Soc Talk

Complete your TicTacToe for prizes!

2011-07-25T07:59:00.000-07:00

Have you been looking for a good non-fiction book to read to complete your form for Adult Summer Reading? If you like animals you'll probably enjoy Ever By My Side by Dr. Nick Trout. Think of vet Nick Trout as an updated, urban James Herriot. His first book, Tell Me Where It Hurts, takes you to Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston where he is a staff surgeon while this latest book is memoir about his growing up with animals. Both are filled with the joys and tribulations of owning pets and how pets make our lives richer. I listened to the books on CD (yes, they count on your forms) while traveling and truly enjoyed the behind the scenes look at veterinary medicine and how relationships with animals shape our lives.

Remember your TicTacToe entry forms for Adult Summer Reading are due by Monday, August 15. There are lots of great prizes this year and you can enter multiple times - every time you read three more books to complete a new form. Just drop the form off at the main desk at Socastee Library!
~Sharon

One World, Many Stories

2011-06-01T13:12:00.000-07:00

Registration for our 2011 Summer Reading Program begins Thursday, June 2! Come by the library on or after June 2 to pick up a packet and register kids for the Program. More information about the Program:

Children Ages 5-11
Events Thursdays at 1:30PM - advance tickets required!

June 9 - Kickoff with Magician Tim Sonefelt
June 16 - Zelnick the Magician
June 23 - Bruce Weaver Puppets
June 30 - Sharks, Tails & Teeth with Ripley's Aquarium
July 7 - Horry County Fire Department
July 7 - Last day to turn in completed Reading Logs & get tickets for Awards Day
July 14 - Awards Day for children who turned in a completed Reading Log by July 7.

Reading Log for ages 5-11: Record and add up time spent reading. When you reach 10 hours or more, turn in your log by July 7 to receive a reading medal.

Children Ages 3 & 4
Events Tuesdays at 11:00AM

June 7 - Bird stories with Red Robin
June 14 - Cow stories with the Chick-fil-a cow
June 21 - Bat stories with Celebrations Theatre
June 28 - Police stories with Sgt. Kegler
July 5 - Bear stories with Ms. Kim & Ms. Ameka
July 5 - Last day to turn in completed Reading Logs & get tickets for Awards Day
July 12 - Library stories with Ms. Darby and Ms. Ameka; Awards Day

Reading Log for ages 0-4: Read or listen to stories. Parents may list titles and record time reading. When you reach 10 hours or more, turn in your log by July 5 to receive a reading certificate.

Teens Ages 12-17
Read for at least 10 hours and complete three book reports of one page each. Turn them in by Thursday, July 14 to get tickets to the Awards Day party on Thursday, July 21 at 1:30PM. Everyone who turns in the completed Reading Log and 3 book reports will receive a certificate and medal.

Other notes: for all ages, please print your name clearly in the reading logs and book reports, so that we know what to put on your certificate.

Also, due to overcrowding and safety concerns, all programs at 1:30 on Thursdays are ticketed events. Parents and caregivers may pick up tickets to the following week's program after they drop off their child at the program. Due to overcrowding, no strollers are permitted in the meeting room or hallway during the program.

Have questions? Call or email us as listed at the top of the page. Hope to see you in the library soon!

Going Somewhere?

2011-05-24T13:36:00.000-07:00

Just in time for summer, we have some new books about travel and vacations. Try some of these books and who knows where you'll end up? Click the links below to see a title in our catalog:

All aboard: the complete Noth American train travel guide -- Why take a train? Read this book to find out (and to find out how).

The 100 best affordable vacations -- This book eschews traditional vacation hot spots in favor of interesting, out-of-the-way destinations. Sleep in a tree house in Oregon, hear cowboy poetry in Nevada, or learn to make jewelry in North Carolina.

Finally, if, like me, you're not going anywhere this year, take a look at these travel books. Fodor's Amsterdam & the Netherlands, Lonely Planet's Discover New York City, and DK's Hawaii and Washington, D.C. feature beautiful full-color photographs on every page. Almost as good as being there!

-Alan

New Book Friday

2011-05-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

Bossypants by Tina Fey -- Amazon calls this book "short, messy, and impossibly funny." It's part memoir, part comedy routine, and laugh-out-loud funny throughout. Visit the catalog to request a copy!

-Alan

Privacy in the news

2011-04-26T07:09:00.000-07:00

It seems like a new story about privacy violations appears every day. We've found out that:

Apple iPhones and iPads constantly track your location -- and then store the information on your device in a file anyone can easily open. (And it's not just Apple devices.)

The information you post on Facebook is stored indefinitely and sold to advertisers. (Note: this article is from last year, but Facebook's privacy issues remain.)

Even if you don't use Facebook or an iPhone, your personal information can become less than personal even after shopping at the grocery store.

Your information is out there in some quantity whether you like it or not. But the good news is that you have the ability to take charge of your own privacy. Visit privacyrevolution.org for more details.

And be sure to join us next Tuesday, May 3, at 6:00pm for a presentation on privacy today. It's necessary information if you use a computer, have a phone, work at a job, or have a bank account!
-Alan

New art exhibit by Peggy Thibodeau

2011-04-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

We're pleased to present a new art exhibit by local artist Peggy Thibodeau in the non-fiction and periodicals area of the library. Peggy, also known as "the Sidewalk Chalk Prophet," has one artist's statement: "Oh, just whatever pleases!"

For more information about Peggy, visit http://www.peggyart.com/. For pictures of the exhibit (and of past exhibits), visit our www.facebook.com/socasteelibrary or www.flickr.com/socasteelibrary.

National Library Week-For the Mind, Body, & Soul

2011-04-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

If you have stopped into any of our libraries over the past few days or have been visiting our blog, Facebook, or Twitter accounts, you know that we have been celebrating National Library Week. However, we are also celebrating another important event, National Volunteer Appreciation Week. It is during this special week that we get the opportunity to formally recognize the efforts provided by our volunteers in serving the library, its patrons and staff, and the Socastee community.

I'm sure you have heard that libraries have the power to transform. But, did you ever stop to think how volunteerism can transform the individual? Community service can be a beneficial and enriching experience in which one is able to pursue personal growth. Harriet Naylor once said that "...volunteering can be an exciting, growing, enjoyable experience. It is truly gratifying to serve a cause, practice one's ideals, work with people, solve problems, see benefits, and know one had a hand in them." Our many volunteers come from all walks of life; men and women, teenagers and adults, from lands abroad and native folks. Yet they are drawn to Socastee Library for one reason-to serve! From April 2010 to the present, our volunteers performed almost 5,000 hours of service carrying out such tasks as shelving, collating handouts, registering children for the Summer Reading Program, advocating on the library's behalf, shelf-reading, mending books, weeding the library gardens, and assisting in the Friends Gift Shop.

We extend genuine and heartfelt gratitude for all of our volunteers' efforts and dedication in helping create a true community library. Volunteers are truly an invaluable resource!

As we draw to the close of National Library Week and National Volunteer Appreciation Week, please keep in mind that "today's libraries can help you discover a new and exciting world," filled with great opportunities for the mind, body, and soul. To get you jump started, be sure to check out The 100 Best Vacations to Enrich Your Life and The 100 Best Worldwide Vacations to Enrich Your Life, both by Pam Grout. These handy guidebooks provide succinct descriptions about exciting "volunteer vacations" as well as resources for additional information.

"We've GOT to make noise in greater amounts! So, open your mouth, lad! For every voice counts!" ~Dr. Seuss's Horton Hears a Who

-Kim

National Library Week - What to Read?

2011-04-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

As a lifelong fan of reading, I can't say enough about libraries. As a child, my favorite summer days were the ones when the bookmobile would visit the small town in which I lived. How gratifying to see the same joy on the faces of my customers at Socastee Library!

When I first began working in the public library, I had been a school librarian for 30 years with the last 24 of those years in elementary schools so my knowledge of adult books was rather limited. While I could easily recommend books by Clive Cussler as an author of great suspense novels and Michael Palmer for medical mysteries, I frequently found myself receiving reader guidance rather than offering it.

Thanks to the patron who insisted I read by Transfer of Power by Vince Flynn as well as the lovely lady who sang Kristin Hannah's praises as she returned Between Sisters. I hope this week you will treat yourself to a trip to Socastee Library. I'll be one of the workers at the circulation desk and will be glad to help you find a great read. - Debbie

National Library Week - About Reading

2011-04-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

You sometimes hear authors being described as "writer's writers." These are the writers who can pick the perfect word or turn a phrase like no one else, writers whom other writers read out of admiration, or out of jealousy. They're not always the most popular writers, but are among the most respected and lauded.

Although he's certainly a great writer with a style all his own, I think of Pat Conroy as a "reader's writer" -- someone who understands exactly why we read, and writes exactly that. My Reading Life is Conroy's love letter to the books and people who shaped him. Going through My Reading Life, you don't just learn why Gone With the Wind or Look Homeward, Angel are great books, you learn a little bit about the kind of person reading these books makes you. If you're a Conroy fan, My Reading Life will enrich your experience of all his books, but it's worthwhile for any lover of reading.

During National Library Week we celebrate all that libraries offer. We often say that the library has something for everyone, but the deeper truth is that the library has something for every person that you'd like to be. As Conroy illustrates, reading transforms a person, and the tools to "create your own story" are right here!

Click here to request My Reading Life in print, large print, or as an audiobook read by the author.

-Alan

National Library Week - Library Workers Day

2011-04-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

What I really like about Socastee Library is the professional, friendly, and courteous staff. They are all so willing to help people find books that interest them and find answers to questions. It truly is a great place to visit when you know such welcoming people are inside. Remember them on National Library Workers Day on Tuesday, April 12. One of my favorite characters is Odd Thomas of the book of the same name by Dean Koontz. In fact, if you like him in the first book, you'll enjoy the rest of the series about him. He's the kind of guy you wish was your best friend. Now, he does have some different (or odd!) talents, but those just make the story interesting. Give him a chance to be your friend by reading the book! ~Sharon

National Library Week - A World of Possibilities for Life Enrichment

2011-04-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

Libraries are so inviting! There’s something for everyone at your local public library! What better place to spend a quiet afternoon in a cozy corner working on your laptop, or reading from a good book you’ve just found in the fiction section? Are you the type who likes to catch up with the latest news? If you are, you can find a variety of local newspapers and news-related magazines at the library. Why bother to pay for them when you can look at them in the library for free? Would you like to learn about a foreign country, begin learning a new language, perfect your talent for baking, drawing, sewing, or perhaps make your new pet behave better? You can find this information at the library. And while you are there, you can sign up for a computer class or any number of other programs being offered at the library. You can also check out movies, music cds, Playaways, and use the computers to access the Internet or do research.

Children, too, have access to thousands of children’s books, children’s dvds, cds, reference materials, and children’s computers. At the Socastee Library programs are designed especially for children; programs such as Baby Lapsit, Preschool Storytime, and a monthly Saturday Family Movie- snacks included. And then there’s the annual Summer Reading Program….all for free.

Membership at the library offers a World of Possibilities to all who walk through the door. Why not visit regularly and see for yourself how you can enrich YOUR life. While you are visiting the Children’s Room you may want to look for some of the books chosen by the Association for Library Services to Children for their 2011 list of Notable Children’s Books for younger readers. Three titles from the list are included below: We Are in a Book! By Mo Willems. Elephant and Piggie discover that someone, the reader, is looking at them in this hilarious, interactive story about the joys of reading and being read. Geisel Honor Book In the Wild By David Elliott. Illus. by Holly Meade. Candlewick. A joyful collection of brief poems paired with dynamic woodblock prints celebrates favorite animals from every continent. Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes. By Salley Mavor. Illus. by the author. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Familiar and lesser known nursery rhymes, illustrated with superb needlework and appliqué, create a charming dollhouse of a book. Find the complete list at: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb/index.cfm

-Linda

National Library Week, pt. 1

2011-04-10T10:04:00.000-07:00

"Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation." -Walter Cronkite

National Library Week began in 1958 as a way to celebrate and appreciate our nation's libraries. This year's theme is "Create your own Story @ your library," and we'll have some special blog posts throughout the week about our own library stories. So check back throughout the week! In the meantime, here are a few titles that any library lover will enjoy:

This Book is Overdue! How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson -- We're here to help.

Library: An Unquiet History by Matthew Battles -- A surprising and lively history of libraries, from Alexandria to the present day.

Free For All: Oddballs, Geeks and Gangstas in the Public Library by Don Borchert -- You'd be surprised...

-Alan

This Just In

2011-03-29T14:29:00.000-07:00

Every day at the library we see people poring over the shelving carts -- books that have just been returned and are waiting to be shelved. What makes these books so special? If someone else just read it, it might be worth another read. It could be a hot title ready for another checkout, or a classic that's stirring new interest, or a book with seasonal tips. For whatever reason, we gravitate to the popular. To that end, these are a few of the in-demand new non-fiction books. These books had people waiting on them the moment they arrived at the library, so get in on the action and click on a title to request a copy for yourself!

Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell -- The Baltimore Sun said, "Vowell could make a trip to the DMV interesting," so see what she does with the remarkable history of Hawaii.

Against All Odds by Scott Brown -- The autobiography of Massachusetts Senator and rising political star Scott Brown.

Every Day by the Sun by Dean Faulkner Wells -- This memoir of the Mississippi Faulkners includes "pioneers, nobel and ignoble war veterans, three never-convicted murderers, the builder of the first railroad in north Mississippi, the founding president of a bank, an FBI agent, four pilots (all brothers), and a Nobel Prize winner" who you may have heard of!

Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein -- This book describes "the dark side of pink and pretty" and ponders how "girlie-girl" culture may be impacting our daughters.

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Lemmon -- The incredible, inspiring story of Kamila Sidiqi, who became the sole breadwinner for a family of five sisters after her father and brother were forced to flee Kabul -- with nothing more than needle and thread.

Happy reading! -Alan

Last Month of Safari 2011

2011-03-09T08:57:00.000-08:00

Three more destinations! If you haven't made it to Cultural Safari yet this year, it's a great way to enjoy a fascinating journey without leaving home. Or, the library at least. This month we're going to:

Florence - March 10 : Visit the cradle of the Renaissance in a "tour of the city through the eyes of its artists, architects and poets.
London - March 17: Rick Steves takes us all across London, from St. Paul's Cathedral and the British Museum to the British Library and the London Eye.
Australia - March 24: Visit the Australian Alps, Tasmania's glacial lakes, and the primeval rainforest at Lamington.

All Safaris start at 12 noon and include light refreshments. Hope to see you there!

Alan

Reading up on the Oscars

2011-02-28T13:46:00.001-08:00

Now that the Academy Awards have all been given out, it's time to do some catching up! You can always request DVDs of any of the movies by searching our catalog, but did you also know that fully half of the Best Picture nominees were based on books? See below:

The King's Speech - based on the book of the same name by Mark Logue
127 Hours - based on the true story (!), Between a Rock and a Hard Place, by Aron Ralston
The Social Network - also based on the true story The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich
True Grit - based on the classic western novel by Charles Portis
Winter's Bone - based on the 2006 novel by Daniel Woodrell

Happy reading!

Alan

Not too late to celebrate!

2011-02-17T10:44:00.001-08:00

The weather outside is just beautiful and I'm sure that many of our avid patrons and visitors are enjoying the first signs of beach weather (at least for a day in February). However, it's not too late to be part of our celebration of Library Lovers' Month.

You still have 11 more days to enter our Library Lovers' Gourmet Gift Basket Drawing. For every 3 books (or magazines, or audiobooks) you check out, you'll receive 1 ticket entry into the Gift Basket Drawing. The more you check out, the more entries you'll receive. The last day to enter is February 28th.

Also, be sure to get a kiss or a hug (of the chocolate kind) at the Circulation Desk! Fill out a paper heart letting staff know what you love about your library so that we can display it on our Wall of Hearts.

We still have quite a few librarian themed books available for checkout. My suggestions would be "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger and "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova.

Happy reading! ~Kim

Coming soon...Library Lovers Month!

2011-01-29T08:43:00.000-08:00

Break out your pink and red clothing...February is just a few days away and that means that it's time for our month long celebration of National Library Lovers' Month at Socastee Library!

All month long be sure to enter our Library Lovers Gift Basket Drawing. Adults, each time you check out 3 books during February, you get a free entry to win the Gift Basket Drawing! Check out 6 books, get 2 free entries! Enter as many times as you can by close of February 28. The winner will be notified March 1.

On Friday, February 11, we will be hosting our Library Lovers' Appreciation Day. Join us for free coffee, snacks, music, and Bundles of Romance Book Sale, all starting at 10 a.m. Local classical guitarist, Dennis Sergent, will be performing from 10:30 a.m. until 12 noon. Don't miss out on the fun all month long as we give out hugs & kisses (of the Hershey's chocolate kind) at the Circulation Desk!

You can "love" your library by joining our Friends of the Socastee Library organization, donating your time to help keep our shelves clean and orderly, donating used books, or by advocating on behalf of your local library.

Be sure to check out our display of library and librarian themed books and add your comments about why you love your library to our famous Wall of Hearts!

See you then,

Kim

2011

2011-01-01T08:24:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!
This time last year (has it already been that long?) I wrote about getting organized, starting a new hobby, going back to school, or finding a job.
This year we have something new--you may have heard us talking about Universal Class before, but it's really a perfect tool for anyone looking to pick up a new skill, sharpen their mind, learn something out of the ordinary, or generally better themselves in the new year.
You can learn Accounting and Airbrush Tanning, Writing and Yoga (sorry, no "Z" classes!). See an A-Z list of all classes here.

To log on to Universal Class:

Visit www.hcml.org and click "databases" in the middle of the screen
Scroll down to "Universal Class" at the bottom of the page
Enter your barcode and PIN if accessing from home
Your first time in UC, create a new username and password. After that, log in to pick up where you left off.

Enjoy!

-Alan

This Just In

2010-12-17T12:19:00.001-08:00

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!

2010-12-09T12:04:00.001-08:00

...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

2010-12-05T14:24:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-12-02T12:50:00.001-08:00

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?

2010-11-18T09:57:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-15T09:16:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

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

2010-11-01T14:29:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-25T09:34:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

"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

2010-10-14T10:45:00.000-07:00

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 Brising r 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

2010-10-08T09:23:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-27T11:23:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-22T07:50:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-14T09:27:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-03T09:42:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-18T11:43:00.000-07:00

"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?

2010-08-10T07:14:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-30T07:47:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-22T11:48:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-07-15T10:08:00.001-07:00

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

2010-07-11T17:51:00.001-07:00

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

2010-07-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-07-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

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)

2010-06-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-06-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-06-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-07T14:28:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-29T09:16:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-24T14:07:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-05-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

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.

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

LOST

2010-05-04T09:27:00.001-07:00

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

2010-04-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-27T13:05:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-22T16:38:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-04-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-12T13:26:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-29T12:38:00.000-07:00

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

The FroggyOne Ribbits

2010-03-23T08:34:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine a world without libraries? I shudder to think of such a possibility for libraries have always played an important role in my life. As a child in a very small S. C. town, I remember my excitement the day the bookmobile was scheduled visit. Years later when my hometown rated a small branch in the Aiken-Bamberg-Barnwell-Edgefield Regional Library System (SC), I was a constant customer. In high school I was a member of the Library Club, at college I worked as a student assistant in the college library, and the summer after my sophomore year, I served as a library intern in the ABBE system. How appropriate it was one week to ride the bookmobile route as a librarian-in-training and see that same joy I’d felt years ago on the face of others.

The dictionary defines a library as a place set apart to contain books, periodicals, and other material for reading, viewing, listening, study, or reference. But it is so much more. It’s a refuge for many – a place where fears and hardships can be temporarily forgotten as well as the place where solutions can be found, where a newcomer can feel ‘at home,’ a second home to someone whose home life is unhappy. It’s a place to stay in touch with the world through newspapers and the Internet. A library can be a child’s first step towards recognizing there’s a big, big world around them, a calm place to complete an assignment, the location of a special program to enhance your life, the opportunity to see a movie when your wallet is wearing thin, an island of sanity in a crazy world.

So when you’re having one of those days when it seems you’re not making a difference and all the questions seem to be more than a little off-beat and no one seem to appreciate your efforts, remember you are part of a very vital institution of our society. As Germaine Greer said “Libraries are reservoirs of strength, grace and wit, reminders of order, calm and continuity, lakes of mental energy, neither warm nor cold, light nor dark. The pleasure they give is steady, reliable, deep and long-lasting.”

Free Gardening Workshop-All About Orchids

2010-03-22T11:29:00.000-07:00

Oncidium Splendidum...Rhynchostylis coelestes...try saying that 10 times fast!

Did you know that there are over 20,ooo species of orchids and that they come in every color combination that you can think of? And, contrary to popular belief a black orchid does not exist.

You can find out more amazing facts and everything else you can possibly think of about this flower by joining us on Thursday, April 1st at 11 a.m. at the Socastee Library. This free gardening workshop will feature guest speaker, Ralph Billeter and he'll be here to answer your questions. He will also have many of his own personal orchids on display.

Can't make the workshop, then be sure to check out some of the following books about orchids:

"300 Orchids: Species, Hybrids, and Varieties in Cultivation" by Jane Boosey
"Easy Orchids: Simple Secrets for Glorious Gardens-Indoors and Out" by Mimi Luebbermann
"Growing & Displaying Orchids" by Wilma Rittershausen
"Growing Orchids is Fun" by Albert P. Hollingsworth
"Miniature Orchids" by Steven A. Frowine
"Orchid Fever" by Eric Hansen

The Socastee Library Garden Club would love to have you as a member! Join them for their monthly meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 1st. Share tips with fellow gardening enthusiasts and help make the gardens of your library beautiful!

-Kim

Upcoming Destinations

2010-03-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

We had a great time touring China today in Cultural Safari. The program for this year ends in April, so be sure to accompany us on our next few destinations!

Thursday, March 18, we'll celebrate a belated St. Patrick's Day by touring West Ireland with Rick Steves.
Thursday, March 25, special guest Debi McKenzie will give a presentation on "Laughing Away Stress.
Thursday, April 8, saxophonist Shenole Latimer will be here to explain "What's All That Jazz About?"
Thursday, April 15, we'll visit Athens and the Peloponnese, and
Thursday, April 22, we'll have our last Safari of the year in beautiful Provence.

All Cultural Safaris meet from 12:00 noon to 1:00PM. Ask a library staff member if you have any questions. We hope to see you there!

-Alan

Spring Cleaning

2010-03-10T15:00:00.000-08:00

Spring is almost here, and maybe you're ready for some spring cleaning like I am. Did you know that the library has lots of resources to help you clear the clutter and get organized? You can check these out at the library or request them through our catalog:

Throw Out Fifty Things by Gail Blanke -- Like the title says, "Real Simple" columnist Blanke shows people how to throw out 50 things that will help liberate them from the physical and mental stuff that clutters their lives.
Your Garagenous Zone: Innovative Ideas for the Garage by Bill West -- Find out how this room known for clutter and mess can be put to good use.
One Year to an Organized Life by Regina Leeds -- If you're serious about getting organized, this book offers a week-by-week plan that covers everything from your closets to your finances.
Organizing Solutions for People With ADD by Susan Pinsky -- This book provides, with plenty of visual examples, tips on organization for adults with ADD.

For more titles, search our catalog for "home organization" or browse the shelves at 648.8. Happy organizing!

-Alan

Amazing Facts - just for fun

2010-03-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

Mental Floss has an Amazing Fact Generator that's guaranteed to entertain and enlighten for hours. Visit it here: http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/
If you're interested in more from this fun magazine, check the periodical shelves at Socastee Library! Click here to see a list of all magazines and newspapers at Horry County libraries.
-Alan

Computer Classes & Tips

2010-02-28T09:01:00.000-08:00

Computer classes continue in March! We are offering Computers 101 and 102, so it's a great opportunity to get a refresher. And if you have a friend who needs the basics, be sure to let them know that March is a a good month to get started. We will continue in April with another session of Computers 101 and a class on Microsoft Word.

Computers 101 - Introduction to Computers: Wednesday, March 10, 1:00-2:00PM. Learn the basics of Windows and the parts of the computer. No experience required! There is no signup, and the class is first-come, first-served.
Computers 102 - Files and Folders: Monday, March 22, 10:15-11:30AM. This class goes into more detail about using a computer, including creating, saving, and printing files. You must sign up for this class on or after March 1.

Also, did you know that the library offers books about computers? Click the following links to see books about computer basics, using Facebook, email, and webpage design.

-Alan

Live Music & Much More at the Library!

2010-02-20T08:15:00.000-08:00

Well, just a few more days left in February and do you know what that means? You still have time to come in during Library Lovers' Month to enter our drawing for our gift basket giveaway. "How do I enter," you ask. Simple, for every three books you check out, you'll receive one ticket entry into the drawing for the gift basket. The more you check out, the more entries you'll have! If you are our lucky winner you will be notified on March 1st to pick up the basket filled with a library lover's dream...books, candles, chocolates, lotions, and yes, even a Socastee Library tote bag!

What's more to love about your Socastee Library this month...

On Thursday, February 25th, Socastee Library will be hosting a Customer Appreciation Day. Join us for live music with accomplished pianist, Mike "Crazy Fingers" Floyd. He will entertain you from 10 a.m. until 12 noon. Also stop by between 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. for some sweet treats, as our way of thanking you for your patronage.

Be sure to check out some of our books about libraries and librarians and fill out one of our paper hearts telling us why you love your library!

Yes, Virginia, there is a lot going on at the public library!

-Kim

New Releases

2010-02-17T15:43:00.000-08:00

Books are flying off the shelves here at the library, and it can be hard to get your hands on a copy of a hot title like The Lost Symbol or The Help. If you'd like to read any of these new bestsellers, just use our catalog to request a copy or ask a staff member to put you on the list.

But did you know that you can look up and request books before they're released? These are a few future-bestsellers that have been recently ordered. Request them today and be the first to read them!

Lowcountry Summer: A Plantation Novel by Dorothea Benton Frank -- sure to be in high demand

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris -- the latest installment of the Sookie Stackhouse series (and basis for HBO's True Blood)

Deliver Us From Evil by David Baldacci -- another thriller from the author of Absolute Power, Hour Game, Divine Justice, and many others

Burnt Mountain by Anne Rivers Siddons -- author of Outer Banks, Sweetwater Creek and others

There are many others, so visit our catalog and get searching! As always, ask a staff member if you need help or have any questions.

-Alan

New Destinations and Library Lovers

2010-02-11T10:44:00.000-08:00

We had a great time visiting Bulgaria in today's Cultural Safari. Be sure to join us next Thursday, 2/18, as we tour Alaska, and 2/25 as we visit the Alps of Austria and Italy. We meet at noon on the second, third, and fourth Thursdays of the month, January-April. Cultural Safari is the easiest way to travel!

Also, February is Library Lovers' Month. Every three books you check out gives you a chance to win a wonderful Library Lover gift basket. And each Friday morning in February we have fresh-roasted Cashua Coffee and cookies for our patrons. Don't miss out!

Socastee Library Garden Club

2010-02-03T12:50:00.000-08:00

"The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses." ~Hanna Rion

34 days and counting into 2010... Have you started a new hobby just yet? If not, perhaps the Garden Club may be just what you are looking for.

The Socastee Library Garden Club, formed in April 2006, provides fellowship, fun, and a forum for exchanging tips for all local green thumbs and gardening enthusiasts! Meet new people that share your love of gardening and the great outdoors.

Members of the Garden Club help to maintain the flowerbeds and courtyard area of the Socastee Library. Past events have included workshops, guest speakers, video presentations, and several day trips to local parks and nurseries.

If you are interested, please stop by the first Thursday of every month at 11:30 a.m. for the Socastee Library Garden Club's monthly meeting. We hope to see you there!

"Take thy plastic spade,
It is thy pencil; take thy seeds, thy plants,
They are thy colours."
~William Mason, The English Garden, 1782

-Kim

Groundhog Day

2010-02-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

Groundhog Day is tomorrow! As always, there are a few ways your library can help you enjoy the day:

Read Don Yoder's end-all book on the subject
Read your child Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather
or, alternately, Gretchen Groundhog, It's Your Day!

Or, my personal favorite, sit back and relax with a classic.

-Alan

Teen Program

2010-01-28T12:11:00.000-08:00

It’s “Twilight” Time

A program for Teens

Teens, join us in the Socastee Library Meeting Room on Tuesday evening, February 9, 2010, for the romantic and suspenseful story of Bella and Edward .

Movie is based on the novel by Stephanie Meyer. Rated PG-13.

5:30 – 6:00 (Photo Op) photos taken with stand-up characters from the movie – bring your camera!

Play a game of movie-related trivia.

6:00 – 7:30 – Movie, refreshments, door prize

Call the library -843-215-4700 for more information and to sign-up for this program.

Linda

J.D. Salinger

2010-01-28T11:20:00.001-08:00

J.D. Salinger died yesterday of natural causes at the age of 91. He was most famous for writing The Catcher in the Rye, the iconic, much-beloved and often-challenged book that later spawned the entire YA genre. His second-most claim to fame was his multi-decade reclusiveness after Catcher in the Rye became a huge success.

I won't go into more detail about Salinger, since lengthy obituaries can be found all over the web (CNN, Time), but I would like to recommend some of his lesser-known works. If you've only read Catcher in the Rye, or, if Catcher didn't appeal to you but you'd like to try Salinger again, his short stories are very different, yet still wonderful. HCML has copies of Franny and Zooey and Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters available.

-Alan

Upcoming Computer Classes

2010-01-27T16:30:00.000-08:00

Here are the computer classes offered in February:

Friday, February 12, 1:00-2:00PM, we will be offering Internet 301: Introduction to the Internet. You'll be able to learn the history of the Internet, the difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web, and how to surf the web safely.

Thursday, February 18, 10:15-11:30AM, we will be offering Computers 101: Introduction to Computers. In this class, you will learn about the parts of the computer, including the CPU, monitor, mouse, and keyboard. You will also learn how the basics of Microsoft’s Windows operating system.

Wednesday, February 24, 6:00-7:00PM, we will be offering Computers 104: Maintaining Your Computer. You'll learn how to extend the life of your computer and keep it running smoothly. This class explains easy computer maintenance and includes tips for upgrading and recommendations for free software.

Signup for these classes begins Monday, February 1st. See you there!

-Alan

Art display - Picture knitting

2010-01-21T11:21:00.000-08:00

Socastee Library's favorite textile artist is returning! This is the third year that we've exhibited works by Picture Knitter Mayan Ward. Mayan knits portraits, landscapes, and conceptual works, and we are proud to show an all-new collection for the next three months.

The exhibit will be available for viewing in a week, beginning Thursday, January 28. In the meantime, you can enjoy Mayan's work at http://www.pictureknitting.com/.

How to get tax forms online

2010-01-19T14:06:00.000-08:00

Finding the tax forms you need can sometimes be a hassle, and each year both federal and state governments and printing and distributing fewer copies of paper forms. This year South Carolina is drastically reducing the number of forms it sends out, all of which means: you may need to find your forms online! If you've never done this before, there are just a few simple steps.

Federal Tax Forms

Visit http://www.irs.gov/ in your web browser.

Click the words "Forms and Publications" near the top-left corner of the page.

There are a few ways to find forms. Under the "Download forms and publications by" heading, click "Form and instruction number."

You can search by product number or title (see picture). If you know you need a 1040A, choose product number, enter "1040A," and click "find." If you don't know the form number, choose Title, enter what you know (i.e., "moving expenses), and click "find."

Click on the results to open and print or save your form.

South Carolina Tax Forms

SC forms work the same way: start by visiting http://www.sctax.org/.

On the left side of the screen, click "Individual Income." Then click "Forms."

Then, on the right side of the screen, click "Individual Income Tax" to see all related forms. (You can also choose other types of forms -- see picture.)

Click on a form number to open, print or save a form.

-Alan

New storytimes!

2010-01-11T08:35:00.000-08:00

This year there are a couple of changes in children's program times.

Preschool Storytime, for children ages 3-5, now meets Tuesdays at 11:00AM.
Baby Funtime, for babies up to 24 months, now meets the first and third Wednesdays at 11:30AM.

Although the times have changed, Preschool Storytime and Baby Funtime are still the same wonderful programs of songs, stories, and crafts that so many parents and children enjoy. Other HCML libraries have also changed Storytime dates and times, so check our online calendar for a complete listing.

-Alan

2010

2010-01-06T08:57:00.000-08:00

Twas the week after New Year
We faced with no fear
and all through the library
many readers did tarry.
Staff were bustling about
Checking in and checking out
Helping patrons find books
And information to boot
At the computers, taking looks
For patrons they root.
Our programs are fresh
with patrons interests they mesh.
Socastee Library is open to all
For staff, service doesn't pall.
Wishing patrons a good year,
They were all full of cheer.

~Sharon

Cultural Safari returns!

2010-01-05T08:53:00.000-08:00

The long-awaited Cultural Safari is finally back, beginning Thursday, January 14, at 12:00 noon. Bring a bag lunch or enjoy our sweets and coffee as we journey around the globe.

Next Thursday we kick off with New York: First City of the World. This program "explores the dramatic, inspiring, and fast paced culture & history of New York," as told "through the eyes of its artists, poets, architects, and most notable citizens." Then on January 21 and 28 we continue with Rome and India.

Cultural Safari meets from 12:00-1:00PM on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Thursdays of the month, January-April. This year we'll visit some unexplored destinations and try some different things along the way, so we hope you'll join us!

-Alan

2010 at your library

2010-01-01T07:24:00.000-08:00

With each New Year, you can't help hearing talk about resolutions. Either you or those around you are making goals and deciding that this is finally the year that I _____, or maybe you roll your eyes at the annual resolution-makers and decide not to mess with perfection!
Whether you've made a resolution or you just have a goal you'd like to work toward this year, your library can help you:

Find a new job. Or Make Job Loss Work for You, with this book that promises to help you "get over it and get your career back on track."
Pick up a new hobby. Take up knitting, woodcarving, or learn to play the piano.
Get organized. Organization expert Erin Rooney Doland can show you how to Unclutter Your Life in One Week.
Learn to cook. You could try Rachael Ray's no-repeats Year of Deliciously Different Dinners, or try out Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.
Go back to school. You can practice the SAT in our Learning Express database, and learn about Paying for College Without Going Broke.

Click any of the links above to find the books in our catalog or request a copy. And for the ain't-broke-don't-fixers, you can always sit back and enjoy a resolution-free year with a bestseller or watch the first five seasons of Lost.
-Alan

Don't forget!

2009-12-21T12:27:00.000-08:00

...all Horry County libraries will be closed Thursday - Sunday, December 24-27 for Christmas. Socastee Library will reopen Monday, 12/28 at 10:00AM. All libraries will also close at 5:00PM until January 2, 2010.
Happy Holidays!

2009's Best Books

2009-12-15T09:11:00.000-08:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year: that's right, time for year-end best-of lists. Here are a few titles that appeared on multiple "Best Books of the Year" lists. Links to the full lists are at the bottom of this post:

The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann. Publishers Weekly says: "In this classic adventure tale, New Yorker writer Grann—who gets winded climbing the stairs of his New York City walkup—follows in the footsteps of early–20th-century Amazon jungle explorer Percy Fawcett, who disappeared along with his son on a 1925 expedition. Grann expertly and energetically weaves the story of Fawcett's explorations with that of his own."

Half-Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls. The New York Times says: "In her luminous memoir, “The Glass Castle,” Walls told of being raised by eccentric and unfit parents. Now, in a novel based on family lore, she has adopted the voice of her maternal grandmother, Lily Casey Smith — mustang breaker, schoolteacher, ranch wife, bootlegger, poker player, racehorse rider and bush pilot. The result reanimates a chapter of America’s frontier past."

The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson. Amazon editors said: "The Girl Who Played with Fire is a break-out-in-a-cold-sweat thriller that crackles with stunning twists and dismisses any talk of a sophomore slump. Fans of Larsson's prior work will find even more to love here, and readers who do not find their hearts racing within the first five pages may want to confirm they still have a pulse. Expect healthy doses of murder, betrayal, and deceit, as well as enough espresso drinks to fuel downtown Seattle for months."

Full lists:

Publisher's Weekly

New York Times

NPR (a slew of lists, including best memoirs, best book club books, best mysteries and more)

Amazon's Editors' Picks and Customer Favorites

What about you? If you've read anything new this year that you think stands above the rest, leave a note in the comments section.

-Alan

Local Holiday Events

2009-12-11T11:57:00.000-08:00

A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together. -Garrison Keillor

If you still have time after attending all of Socastee Library's programs, there's still a lot to do along the Grand Strand over the next few weeks:

The Sun News has a Christmas Countdown list here, with upcoming events.
If you feel like travelling, Sciway.net has a statewide list of events.
Check out WMBF's Holiday Helper, with all sorts of information about the season...
...and WPDE has a list of holiday parades in the area.
There are also lists of events from the cities of Myrtle Beach and Conway.

For a full list of HCML's December programs, click here.

-Alan

Holiday Book Clubs

2009-12-01T07:32:00.000-08:00

Before the holidays kick into high gear, take a little time off to enjoy one of our fun and relaxing Holiday Book Clubs.

Monday, December 14, at 6:00PM, we will be discussing The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog by Dave Barry. The book is a nostalgic, insouciant crowd-pleaser describing a Christmas pageant gone awry in 1960.

Wednesday, December 16, at 1:30PM, we will be discussing The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore, which Publisher's Weekly says " is enough to make even the most cynical Scrooge guffaw."

Check at the Circulation Desk for copies of either book, and check our online calendar for more events!

-Alan

Ralph, Walter, Marley, and the rest of the dog pack

2009-11-13T12:46:00.000-08:00

While most of us still probably haven't even purchased our turkey and trimmings for Thanksgiving Day, myself included, the cooler weather and arrival of new holiday books has me humming "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas."

October through December has to be my favorite time of year! As any of my co-workers can tell you I absolutely welcome the cold weather. I know, I know...I am probably in the minority, but to me Autumn and early Winter always meant boots, turtlenecks, and long wool skirts. I love the nip in the air, the crunch of dried leaves under my feet, and hot apple cider. Ahh, sweet memories!

Anyway, while enjoying the Wednesday off I finally got the chance to begin my holiday reading. Angus (the very spoiled Schnauzer/Terrier mix) and I cuddled up on the couch together to read "The Christmas Dog" by Melody Carlson. While many of you have enjoyed reading about Marley and the infamous Walters (both Barry's and Kotzwinkle's) I would suggest you take a quiet afternoon to get acquainted with Ralph.

Although Ralph may be your ordinary stray dog, Carlson's heartwarming story reminds us of the extraordinary companionship between humans and their canine counterparts. This story is the perfect way to spend a few hours tucked under the covers of a wool blanket for a chilly November afternoon. I love Ralph and I'm sure Angus would enjoy sharing a biscuit or two with him as well. Carlson has delivered yet another classic Christmas story with enough cheer and good will to tide you over while you and your dog await Santa's visit.

Angus has some recommendations for other animal stories, plus you don't have to go barking mad waiting for a copy of these:

"Favorite Dog Stories" by James Herriot
"Rex and the City: A Memoir of a Woman, a Man, and a Dysfunctional Dog" by Lee Harrington
"Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog" by Ted Kerasote
"It's Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump: And Other Life Lessons I Learned from Dogs" by John O' Hurley
"Living a Dog's Life: Jazzy, Juicy, and Me" by Cindy Adams

-Kim

Food for Thought

2009-11-04T11:11:00.000-08:00

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

I was asked if I would like to create a Blog about food. Apparently I am synonymous with the word otherwise why would I be the one chosen to write such a blog. I was actually having a hard time coming up with something to write about. I didn’t quite understand what it was that was asked of me. I am neither a writer nor food critic for that matter. I like food. I eat food. I enjoy cooking food. What else is there to say? So I tried to find a cookbook that I could write something about. I work in a Library how hard can it be but, I was actually having trouble finding the right book. Since I work in the Children’s Room part-time, I figured I should look there. Kids like food. Kids eat food. Kids enjoy playing with their food. So do I. I thought to myself – what is my favorite food??? (Too much to list) Then I found the book “Cookies – Bite Size Life Lesson” by Amy Rosenthal. I like cookies. I bake them. I eat them. The book didn’t come with a recipe for cookies. That was disappointing. Below is what I think of Cookies:

Chocolate, of course is my number 1 favorite

Oatmeal cookies are 2^nd best

Open containers make them stale

Keep them in an airtight container

Icing is good!

Eat them day or night it doesn’t matter

Share them with your friends!!!

--Kristine

Autumn at the Library

2009-10-28T16:38:00.000-07:00

Though it's nearly eighty degrees as I write this, Autumn is here, believe it or not. Here are a few ways that your library can help you make the most of this too-short season between the scorching summer and the hectic holidays:

Plant an Autumn garden.
Spend some time outdoors with this book of poems celebrating the seasons.
Spend some time indoors with this book celebrating college football in the fall.
Try out a Jamie Oliver recipe tailored to the season.
Visit a new corner of our state.
Or, of course, find one of our great new books, movies or CDs!

-Alan

Computers 101

2009-10-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

If you or someone you know need a refresher course in computer basics, mark your calendar for one of our upcoming Computers 101 sessions:

Saturday, October 24, 1:00-2:00PM
Tuesday, November 17, 10:15-11:15AM

Each class lasts about an hour. We discuss the parts of the computer and the basics of how to use Windows. For Computers 101 only, there is no signup required, and the class is first-come, first-served.

If you have any questions, stop by or call 843-215-4700. Hope to see you there!

-Alan

Tuesday Evening Book Club

2009-10-22T10:04:00.000-07:00

The Tuesday Evening Book Club met on October 20th to discuss Anne Tyler’s “Digging to America.” The book is about two families, as different as day and night, who meet at an airport while there to pick up their adopted Korean baby daughters. A relationship develops between the families, and soon they are seeing one another almost on a daily basis. Through their interactions, Tyler is able to focus on the cultural differences between the two families. She exposes problems, misunderstandings, and the difficulties people often have while trying to acclimate to a new lifestyle in a another country, or a different environment.
The book raised a good many questions at our book club meeting. Sharing our individual interpretations of the author’s view and characterization allows us to bring our own life experiences to the table. Some of us like the books we read more than other members do, but one thing we all agree on, is that we get so much more from a book we’ve read if we can share what we’ve read with others.
If you are looking for a group to discuss the books you read and for new reading suggestions, the Tuesday Evening Book Club may be the answer. We meet on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Please call the library (215-4700) for more information. - Linda

Mystery Book Club Musings

2009-10-13T18:49:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

On October 12th, the Socastee Library Mysterious Mondays Book Club had another lively and very entertaining book discussion of Karin Fossum's "Don't Look Back." Featuring a very earnest and empathetic character, Inspector Sejer, Fossum skillfully blends psychological suspense, well- crafted subplots, red herrings, and a complex study of fragile characters within her police procedurals.

Dubbed the "Norwegian queen of crime fiction" Fossum is one author to check out especially if you have enjoyed books by Greg Iles or the Kurt Wallander detective series by Henning Mankell. Not for the faint of heart cozy mystery reader, the Inspector Sejer series is gripping, complex, harrowing, and suspenseful. Most of the book club members described the books as hard to put down, dark, but engrossing. The library system carries all six books within the Inspector Sejer series.

If whodunits are your thing, stop by the Socastee Library the second Monday of the month at 6pm from January-November and join the Mysterious Mondays Book Club. For November '09 we will be discussing John Burdett's "Bangkok 8." You can call or stop by the Socastee Library to request a copy of this book. I hope to see you there! -Kim

Family Fall Festival

2009-10-13T09:08:00.000-07:00

Our annual Family Fall Festival, featuring storyteller Elizabeth Huntsinger Wolf, will be held on Tuesday, October 27, from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Plan on coming to the library with your children (costumes are optional) for an hour of fun and entertainment. Ms. Wolf will be telling ghost stories. There will be treat bags for all children attending the program. Seating is limited, so please call the library at 215-4700, or sign up in the Children's Room. - Linda

Author Event-Issac J. Bailey

2009-10-12T11:18:00.000-07:00

Socastee Library is hosting a free author event! Please join us on Thursday, October 15th at 1pm as local author and Sun News columnist Issac J.Bailey presents a talk about his book, "Proud, Black, Southern: But I Still Don't Eat Watermelon in Front of White People." Seating is limited so please be sure to call 215-4700 to sign up. -Kim

Welcome to our library

2009-10-06T08:44:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the blog of the staff of Socastee Library. Check here to find book reviews, information about programs and services, and humorous happenings at your library.