Mystery Readers' Book Club Announces New Titles

The Mystery Readers' Book Club has announced its selections for the spring and early summer! The titles are listed below. For more information and a look at the MRBC archives, please visit the Friends' website: www.forl.net/mysterybookclub.html

Feb. 23
Field of Thirteen by Dick Francis

Mar. 23
What's So Funny? by Donald E. Westlake

Apr. 27
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly

May 25
Killing Floor by Lee Child

Jun. 22
Murder in the Marais by Cara Black

Jul. 27
The Professional by Robert B. Parker

K1 Book Club for Kids Meets on Tuesday

Do you want your children to become lifelong readers? One of the ways in which you can help your child is by taking them to the library on a regular basis. Most everyone knows that libraries offer story times, but did you know that the Roswell Library has three types of book clubs for children? Yes! Not one, not two, but three book clubs for kids!

The K1 Book Club meets this Tuesday, February 2 @ 4:00 p.m. K1 Book Club is a book discussion group for children in kindergarten and 1st grade. At the meeting, everyone will read a book together and do activities related to the book. No advance preparation is needed. Just call the Roswell Library at 770.640.3075, ask for the Children's Department and let them know your child would like to join us.

Later this month, the Reading Pals Book Club (2nd and 3rd graders) and the Talk It Up Book Club (4th and 5th graders) will meet. More details will be posted as we get closer to the dates. In the meantime, visit the Friends of the Roswell Library's website to learn more about the exciting programs for children this winter and spring!

Roswell Roots Celebrates African American History

Roswell, Ga's 9th annual festival of African American heritage, Roswell Roots, runs throughout the month of February. The Roswell Library is pleased to hold four events in collaboration with the City of Roswell, the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, and the Friends of the Roswell Library.

A list of programs hosted by the Roswell Library is below, but don't stop there. Click here to visit the City of Roswell's website to learn about other Roswell Roots programs and download their brochure (available as a free PDF file). Brochures are also available at the library.

• Author Shelia Moses on Wednesday, February 3rd @ 4:30 p.m.

• Screening of the film Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North on Thursday, February 11 @ 7:00 p.m.

• Screening of the film Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North on Saturday, February 13 @ 3:00 p.m.

• Author Ted Dunagan on Saturday, February 27th @ 11:00 a.m.

For more information, please call the Roswell Library at 770.640.3075. We hope you'll join us as we celebrate Roswell's rich and vibrant African American heritage.

How to Make Chocolate .... Yum!

On Saturday, January 30th @ 2:00 p.m. , the Roswell Library will host Chocolate and Sugar Artist Sari McIntyre as she presents Hands On Chocolates for teens and young adults. One important reminder: mistakes are edible and encouraged! Check out her website by clicking here.

Programs for Kids at the Roswell Library!

Mark your calendars! Winter and spring story times and other programs for children start next week at the Roswell Library. The Children's Dept. staff have planned some terrific programs for kids of all ages. They offer story times for babies, 1's, 2's, 3's, 4's and 5's! Throughout the season, there are craft programs planned, an author visit, book clubs, a movie and more.

For more information about library programs, please visit the Friends' website at www.forl.net/libraryprograms.html or you may call the library at 770.640.3075.

Here's a brief list of what's happening in the Children's Dept. during the first week in February:

Bouncing Babies Story Time
Mondays, February 1 - April 26 @ 10:00 a.m.
Bouncing Babies is a program for infants from birth to age one and their caregiver.

Story Time for 4's and 5's
Mondays, February 1 - April 26 @ 4:00 p.m.
This is an independent story time experience that children attend without a caregiver.

K1 Book Club
Tuesday, February 2. 4:00 p.m.
K1 Book Club is a book discussion group for children in kindergarten and 1st grade. At the meeting, everyone will read a book together and do activities related to the book. No advance preparation is needed.

Walking One-ders Story Time
Wednesdays, February 3 - April 28 @ 10:00 a.m.
Walking One-ders is a program for one-year-olds and their caregiver.

Terrific Two's and Three's Story Time
Wednesdays, February 3 - April 28 @ 11:30 a.m.
Terrific Two's and Three's is a program for two and three-year-olds and a caregiver.

Author Shelia P. Moses
Wednesday, February 3rd @ 4:30 p.m.
Author of the award-winning The Legend of Buddy Bush, The Return of Buddy Bush and more. This program is part of the Roswell Roots Celebration of African American History and is recommended for ages 9 - 12, but everyone is welcome.

East Roswell Park Story Times
Wednesdays, February 3 and 17 @ 4:00 p.m.
This program for ages 3 - 5 will be held at the East Roswell Recreation Center.
9000 Fouts Road,
Roswell, GA 30076

Jaipur Literature Festival

NPR featured a story on the Jaipur Literature Festival during its Morning Edition on Monday, 1/25. JLF is one of the largest book festivals in the world and the premier book festival in India. It features a wide variety of Indian authors, as well as international ones. The best part of all, though, is how popular this book festival is with teenagers. Yes, teenagers! Click here to learn a little more from NPR and lots more from the New York Times.

Author Shelia P. Moses Visits the Roswell Library

National Book Award finalist Shelia P. Moses will visit the Roswell Library on Wednesday, February 3rd @ 4:30 p.m. Her children's book The Legend of Buddy Bush was named a Coretta Scott King Award Honor Book for 2005. Join us for a fun afternoon with this talented and prolific author.

This program is part of the Roswell Roots Celebration of African American History and the Atlanta Author Series sponsored by the Friends of the Roswell Library.

For more information or directions to the library, please call the branch at 770.640.3075.

Roswell Reads Info

Here's some info to bring you up-to-date regarding our wonderful community-wide reading program:

The 2010 Roswell Reads Program Guide is now available. You may pick up a copy at the Roswell Library or visit the Friends’ website to view it online (and print it out). It includes a variety of programs and activities to coincide with this year’s selection: Outcasts United: A Refugee Soccer Team, An American Town by Warren St. John.

Tickets for the 2010 Roswell Reads Final Event on March 20th @ 5:00 p.m. (a Literary Fest with author Warren St. John and Coach Luma Mufleh) are now available for purchase.

You can purchase tickets at the Friends' Book Corner, just inside the Roswell Library (hours are Tues. - Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and Sun. 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.). Tickets are $15 each or $10 each for children under 12. Each ticket includes a meal.

You may also download an order form that's included with the Program Guide. A link to download the Program Guide is on the Roswell Reads page at www.forl.net/roswellreads.htm. Follow the simple instructions on the form and mail in your form, with payment, to the Friends of the Roswell Library (address is listed on the form). The tickets will be mailed to you ASAP. Unfortunately, tickets may not be purchased online at this time.

Photography Contest brochures (includes entry form) are also available now – online and at the Roswell Library.

Here’s a link to the Roswell Reads page at the Friends of the Roswell Library’s website: http://www.forl.net/roswellreads.htm. This page contains additional information about the events and activities, as well as helpful links.

How to subscribe to Roswell Reads updates: send an e-mail to the Friends of the Roswell Library at roswellreads@forl.net. Please add the word SUBSCRIBE in either the subject line or body of the e-mail, and we will add you to future mailings.

Mystery Readers' Book Club Meets Tomorrow Night

The MRBC meets Tuesday evening, January 26th @ 6:30 p.m. This month's selection is A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn. See you there.

Seeing All of Shakespeare's Plays ... That's the Thing

The New York Times featured an article in Saturday's paper about Jim and Jane Monach, a British couple whose shared lifetime goal is to see all of Shakespeare's plays. They made it. Click here to read the article.

Kimberla Lawson Roby Visits the Central Library

Popular and best-selling author Kimberla Lawson Roby will visit the Central Library in downtown Atlanta on Monday, January 25th at noon. Click here to learn more. You may also want to check out her website: www.kimroby.com.

Literary Losses

The literary world has lost two prolific authors and one incredible inspiration over the last few days.

Ruth McBride Jordan, the mother of author James McBride and the inspiration for his book The Color of Water died on January 9th.

Robert B. Parker, author of the famous Spenser detective series, died suddenly on Monday, January 19th.

Erich Segal, whose novel Love Story touched a generation of college kids and beyond, died on Sunday, January 17th.

Click on the names above to read their obituaries in the New York Times.

Roswell Reads Tickets Are Now Available

Tickets for the 2010 Roswell Reads Final Event on March 20th @ 5:00 p.m. (a Literary Fest with author Warren St. John and Coach Luma Mufleh) are now available for purchase. You can purchase tickets at the Friends' Book Corner, just inside the Roswell Library (hours are Tues. - Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and Sun. 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.) You may also download an order form that's included with the Program Guide. A link to download the Program Guide is on the Roswell Reads page at www.forl.net/roswellreads.htm. Follow the simple instructions on the form and mail in your form, with payment, to the Friends of the Roswell Library (address is listed on the form). The tickets will be mailed to you ASAP. Unfortunately, tickets may not be purchased online at this time.

Upcoming Titles for Noonday Nosh

Here's a list of titles for the Noonday Nosh Book Club through July 2010.

February 16
Outcasts United: A Refugee Soccer Team, An American Town
by Warren St. John (The 2010 Roswell Reads Selection)

March 16
My Antonia by Willa Cather

April 20
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham

May 18
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

June 15
The Zookeeper’s Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackerman

July 20
The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Upcoming Authors at the Georgia Center for the Book

Thanks to AC for a tip about upcoming author visits sponsored by the Georgia Center for the Book. One of interest to locals may be Bloodroot by Amy Greene. Set in East Tennessee, this first novel is receiving critical acclaim for its deftly told family tales. Click here to visit the GA Center for the Book's website. Most programs are free and are held at the DeKalb County's Main Branch in beautiful downtown Decatur.

The Tax Man Cometh

Yes, the tax man cometh April 15th, but as always, the Roswell Library is here to help! Free Tax Assistance will be offered on Mondays, February 1 - April 12 from 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Assistance is provided by trained AARP Tax-Aid volunteers. Volunteers will gladly assist anyone, with special attention given to those ages 60 and older. Please bring last year's tax returns and other important documents.

Honorable Mention for Roswell Reads

OutcastsUnited.com has given Roswell Reads honorable mention by listing our reading program on its website! In addition to Roswell Reads, OU has been selected by San Diego for its community-wide reading program. Click here to take a look.

Roswell Reads Programs: Check 'Em Out!

A variety of great programs have been planned around this year's Roswell Reads selection, Outcasts United: A Refugee Soccer Team, an American Town by Warren St. John. A listing of these programs has been added to the Friends' website. Click here to visit the Roswell Reads page on our website and mark your calendars now!

Warm Readings on a Cold Day

If you're spending the day inside where it's warm and toasty, check out some online book reviews to plan what you want to read next. Click the links below.

New York Times
Washington Post
Wall Street Journal
Guardian UK
Telegraph UK

Authors, Authors Everywhere

2010 is off to a literary start with upcoming author visits around town. First, local author Patti Callahan Henry appears at the Roswell Library this Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

The MJCCA Book Festival hosts a "Page From the Book Festival" on Thursday, January 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Steel Restaurant and Lounge on West Peachtree Street in Midtown. The featured author is Bethenny Frankel, author of The Skinny Girl Dish. Visit the MJCCA online to learn more.

In February, author Jim Wallis (Rediscovering Values) will appear at the Carter Library on Friday, February 5, at 7:00 p.m. Visit the Carter Library online to learn more.

Three Cheers for Janice!

Three rousing cheers for Janice Tedford, President of the Friends of the Roswell Library. She drove to downtown Atlanta on a frigid morning and spoke to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners on behalf of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System! Thank you, Janice! You rock!

America's Most Literate Cities

Well, it will come as no surprise that Atlanta ranks in the Top 5 list of America's most literate cities. It's actually #4 - due in no small part, we're humbly sure, to the award-winning Roswell Reads community-wide reading program (CABY Award, 2007) and the Friend's sponsored Atlanta Author Series! Read all about it in the Christian Science Monitor's Book Blog, Chapter and Verse.

Learn more about Roswell Reads and the Atlanta Author Series by visiting the Friends' website at www.forl.net.

Book News: The First Week of 2010

As we start a new year filled with books, books, and more books, be the first to know what's happening in the publishing world. Click here to visit earlyword.com and be the first to know the most.

Patti Callahan Henry Visits the Roswell Library

Local author Patti Callahan Henry kicks off our 2010 Atlanta Author Series next Saturday. She'll visit the Roswell Library at 2:00 p.m. Be there or be square.

Roswell Reads Program Guide

Start the year by marking your brand new calendar with upcoming Roswell Reads programs! The 2010 program guide is now available online as a .pdf file. Click here to visit the Friends' Roswell Reads information page. You can also pick up a hard copy at the Roswell Library. We look forward to seeing you at some of our great programs.