An Espresso Book Machine. Really.

Blackwell's Book Shop in London has launched an espresso book machine in one of its locations. The machine prints a book in a matter of minutes! Click here to read more in the Guardian UK.

Turns out that there are a few espresso book machines in the U.S. Click here to learn about the one at Northshire Books in Vermont.

Annual Meeting this Sunday, May 3rd @ 3:00 p.m.

Join us for our annual meeting on May 3rd @ 3:00 p.m. We will elect new officers, review the past year, and make plans for the year ahead.

A new statistic: cat patrons

The BBC features a fun story about a cat named Fidel who regularly visits the local library in Kent. Just shows how smart cats are. Click here to read more.

Evening Walks

Anyone who enjoys an evening walk to unwind or enjoy the seasons may enjoy this poignant essay by Kate Chambers in the April 27th of the Christian Science Monitor. Click here to read the essay.

Roswell History Program: May 12th

Serendipity! It just so happens that Sunday's AJC featured an article about local historian Connie Cox and her new book Providence: Selected Correspondence of George Hull Camp. The co-editor of this book, Darlene Walsh, will be speaking at the Roswell Library on Tuesday, May 12th @ 6:30 p.m. Ms. Walsh will discuss this book as well as the history of Roswell. She is the co-founder of the Roswell Historical Society/City of Roswell Research Library and Archives and served as the first Archivist. Click here to read the article online.

Edith Kermit Roosevelt, Devoted Reader

The April 20th issue of the New Yorker magazine features an article about avid reader Edith Kermit Roosevelt, the second wife of President Theodore Roosevelt. Mrs. Roosevelt corresponded with New York Society Library (http://www.nysoclib.org/) librarian Marion King, requesting various titles over the years and sharing her thoughts and opinions about modern literature. This is a fascinating peek into the world of private libraries and an esteemed First Lady. Click here to read the article online.

One Hit Wonders in Literature

The Times Online (UK) recently featured an interesting list of ten one hit wonders in the literary world. The list features Southern authors Harper Lee and Atlanta's own Margaret Mitchell. Click here to read the list. It includes links to the paper's original reviews of certain titles.

Alice Walker Exhibit @ Emory University

Emory University has opened Alice Walker's archives to the public through an exhibit titled "A Keeping of Records: the Art and Life of Alice Walker." The exhibit continues through September 23, 2009. Read an interview online at the AJC by clicking here. Then, take a look at Emory's news release here.

Mystery Book Club Meets April 28th

The Mystery Book Club will meet Tuesday, April 28th @ 6:30 p.m. at the Roswell Library. Join us for a discussion of Tony Hillerman's Navajo mystery, The Shape Shifter. Click here to learn more about the late author at HarperCollins.com.

Turning Books into Bags

Tuesday's NPR program "All Things Considered" featured a piece about Caitlin Phillips. Ms. Phillips has found a very clever way to reduce, reuse, and recycle old tomes! Fascinating. Click here to read an article at npr.com.

Fun @ Nosh!

Patricia Sprinkle delighted the Noonday Nosh Book Club on Tuesday (4/21) with wonderful stories about the writing experience, her characters, and what goes into the writing process. Attendees enjoyed great questions, comments, and delicious cookies.

"Picturing Words: The Power of Book Illustration" @ the Smithsonian

For anyone traveling to Washington, DC, before January 4, 2010, the National Museum of American History is featuring an exhibit on book illustrations. For those who can’t make it there, you can view the Online Exhibition instead. Click here to learn more.

James Lee Burke Recommends

The April 19th edition of Parade magazine has a list of mystery recommendations by noted author James Lee Burke and Jonathan Witherspoon. Click here to read the list.

Book Inscriptions

Have you ever purchased a used book and opened it up to see a lovely inscription inside? The GUARDIAN UK has a nice tidbit on their book blog about book inscriptions. Click here to read it.

Annual Meeting - May 3rd

Join us for our annual meeting on May 3rd @ 3:00 p.m. We will elect new officers, review the past year, and make plans for the year ahead.

Another really overdue book!

Well, it seems it happens in Canada, too. A book that was 110 years late was returned to the Lyn Heritage Place Museum recently. Click here to read the article from the Brockville Recorder and Times.

Saving Old Books in Ireland

A tip o' the hat to the University of Ulster (Derry) for restoring and conserving its invaluable collection of books. Some of the titles go back over 400 years. Take a look at this article from the Derry Journal to learn more.

52,858 Days Overdue!

Someone in Illinois returned a library book that had been taken from the Virginia Military Institute before it was burned during the Civil War in 1864. Turns out the book actually belonged to Washington College, now known as Washington and Lee. And now it’s back on the shelves! Click here to read the article from the Washington Post.

In Memoriam: Librarian Judith Krug

Judith Krug, Illinois librarian and former director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom for over 40 years, died recently. Ms. Krug helped to found "Banned Books Week." Click here to read a moving tribute from the New York Times.

Libraries - The times they are a-changin' - Part II

Newsweek's MY TURN essay recently featured Michigan Librarian Eva Gronowska. She writes poignantly about how librarian's roles are changing drastically. Click here to read the article.

Keeping Step with The Times, or So Long, Date Due Slips

Washington Post columnist John Kelly recently shared his thoughts about his local library (Montgomery County, Maryland) switching from date due slips to printed receipts. Click here to read his essay. Please note that the Washington Post may ask you to register before reading the article - it's free.

To Continue Reading or Not to Continue ...

A recent Wall Street Journal column by Cynthia Crossen (a.k.a. Book Lover) featured an interesting question by a reader. The reader asked how many pages to invest in a book before giving up (presuming it hasn’t grabbed you). This column is usually printed every Friday in the WSJ, as well as online. Click here to read the response.

Blowout Paperback Book Sale!

• Friday & Saturday - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
  
• Sunday - 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Prices: Small paperbacks are 4/$1.00 and large ones are $1.00 each.
• Where: The Friends Book Corner and the library's lobby.

Patricia Sprinkle Visits Noonday Nosh - April 21st @ Noon

Join us for a fun-filled hour with local author Patricia Sprinkle. Many of her books are available at the library for check-out. New members are always welcome! Visit the author's website: www.patriciasprinkle.com.

Worlds Connect @ Your Library, April 12 - 18

Celebrate National Library Week! This year's theme is "Worlds connect @ your library."

Those who work in public libraries or use them regularly know how even more vital libraries have become during this difficult economic time. National Library Week is one way to celebrate and recognize our libraries. Click here to visit ALA's fact sheet about this important week.

Reading Group Survey

ReadingGroupGuides.com is conducting a survey. Click here to visit their website and take the survey: Reading Group Survey. The survey is available until April 30th and the website is offering a chance to win free books!

Libraries - The times they are a-changin'

The NY Times recently featured an article about new stresses placed upon public libraries as usage increases because of layoffs, downsizing, and other financial and personal stresses. The good news is that people know they can count on libraries to assist them with information. The bad news is that libraries don't have any extra money to increase their services. Click here to read the article.

What readers read during difficult times

The NY Times (4.7.09) features an article about that people like to read during a recession. It will come as no surprise that escapist literature is the popular choice. Click here to read the article by Motoko Rich.

The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby was published on this day in 1925. F. Scott Fitzgerald's book is one of the titles included in THE BIG READ - the National Endowment for the Arts' campaign to create a nation of readers. Click here for more information about THE BIG READ. It just so happens that The Great Gatsby is the May 19th selection for the Noonday Nosh Book Club! Click here to visit the Nosh page on the Friends' website.

Yiddish Book Center

Today, April 8th, a tip o' the hat to Aaron Lansky. Mr. Lansky wrote a book called Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books. He is the founder and President of the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA. Learn more about the Yiddish Book Center by visiting their website: www.yiddishbookcenter.org.

Author Events @ the Jimmy Carter Library & Museum

The Carter Center offers a wealth of events and activities for book lovers. April features Richard Pare talking about The Lost Vanguard: Russian Modernist Architecture 1922-1932; Warren St. John talking about Outcasts United: A Refugee Team, an American Team (about a Clarkston, GA soccer team); Marc Fitten talking about Valeria's Last Stand; and Oylmpic Gold Medalist Dara Torres talking about Age Is Just A Number. Thanks to an alert FORL member for this tip. Here's a link to the Jimmy Carter Library & Museum.

Paperback Book Sale, April 17 - 19

A Weekend Paperback Sale will be held April 17 - 19 in the lobby of the Roswell Library and in the Friends of the Roswell Library Book Store. The sale will be held during the following hours: Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 19 from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

All small paperbacks will be priced at 4 books for $1.00; large paperbacks at $1.00 each. This is a great opportunity to stock up on your favorite books. All proceeds will be used to purchase books and materials for the Roswell Library

Atlanta Book Club Celebrates 100th Year

Congratulations to the members of the Inquirers Club on their 100th anniversary! This metro Atlanta book club was one of the first African American book clubs for women. Today's AJC features an article about the club written by Gracie Bonds Staples. Click here to read the article.

Patricia Sprinkle @ Noonday Nosh on April 21st

Local author Patricia Sprinkle will join us at the Noonday Nosh Book Club discussion on Tuesday, April 21st @ 12 noon. A selection of her books are on display near the Reference Desk at the Roswell Library. The Friends have purchased many of these copies, so drop by and check one out, and join us on the 21st!

Schindler's List

An Australian State Library researcher discovered a copy of Oskar Schindler's typed list of Jewish workers that he saved from certain death. Admirers of the film and/or book will recall that Schindler's list of "essential workers" saved the lives of over 800 Jews during the Holocaust. Click here to read the article at Bloomberg.com.

Yiddish Book Center

Today, April 8th, a tip o' the hat to Aaron Lansky. Mr. Lansky wrote a book called Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books. He is the founder and President of the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA. Learn more about the Yiddish Book Center by visiting their website: www.yiddishbookcenter.org.

Local Author Makes it Big

Former Roswell Librarian Jim Overbeck's wife, Lois, has co-edited The Letters of Samuel Beckett: Volume I: 1929-1940, the first of three volumes. After much critical acclaim, the book has received a second review in the NYT, this time in the Book Review! Read the review online by clicking here.

National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month. Here's a nod to poetry from Jim Holt, in the 4/2 edition of the New York Times. He's memorized close to a hundred poems. Click here to read the essay.

Author Walter Mosley

Saturday's AJC featured an interview with mystery writer Walter Mosley. Mr. Mosley was in town to speak at the Carter Center. Click here to read the article.

British author and gardener Beverley Nichols

A recent article in the Christian Science Monitor talks about the enduring popularity of British author and gardener Beverley Nichols. A charming article about a very charming man. Click here to read the article.

A-FPLS owns many copies of Nichols' books. Click here to search the library catalog and place holds on these titles.

When times are tough ...

turn to Nancy Mitford. Or Jane Austen. Or ...

Interesting article about "crisis reads" - books we read (or reread) during difficult times - from the Guardian UK's Culture blogger, Charlotte Higgins. Click this link to read the article: In times of crisis, the solution is simple – send for the Nancy Mitford omnibus