Story Times Are on Spring Break

During Spring break week here in Roswell, April 4 - 8, there will not be any regular story time programs,  There will. however, still be a Monday night Chess Club for kids and the Georgia State University Bio Bus will stop by on April 6 (reservations are required).  Story times will resume the week of April 11.  We hope you have a safe and fun spring break!

Fireworks Over Toccoa is now in paperback!

Georgia author, Jeffrey Stepakoff, has just told us that Fireworks Over Toccoa is now out in paperback.  A couple of other things you might like to know:  Mr. Stepakoff will visit the Roswell Library in September and his newest book, The Orchard, will be published in early July!  Visit his website to learn more.

April Programs at the Roswell Library

A complete list of April programs has been added to the Friends' website.  Check it out!  http://www.forl.net/libraryprograms.html.  Reservations a required for some of the programs and may be made in person or over the phone by calling the Roswell Library at 770-640-3075.

This Week @ the Roswell Library

Wondering what to do this week? For the week of March 28 - April 2, you'll find plenty of activities at the Roswell Library, including a Chess Club for kids Monday evening;  story times for children;  AARP offering free tax assistance on Monday afternoon;  free ESL classes;  and there are always books for sale in the lobby and in the Friends' bookstore.

There are still spaces available for the READing Paws program on Saturday.  Bring your first-grade or older child to the library and let them practice reading to Morgan, a trained and certified therapy dog (and super-listener) who loves to have kids read to her.  Please call the Roswell Library at 770-640-3075 to make a reservation.

For more information about these programs, please visit the Friends' website at www.forl.net/libraryprograms.html.

Zumba Fitness @ the Roswell Library

Are you ready to party yourself into shape?  That's exactly what the Zumba® program is all about.  The routines feature interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt your body while burning fat.  To make a reservation, please call the Roswell Library at 770-640-3075.

Thursday mornings, April 7, 14, 21, and 28
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Registration is required and begins one week before each session.

Tuesday evenings, May 3, 10, 17
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Registration is required and begins one week before each session.

And best of all, the Zumba Fitness classes at the library are free!

Public Input Sessions for New Libraries

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System wants your input!   Citizens all over Fulton County have a unique and wonderful opportunity to help plan the new libraries.  What would you like to see in your new libraries? 

The design process begins this year on the 8 new libraries and 2 expanded libraries that make up Phase I of the Library Building Program.  Community engagement has been the cornerstone of the library system's Facility Master Plan, and we would like to hear from you!   Join us at one of the public input sessions and let us know what you want:

Palmetto Library – Tuesday, March 15, 7:00 p.m. at Palmetto City Hall, 509 Toombs St., Palmetto 30268

Wolf Creek Library – Thursday, March 17, 7:00 p.m. at South Fulton Service Center, 5600 Stonewall Tell Rd., College Park 30349

Southeast Library – Tuesday, March 22, 7:00 p.m. at Villages of Carver Family YMCA, 1600 Pryor Rd., Atlanta 30315

Stewart-Lakewood Library – Thursday, March 24, 7:00 p.m. at Stewart-Lakewood Branch, 2893 Lakewood Ave., Atlanta 30315

Northwest Library – Tuesday, March 29, 7:00 p.m. at Perry Homes Branch, 2011 Bolton Rd., Atlanta 30318

East Roswell Library – Thursday, March 31, 7:00 p.m. at East Roswell Community Center, 9000 Fouts Rd., Roswell 30076

Alpharetta Library – Tuesday, April 5, 7:00 p.m. at Alpharetta Senior Center, 13450 Cogburn Rd., Alpharetta 30004

Milton Library – Tuesday, April 12, 7:00 p.m. at Milton Court Room (located in Milton City Hall), 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Ste., 107E, Milton 30004

South Fulton Library – Thursday, April 14, 7:00 p.m. at South Fulton Branch, 4055 Flat Shoals Rd., Union City 30291

Auburn Avenue Research Library – Tuesday, April 19, 7:00 p.m. at Auburn Avenue Research Library, 101 Auburn Ave., Atlanta 30303

You can also submit recommendations in the following ways:
- Email: librarycomments@fultoncountyga.gov
- Fax: 404-335-5291
- Mail: Branch Services, Central Library, One Margaret Mitchell Square, Atlanta, GA 30303

If you have questions, please call 404-730-1777.

Free Blood Pressure Screening

Staff from North Fulton Regional Hospital will be in the Roswell Library's lobby on Tuesday, March 29 from 3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.  They will offer free blood pressure screenings and will then exlpain the score to you.  We hope you will take advantage of this important health service!  Remember, it's free and it could help save your life.

Spring Newsletter is now online

The Friends of the Roswell Library's latest newsletter is now online.  Thanks to Mary Ellen Kubis for another informative and fabulous newsletter.  Click here to go to the Newsletters page on our website to learn more.  From there you can download a copy of the current newsletter, as well as past issues.  Remember, if you are a member of the Friends, you are one of the lucky ones who gets a copy mailed to you as soon as it's published!

This Week @ the Roswell Library

Wondering what to do this week?  For the week of March 21 - March 26, you'll find plenty of activities at the Roswell Library, including a Chess Club for kids Monday evening;  story times for children, including one in Spanish;  AARP offering free tax assistance on Monday afternoon;  the Mystery Readers' Book Club reading The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett;  free computer classes;  a seminar on skin and beauty health;  free ESL classes;  and there are always books for sale in the lobby and in the Friends' bookstore.

For more information about these programs, please visit the Friends' website at www.forl.net/libraryprograms.html.

Skin and Beauty Health

Join us Wednesday, March 23 at 6:00 p.m. for an informative program on healthy skin.  Dr. Elizabeth Miller will discuss how to naturally put your best face forward and answer all your skin and beauty questions.   Registration is required and may be made in person or over the phone by calling the Roswell Library at 770-640-3075.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Top of the morning to ye' fine readers.   In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, here are a few links to make your Irish hearts smile.

History of St. Patrick's Day at Wikipedia
Irish Independent Newspaper
Irish Times Newspaper
RTE - Ireland's National Public Service Broadcaster
Taste of Britain - A Norcross, GA store where you'll find lots of Irish food and gifts
Thistle and Shamrock - NPR's popular Celtic music program
Irish recipes at allrecipes.com
Irish recipes at Ireland's Eye

Free Computer Classes Next Week

The Roswell Library is offering free computer classes next week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.  Registration is required for all classes and seating is limited.  Please call the Roswell Library at 770-640-3075 to make a reservation.

Introduction to Computers
Monday, March 21. 10:00 a.m.
Learn the basics to using a computer.

Introduction to Word 2010
Tuesday, March 22. 10:00 a.m.
Learn how to create basic documents using Word 2010.

Word Lab
Wednesday, March 23. 10:00 a.m.
This is a self-paced lesson giving participants a chance to practice their newly learned skills in Word.

Local Author Renea Winchester

One of our favorite local authors, Renea Winchester, will visit the Roswell Library on June 18 as part of our Atlanta Authors Series!  And if that's not enough to make your day, we have learned that her book, In the Garden with Billy: Lessons About Life, Love & Tomatoes, has just been nominated for a SIBA award. SIBA stands for Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, an organization that recognizes great southern books.  To learn more about In the Garden with Billy: Lessons About Life, Live & Tomatoes, please visit the author's website, http://www.reneawinchester.com/, and blog, http://blogthefarm.wordpress.com/.  Congratulations, Renea!

Bio Bus at the Roswell Library

Have fun with hands-on science when the Georgia State University Bio Bus comes to the Roswell Library!  On Wednesday, April 6 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., there will be two tours an hour (4 tours total), with 15 children per tour.

Registration is required and may be made in person or over the phone by calling the Roswell Library at 770-640-3075.   Ages 6 - 10.  Registration begins March 16.

READing Paws @ the Roswell Library

The Reading Paws program now visits the Roswell Library once a month to help children practice their reading skills in a warm and friendly environment.  These trained and certified therapy dogs love stories!

Morgan, a female Bernese Mountain dog, will be here Saturday, April 2 at 11:00 a.m.  Click here to learn more about Morgan.   Reading sessions are held in the Story Time Room in the Children's Department and last 15 minutes.  There are 4 sessions available on April 2.  Beginning readers, grades 1 and up, are welcome.  Please call the Roswell Library at 770-640-3075 to make a reservation.