

[For the record, I have an e-reader (Sony PRS-505) but pretty much only use it for public-domain titles I can download for free.]

-Alan

National Library Card Sign-up Month

Two days from now marks the beginning of National Library Card Sign-up Month. It's a great time to bring in your friend, neighbor, relative or child to get their very own library card! It'll be the smartest card in your wallet and it's the best deal in the County. For more information about getting a card, stop by the library, or call or email us with the info listed above.

If you already have a card (which will probably be most readers of this blog), check out the ALA's list of 52 ways to use your library card. You may have checked out books to read, but have you worked on your resume/browsed our cookbooks/asked an impossible question at the reference desk/looked at our sheet music?

-Alan

Free Family Movie

Join us this Saturday, August 28, 10:30AM for our Free Family Movie! We'll be showing Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.

If you like the movie, click here to request a copy of the book. (And if you can't make it Saturday, click here to request the DVD!)

-Alan

Back to school

"Throughout my formal education I spent many, many hours in public and school libraries. Libraries became courts of last resort, as it were. The current definitive answer to almost any question can be found within the four walls of most libraries."
— Arthur Ashe (1943-1993)

As kids prepare to go back to school, remember that the People's University is open year-round! Now is as good a time as any to use your public library to become a lifelong learner.

For starters, try our Modern Scholar series. (Click here for a list of titles.) These are mini-courses complete with a booklet and classes on audio CD taught by professors at top colleges. Topics range from film appreciation to religious history, the Civil War, and much more.

If you're interested in trying a course on the computer, visit our database page and click on "Learning Express Library." From there you can take interactive computer courses on Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and more. Learning Express Library also offers free courses on workplace skills, including business writing, resume design, and practice tests for various licensed occupations.

And, finally, you can always use a library computer to take a free course from Yale, MIT, or elsewhere. Happy learning!

-Alan

The Who With the What?

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was first published in the US a couple of years ago, but it was only recently that the series really became a phenomenon. (Click here to request the first title.) With a wonderful Swedish film adaptation of the book, and an American remake on the way, it seems like everyone wants to read Stieg Larsson!

Here's your chance to be ahead of the curve -- or to read something with a little less hype. Unbeknown to US readers, Henning Mankell has been writing suspenseful, addictive, hugely successful crime fiction for years now. In Sweden he's second only to Stieg Larsson in popularity, and there's a British TV series based on his detective Kurt Wallander, yet you can pick up a copy of his latest, The Man From Beijing, at the library today.

To read more about the Scandinavian [fictional] crime wave, click here. Otherwise, come check out Henning Mankell before everyone else does!
-Alan

Swimming with Sharks

So by now you've heard that Shark Week starts this Sunday (quick, cue the Jaws theme). I must have been about nine or ten years old when I first saw the movie and I can remember begging my mom to take me to Zach's Bay at Jones Beach that summer. Hey, in my mind I assumed that the tranquil waters of the bay were much safer than swimming in the ocean with man-eating sharks.

Fast forward 15 years... as a new transplant I quickly found out that treading water by the pier wasn't one of my more brilliant moves. My soon-to-be husband, safely hanging out on the pier, was yelling down to me (frolicking, carefree Kim), to get out of the water because he had spotted some sharks swimming around near where I was. I must have set an Olympic record for running through ocean waves to the shoreline!

Well, all's well that ends well. Still retaining all of my limbs and natural curiosity about sharks, I've become a big fan of Shark Week. If you would like to learn more about this oft misunderstood creature, check out some of the following books available at your Socastee Library:

Titles currently on display and ready to find a good home for 28 days include:
The Shark Almanac by Thomas B. Allen
Shark Trouble by Peter Benchley
Sharks of South Carolina by Charles H. Farmer III
Twelve Days of Terror: a Definitive Investigation of the 1916 New Jersey Shark Attacks by Richard G. Fernicola
The Encyclopedia of Sharks by Steve and Jane Parker
Sharks of the World by Rodney Steel

You can also check out a DVD copy of the original Jaws movie
along with the CD soundtrack or join us as

FREE tickets are still available for our "Sharks, Tails, and Teeth" Family Fun Night program featuring a guest speaker from Ripley's Aquarium for this Thursday, August 5th at 6 p.m.! Guaranteed to be an hour of fun for families with school aged children. Call us at 215-4700 for more information.

Impress your friends and family with your new found biting knowledge of sharks!

-Kim

Book Clubbers Welcome

Book clubs are wonderful. It is absolutely amazing to discuss a book with another person and get a totally different insight of the author's message. Of course, it is also comforting to find someone shares your excitement or who appreciates a certain passage beckoning you to take a trip down memory lane. How satisfying to recognize in someone else the anger the author made you experience! It is even redeeming to learn someone else thought a particular title was a total waste of time!

Another great benefit of being in a book club is discovering other books to read. Members are always sharing their latest find and advising one another if a certain title should be read before another one by the same author.

If you've never been part of a book club, you really should give it a try. In most cases, each member reads (or listens to) the same book and the facilitator prepares questions for discussion. I've yet to attend a meeting where we didn't get off-track from the book, but that's part of the fun too.

Socastee Library has several book clubs from which to choose. Each one is hosted by a library staff member. The most popular one is the one devoted to mysteries. Mysterious Mondays meets the second Monday each month at 6:00 in the evening. Last year, each monthly reading selection was set in a different country - and not a single one was written by James Patterson!

If the Book Fits Book Club is Socastee Library's eclectic reading group. Each month's selection is chosen completely without being limited to a certain genre and over the years a wide variety of books have been shared - from Pat Conroy's cookbook to the historical novel The Red Tent. The meetings are held the fourth Thursday at 6:00 p.m.

There is one Socastee book club which meets in the afternoon. It is devoted to southern fiction, but not limited to southerners. Recent reads have included The Prince of Tides, Ya-Yas in Bloom, and Sweetwater Creek. The meetings are held the third Wednesday each month at 1:30.

For each of these book clubs, the library staff stockpiles all the county library system's copies of the titles which are then made available for book club members to check out. At times we also borrowed books from Chapin Memorial Library as well as libraries around the country to provide enough copies for all interested persons.

Oh, one thing I forgot to mention.......book clubs always have food! Refreshments and coffee just go hand-in-hand with a good read. Like the commercial said - "Try it, you'll like it!"

The FroggyOne @ Socastee

Take a look at your library!

Check out our Flickr account at http://www.flickr.com/socasteelibrary.
You can see pictures of art displays, library programs, and more. The pictures are also on our Facebook page.

In other news, it looks like we'll be getting rain through the rest of the week and beyond. While this may wreck your beach plans, it's a great time to stop by the library and grab a few movies and a good book!

Adult Summer Reading Program

Have you entered the Adult Summer Reading drawing yet?
If not, be sure to pick up your Tic-Tac-Toe entry form at Socastee Library today and enter to win! All you need to do is fill in three across, three down, or three diagonally, and write your name and a contact phone number on the form. Just cut out the form and drop it in the entry jar at the library's main desk for your chance to win great prizes such as tickets to Le Grand Cirque, Carolina Opry, movies, and gourmet reading lover's baskets. Last chance to enter is Saturday, August 14, 2010. You must be age 18 or older to win. ~Sharon

Subject: Other

In our non-fiction section we have books about every subject, and some books that are a little tricky to classify. If you're in the mood for something different, try one of these unusual titles from our New Non-fiction shelves:

• Breakfast with Socrates by Robert Rowland Smith -- This book takes each part of a day--waking up, going to work, going to the doctor, cooking dinner--and tells what some of history's great thinkers have to say about it.


• The Secret Life of the Grown-up Brain by Barbara Strauch -- Good news! This book argues that "we have badly underestimated the middle-aged brain. We may lose some gray matter but we increase the white stuff that lets us process information faster. As the grown-up brain reorganizes itself, it creates powerful new systems that cut through complex problems to find unique solutions."


• The Upside of Irrationality by Dan Ariely -- This book tackles the age-old question of why we do irrational things, and applies it widely: Why can large bonuses make CEOs less productive? How can confusing directions actually help us? Why is revenge so important to us?


• Wrong: Why Experts Keep Failing Us And How to Know When Not to Trust Them by David Freedman -- The title says it all. How do we know whether to trust "scientists, finance wizards, doctors, relationship gurus, celebrity CEos, high-powered consultants, health officials, and more"?

Happy reading!

-Alan

New Art!

There's something new in the library! We're proud to be hosting a large exhibit by the members of the Seacoast Artist Guild. The exhibit can be seen all along the perimeter of the main library, surrounding the adult fiction, non-fiction, and periodicals sections.
There are many different artists and a variety of subjects and mediums. Exhibiting artists include:
Cindy Blanchard
Ron Blanchard
Sandi Blood
Woody Bower
Tom Britton
Mike Covington
Marcelle Cushman
Walter Cushman
Laverne Davis
Mary Dezzutt
Edna Fenske
Jim Gordy
Rose Perry

Come take a look today!

This just in! (new non-fiction)

At some point you may have used our non-fiction section before, to look up some facts, research for a school project, or read about a historical figure. But even if you're not a student or a researcher, there are plenty of things in NF that can help you exactly where you are now. The following titles are from our New Non-fiction section. Check them out if you:

• Are broke. Hot Broke Messes: How to Have Your Latte and Drink it Too, by personal finance columnist Nancy Trejos, tells how to "get your money situation under control in the present--and for the future."
• Are a teacher. Best Careers for Teachers from Learning Express Library explains how to make the most of your teaching degree, both inside and outside the classroom.
• Know someone in jail. Arrested: What to Do When Your Loved One's in Jail gives practical advice about how to help inmates with their defense, avoid bond scams and lawyer rip-offs, manage your money and time, and keep them out of jail in the future.
• Just need a laugh. Humor Me: An Anthology of Funny Contemporary Writing Plus Some Great Old Stuff Too, features favorite humorists like Steve Martin, David Sedaris, Garrison Keillor, and many more. (And don't we all?)

-Alan

Be a Friend!

Of the library, that is. The Friends of Socastee Library provide support to the library in a variety of ways. If you've taken your child to our Fall Festival or a Summer Reading Program event, eaten cookies on Free Coffee Friday, visited a Cultural Safari, or done just about anything else at Socastee Library, chances are you've enjoyed something provided by FOSL.

FOSL meets in our large meeting room the first Thursday of each month at 1:00PM. Why not drop by next Thursday and see if you'd be interested in joining the Friends or helping out?

-Alan

Grill Time!

It's hard to believe that it's not even officially Summer yet. It certainly feels like it already!
I love celebrating the warm weather by grilling out on a balmy late evening. It doesn't have to be all steak and potatoes, though. Check out some of these ideas:

• The Complete Fish on the Grill is full of recipes to introduce some new flavors to your grilling.
• Pizza on the Grill takes a favorite and makes it even better.
• Cooking Light: Grilling shows how to grill in a healthier way.
• Mario Batali's Italian Grill translates another cuisine to the grill.
• And, of course, if you are cooking a steak, you've got to try Bobby Flay's Boy Gets Grill.

(And while you're at the library, you might as well pick up some books to help you grow vegetables to grill, build a deck to grill on, and some background music to play!)

Alan

State Park Passports

Have you heard about the State Park Passport? It allows unlimited entry to all SC state parks for you and everyone in your vehicle. This can be quite a bargain when some parks charge $5 a person.

The two parks in Horry County are Myrtle Beach State Park and Huntington Beach State Park, but the passport is good at all 46 SC park locations.

Currently we sell a discounted pass for $40. The regular price is $50. Beginning July 1st, Horry County Libraries will no longer sell the discounted pass. So hurry in and get your pass from Socastee Library today!

Computers for Beginners

Calling computer novices! This Thursday, June 10, Computers 101 will be taught from 6:00-7:00PM in the computer lab. The class is first-come, first-served, and there is no signup.

If you're reading this blog, you may already have basic computer knowledge, but this is a great opportunity for your friend/neighbor/relative who would love to use the computer but has no idea how to get started. See you there!

Memorial Day

All Horry County libraries will be closed Monday, May 31, for Memorial Day.

Memorial Day commemmorates the men and women who died while in military service. You can read more about the holiday from the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

Your library can also help you learn more about our military history and the stories of our soldiers. Try some of the following:

• The War, Ken Burns' documentary series telling the stories of people in four ordinary towns and showing how World War II affected every area of life. Available as a DVD series, book, and audiobook on CD.
• Band of Brothers, historian Stephen Ambrose's story of the E Company of the US Army's 506th Regiment.
• Patriotic Holidays of the United States explains the history and development of Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and many other celebrations.

-Alan

Family Movie

Looking for a way to beat the heat (and/or the rain, if it's anything like today)? Join us this Saturday, May 29, at 10:30 for our monthly Free Family Movie.

We will be showing Aliens in the Attic. Watch as the Pearson kids try to save their vacation home from a group of invading aliens!

Get to Work!

Do you know anyone who's looking for work? Could your own resume use some modernizing or redesigning? Join us next Wednesday, May 19, at 1:00PM to Get to Work.

Get to Work @ Your Library is a program for job-seekers. You can use our computer lab to fill out online job applications, work on your resume, browse job listings, file for unemployment, and do anything else job-related. Librarians and volunteers will be available to help with any of the above. If you don't need any help, you can just use the computers for your job search.

If you have any questions, give us a call at 215-4700 or just ask at the desk. See you there!

Get to Work @ Your Library

First and third Wednesdays, every month

1:00-4:00PM

Socastee Library's computer lab

Computers 101

Calling computer novices! This Monday, May 17, Computers 101 will be taught from 10:15-11:30AM in the computer lab. The class is first-come, first-served, and there is no signup.

If you're reading this blog, you may already have basic computer knowledge, but this is a great opportunity for your friend/neighbor/relative who would love to use the computer but has no idea how to get started.

Our next session of Computers 101 will meet Thursday, June 10, 6:00-7:00PM.

LOST

Sunday, May 23 is the final episode of ABC's Lost, my (Alan's) favorite show. It's the kind of show that may not make sense at first, and has to be watched in order, and sometimes even rewatched, to get the full effect.

Now, this is where the library comes in: did you know we have Lost Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season 4, and Season 5 on DVD? Click on any of those links to request a copy. Just a single hundred-hour marathon and you'll be up to speed before the finale!

-Alan

How Libraries Stack Up

If you read this blog often, you've heard about the wide range of programs and materials we offer. But a new report from OCLC helps to put libraries' value in perspective. Did you know that:

• 12,000 public libraries (including HCML) offer free Wi-fi? That's 1,000 more locations than Starbucks and over 10,000 more than Barnes & Noble and Borders.
• Every day libraries lend out more DVDs than Netflix, and a million more DVDs than Redbox?
• Every day U.S. libraries circulate as many materials as FedEx ships packages worldwide?

Read the full (2-page) report at: http://www.oclc.org/reports/pdfs/214109usf_how_libraries_stack_up.pdf

If you're interested in helping us provide these services, visit our monthly Friends of Socastee Library meeting at 1:00 on Thursday, May 6. And tell a friend!

-Alan

Blockbuster Movies and the Books Behind Them

Entertainment Weekly's cover story last week is about the summer's biggest movies. You might be surprised to learn how many of them have literary beginnings. A book lover knows that a novel captures a richness and depth that's missing from most movies, and a movie lover knows that a great film can bring source material to life in surprising new ways. So be both: start now and you can read these before opening day!

• Twilight: Eclipse -- based on the insanely popular books that need no introduction.
• Eat, Pray, Love -- based on Elizabeth Gilbert's bestselling memoir, is "a celebrated writer’s irresistible, candid, and eloquent account of her pursuit of worldly pleasure, spiritual devotion, and what she really wanted out of life."
• Sex and the City 2 -- the sequel to 2008's big hit continues with the characters from Candace Bushnell's series of novels.
• Robin Hood -- read one of the many iterations, for kids or for adults.
  

-Alan

Food for Thought -Again

I was asked once again to write another blog. I must have done an ok job with first blog if I am being asked to write a second one. Who knows?? The 1^st blog that I wrote (well, the one and only blog I wrote) was about food – sort of. If you remember correctly I like food. I enjoy making food and I definitely enjoy eating food. We here at Socastee Library even have a patron who brings in cookies every other week. That’s right, every other week; 4 dozen delicious chocolate chip cookies get delivered to our branch. I swear the patron has to own stock in chocolate chips. How am I to lose weight working here?? I have NO will power.

So, In keeping with the “food” theme, I enjoyed reading another book: “Crepes by Suzette” by Monica Wellington. Yes, another children’s book about food. This one is about a young girl named Suzette who sells various types of crepes day and night throughout Paris. The best part about Crepes is the different varieties you can make plus they are very easy to make. My personal favorite crepe, of course, is with chocolate chips and whip cream. The possibilities are endless of the different crepes you can make. I am hungry just typing this blog. Funny how I mentioned the chocolate chip cookie lady and now I am talking about chocolate chip crepes-I guess there is a theme here. The book also included the recipe which convenient. No, I am not including the recipe here; you have to check out the book yourselves! (Bon Appétit): Below are my thoughts on crepes:

Can eat and enjoy morning, noon or night!

Refrigerate unused batter for up to 2 days.

Eat them with chocolate and whip cream (DELICIOUS!!).

Prepare them ahead of time and eat them later.

Eat them with chocolate and whip cream (it bears repeating).

Share w/your friends and family or NOT.

One More Stop!

This coming Thursday, at 12:00 noon, we will host our final Cultural Safari of the year. We'll be touring France's Provence region and the French Riviera. It's sure to be a beautiful, relaxing trip.

Cultural Safari will resume in January 2011. In the meantime, all are welcome to join one of our four bookclubs. (See the online calendar here.) And watch this space for upcoming details about our Adult Summer Reading Program.

Finally, if your wanderlust can't wait until next January, why not take a trip yourself?

-Alan

National Library Week

This is it! The most important week of all.* National Library Week is April 11-17 this year, and it's a great time to check out** the myriad resources your local library has to offer.

If you already use the library to check out books, did you know that we also offer thousands of DVD and VHS movies, both feature films and documentaries?

If you check out movies from the library, did you know we have music CDs and audiobooks?

If you bring your children to Preschool Storytime and Family Fun Nights, did you know that we also offer programs for adults like Cultural Safari, computer classes, book clubs and more?

In addition to the above, we also have art displays by local artists, free public computers with Internet access, over 50 magazines and newspapers for adults, teens and children, board games and puzzles, community information, job search and resume help, contests, clubs for knitting, Mah Jong, gardening, and much more.

And if you already use all of those library resources, remember that NLW is a great time for one other thing: spreading the word. If you have a friend, relative or neighbor who can benefit from something the library offers -- and that's everyone -- bring them with you next time!

-Alan
*Though I may be biased.
**Pun intended.

New Non-fiction

Our non-fiction section covers everything under the sun. Just pick a Dewey number and browse for a few minutes and you're sure to find something fascinating!
New arrivals this week include:

• Slow Death by Rubber Duck by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie - This book about "the secret danger of everyday things" suggests how to protect yourself from harmful chemicals found in common objects.


• Difficult Personalities by Helen McGrath and Hazel Edwards - Learn to deal with frustrating and annoying people -- or make yourself easier to live with.


• Guantanamo, USA by Stephen Schwab - Long before Guantanamo Bay made headlines, Guantanamo was causing controversy and making history as America's first foreign naval base after the Spanish-American war.


• The Diabetic Pastry Chef by Stacey Harris - Over 200 recipes for sweet treats that anyone can enjoy.


• The Top 50 Questions Kids Ask by Susan Bartell - Answers that will please both parents and children for questions about fear, money, religion, boundaries, and more. We have a pre-K - 2nd grade edition as well as a 3rd - 5th grade edition.
  

Happy reading!
-Alan