Friends Book Sale

The Friends of the Library will be holding their semi-annual book sale Saturday and Sunday (April 30 and May 1) at the Jonquil Festival. This is your chance to get some great books at bargain prices.

A word to the wise. Arrive early. They sell a lot of books the first day.

Nuclear Energy

I know many of you are concerned about what's happening in Japan. How serious is the problem and what is radiation anyway?

The Library has many information sources that can explain the details, but I want to let you about one you can use at home. Salem Press is providing free access to articles about nuclear energy from its reference collection. These provide clear, concise, and accurate information on the history, development, pros and cons of nuclear power. Click on the links below to access each article.

Nuclear Energy: http://salempress.com/store/pdfs/Nuclear_Energy.pdf

Climate: http://salempress.com/store/pdfs/Climate.pdf

Enrico Fermi: http://salempress.com/store/pdfs/Fermi.pdf

Chernobyl: http://salempress.com/store/pdfs/Chernobyl.pdf

Patricia Sprinkle - Indian Travels Program

Internationally renowned mystery writer, Patricia Sprinkle, went on a five-week trip to India and Nepal last fall. She taught creative writing to middle-school students in a small village for three weeks, but also rode an elephant, visited the Taj Mahal and saw the Himalayas.

Patricia now qualifies as a legitimate adventurer and the story of her travels is sure to be interesting and entertaining. Personally, I want to hear the details about her midnight ride in a tuk-tuk (an auto rickshaw). Apparently, it bordered on being a religious experience.

You won't want to miss this. Ms. Sprinkle's program will be in the Library meeting room at 7:00 p.m. next Wednesday, March 23rd.

Cobb Photographic Society Exhibit

The Cobb Photographic Society is exhibiting members works in the library through April 30th. This diverse exhibit includes everything from portraits and landscapes to digitized pictures look like impressionist paintings.

The Cobb Photographic Society welcomes photographers of all skill and ability levels. The common bond is a desire to become better photographers. Whether an individual's interest is in capturing memories, sharing pictures with friends, or becoming a semi-professional or professional photographer, the club offers many ways for members to enhance their skills.

There are speaker meetings on the third Monday of each month and workshops and tutorials. If you're interested in photography, check them out. Come by the library and see examples of the great work they've done.

Author Thomas Mullen Coming to the Smyrna Library

Get up close and personal with a great young author. Thomas Mullen will be the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Smyrna Reading Group next Tuesday, March 8 at 7:00 p.m.

Thomas Mullen is the author of The Last Town on Earth, which was named the Best Debut Novel of 2006 by USA Today, was a Chicago Tribune Best Book of the Year, and was awarded the James Fenimore Cooper Prize. His latest book is the critically acclaimed, The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers.

Attendance at this meeting is free and open to the public. Arrive early so you can get a good seat.

New Catalog Software

The Library has new catalog software and we're excited. It has a crisp, clean appearance and is packed with new features.

One change is the book river. There is a constantly flowing river of book covers on the main page. If you see something you like, you can click on it and get more information. We also have genre browsing bars that let you scroll through science fiction, mystery and romance novels. There's a box for New York Times bestsellers and another for new books.

It's easier to reserve and renew books. You can set up an easy access user name and make changes to your profile. Check it out. I think you'll be pleased and surprised.

Murder Goes South 2011

Wow! What a great conference!

Every speaker was interesting. The intimate setting let participants get up close with the authors. The food was great. And the weather even cooperated.

If you weren't there, ask someone about the customs and border protection program. I learned beagles are cute, but sneaky.

Planning has already begun for next year. Make a mental note, because you won't want to miss another one.