Monday, September 08, 2008
Published Tuesday, August 05, 2008 in Close-Up
Straight from the Stacks- Library News
By KIM DISTEL and ANNA HOLLANDER
A. Mitchell Powell Jr. Library Patrons enjoy summer activities at the library
From late May to mid-July, the A. Mitchell Powell Jr. Public Library offered a wide range of free activities for families -- including reading programs for children and teens, arts and crafts, art and story contests for teens, other Teen Club activities, Babytime, Laptime, and 22 special performances. Approximately 1,750 children and teens registered to participate in the reading programs, and approximately 5,800 people attended the performances and other programs.
The library also continued its monthly book club meetings for adults and started a series of gardening talks, presented by Coweta County Master Gardeners.
You may view photographs from the summer activities, as well as a list of our summer sponsors, at www.newnan-coweta.org/summer08.htm . Thank you to everyone who helped to make this summer at the library a success!
Teen board holds annual pizza party
The library's Teen Advisory Board hosted its annual pizza party for teen readers on July 17. Kids ages 11-17 who had read at least 10 books or for at least 20 hours were eligible to attend. Participants enjoyed karaoke, snow cones, games, and pizza.
The names of all eligible readers were entered in a random grand prize drawing. Samuel Scottaline won $100 donated by the Kiwanis Club of Newnan. Forty-six teens had qualified to enter the drawing.
Top readers were Nicole and Dione Gould. Nicole received a $25 gift card, and Dione won two movie passes.
The teen art contest winner was Christina Metcalf, and the writing contest winner was Scarlett Elrod. Both received $25 gift cards donated by the Kiwanis Club of Newnan, as well as movie passes.
Used bookstore opens
In early July, a special bookstore opened for business at the library. The store offers a wide selection of books, videos, and other materials for people of all ages. Most prices range from 25ยข to $3 per item.
The items in the store come from donations from members of the community. At this time, the library would especially appreciate donations of children's items. According to Norma Haynes -- chairperson of the Powell library's board of trustees and originator of the idea for the store -- a key benefit of the store involves offering children an opportunity to buy books of their own at a low price.
The library accepts donations of used books according to its published donation criteria. A copy of the criteria is available at the library and on the library's Web site at www.newnan-coweta.org/criteria.pdf .
Along with Haynes, other volunteers and staff members have worked to set up and maintain the store. The director of the Powell library, Jimmy Bass, thanks Haynes, Powell library board member Carol Lee Shankel, library supporter Anne Powell, and volunteer Marianne Thomasson, as well as the library staff members.
The library invites all members of the community to visit the library and enjoy this new service.
Master gardener to present program
On Aug. 27 at 11 a.m., the library is offering a program with a Coweta County Master Gardener. Sandy Smith will share her knowledge of trees.
Smith will discuss how to identify trees and will provide valuable information to homeowners who are considering planting trees. The program marks the second in a series of gardening talks at the library.
Book Club Meetings
This month the library's book club will meet on Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. at the library. The club is discussing the novel "Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind," by Ann B. Ross.
The following meeting is set for Sept. 8. We will cover "No Country for Old Men," a novel by Cormac McCarthy.
Book club meetings are open to all interested adults. More information is available at www.newnan-coweta.org/bookclub.htm .
Web Site Pick of the Month
The Web site of The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension provides information to help Georgians in their daily lives. The site gives access to information in the areas of agriculture and natural resources, 4-H, and family and consumer sciences. The site also links users to details about the local extension offices.
The Coweta County office is working with the A. Mitchell Powell Jr. Public Library to offer a series of gardening talks at the library, presented by Coweta County Master Gardeners.