Blind Willie McTell

The late Atlanta guitarist Blind Willie McTell may finally be getting the attention due to him and his extraordinary musicianship. The AJC recently featured an article about a new biography titled Hand Me My Travelin’ Shoes written by Michael Gray. And, the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System is hosting a three events in celebration of the book's release. Click here to read the AJC article and click here for a list of the events.

Betsy-Tacy Books Rock!

The classic children's series about Betsy and her pals in Minnesota has been reissued. Author Maud Hart Lovelace would be glad to know that a new generation of readers will enjoy the timeless adventures of Betsy and the gang. EarlyWord.com recently featured a link to a Wall Street Journal article written by popular author Meg Cabot (The Princess Diaries). Click here to read it online.

Good Night, Gourmet

Yesterday's New York Times announced the news that Gourmet magazine is closing down, as of the November 2009 issue. First published in 1941, Gourmet has been a kind of elite foodie magazine, but elite or not, the times they are a-changing. Fans of Editor Ruth Reichl (former dining critic for the NYT) can look forward to a new memoir about her years at Gourmet. Click here to read the article online.

New Russian Books at the Roswell Library

The library has received a large collection of books and DVD's in Russian, courtesy of the Central Library. These books are located near the adult Spanish collection in the browsing area (near the end of the magazines). Please spread the word!

December Book Sale

Mark you calendars! Our next book sale will be held in early December - just in time for holiday shopping. The dates are Friday, December 4 for the preview party and Saturday, December 5 for the regular book sale. The times will be announced soon.

The Best Secondhand Bookshops in the UK

Oh, fun! A virtual tour of the "10 Best Secondhand Bookshops" in England. Click here when you're ready to go, courtesy of the Guardian UK. Photo credit: Linda Nylind.

National Friends of Libraries Week

National Friends of Libraries Week October is 18 - 24. Click here to visit the Friends of Libraries USA's website to look at pictures from selected 2008 celebrations around the country. This is a great time to honor and celebrate the wonderful things we do (yes, if we may say so ourselves)!

National Book Festival

Oh, to be in Washington this weekend for the National Book Festival! Lots of authors, lots of activities and the nation's capital to boot! Click here to visit the Library of Congress' website to learn more.

Banned Books Week: September 26 - October 3

The freedom to read whatever we choose is something we in America may take for granted. We can go into any library and select whatever we want to read. Or can we not? Banned Books Week was started in the early 1980's to recognize an increasing amount of titles that were being subjected to censorship. It's been going strong ever since. Click here to visit the American Library Association's website on BB's to learn more.

Happy Punctuation Day

Today is National Punctuation Day. How are you planning to celebrate? Click here to visit the official website and be sure to click the link that says "How to celebrate NPD." Thanks to RS for this tip.

In Praise of Penmanship

Beautiful handwriting is an art form, a gift to the eyes. There's nothing quite like it. And nothing like chicken scratch that substitutes for handwriting, either. Blah.

Italian author Umberto Eco recently wrote an essay in the Guardian UK about the distressing lack of penmanship in schools. Technology presents many wonderful opportunities, but what about penmanship? We all need to sign papers or checks from time to time. Click here to read the essay.

What's Next for the Mystery Book Club

The fall selection of titles for the Mystery Book Club has been changed. The October 27 selection is The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer. Click here to visit the author's website and learn more about this intriguing book.

Roswell Reads Newsletter Now Online

The Roswell Reads Steering Committee has been hard at work discussing titles to possibly select for the 2010 program. To bring booklovers up-to-date, a newsletter is now available. You can read it online by visiting the Friends website: www.forl.net/roswellreads.htm or by subscribing via e-mail. To subscribe, just 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 for Roswell Reads information.

The Garage Doors of Your Dreams

Ah, how nice it would be to drive up to garage doors painted like bookshelves. "LA At Home" - a blog from the LA Times - features someone who does just that. Click here to see for yourself. They must certainly be the coolest garage doors - ever.

The Bookbinder of Beirut

The news from the Middle East is usually fraught with strife, but here's a reminder of the citizens who carry on day to day, just doing their jobs. LISNews featured a brief post and link to the Independent UK's article on Sheikh Tijlid, commonly known at the "Bookbinder of Beirut." Click here to read the article online.