Genocide Around the World essay contest

In recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day, April 12th, 2010, the Garland County Library and the Congregation House of Israel are sponsoring an essay contest for all 7th to 12th grade students. The goal of the contest is to raise awareness of the attempted obliteration of peoples simply because of their race, ethnicity, or beliefs.

Participants are to write an essay discussing instances of genocide other than the Holocaust that have occurred or are occurring anywhere in the world. Entries should be double-spaced, containing between 1000-2000 word. The contest will be divided between two age groups: 7th-9th graders and 10th-12th graders. We will award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes in both divisions in the amount of $100, $75, and $50 respectively. Entries must be submitted to the Garland County Library between January 1st and February 28th, 2010. For complete rules, call the library at (501)623-4161 or (501)922-4483 or come by the library at 1427 Malvern Ave.

Japanese Books at the GCL

The Garland County Library has been the recipient of the Nippon Foundation's "100 Books for Understanding Contemporary Japan" donation program.

The library has requested approximately fifty titles from the list, with more to come. These books will give us a better understanding of modern-day Japanese culture through literature. The "100 Books" were selected by ten experts with extensive knowledge of Japan who believe they will give a basic introduction to the culture.


The Nippon Foundation has ensured that this program will evolve and their list will continue to expand.

The Nippon Foundation (日本財団, Nipponzaidan) (Tokyo, Japan) is a private, non-profit grant-making organization. It was established in 1962 by the late statesman and businessman Ryoichi Sasakawa to direct Japanese motorboat racing revenue into philanthropic activities. The Foundation’s overall objectives include global maritime development and assistance for humanitarian work, both at home and abroad. In the humanitarian field, it focuses on such fields as social welfare, public health, and education. - wikipedia.com

Please visit the following link for more information regarding this program:

100 Books

GCL Open House . . . Art and Events

Thanks to all of you who attended our open house to celebrate the grand opening of our new addition on Dec. 6th. For a nice review of the party, see the front page of the Monday Dec. 7 Sentinel Record.



If you missed out on the swinging band, you have another chance to hear some great music at the library. On Sunday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m., the Family & Friends Bluegrass Band will perform. They play a variety of music from acoustic bluegrass to The Beatles, and will be sure to strike up your holiday favorites. No tickets necessary -- just show up for a good time.


Also at the library this month is a traveling exhibit featuring the work of Mexican painter Diego Rivera. Rivera was known as a muralist, so be sure to check out the huge mural-like hanging we have displayed opposite the periodicals. Upcoming exhibits include the works of M.C. Escher, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet and others.

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from the Garland County Library! The library will be closed the following times and dates for the holidays:

December 23- close early @ 5:30 p.m.
December 24- closed all day
December 25- closed all day
December 26- closed all day
December 27- closed all day
December 31- close early @ 5:30 p.m.
January 1st- closed all day

Also, don't forget that the Garland County Library is holding a community food drive throughout the holiday season. Donations benefit the Jackson House, Potter's Clay, the Humane Society, and the Senior Companions program.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all our patrons and guests!

Holiday hours are as follows:

Wednesday, November 25th - 9:00-5:30
Thursday, November 26th - Closed
Friday, November 27th - Closed
Saturday, November 28th - Regular hours resume

Enjoy your turkey or turkey substitute!

********************

FYI:
Open House for the new addition to the Library is set for Sunday, December 6th from 2:00-4:00 PM. Finger foods will be served, Shirley Chauvin Miller will sing for the first hour, and the band will play for the entire two hours.

Hope to see you there!

GCL Sponsors Community Drive

The Garland County Library is sponsoring a community drive during the month of December. We encourage our patrons to help others in the community by dropping off non-perishable food items (this means no livestock or in-laws, sorry), baby or infant care items, or pet care supplies at the library.

Canned goods, baking mixes, pastas, sauces, and cereals, baby and pet foods are always in high demand. Please donate only unopened packages and make sure that they haven't expired.

All donations will be distributed to local charities, such as the Jackson House, Potter's Clay, the Humane Society, and the Senior Companions program.

Donating items will have no effect on a patron's account.

We look forward to your help in making this a happier holiday season for those in our community in need. Thank you.

Reference Librarian Donna Rusher named Library Paraprofessional of the Year

Our own Donna Addison Rusher was named the Lorrie Shuff Paraprofessional of the Year by the Arkansas Library Association at their annual conference last month. This award was well deserved for our longest tenured employee. Donna has worked continuously at the Garland County Library for the past 32 years but also worked at the library back when she was in the 5th grade! She started in 1977 as a clerk and has worked her way up the chain to Reference Librarian.

Aside from her work at the library, Donna is an avid dog lover and outdoors enthusiast. She can be found sitting atop a levee in Helena, AR the first weekend of every October.

Lord of the Rings Party!

(CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

Be there.

Book Sale Room Opens

The Friends of the Library Book Sale Room reopened this week in their part of our new addition. The Sale Room was closed for two months due to renovations. Thanks for your patience to all of you who have inquired about its reopening. It's up and running and fully stocked, so please come browse and buy. For more information on the Friends of the Library, look two posts down.

Wednesday Night Nintendo DS Club

The Garland County Library will begin holding a Wednesday Night Nintendo DS Club beginning Wednesday, November 4th.

Registration will be required, and we encourage you to bring your own DS. The library owns four units, which can be checked out on a first-come, first-serve basis. The club is open to the public, but in order to check out a DS, you must be a card-carrying library patron in good standing. If you would like your own library card, this is a perfect time to become a member.

We will provide top multiplayer games, such as Mario Kart, Pokemon Platinum, Metroid Prime Hunters, as well as others, with plans on expanding the collection (help us choose the games - you're the ones playing them!). You are welcome to bring your own games, with the only rule that they be rated no higher than T (Teen). Multiplayer games are strongly encouraged for group involvement, but if you'd like to show off a new or rare game to the crowd, feel free!


The meetings will be held in the Gordonelle Williams Auditorium from 5:00-7:00 PM every Wednesday night.

There is no age limit, and the group (at this time) is restricted to the first 20 individuals who sign up. A waiting list will be available for cancellations.


Let's-a-go!

Justin
Group Coordinator

GCL Salutes Friends of the Library

October 19-26 is Friends of the Library appreciation week. The friends are currently busy moving into their new headquarters in our new addition (no opening date set, but we'll keep you posted), but Friends president Fran Lancaster took a few minutes to sit down with us and tell us a little about the FOL and what they do.

Q: What is the Friends of the Library?
Fran: We're an organization that supports the library by selling donated books.

Q: How does Friends of the Library help GCL?
Fran: All the money we earn from the booksale room and the annual booksale goes into library projects. We've funded Adam Webb's gaming programs, best seller book rentals, and many programs for the Children's Library, including the Summer Reading Program, character costume rentals, and dance and art classes.

Q: How is the Friends of the Library organized?
Fran: Loosely! Actually, we have a board with 22 or 23 members who make the executive decisions and 10 to 12 regular volunteers who work about 8 hours a week, except during the annual booksale, when everyone works more. I'm just a book toter! We also have 650 members who pay five dollars for a membership and a number of life members who pay a hundred dollars.

Q: How can someone become a member?
Fran: Anyone can join by filling out a form any time the library is open. The five dollar membership entitles the member to attend the first, members-only day of the annual booksale the first weekend in May.


Q: How does one go about making a book donation?
Fran: We're always glad to have books on any topic in good condition. We also accept VHS tapes, DVDs and other items. People who want to donate can bring them to the library any time it's open and someone will help them bring the items in. All donations are tax deductible.

Q: How do you like the new Friends' sale room?
Fran: We're very fortunate to have been drawn into the new addition by the Library's board. It's a bright, beautiful environment and we have more space. On a rainy day like today, it's also a great place for people to sit with a book and watch the rain.


We'd like to thank Fran and all the Friends for all their hard work and we hope to see all of you in the new Booksale Room as soon as it opens.

Why does Gandalf have to be so cryptic all the time?

Gandalf says,

"On Saturday, December 5th at 10:00 AM till 11:00 PM
the Garland County Library
will become an even more special place.
But I can't tell you about it just yet!"

Celebrate Banned Books Week

From Kurt Vonnegut:

"And on the subject of burning books: I want to congratulate librarians, not famous for their physical strength or their powerful political connections or their great wealth, who, all over this country, have staunchly resisted anti-democratic bullies who have tried to remove certain books from their shelves, and have refused to reveal to thought police the names of persons who have checked out those titles.

So the America I loved still exists, if not in the White House or the Supreme Court or the Senate or the House of Representatives or the media. The America I love still exists at the front desks of our public libraries."

from A Man Without a Country, 2005

From the American Library Association:

Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.

Intellectual freedom—the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular—provides the foundation for Banned Books Week. BBW stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints for all who wish to read and access them.

The books featured during Banned Books Week have been targets of attempted bannings. Fortunately, while some books were banned or restricted, in a majority of cases the books were not banned, all thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, booksellers, and members of the community to retain the books in the library collections. Imagine how many more books might be challenged—and possibly banned or restricted—if librarians, teachers, and booksellers across the country did not use Banned Books Week each year to teach the importance of our First Amendment rights and the power of literature, and to draw attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society.

Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association; American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression; the American Library Association; American Society of Journalists and Authors; Association of American Publishers; and the National Association of College Stores. It is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

For more information on getting involved with Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read, please see Calendar of Events and Ideas and Resources. You can also contact the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4220, or bbw@ala.org.

Come check out our display of banned books from our collection in the front entrance of the Garland County Library.

Lego Club

The Children's Library is taking donations for your Legos!

"Please! Bring me more Legos!"





























LEGO CLUB
at the Garland County Library
Sunday, October 18th 1:30-3:00 PM
Ages 3-14
Registration Required

Join us each month as we explore a different theme.
October's theme is Buildings.

To register or for more information, please call 501-623-4161 or 501-922-4483

Children 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

See you soon!

Flu

Flu Precautions at the Library

We're taking the flu season seriously at the Garland County Library. Not only do we want to share useful and up to date information with the community, but we also want to make sure the library is a healthy, clean environment for patrons and staff.

If you or your child is experiencing any flu or flu-like symptoms, please wait to visit the library until symptoms subside. The library staff will do the same.

While using the library facility and library items, we urge you to wash hands often and to use hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer dispensers, surface cleaning wipes, and tissues are available at the front desk.

If you have questions or concerns, please let us know.

Tips for Staying Healthy

1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle through rest, diet, exercise, and relaxation.

2. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner if soap and water are not available. Be sure to wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.

3. Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes. Germs spread this way.

4. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your elbow. Dispose of tissues in no-touch trash receptacles.

5. Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean, such as telephones, computer keyboards, doorknobs, etc.

6. Do not use other workers’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment. If you need to use a co-worker’s phone, desk, or other equipment, clean it first.

7. Don’t spread the flu! If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home. Symptoms of flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting. CDC recommends that sick workers stay home if they are sick with flu-like illness until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines.

8. Get vaccinated against seasonal flu, when vaccine is available in your area. If you are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications you should receive the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine when it becomes available. People at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications include pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes).

-From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Tennis, Anyone?

The U.S. Open wraps up this weekend, so in spirit of the game, we're serving up some great tennis themed recommendations from our collection.

One of the best recent books on the sport, Strokes of genius : Federer, Nadal, and the greatest match ever played, by Sports Illustrated writer L. Jon Wertheim, revisits Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's epic five set 2008 Wimbledon final. The rain delays! The encroaching dark! It's all there, point by point. Aside from describing the match in detail (maybe too much detail for the casual reader), Wertheim does a great job providing context for this match, and for the modern game in general. Will there be a rematch at Flushing Meadows this weekend? Both men have advanced so far, so it's a possibility.

Looking for an insider's look at what it takes to win the U.S. Open (and the other majors as well)? Check out reformed tennis bad boy Andre Agassi's new book: Open : an autobiography, due to hit our shelves soon.

For a comprehensive overview of the sport, check out long time commentator Bud Collins' Total tennis : the ultimate tennis encyclopedia. It's full of great stats, records, and biographical information on the greatest players of all time.

Here's a sad stat for you: this is the first U.S. Open in which no American man has made it to the quarterfinals (thanks to Serena Williams and Melanie Oudin, the U.S. women are faring better), so if there are any men out there who'd like to work on their game for the next September, we have some great books on tactics for you as well. Tony, our resident player, recommends Serious tennis by Scott Williams and Maximum tennis : 10 keys to unleashing your on-court potential by Nick Saviano.

Game, set, match.

The National Parks: America's Best Idea

Noted filmmaker Ken Burns will premiere his newest work, The National Parks: America's Best Idea September 27th on PBS.

Since we are located within a stone's throw from Hot Springs National Park, we'd like to help promote Burns' new documentary. The Garland County Library will be distributing special bookmarks to promote the film. These bookmarks can be planted to grow wildflowers. Feel free to pick one up at the front desk or in scattered locations throughout the library (one per adult patron).

Visit pbs.org/nationalparks for more information concerning this project.

Did You Know?

Every Sunday afternoon and Wednesday evening, the Garland County Library shows movies for free in the Gordonelle Williams Hall Auditorium. Enjoy titles from the new releases to classics while eating complimentary popcorn (drinks are allowed, as well). The movies are shown on a large screen with surround sound. Some of the selections are available for checkout. We try to choose movies of literary or cinematic importance. Don't miss out!

Here's a list of the next two months of movies (a more detailed list can be found here):

September:

Wednesday, September 2nd, 5:00
Reservoir Dogs
(1992, 1 hr 39 min)

Sunday, September 6th, 1:00
Watchmen
(2009, 2 hrs 43 min)

Wednesday, September 9th, 5:00
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
(1998, 2 hrs 8 min)

Sunday, September 13th, 1:00
Scent of a Woman
(1992, 2 hrs 17 min)

Wednesday, September 16th, 5:00
The Rules of Attraction
(2002, 1 hr 50 min)

Sunday, September 20th, 1:00
American Psycho
(2000, 1 hr 40 min)

Wednesday, September 23rd, 5:00
Misery
(1990, 1 hr 47 min)

Sunday, September 27th, 1:00
Stand By Me
(1986, 1 hr 27 min)

Wednesday, September 30th, 5:00
Full Metal Jacket
(1987, 1 hr 56 min)

October: Halloween Horror Specials

Sunday, October 3rd, 1:00
Frankenstein/The Invisible Man
(1931/1933, 2hrs 22 min)

Wednesday, October 7th, 4:00
House of Wax/It Came From Outer Space
(1953/1953, 2hrs 50 min)

Sunday, October 10th, 1:00
Creature From the Black Lagoon/Invasion of the Body Snatchers
(1954/1956, 2hrs 39 min)

Wednesday, October 14th, 4:00
Carnival of Souls/Night of the Living Dead
(1962/1968, 2hrs 59 min)

Sunday, October 17th, 1:00
The Birds
(1963, 1 hr, 59 min)

Wednesday, October 21st, 5:00
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
(1974, 1 hr 24 min)

Sunday, October 24th, 1:00
The Exorcist
(1973, 2 hrs, 1 min)

Wednesday, October 28th, 5:00
The Blair Witch Project
(1999, 1 hr 26 min)

Sunday, October 31st, 1:00
The Shining
(1980, 2hrs)

November will be a celebration of all things Cohen Brothers and December's list is packed full of 2009 summer blockbusters. Come check it out!

The Grapes of Wrath

We'll show John Ford's The Grapes of Wrath (1940) on Sunday, August 23, at 2:00 p.m. Paula Redding, a teacher at Hot Springs High School, will present the film. Henry Fonda stars at Tom Joad, a member of a poor Oklahoma family forced off their land during the Great Depression. The film won two Academy Awards-- Ford for best director, and Jane Darwell for best supporting actress as the long suffering matriarch, Ma Joad. Even though Fonda didn't win, many critics agree that he gives one of his finest performances.

The film is based on John Steinbeck's 1939 novel, which won him the Pulitzer Prize. A copy of the novel will be awarded to a lucky attendee of Sunday's presentation.

Garland County Staff Staff Movie Recommendations

The GCL staff would like to recommend the following movies:
(click the title to view/reserve the book)

Adam E: Devil's Playground

Adam W: Ghostbusters

America: King Corn

Belinda: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Brittany: Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Cheryl: Anne of Green Gables

Danny: Groundhog Day

Donna: The Green Mile

Greg: Small Change

Jacob: Antwone Fisher

Jessica: Love*Com

John W: Slumdog Millionaire

Justin: Throne of Blood

Karen: The Last Waltz

Kim: The Dirty Dozen

Melissa K: The Wrestler

Melissa M: Ratatouille

Michael: Schizopolis

Rani: Fried Green Tomatoes

Rayna: Spirited Away

Sue: Gran Torino

Tony: Amelie

Trent: Gladiator

Walt: Dinner Rush

Yetty: The Notebook

Story Pit We Hardly Knew Ye

Today the Story Pit in the Children's Library was filled with concrete. Countless stories have been read to thousands of children over its 14 year lifespan. Our award-winning Children's Librarian, Tiffany Hough, and the Children's library staff such as Kasey, Katie, Jill, Grace, Becky, and even the adult library staff including Donna, Belinda and Danny have read stories from the pit. Even Santa Claus has told a story or two, and many, many programs have taken place there.

It will be missed!

Below is the progression of the concrete phase. Before it was poured, it was filled with gravel and covered with mesh.

(click images to enlarge)















The carpet and safety bars were removed. Gravel, tarp, and mesh were laid.















The chute was rigged through the window.















Concrete pouring at work.















Joe at work.















The concrete covers the mesh.















A little more to go...















The concrete is spread and smoothed.

We'd like to thank our patrons for their patience during this ensuing peroid of commotion. We guarantee it will be worth the wait! Please come in and check out the progress. Glass doors from the inside now give everyone a view into the workspace, and it is very impressive.

Summer Reading Recap

"There is a temperate zone in the mind, between luxurious indolence and exacting work; and it is to this region, just between laziness and labor, that summer reading belongs." ~Henry Ward Beecher

Our Summer Reading Programs ended last week. We'd like to thank all who participated and congratulate the winners of the weekly drawings.

By far, the most voracious summer readers were the children. The Children's Library enrolled 711 young readers who logged a record-breaking total of over 11, 000 reading hours! The kids celebrated their hard work with an End of Summer party. Even though we'd like to think that reading is its own reward, as an additional treat in recognition of their efforts, the kids were allowed to paint our Miss Kasey from head to toe in acrylic paint. Last year, Miss Tiffany ate a bug. There was no bug eating this year.

Our teen readers also racked up some impressive numbers. We had 27 readers who wrote 147 reviews. Popular teen reads included the Twilight series and the 39 Clues series. Some of our teens were especially ambitions and reviewed The Great Gatsby and My Antonia.

We had 34 adult readers who wrote 282 reviews. The books ranged from The Arabian Nights to Yoga Beats the Blues. Stephenie Meyer and Janet Evanovich were both popular with our summer readers.

If you'd like to look over our readers' reviews, they are all available at the library. Even if you didn't participate in the Reading Program this year, we'd still love to hear your reviews and recommendations, so please leave your comments below.

Local Author Book Signing

On Sunday, July 26th from 3-5 PM, local Hot Springs author Colonel Lynn A. Davis will be selling and signing new copies of his book, They Said It Couldn't Be Done, which documents the closing down of "The Biggest Illegal Casino Operation in America - Hot Springs, Arkansas - 1967" in 120 days.

After many failed attempts at ending casino operations in Hot Springs for decades, Governor Winthrop Rockefeller was frustrated. The previous police chiefs were bribed, blackmailed, or threatened into inaction by the "redneck mafia" down in the Spa City. But not Lynn Davis, a clean-cut FBI agent-turned police chief turned local hero.

Col. Davis ended the gambling in high style. Facing down his enemies in the streets of Hot Springs, he drug out the slot machines and other articles of illegal gambling, bulldozed them into a neat pile and set them ablaze for the public to watch. The illegal operations were irreparably crippled. The free-for-all heyday was over thanks to the efforts of Col. Davis.

We are very excited to have Colonel Davis come to the library to sell his book, which was published by the Garland County Historical Society. The Garland County Historical Society will also have other books of Garland County interest for sale.

Garland County Historical Society - homepage
Arkansas' Murderous Ways - an article mentioning Col. Davis written by Christopher Ruddy
Badges, Bandits and Bars - info on a crime exhibit held at the Old State House Museum

Arkansas Underground Film Festival/GCL Movie Collection

On July 17th, 18th and 19th, the Arkansas Underground Film Festival (ARKUFF) www.arkuff.com will be taking place at the historic Malco Theater. This is a great opportunity for locals and visitors alike to screen films ranging from surrealist (Friday the 17th), pop culture and avant garde (Saturday the 18th), to contemporary experimentalist (Sunday the 19th).

Many of the filmmakers are well-known icons in the underground film and art scenes around the world. Some featured artists and subjects, such as Salvador Dali, Jim Henson, Andy Warhol, William Burroughs and Yoko Ono are household names. Works by other artists, such as George Melies, Luis Bunuel, Stan Brakhage, and Maya Deren may sound less familiar, but are no less noteworthy.

ARKUFF has put together a very special festival and we should be proud to live in a community where events like these are becoming more and more commonplace. We encourage you to attend the Arkansas Underground Film Festival and would also like to offer you our list of films (and books) from the above artists (click their names to locate their works in our card catalog).

Construction Update (FOL Edition)

The construction project is running along smoothly. Here is a brief pictorial update on the progress:

Facing east, standing in the unpaved driveway. The windows you see here will be the new Friends of the Library used book sale room. The adjoining building is the addition to the Children's Library.

Facing north, Jill observing our initials that we etched into the curb.

Stairs before the installation of the conveyor belt. This will lead to the storage area.

The storage area for the Friends of the Library (partial shot). Here is where the FOL store books for their annual May Book Sale.

The window facing eastward towards the Health Department from the new Friends of the Library used book sale room. This space is much larger than the current room, meaning more used books to browse through!

***********************************

We are very appreciative of our Friends of the Library. To become a FOL, it costs only five dollars per year. Becoming a Friend gives you the opportunity to volunteer, work amongst an excellent staff of individuals, and the ability to attend the annual May Sale a day before the public. The money raised by the FOL benefits us in countless ways. Sign up today at the front desk!

Read Your Way to L.A.

This summer the Garland County Library is participating in the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) and World Wrestling Entertainment Reading Jam to give our patrons aged 10-18 the chance to win a paid trip to Los Angeles along with two tickets to WWE's SummerSlam on August 23rd.

Beginning Wednesday, June 24th, a very limited amount of unique numbered posters will be available at the library. Simply ram-jam the front desk, atomic leg-drop, clothesline the clerk and snap into two books (or audiobooks). After the two books are checked out, you will receive the poster (one per patron). On July 17th, visit www.wwekids.com to find out if your number was chosen. If you would like further details, the website is up and running or ask/call us here at the library. Fliers are available at our front desk, as well.

(click photo to enlarge)

Two poster holders will be chosen to win the grand prize - the trip to L.A. and the tickets to SummerSlam. If you are chosen, bring the winning poster to the library to let us know you won. Ten first place winners will recieve a copy of the WWE Encyclopedia. Each library that gives out a poster to a grand prize winner will get $1,000 to use to purchase tween/teen materials for their collection.

If you enjoy winning stuff, a great way to heighten your chances would be to combine the YALSA/WWE contest and the Summer Reading Program. After you read the two books you checked out, write a brief 50-word summary and turn it in for a chance at a $15 gift card. Summer Reading Program forms are available at the library.

REEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAD!!!

Arkansas Quiz Winners Announced

Six lucky winners were drawn for the Arkansas Trivia Quiz today. As mentioned in a previous blog post, the answers must be answered correctly. The following list of library patrons will receive a one-day pass to Garvan Woodland Gardens:

Lara Hackney
Rose Davis
Eli Westerman
Gwen Kudabeck
Terry Diggs
Exavian Christon

For those who did not wish to participate in this daunting, grueling competition, the six questions are listed below.

1. _____ _____ was Arkansas' first state park.

2. This mineral, _____ _____, was adopted as the Arkansas State Mineral in 1967. It is mined in the Ouachita Mountains and is used in computers.

3. The _____ was adopted as the Arkansas State Instrument in 1985. It is associated with Arkansas folk music and culture.

4. _____ was adopted as the Arkansas State Rock by the General Assembly of 1967. The largest deposits of this rock are located in Saline County.

5. The _____ became America's first national river in 1972.

6. The _____ is the Arkansas State Gem. Arkansas is the only place in the nation where you can dig for this gem and keep what you find.

Garland County Library Staff Reading Recommendations

The GCL staff would like to recommend the following books:
Here's some good titles for the Summer Reading Program!
(click the title to view/reserve the book)

Adam E: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Adam W: Links by Nurudden Farah

America: Spider Star by Mike Brotherton

Andy: A Pictorial History of Hot Springs and Garland County, Arkansas by the Sentinel-Record

Belinda: The Outlander Saga (series) by Diana Gabaldon

Brenda: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

Brittany: Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

Cheryl: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Cori: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Danny: No Second Chance by Harlen Coben

Donna: Water in the Garden: A Complete Guide to the Design and Installation of Ponds, Fountains, Streams, and Waterfalls by James Allison

Fonda: Mastering the Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success by Andy Andrews

Grace: So Big by Edna Ferber

Greg: The Years of Lyndon Johnson (trilogy) by Robert Caro

Jacob: The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende

Janet: Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

Jill D: Birth: The Surprising History of How We Were Born by Tina Cassidy

Jill H: Maximum Ride (series) by James Patterson

John: Dangerous Visitors: The Lawless Era by Orval Allbritton

Justin: Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

Karen: Biscuit the Dog (series) by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Kathy: A Long, Hard Road to Freedom by Petrus Lai Nguyen

Katie: Columbine by David Cullen

Kasey: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Kim: Mark of the Lion (series) by Francine Rivers

Lorrie: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Mary: House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

Melissa K: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Melissa M: Heartless by Diana Palmer

Michael: Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs

Rani: The Martyr's Song by Ted Dekker

Rayna: Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut

Seymour: The Sleep Book by Dr. Seuss

Tiffany: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Tony: Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

Walt: The Shack by William P. Young

Yetty: Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron