Garland County Library

Groundhog Day

2012-02-01T13:42:00.002-06:00

As early as February of 1841, Americans have relied on a groundhog to predict how much longer winter weather will last. Although the rodent is very rarely accurate, rated at about 39% according to the National Climatic Data Center, thousands of people still gather to celebrate Groundhog Day every February 2nd. Supposedly if the day is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from the ground winter

Master Gardeners Propose Colorful Spring

2012-01-18T12:52:00.001-06:00

Image from Library of Congress When it comes to technology and exploration, the week of December 12-18 has been an exciting one in history. In just over one hundred

Christmas Closing Hours/Santa's Little Shelvers

2010-12-07T14:07:00.019-06:00

photo courtesy commons.wikimedia.comMerry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc.The GCL will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas day, and the day after Christmas. We will also be closing early (at 5:30) on Thursday, December 23rd.We wish you a safe and memorable holiday and hope that all good things come your way.***Speaking of good things

GCL Invites You to Holiday Open House and Parade Debut

2010-11-30T14:36:00.003-06:00

Public Domain image from Wikimedia.image by sanjoselibrary on flickr School is in full gear and students are knee deep in required reading for English class. For middle and high school age students who do not think curling up with a copy of “Heart of Darkness” and a cup of cocoa is fun, try Teen Read Week. Teen

Discover Arkansas' Haunted Sites

2010-10-09T11:18:00.006-05:00

Photo by Bettina WoolbrightOn Monday, October 25th at 4:00 p.m. in the new Multi-Purpose Room, the Library will be holding a special presentation in the spirit of Halloween.Sponsored by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Discover Arkansas' Haunted Historic Sites is a great way to get in the ghostly "spirit" and learn about the eerie places in our state that are said to be

TKAM Recap, Upcoming Book Talks

2010-10-05T13:56:00.009-05:00

Thanks to everyone who made our 50th anniversary celebration of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird so memorable: our speakers Nannette Crane-Post and Wayne Bryan; Erin McKenzie, Rayna Mackie and Loren Fraize for their art work; the Friends of the Library for sponsoring the event; Brittany Hennessee and Karen Covey for the magnificent tri-folds; Jill Dryden for taking these great pictures; and

The Lost Boys of Sudan Discussion

2010-09-29T13:04:00.005-05:00

One of the Garland County Library's goals is to inform the citizens of Garland County on social and cultural issues on a local, national and global scale. With that in mind, the Library is excited to announce a "Lost Boys of Sudan" discussion on Sunday, October 10th at 5 pm. The discussion will feature Joan Hecht, author of "The Journey of the Lost Boys" and Atem Da'Hajcock, a survivor of the

Library Card Sign-up Month

2010-09-17T12:24:00.002-05:00

Summer is winding down at the Garland County Library. June Jamboree and most of the children’s programs and exercise classes may be over but the library still has great events happening all year long. Movie and art showings, as well as traveling displays, are available throughout the year. The majority of what the library offers—including DVD checkout, free internet access, and Wi-Fi—is easier

GCL to Celebrate 50 Years of To Kill a Mockingbird

2010-09-07T16:27:00.001-05:00

Join the Celebration! Read more about the 50th Anniversary of To Kill a MockingbirdThe Garland County Library is observing the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of To Kill a Mockingbird with a celebration on Sunday, September 26th at 1 p.m.Harper Lee’s coming-of-age tale, set in a South poisoned by prejudice, is one of the most popular novels of the twentieth century. It has been

Darfur Traveling Photojournalism Exhibit @ the Garland County Library 9/10/10-10/10/10

2010-08-31T15:36:00.004-05:00

As part of our mission to expand the knowledge of culture and society the the residents of Garland County, The Garland County Library will host the traveling exhibit "Darfur: Photojournalists Respond" from September 10th to October 10th. The exhibit, based on the book "Darfur: Twenty Years of War and Genocide in Sudan" is a collection of photographs and panels revealing the tragedy of the crisis

Audiobook Appreciation Month

2010-08-24T08:57:00.003-05:00

image by Jeff Daly (dalydose), Creative CommonsAugust is an unusual month. It contains no significant American holidays, and there is only one major American event: VJ Day or Victory in the Pacific Day, which effectively ended World War II. This month is host to several not well known events such as National Goat Cheese Month, National Catfish Month, and Neurosurgery Outreach Month. At the

Hood Stories by Black Male

2010-08-17T16:34:00.011-05:00

Local Hot Springs author Black Male recently sat down and discussed his new book, Hood Stories. This book is available for checkout at the Library, and can be purchased from 25,000 websites, including amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

GCL Invites You to Shake a Leg

2010-08-09T13:35:00.010-05:00

Contra Dancing photo public domain.The Garland County Library is presenting a series of exercise and dance related programs, including Family Exercise Dance, Contra Dancing, and Yoga. While the library may be traditionally associated with sedentary activities like reading, Library Director John Wells feels that the library should be a center for physical as well as intellectual activity. “We

Adult and Young Adult Summer Reading Program Winners!

2010-08-02T11:27:00.005-05:00

-image by geckoam: flickr creative commonsLadies and gentlemen, children of all ages: here are your 2010 adult and YA summer reading program winners drawn randomly from the 368 review forms that were filled out and returned according to the contest rules.YOUNG ADULT SUMMER READINGPROGRAM WINNERS!!-Playaway - Layla Henson-YA Fiction - Mahiya Momota-Fiction - Aaron

Get Crafty This Summer

2010-07-21T15:38:00.009-05:00

Between summer rain and temperatures spiking in the high 90s, something can be said for beating the heat and staying inside during this time of the year. There is no reason to feel cooped up, though. There are plenty of new crafts to pick up during the summer. Arts and crafts generally get the bad reputation of being the stuff of pipe cleaner animals and paint-by-number art. It is so

New Parking Lot Under Construction

2010-07-15T11:35:00.008-05:00

The library is currently undergoing construction for a new parking lot. The new lot will hold 36 spaces, which will greatly help those who have a difficult time finding a spot during times of heavy business (tax season, large groups and programs, etc.). No longer should you need to park at the Health Department or on the side-streets that surround the library. If you've ever had the misfortune of

GCL Wodehouse Society?

2010-07-06T17:47:00.005-05:00

While looking into online resources on P.G. Wodehouse, the beloved British author of the Jeeves books, for a forthcoming review in the Sentinel Record's Senior Scene supplement, I ran across a startling statistic. Not only does Arkansas regularly place near the bottom in surveys of literacy, education and health, it does not have a single chapter of the Wodehouse Society.The U.S. branch of the

Happy 4th of July!

2010-06-30T12:27:00.003-05:00

Your Garland County Library will be closed on the fourth and fifth of July in observance of our nation's 234th birthday. Whatever your planning, we've got the information to make your Independence Day celebration a success. Looking for books on grilling? Check out our non-fiction section under 641.5784. Planning on going out on the lake? We've got books on sailing (797.1), kayaking (797.122), and

Father's Day

2010-06-19T09:32:00.003-05:00

Awarded to "Tinkers," by Paul Harding, a

New York Review Books at GCL

2010-04-07T13:10:00.005-05:00

We're trying to make April less cruel by introducing a great new collection of books. The New York Review Book Classics is a set of 250 interesting titles, ranging from Greek classics to contemporary fiction, all beautifully bound and introduced by a host of renowned critics and scholars.The set was bought through a grant from the Arkansas State Library and titles are available for check out

Arkansas Literary Festival starts next week

2010-04-02T12:55:00.005-05:00

The annual Arkansas Literary Festival gets started April 8th in Downtown Little Rock. The festival, which is run by the Central Arkansas Library System, runs through April 11th at various venues in and around the Central Arkansas Library's Main campus on Rock St. Festivities include workshops, author readings and presentations, a meet-and-greet with nationally renowned authors, exhibits on book

GCL Celebrates Spring Holidays

2010-03-23T13:18:00.013-05:00

After a once in a decade series of snow, sleet, and hail--proving Punxsutawney Phil correct beyond a shadow of a doubt--spring is upon us. The week of March 21 marks the first week of spring as the season technically begins on the twentieth. To celebrate the change of season, there are two uniquely American botanical holidays this week. March 25 marks Pecan Day, and the National Cherry Blossom

Irish Short Story Writers

2010-03-16T13:27:00.008-05:00

To commemorate St. Patrick's Day and Hot Springs' (in)famous World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade, we'd like to share a list of Irish authors who wrote short stories whose works are available at Garland County Library.Click the following names to view the author's works available at the Library via our Card Catalog:Samuel BeckettJohn BoyneJoyce CaryLord DunsanyNeil JordanJames JoyceJohn

Charles Portis : An Appreciation

2010-03-03T09:02:00.003-06:00

The Coen brothers, the pair responsible for a slew of fantastic movies, including Raising Arizona, Blood Simple, No Country for Old Men, Fargo and many others available on DVD at GCL, are currently filming a remake of True Grit. The 1969 original, best known for John Wayne's performance as Rooster Cogburn-- the one-eyed, whiskey drinking Fort Smith marshal- was based on the 1968 novel by El

2010-The Year of Book-Based Movies

2010-02-22T15:26:00.008-06:00

This year, Hollywood has decided to browse the stacks of their local library to find ideas for this year's blockbusters. Practically every month this year, there is a major studio release of a movie based off of a classic or best-seller. Some have already been released (Peter Jackson's adaptation of Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones is already creating some Oscar buzz), while many more are on the

Celebrate Library Lovers' Month at Garland County Library

2010-02-10T08:41:00.005-06:00

February is Library Lovers' Month at Garland County Library. Library Lovers' Month is a month-long celebration of libraries. This is a time for everyone to recognize the important role libraries play in the cultural and economic success of local communities and the nation as a whole. In the current economic climate, Garland County Library is more popular than ever.Whether they depend on the

AARP to offer free tax preparation

2010-01-27T15:17:00.002-06:00

AARP will once again offer free tax help for the public at the Garland County Library. AARP volunteers will be on hand to give assistance for personal property taxes from February 1st through April 15th. They will be here from 10 am to 2 pm Monday through Saturday and will have evening sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3 pm to 7 pm. They will not do business, rental property, or

Warning : This Unusual Display May Shock You . . .

2010-01-09T16:09:00.000-06:00

But You Will Not Forget It. Happy New Year! We're ringing in 2010 with an exhibit of vintage paperbacks in our front display case. Known for their startling (and often lurid) cover art -- meant to catch the eye from wire racks in train stations and drug stores and news stands (some may have been a little too eye-catching and were most likely delivered in plain brown wrappers), the mass market

Genocide Around the World essay contest

2009-12-28T13:10:00.004-06:00

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

Japanese Books at the GCL

2009-12-16T15:06:00.010-06:00

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

GCL Open House . . . Art and Events

2009-12-10T11:14:00.005-06:00

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

Happy Holidays

2009-12-02T13:43:00.009-06:00

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 dayDecember 25- closed all dayDecember 26- closed all dayDecember 27- closed all dayDecember 31- close early @ 5:30 p.m.January 1st- closed all dayAlso, don't forget that the Garland County Library is holding a

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-24T17:25:00.007-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all our patrons and guests!Holiday hours are as follows:Wednesday, November 25th - 9:00-5:30Thursday, November 26th - ClosedFriday, November 27th - ClosedSaturday, November 28th - Regular hours resumeEnjoy 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

GCL Sponsors Community Drive

2009-11-19T13:25:00.006-06:00

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

Reference Librarian Donna Rusher named Library Paraprofessional of the Year

2009-11-10T16:58:00.003-06:00

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

Lord of the Rings Party!

2009-11-04T14:30:00.008-06:00

(CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE)Be there.

Book Sale Room Opens

2009-10-30T09:36:00.003-05:00

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

2009-10-24T11:27:00.009-05:00

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