This Just In

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

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

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


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


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


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

Happy reading!

-Alan

Reminder: Patron Appreciation Day tomorrow!

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

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

Patron Appreciation Day

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

See you there!

Computer Classes Return!

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

What's on the menu for Thanksgiving?

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

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

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

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

This Just In

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

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

Happy reading!
-Alan

Universal Class

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

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

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

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

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

Happy learning!
Alan