Lincoln Lawrence Franklin Regional Library

Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana by Anne Rice

2012-02-02T08:43:00.000-06:00

The Road to Cana is the second book in Anne Rice's Christ the Lord series. The novels approach the life of Jesus from Jesus' own perspective, showing him to be both truly human and truly Divine. This creates an interesting story, using the details of the Bible to bring a well-rounded character to life.

While Rice's approach is reverent and respectful, I couldn't keep her creepy vampire books out of my head while reading this book. Rice was the the avant-garde of the current wave of popular vampire books with her series beginning with Interview with the Vampire.

The Christ the Lord series has very little in common with Rice's earlier books, except for being well written and interesting. So do try to shake the vampires out of your head and look at this series fresh!

2012-01-27T09:57:00.001-06:00

Not too many people now do their own hog killing but it was very common when I was a little girl. I imagine they ate chittlings for dinner that night.

V L Hall Family

2011-12-14T17:04:00.000-06:00

Dark Voyage by Alan Furst

2011-12-05T09:02:00.000-06:00

You may not be familiar with Alan Furst, but his novels of World War II are excellent in terms of atmosphere and plotting. His characters are true to life and interesting. He should be more popular!

In Dark Voyage, Furst tells the story of a Dutch freighter which undertakes several covert missions in the early stages of WWII. She travels in disguise through German waters delivering men and materials at great risk to ship and crew.

The story is exciting, the characters are realistic and the atmosphere is very well written. If you like WWII espionage, you will enjoy this book.

Lincoln County Book Tree

2011-12-02T09:43:00.000-06:00

Librarians have a tradition of sharing information and ideas. And a knack for doing interesting things without spending money. So when the staff at the Lincoln County Public Library saw the book tree made by the Franklin County staff, they had to make their own.

In addition, the Lincoln County Public Library is filled with trees provided by groups from all across the community. Please stop by and see the clever and creative decorations at the library!

The Princes of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd

2011-12-01T14:52:00.000-06:00

After reading Ken Follett's great historical novels, I wanted to read something similar. I stumbled over this thick book in the fiction section and thought it might fill the bill. While Rutherfurd's book is good, he isn't the writer Follett is.

The Princes of Ireland covers 11 centuries of Irish history, beginning in tribal, pre-Christian times. The book takes a very human look at history, featuring the stories of individuals more than their culture. If you are looking for a big book for a cold winter night, this might be the thing.

The Princes of Ireland is the first of two books in the Dublin Saga.

Franklin County Book Tree

2011-12-01T14:37:00.000-06:00

The clever library staff at the Franklin County Public Library decided to celebrate the holidays with a library twist: they created a tree from books to decorate the reference section of the library.

Getting Lucky at the Library

2011-11-29T14:58:00.000-06:00

We walked my 12 year old beagle named Lucky to the library recently. And while he couldn't go in to pick out his own book, he was happy to visit with the garden sculpture and share her book.

If you have an older dog, I'd like to recommend a great book on caring for older dogs, Good Old Dog. It is filled with great tips for keeping your old pet as happy as a puppy. Its even got a photo of a beagle on the cover!

John Holly Williams Collection - Little Boy Sailor

2011-11-17T12:26:00.002-06:00

Isn't this the cutest picture of a little boy. This looks like a very happy family waiting for daddy to come home from the war.

A Soldier for Mary Case

2011-11-14T10:36:00.003-06:00

With the internet a soldier now can see and talk with loved ones often. When Mary Case had this copy made, it was the only contact she had with this soldier, except for maybe a few letters. Weeks would go by and I imagine Mary would look at this photo hundreds of times reliving memories of things they did together or songs they danced together. I'm sure it was a wonderful reunion when this guy finally came home.

New Photo for October 2011

2011-10-27T12:36:00.003-05:00

This is a photo of Willie Ethel Brown and it was taken in 1946. She may have taken this picture for college graduation or maybe she was getting married. We may never know . If you know this lady or if you have any information about this lady, you can notify us at libraryinfo@llf.lib.ms.us

2011-10-24T11:18:00.002-05:00

This is one of many pictures that Mr John H Williams took of soldiers . This couple is Mr and Mrs J H Blankenship. But, too many of the pictures are unidentified. You can help!! We have uploaded over 3000 images onto Flickr. Just choose groups and type in Lincoln County Public Library. If you can identify anyone, you can email us.

Last Snow by Eric Van Lustbader

2011-10-07T16:32:00.001-05:00

Eric Van Lustbader's thrillers are fast moving, intricate and exciting. Last Snow is no exception.

This is the second book to feature Jack McClure whose dyslexia makes it all but impossible for him to read texts, but very easy for him to read situations. Jack excels at putting three dimensional puzzles together, including solving real-world problems and fighting bad-guys across the globe.

In the previous book, Jack saved now president Edward Carson's daughter Alli. Alli doesn't trust anyone except Jack and follows him on a dangerous assignment from the president. Jack and Alli, along with a rogue Russian agent named Annika, journey across Russian and the entire globe solving the murder of an American senator.

This book features non-stop action, but includes some enjoyable character development. All in all, it is a great escape, tailor made for listening to on boring car trips.

Prayers for the Assassin by Robert Ferrigno

2011-10-05T11:01:00.000-05:00

Imagine that the terrorists won: It is 2040 and New York and Washington D.C. are nuclear wastelands. Seattle is the capitol of the new totalitarian Islamic third world country that rules most of what used to be the United States. The southern states, equally impoverished and totalitarian, are ruled by a fundamentalist Christian sect. The only world power left is China.
Against this stark and frightening backdrop, we follow characters out to find the truth behind the acts that reduced the greatest country to ever exist into a backwater terrorised equally by its governments and its political criminals.
While Prayers for the Assassin is far-fetched, it is fun to see Ferrigno build the world he creates for this book. The good characters are likable, if not very believable and the bad guys are soap-opera evil. The book is a fun exploration of what we can only pray will never be.
The audio book, read by Armand Schultz is a great way to spend a few hours in the car.

2011-09-01T09:38:00.000-05:00

Fall of Giants by Ken Follett

2011-09-01T08:39:00.000-05:00

I have long been a fan of Ken Follett's thrillers. I love the genre and he writes and plots very well. But I am becoming a bigger fan of Follett's historicals. Yeah, they really are very long soap operas filled with love, marriage, cheating and a detailed examination of the interpersonal relationships of the characters. What matters, however, is how these seemingly irrelevant details contribute in a major way to historical Big Events.

In Fall of Giants, Follett takes on World War I. His stage is the entire western world, from the coal mines of Wales to the White House in Washington to the hovels of St. Petersburg to the gracious townhouses of London and barren fields of Siberia. The book follows five families as their fortunes rise and fall against the background of WWI, the rise of Communism and the ascendancy of the United States.

The book is a wonderful fun read with cliff-hanger chapters filled with political and personal intrigue. And, important to me, Follett's writing is top notch.

Changes Coming!

2011-07-27T10:50:00.000-05:00

We are so excited! Through several federal Universal Service Fund and LSTA grants, the Lincoln Lawrence Franklin Regional Library is leading the way to upgrades in technology for all thirteen members of the Longleaf Library Consortium. Six new servers are in-house in Brookhaven awaiting installation. When the servers are installed, through a series of events over the next several months, all the consortium data will be transferred from the old servers in Columbia to the servers in Brookhaven. The data consists of patron information as well as the book, DVD, video, audio and equipment records. With this process comes a multi-level upgrade in Polaris software which will affect the consortium catalog, circulation procedures, and much more. AT&T has installed a new high speed fiber telecom line into the Lincoln County Public Library for quicker access. The transfer is scheduled to be complete by late October with minimal disruption.

New servers and telecom equipment July 2011

More new software will control access to the public computers in Brookhaven and Columbia (the first two sites installed). Envisionware will install the software on the new servers and this will enable patrons to reserve a computer and check it out with a library card without going to the circulation desk first. (We hope this will alleviate the waiting lines.) Guests will be required to obtain a guest pass and password from the circulation desk. Patrons will be restricted to 3 one-hour sessions per day but this may change if usage requires an adjustment. Printing will also be controlled by the software and will help reduce wasted paper and supplies. We will bring you updates as they occur during this exciting process. Ask your local library staff any questions you might have.

Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen

2011-06-06T08:55:00.000-05:00

Carl Hiaasen is one of my favorite writers. His over-the-top humor combined with his environmental sensitivity make his south Florida novels great summer reads. In Skinny Dip, Biologist Chaz Perrone pushes his wife overboard while on their first anniversary cruise. He doesn't do it for her money (which, coincidentally, she has plenty of) but because he is afraid she has discovered that he is being well paid for faking the pollution reports he submits to his boss. Instead of having the good grace to die in the ocean, she ends up grasping a bale of contraband marijuana and floats into safety in the form of retired cop Mick Stranahan. Mick agrees to help her get even with her sleazy husband and the plot just gets more and more frantically hilarious. Hiaasen's characters are wonderfully funny and his plotting stands up to the humor. If you're looking for a great beach read, this book, or any Hiaasen novel, would be perfect.
While Hiaasen's adult novels are definitely intended for mature audiences, he has also written a great children's book, Hoot, which has also been made into a fun movie.

Troublemaker by Janet Evanovich, Alex Evanovich and Joelle Jones

2011-06-01T09:49:00.000-05:00

I have enjoyed Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books for years, so when I saw this graphic novel on the new book shelf, I picked it up. Troublemaker is based on the series that Evanovich and her daughter Alex write featuring NASCAR driver Sam Hooker and his mechanic, spotter and girlfriend, Alex Barnaby, aka Barney. This book introduces the characters to the graphics world without going too far into the story.

It is a fun romp with adequate illustrations but weak dialog. The story seems a bit short for the price of the book. Set in Miami, the story features car chases, voodoo, swamps and Hookers "cougar" mother. While entertaining, this little book isn't anything like the laugh out loud Stephanie Plum stories.

Fever Dream by Preston & Child

2011-05-31T08:37:00.000-05:00

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child write novels on their own, but their thrillers featuring Aloysius Pendergast are their best work. Fever Dream (2010) is their best yet. Pendergast's brooding character has been mourning the accidental death of his wife Helen for 12 years. While rummaging around his Louisiana mansion, he finds evidence that convinces him that her death was no accident. He begins an unaccustomedly emotional investigation in which he discovers that many things are not as he thought. In fact, he begins to wonder if he really knew his late wife at all!

While the book rambles all over the globe, most of the action takes place in Louisiana and Mississippi, making it fun for us locals. There are some problems with geography that you've got to ignore, and some typically clumsy phrasing, but once you start reading this, you won't put it down.

The audio book is well read by Rene Auberjonois, but he should have checked for the correct the pronunciation of the names and places in Louisiana and Mississippi, some of which he mangles.

And if this book leaves you wanting more Louisiana stories, the Lawrence County Library has just received a donation of the DVD The Big Easy with Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin. The city of New Orleans is as much a character in this movie as are the actors.

Goodreads.com

2011-05-23T14:18:00.000-05:00

If you are interested in books and reading, try the relatively new social networking site http://www.goodreads.com/ which is all about books and reading. You can keep track of the books you have read, comment on and review books, join groups to discuss books you are reading, and find new books to read. It is very simple to register and then rate books you have read or are currently reading. Searching is by author, title, or keyword. Just a lovely new tool in the quest for something good to read. I think I'll be visiting this site often.

The Mix and Match Color Guide to Annuals and Perennials by Graham Strong and Alan Toogood

2011-05-20T10:07:00.001-05:00

The Mix and Match Color Guide to Annuals and Perennials is a beautiful book, filled with great color photographs and brief descriptions of plants for the home garden. Its unusual presentation brings a fresh approach to gardening. The main section of the book is a large selection of plants presented in groups by height. What is different is that each section is 1/4th of the page and turns independently from the others. This arrangement allows you to plan arrangements for your flower borders mixing and matching colors, textures and other factors on the pages. The book begins with some background information followed by fold-out pages featuring some recommended mixtures of plants. Then comes the meat of the book--the mix-and-match individual descriptions and photographs on the partial pages. This is a great book for the begining gardener looking for a place to start as well as for the experienced one looking for fresh compisitions for their yards.

Art Barn Artists Show in Brookhaven

2011-05-06T11:08:00.001-05:00

The Lincoln County Public Library has more great art on display this month. The Art Barn Artists have another wonderful exhibit in the Vernon Room. If you are even marginally interested in art, you should visit the library now where you can compare the new, talented and fresh works of the Arts School students to the mature, equally talented and equally fresh work by the Art Bar Artists.

You are invited

To a

Reception

Honoring

The Art Barn Artists

And to view their art

Thursday, May 12^th

From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Lincoln County Library

Given by

The Fine Arts Committee

The Brookhaven Trust

Refreshments to be served

Mississippi School of the Arts Thesis show 2nd group

2011-05-06T11:00:00.000-05:00

The thesis show continues as the second group of students show their creative and beautiful work.

Mississippi School of the Arts Thesis Shows

2011-04-29T09:10:00.000-05:00

Students in the visual arts program of the Mississippi School of the Arts are featuring their thesis shows this month. The first group is up and a new group will be featured each week.

Please visit the library and see these great students' work.

The Narrows by Michael Connelly

2011-04-20T11:04:00.001-05:00

Michael Connelly brings together characters from previous books in this top-notch thriller. Harry Bosch, Connelly's series hard-boiled detective, is asked by the wife of the late FBI agent Terry McCaleb (also from previous books) to look into McCaleb's death. Harry follows clues that seem to tie McCaleb's death into the serial killer The Poet, who is former FBI agent Bob Backus (and also from a previous book, The Poet). Harry brings in the L.A. police and the FBI, including agent Rachel Walling (featured in The Poet). While bringing all these characters together might seem a recipe for confusion, if not disaster, it works very well in the capable hands of Connelly. If you're looking for an edge of the seat thriller that combines great characters, description and narrative, this is your book.

Storytime at the Lincoln County Public Library in Brookhaven

2011-04-13T16:57:00.000-05:00

Storytime at the Library

“Bunnies and Chicks” is the theme for Storytime on Tuesday, April 19 at the Lincoln County Public Library. Upcoming themes include:

April 26 “Food We Like”

May 3 “Here’s to Moms!”

May 10 “Dinosaurs”

May 17 “Let’s Go Trucking”

May 24 “Don’t ‘Bug’ Me”

May 31 “All Aboard…Trains”

Programs include stories, music, fingerplays, crafts, and sometimes snacks for toddlers and preschoolers. Registration is not required and drop-ins are welcome. Caregivers are requested to stay with their children and participate in the programs.

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

2011-04-11T09:11:00.001-05:00

Stephanie Plum has bumbled through many books (seventeen is on the way), each one funnier and faster moving than the last. Sizzling Sixteen is a laugh out loud funny tale featuring all of the usual characters and bringing back one of my favorites, Mooner.
Stephanie's sleezy boss, Vinnie, is kidnapped and held for ransom by the bookie Vinnie owes an awful lot of money. Despite a great temptation to let the mob keep Vinnie, Stephanie, office manager Connie and "file clerk" Lula attempt to rescue Vinnie and also raise the million or so dollars Vinnie owes. Along the way, they find themselves in and out of trouble, including what has to be the first cattle stampede in Trenton NJ.
While a steady diet of Stephanie's escapades might grow tiresome, I absolutely love reading these books when I need a good laugh. Sometimes I think Evanovich is who Mississippi Sweet Potato Queen Jill Conner Browne would be if she were born in working class New Jersey.

Sixth Inning in Southaven

2011-03-28T08:15:00.000-05:00

The 9th volume in Phil Hardwick's Mississippi Mysteries is Sixth Inning in Southaven. Like the others, it is set primarily in one featured Mississippi community and features Jackson Private Detective Jack Boulder.

This time, after Jack's girlfriend turns down his proposal of marriage he drives aimlessly until he ends up in Southaven where he stumbles into a murder scene. As an outsider, he is promptly arrested for the crime and must prove himself innocent. The story moves along briskly and concludes with a satisfying resolution.

These little books are quick reads. While the writing could be smoother, they are enjoyable and entertaining.

The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes

2011-03-21T09:04:00.000-05:00

The Somnambulist is a mysterious and very dark vision of Victorian London. Barnes first novel is a wonderful pastiche of of Conan Doyle, Edgar Allen Poe and Stan Lee. The quirky characters move through atmospheric streets and rooms that seem as much movie sets as real places. While the book is written in traditional novel form, it reads like a graphic novel.

I really can't describe the story without giving away too much, so you'll just have to discover it for yourself. The reviews in the library's catalog will tell you more, but you really need to read it for yourself.

Giving by Bill Clinton

2011-03-18T09:06:00.000-05:00

Bill Clinton is the classic American "rags to riches" success story. Born in a poor family in one of the poorest and most rural states in America, he became a Rhodes scholar and graduate of Yale Law before becoming a two-term president of the United States. Horatio Alger couldn't have written a better story.

In Giving, Clinton puts his own success story behind him and discusses how we can all become better people through generosity. He emphasises how everyone has something to contribute to making the world a better place and that the smallest of gestures can have a major impact.

His heartwarming examples range from the richest man in America spending millions to elementary school children contributing pennies. The story of Oseola McCarty is a local example of how giving not only makes the world better but also makes us better.

Whatever your politics, this book will be an inspiration, especially during this season of Lent, when we contemplate how we can become better members of society.

Mississippi School of the Arts Exhibit

2011-03-08T14:40:00.001-06:00

They're Back!

The visual arts students from the Mississippi School of the Arts have another wonderful collection of great work on display now at the Lincoln County Public Library in Brookhaven. Be sure to visit the library this month to see these interesting and beautiful works.

The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom

2011-03-07T15:45:00.000-06:00

Mitch Albom's little fable of a novel begins at what you might think of as the end. "Eddie Maintenance" dies while attempting to rescue a little girl from a damaged amusement park ride. As the head of maintenance at a small amusement pier, Eddie felt that he was unimportant and unnecessary. After he dies, however, he meets five people who help him to understand the where and why of his life on earth.
While the book is mostly predictable and overblown, it presents a worthwhile message about how each person's life is intertwined with every other.
Albom's earlier book, Tuesdays with Morrie, was a runaway best seller.

The Fundamentals of Drawing by Barrington Barber

2011-03-02T09:55:00.000-06:00

We are enjoying the most beautiful spring this year. Sitting in my office I tend to stare out the window at the beautiful sunshine and the construction taking place across the street at Trinity Park. I tend to daydream instead of dealing with the comparatively uninteresting details of the library. Computer viruses? Internet connection crashed? Books to be ordered? Grants to be written? Who cares? It is just too beautiful a day.
Well, maybe I can't just ignore day to day life, but it is great to get out and enjoy the blooming bulbs and fruit trees, the perfect temperature and the beautiful sunshine after work.
If you need an excuse to laze around outside, a sketchbook and pencil are great. My son can perform amazing feats of artistic creativity with basic art supplies. In my own case, my enthusiasm far overshadows my ability, but I still enjoy making marks on paper and trying to turn them into something meaningful.
If you'd like to give it a try, all you need is some paper, a pencil and a good instruction book. The Fundamentals of Drawing is an excellent choice. It is clearly written and copiously illustrated with everything you need to know to draw nearly anything. The library has a number of other books on drawing, but this is one of the best.
So, get out and enjoy the sunshine with a pad and pencil. Even if you don't create great art, you will enjoy yourself.

Bleachers by John Grisham

2011-02-28T11:45:00.000-06:00

John Grisham is noted as the best selling author of many legal thrillers. His early books took the publishing world by storm with their strong plots and exciting action even if the writing was uneven. Over the years, Grisham's prose has caught up with his plotting and he is without a doubt one of our top living writers. The fact that he is a Mississippi native and did his first book signings in public libraries across the state (including ours) is just icing.

Bleachers is a complex character study. Grisham's carefully observed characters are absolutely true to life. This is a book that will appeal to literary readers and small town sports fans as well as Grisham's millions of fans.
Neely Crinshaw was the star of his high school football team. when he left Messina, he was determined never to return. As Bleachers begins, he does return to await the death of fabled coach Eddie Rake with the fraternity of Rake's former players.
Neely and the other characters are beautifully described. Grisham has created a complex and believable world well worth reading.
The audio version of the book is read by Grisham himself. While many authors are not particularly good readers, Grisham grew up in the Southern storytelling tradition and gives a great, understated reading.
If you thought Grisham could only write thrillers, give Bleachers a try. You may be surprised by the subtleties.

The Private Patient by P.D. James

2011-02-25T10:07:00.000-06:00

P.D. James' Adam Dalgliesh novels are complex, descriptive and slow-moving. They are perfect for long evenings by the fireplace and delve deeply into character, location and motivation.

The Private Patient is, if anything, even more meditative than the previous Dalgliesh books. Here a noted journalist checks in to an exclusive private hospital set in a colossal British manor house. All goes well with the surgery, but the patient doesn't survive. The journalist's murder brings Dalgliesh and his crew to the manor, where we study the interesting characters in the house and the complex characters of Dalgliesh and his team.

The Private Patient is a perfect book for a rainy evening.

The Pacific by Hugh Ambrose

2011-01-13T08:52:00.000-06:00

Hugh Ambrose is the son and collaborator of noted historian (and Mississippi resident) Stephen Ambrose. Before Stephen died, he asked his son to complete this book on World War II in the Pacific. Stephen wrote extensively on the European war, but felt that the Pacific theater was slighted in popular War history. He wanted to correct that.

The Pacific is the book tie-in to the HBO miniseries. Even if you have seen the miniseries, the book goes into more historical depth and includes additional characters which bring great richness to the popular understanding of the war in the Pacific.

Hugh is every bit as interesting a writer as his father. I recommend this book highly to anyone wanting to see the human side of the Pacific theater of WW II.

Fine Arts Committee Exhibit at Lincoln County Public Library

2011-01-11T09:11:00.000-06:00

GladRags: Sketches, Swatches and Costume Designs

By Myrna Colley-Lee

An exhibit courtesy of

The Mississippi Museum of Art and sponsored

By The Fine Arts Committee of

The Brookhaven Trust

Now at

The Lincoln County Library

Through the month of January

Reception for the public

On

January 13 from 3 to 5 p.m.

The public is invited to attend

The art of costume design is explored through the work of costume designer Myrna Colley-Lee of Charleston, Miss., who is know largely for her work in the regional theater circuit. Her working sketches are show alongside fabric swatches and production photographs that represent a portfolio spanning three decades.

An event you don’t want to miss!

Small Favor by Jim Butcher

2011-01-11T08:34:00.000-06:00

Harry Dresden is Chicago's only practicing wizard. He avoids taking sides in most of the disputes in the magical world, but consistently works for what he feels and intuits as "good." He is especially concerned about the world's human population, which most in the magical sphere simply regard as a nuance. While Harry finds himself more or less aligned with the White Council, nobody in the magical world is really "good."
In Small Favor, Harry finds himself beholden to Mab, Queen of the Winter Court. She calls in a "small favor" which puts Harry and everyone he holds dear in extreme danger. Spells fly, monsters and demons straight from hell are called forth and Harry swashbuckles his way from one nearly fatal encounter to the next. It is all exciting, suspenseful and, for me, unfortunately, a little too over the top to suspend belief.
A while back I wrote about a Dresden graphic novel, Welcome to the Jungle. I do think that format was better suited to the subject than the novel, however, the novel is an exciting and enjoyable read.

Good Old Dog, edited by Nicholas Dodman

2011-01-10T08:37:00.000-06:00

This book caught my eye on the new book shelf because of the heart-melting photo of a beagle on the cover. Then I noticed that it was advice for owners of older dogs. Since our family includes an eleven year old beagle, I knew I had to take a look at this book!
Good Old Dog is a survey rather than comprehensive resource. It provides excellent advice and encouragement to all dog lovers. It reminds us that older animals can have very happy lives in our households.
There aren't a lot of resources about older pets. This is a much needed book.

2010-11-12T10:00:00.000-06:00

Lincoln County Public Library Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Contact person: Donna N. Kenney 601-833-3369

Storytime at the Library

Young children and their parents are invited to attend the following free programs at the Lincoln County Public Library

Tuesdays, 10 - 10:45 a.m. Tadpole Storytime for preschool.

Wednesdays, 4 – 4:45 p.m. Bookworm Storytime for preschool/kindergarten/grades 1 & 2

Drop-ins are welcome, but caregivers must accompany small children. Activities include stories (read and told), fingerplays, music, crafts and sometimes games. Groups interested in a storytime or tour should contact the library at 601-833-3369.

Storytime schedule includes:

November 17 No Program

November 24 Turkeys

December 1 Yum, Yum, Yum (food)

December 8 Bears

December 15 On the Farm

December 22 Merry Christmas

December 29 Winter Weather

Great Athletes

2010-10-29T10:45:00.002-05:00

I have another great set of books to share with you. It's an 8-volume set called Great Athletes that is perfect for reports, projects or if you are just interested in reading about athletes and sports. It's a reference resource for middle and high school students that is very easy and enjoyable to use. It covers the world of sports up until the beginning of 2001. Every article features a photograph, a brief biography, accomplishments, awards and statistics of each individual. The articles average two to three pages in length and has one-thousand-word-long profiles accessible in tone and style to young readers. These athletes represent more that fifty different nations and sixty different sports. One thing I really liked about the books is that at the end of each article there is a brief summary and additional sources. Volume 8 includes appendices that are really interesting. I learned that in 1999 the Associated Press voted by a sixteen-member panel the most outstanding athletes of the twen tieth century and one of them was not human! Care to guess the name of the "non-human" top athlete of the twentieth century?

Green Thumb Help

2010-10-22T10:43:00.002-05:00

If you are like me, you can use a little (or alot) of help when it comes to plants and planting. Well, I've got good news for you and me! I had a question recently concerning daylilies. I have a few and want some more and really didn't know how or when to plant them so I found my answers at floridata.com. This is a really neat website if you need information about plants, planting, etc. It is very user-friendly with search boxes, very easy to navigate. It has loads of information including common and scientific names, how to plant, where to plant, what to expect after you plant, beautiful pictures, and lots more. I learned I live in the Plant Hardiness Zone 8. I decided to search for information about a Confederate Rose since those are discussed much among my peers. It was amazing at the amount of useful information. You'll just have to check out this site for yourself. If you like plants, want to know more about plants or need some help with a specific plant, you will find this site useful.

American Indian Tribes

2010-10-22T10:17:00.002-05:00

I have always been fascinated by Indians and their culture so I enjoyed reviewing this 2-volume set of books located in our reference section. They would be great for reports or projects or if you just like to learn as I do. Volume 1 starts with a section on the Culture Areas of North America. It has maps where each section is located, the names of the tribes within them and information about each area. The next section is Tribes and Traditions. It lists each tribe by alphabetical order giving specific information on each. There are facts on more than 300 tribes. Volume 2 contains a listing of tribes beginning with Miw-Z and the Appendixes. In the Appendixes is a list of Reservations in North America and Canada, Festivals and Pow-wows by state, a Time Line and more. The next time you have a question concerning Indians in North America, you'll have to check out this resource!

The Economic Naturalist by Robert H. Frank

2010-10-22T09:19:00.000-05:00

Economics has been called "the dismal science." As our economy continues to flounder, we certainly see the "dismal" part and if economics is still taught as it was when I was an undergraduate, the "science" part applies to the mind numbing mathematics involved. In The Economic Naturalist, Frank attempts to give economics a more understandable and human spin.
Frank asked his students at Cornell University to pose seeming economic paradoxes and research them. Questions such as, "Why are seat belts required in cars but not in school buses?" and "Why do airlines charge more for tickets purchased at the last minute while Broadway theaters follow the opposite practice?" and "Why are brown eggs more expensive than white ones?" are all answered here (you'll have to check the book out yourself to get the answers).
While this makes a very entertaining read, this book will not help students very much with their introductory courses in economics. It does provide some great food for thought about human nature and economic ideas.

Art in the Lincoln County Public Library

2010-10-18T13:55:00.000-05:00

From Donna Kenney:

Lincoln County Public Library

Art Exhibits

Currently Showing:

Brookhaven Arts Council. Artists with Lincoln County ties.

Reception: Thursday, October 21 from 3-5 p.m.

Forthcoming:

November: Miranda & Mickey Moak and Debbie Whittington

December: Caroline Kluge

Joe Fernald’s Christmas Village

January: Brookhaven Arts Council exhibit

February: Piecemaker’s Quilters. Quilt completion & exhibit.

Maxine Allen: Black History Exhibit

Story time at the Lincoln County Public Library

2010-10-15T09:57:00.001-05:00

From Donna Kenney:

Storytime!
10:00 Tuesday Mornings

September 7	Numbers, Colors and Shapes
September 14	Favorite Stories with “3”
September 21	At the Zoo
September 28	It’s Autumn
October 5	Transportation
October 12	Nursery Rhymes and Songs
October 19	Mice
October 26	Apples and Pumpkins
November 2	Dogs and Puppies
November 9	Cats and Kittens
November 16	No Program
November 23	Turkeys
November 30	Yum, Yum, Yum (food)
December 7	Bears
December 14	On the Farm
December 21	Merry Christmas
December 28	Winter Weather

Lincoln County Public Library

Brookhaven, MS 39601

833-3369

Countries of the World

2010-10-08T14:22:00.003-05:00

I recently reviewed two resources that would be excellent to use for reports and projects. One of them is a set of books at the Library called Countries Of The World and Their Leaders Yearbook . This is a two volume set of books arranged in alphabetical order by the short-form name of each country. I didn't realize that countries have a short-form name and a long-form name, did you? The information in the books is outstanding. It has a profile for each country that includes geography, people, government, economy, etc. It has medical facilites, traffic safety and road conditions, special circumstances in each country and much, much more. There is information in Volume 2 that helps you plan a trip abroad with the first step of registering with the Department of State and going from there. It has information for special needs travelers, considerations for certain vaccines, reports of terrorism, etc. The second resource is at cia.gov-world fact book. This website has information about countries also. It has a dropbox at the top where you can select a country or location. It's very easy to use with color pictures of the flags and even pictures taken inside many of the countries. It has maps and tons of information and the best part of all is that it is very user-friendly and updated bi-weekly. There is a World Leaders link on the left that will give you the Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of the countries. Whether you have a report, project, a trip abroad or just like to learn things, you will enjoy these resources!

Asheville, NC

2010-10-04T10:41:00.000-05:00

This summer, we spent a week in one of the coolest small cities in America: Asheville, North Carolina. Asheville is cool in just about every way you can imagine. First of all, being in the mountains, the summer temperatures are fairly comfortable. Another thing that really ratchets up the coolness for me is that Asheville has a very walkable downtown, filled with beautiful examples of art deco and other styles of architecture. It is also a real art center with lots of galleries for every taste. There are sidewalk cafes, the Grove Park Inn, lots of entertainment options and, of course, the spectacular Biltmore House. And I haven't even mentioned the unbelievable beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I guess I should also mention that my wife grew up there, so that really makes Asheville one of the greatest locations on the planet!

Hiking in the mountains is a wonderful experience. Pick up a trail guide to plan an day hike or just follow a few nature trails. No matter how you go, you will be rewarded with a great experience.

And for those who just can't get enough hiking, there is the Appalachian Trail. With well over 2,100 miles of mountain trail, this will provide a challenge for even the most seasoned hiker. The Appalachian Trail Hiker, by Victoria and Frank Logue has lots of great information for anyone interested in undertaking a serious hike on the "AT."

World Without End by Ken Follett

2010-10-01T15:28:00.000-05:00

I have enjoyed Follett's thrillers over the years but never got around to reading his historical novels. This summer, I grabbed World Without End from the sale table and became totally hooked. It took me all summer, reading off and on, to complete the over 1,000 pages of melodrama, but I loved every minute.
World Without End is, first and foremost, a soap opera. It is episodic and character driven. It is filled with passion and violence and some very graphically described interpersonal relations. You find yourself "boo-ing" the bad guys and cheering out loud when the good guys triumph--even if that success only lasts until the next twist.
That being said, it is one of the most absolutely enjoyable books I have ever read. It is a soap opera, but you truly care about the characters and what happens to them. I feel almost as if a group of friends have moved away now that I've finished the book and can no longer follow them home.
The historical component of the book was wonderful. I've been curious about the day to day life of people in Medieval times ever since studying the beautiful and technically brilliant Gothic cathedrals built during that intellectually backward time. This book filled that curiosity in spades. An interesting aside is a question to Follett from an interviewer about what required the greatest leap of imagination from our time to theirs. His answer: "It’s hard to imagine being so dirty. People bathed very rarely, and they must have smelled pretty bad. And what was kissing like in the time before toothpaste was invented?"

World Without End is a sequel, of sorts, to Follett's earlier Medieval romance, Pillars of the Earth.

Encyclopedia of Artists

2010-09-30T10:05:00.002-05:00

If you are interested in western art and artists you will enjoy browsing our Encyclopedia of Artists. This is actually a set of 6 books that hold a wealth of information about western art and artists from the middle ages to modern times. The first 5 volumes in the set include a main text describing the artist's life and work in detail. It has a feature box discussing the artist's style and an example of the artist's work, a data file listing key facts about the artist and more. It is arranged by alphabetical order of the artist's name and very easy to use. The final volume contains brief, concise articles on the styles and movements over the last 1,000 years. It also includes a glossary, index and recommendations for further reading. Besides just being enjoyable, these books would be a good resource for school reports and projects.

Presidential Facts and Trivia

2010-09-29T16:31:00.004-05:00

I just reviewed a really fun website that you may find interesting. It is AmericanPresidents.org. It has pictures, interesting facts and lots more. If you'd like to know where a president's grave is located you can find it there along with a picture of the site. It also has each vice president's gravesite. There are letters written by each president that you can read. I read one written by President Nixon to a family who had lost a son in the war. It has a "Did you know?" list of facts for each one. Speaking of, do you know which two presidents died on the same 4th of July?

Wildflowers of Mississippi

2010-09-23T11:36:00.004-05:00

Have you ever wondered what the flowers are on the side of the road or in the field by your house? Yesterday I saw a vine with beautiful blue flowers growing up a post and asked myself that very question. We have a book at the Library called Wildflowers of Mississippi that will help answer our questions. It gives the scientific and common names of the plants, description of leaves, flowering dates, habitats, etc. This is a reference book but we also have a copy that can be checked out. By the way, I have decided the flower I saw is either a Common Morning Glory or a Butterfly Pea. I will have to look a little closer next time!

Test Preparation and More

2010-09-21T14:38:00.002-05:00

I'd like to share a wonderful resource provided to Mississippi Library Patrons by the State Legislature. It is LearningExpressLibrary. This website is excellent for anyone of any age that is preparing for a test such as ACT, GED, ASVAB, etc. If you'd like to just brush up on Basic Skills or learn to write a Resume, this is the site for you! It's very user friendly. It provides help for elementary students through adulthood and best of all, it's free. You do have to use a password provided by the Library and we are happy to help you with that. You really must visit this site to appreciate everything that is there. I am so impressed with the services and I believe you will be too.

2010-09-20T14:15:00.003-05:00

I recently attended the Librarianship Institute sponsored by the Mississippi Library Commission. I am currently involved in a project associated with the Institute reviewing reference sources available for Library Patrons. I want to share some of this information with you. The first book I reviewed was "Native Trees of the Southeast". We have many students involved with leaf collections as school projects and this book is a great help for them. It is a reference book and cannot be checked out of the library but you can use it in the library at any time. It is a beautiful book with really pretty color pictures. It gives much information including the scientific names and common names of trees in our area. It states the habitat and range, distinguishing characteristics and uses of each one. It has a glossary and index in the back. Did you know the largest variety of trees in the United States is located in the Southeast?

Ball Complete book of Home Preserving

2010-09-02T08:37:00.000-05:00

On the way to work this morning, NPR featured a report on home canning. A home canning expert took the reporter through the steps of preserving fresh tomatoes, making pickles and preserving fruit. I sat in the parking lot until the report finished, feeling hungry.
Home Preserving, the report insisted, was not really that difficult and the results were definitely worthwhile.
As I walked by the new book shelf on my way to my office, I saw the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving and knew it was time to give it a try.
My wife and I make strawberry preserves every spring when the Louisiana strawberries come it, but we've never tried pickles or tomatoes or the delicious Macque Choux my grandmother used to make. This book seems to cover all the bases with over 400 pages of recipes and instructions. it's too bad we have had such a bad tomato year, but I'm hoping a bunch of heirlooms will come my way soon so I can preserve them for a winter treat!

Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides

2010-08-27T08:42:00.000-05:00

If you know only one thing about the Pacific Theater in World War II, it is probably the Bataan Death March. Ghost Soldiers begins with this inhuman trek and details the heroic rescue mission by the 6th Ranger Battalion. this book presents the horrors of war and the courage and character of the soldiers.

Sides brings the individual soldiers alive for the reader. You share their suffering and their heroism. While the subject is gruesome, the writing is beautiful, carefully conveying the thoughts, actions and emotions felt by these very brave and mostly very young soldiers.

Open by Andre Agassi

2010-08-26T08:33:00.000-05:00

I played tennis when I was an undergraduate. It was a great stress relief for me. At that time, Americans were the best in the world at tennis. The demands of graduate school and then real life kept me away from playing for many years until I met my wife, who was a real tennis fanatic. We played often (she usually won) and enjoyed watching the pros play on TV.
Andre Agassi was one of the best tennis players of all time. We enjoyed watching his clumsy seeming play not knowing that he was playing in great pain and absolutely hated the game.
Agassi's autobiography (ghost written by J.R. Moehringer) beautifully conveys the mixed emotion he felt about his family, his personal relationships and the sport that made him a millionaire many times over. He talks honestly about his drug abuse and celebrity marriage. He details his extensive training and the relationship he had with his support team. This book is a very revealing portrait of a talented and flawed sport hero who found his redemption in love and family.

Soft foods for easier eating cookbook

2010-08-20T09:54:00.000-05:00

Cooking and eating are some of the great pleasures in life. When my son had his wisdom teeth out, we stocked up on ice cream and several homemade soups. I wish we would have had this book to help come up with creative ideas for easy to eat food.
The Soft foods for easier eating cookbook is filled with ideas for easy to eat food that is more than just dumping regular food into a food processor. The authors are nutritionists, one with a Ph.D. and the other a RN. They offer more than recipes--they discuss nutrition and flavor as an important factor in soft foods.
So if you are cooking for someone who has a hard time eating "regular" food, remember this book.

Interesting Picture

2010-08-11T09:50:00.006-05:00

This is Sunset Carson. He was a western movie star in the 40s. To learn more about him you can Google him. He was an interesting character!! An unidentified woman and an unidentified man are in 3 of the 4 pictures found. To view the other three pictures please visit us at the Lincoln County Public Library.

This publication is partially funded under the federal Library Services and Technology Act administered by the Mississippi Library Commission for the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Carmen Wilkinson at Lincoln County Public Library

2010-08-09T14:39:00.000-05:00

From Donna Kenney:

Wilkinson Art Exhibit at the Library

Visit the Lincoln County Public Library during August and view “The Drumbeat of My Heart”, an exhibit of the paintings of Carmen Wilkinson of Meadville. Although she has only been painting a year, Mrs. Wilkinson’s work has already been exhibited in several libraries and galleries across the state. A self-taught artist, Mrs. Wilkinson says, “I pour out my soul and emotions onto canvas. When I began painting I knew for the first time EVER who I was. I know my purpose in life and why I am here. That is an awesome feeling!”

Mrs. Wilkinson considers herself a contemporary expressionist. She is a prolific, passionate painter whose ultimate goal is having her work hang in a New York City gallery. “I want to leave my footprints on the hearts of others,” she says.

Born and raised in Mississippi, Mrs. Wilkinson says you should always remain true to yourself regardless of what other people think. All her work is original. “I don’t try to ‘conform’ to what others think or want. I give God full credit for my ability and talents as well as the wonderful friendships I have encountered along the way.” Her life’s mission statement is “God created us to create.” The public is invited to view the exhibit free of charge. To view a selection of Ms. Wilkinson’s work on line, visit http://www.carmenw.weebly.com/.

School Days

2010-08-06T10:10:00.006-05:00

This publication is partially funded under the federal Library Services and Technology Act administered by the Mississippi Library Commission for the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

School days, school days
Good old golden rule days
Readin, and writin, and arithmetic
Taught to the tune of a hickory
stick.

August: Carmen Wilkinson at Lincoln County Public Library

2010-08-03T09:30:00.000-05:00

Now that school is starting and the summer library program is complete, the Lincoln County Public Library is continuing its artist series. Carmen Wilkinson is showing acrylics, abstracts, folk art and mixed media during the month of August.

Exhibits at the Lincoln County Public Library in Brookhaven

2010-08-02T13:31:00.000-05:00

FORTHCOMING ART EXHIBITS

August Carmen Wilkinson acrylics, abstract, folk art and mixed media

September Brookhaven Arts Council

Mississippi Museum of Art exhibit: Southern Expressions

October Brookhaven Arts Council local artists

November Miranda Moak, Mickey Moak & Debbie Whittington. Mixed media.

Also: Alexander Jr. High School Quest Class displays work from balconies.

December Caroline Kluge

Summer Library Program

2010-06-17T14:55:00.000-05:00

We've not been posting to the blog much lately, but it isn't because our libraries haven't been busy. In fact, it is because we've been so busy that we haven't had time to talk here about what we've been up to. As usual, the Summer Library Program is the big news in June. We've had record attendance this summer, with well over 600 kids signed up in Brookhaven alone. In addition, Ms Donna has started a teen program this year which is also very successful.

Bude Public Library is also starting a "teen read" program which Ms Kathy intends to run until school starts. In addition, Bude is starting a new baby program with reading, games and other activities for mothers and their young children.

Yesterday, Ms Enola at the Franklin County Public Library had over 50 children attending her Wednesday morning program. On June 23, the Mississippi Department of Transportation will present a program in Meadville and on June 30, Dana Brice from the MSU Extension Office will be there.

Also yesterday, Ms Donna from Brookhaven presented guest programs at the New Hebron Public Library and the Lawrence County Public Library in Monticello. Both Lawrence County libraries have great participation!

If you haven't signed up for the summer library activities, come to your favorite library. We're always glad to see you!

American Creation by Joseph J. Ellis

2010-06-17T14:22:00.000-05:00

At the time of its founding, the United States of America was not the foregone conclusion we tend to think it was today. In American Creation, Ellis gives us the story of several important turning points in our country's creation, including both "Triumphs and Tragedies" as the subtitle describes. Ellis focuses on the individual leaders we know as the founding fathers rather than presenting the lives of the settlers and ordinary citizens. The book portrays a noble and Utopian group who, after fighting together to win independence, often fought against each other concerning the best possible government.

This book is in many ways an extension of Ellis' earlier Founding Brothers. Joseph J. Ellis is a Pulitzer prize winning historian who has written many very readable popular histories.

Summer Library Program!

2010-05-25T08:24:00.000-05:00

Registration for the Summer Library Program has begun at all of our libraries.
The Franklin County Public Library in Meadville will hold programs on Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

June 2: Bro. Emery May
June 9: Smokey Bear
June 16: Therapy dogs
June 23: Mississippi Department of Transportation
June 30: Dana Brice, MSU Extension Service

Come by the library to sign up! Call 601-384-2997 for more information.

Roses in New Hebron

2010-05-07T08:49:00.001-05:00

Along with all the interior renovations going on at the New Hebron Library, there are also some beautiful new roses in the planter in front. Even if you don't have time to stop, you can enjoy the library while driving by! But do stop and take advantage of the wonderful selection of library materials available.

Next MSA Thesis Show

2010-05-04T08:39:00.000-05:00

The fifth group of Mississippi School of the Arts Seniors are showing their work at the Lincoln County Public Library. Please come by to see this great exhibit.

Mississippi School of the Arts Group Four

2010-04-27T08:39:00.000-05:00

The next group of Mississippi School of the Arts students' Thesis Show is now on display at the Lincoln County Public Library. The work is exciting and fresh. These kids are talented!

New Hebron Public Library

2010-04-26T09:04:00.000-05:00

The floor in the New Hebron Library has been completed and it looks great! The library seems brighter, fresher and even more inviting. There are also some new roses in the planter outside (which I will photograph next week). Please visit the New Hebron library and see how we are progressing.

New Servers for Library!

2010-04-26T08:53:00.000-05:00

The computer wizards are in Brookhaven right now delivering and installing the new server for our digital archive project. We are really excited about the prospect of making so much of our area's history available on line. While there may be some outages during the installation, the result will be worth any temporary inconvienence.

MSA Thesis Shows Continue

2010-04-20T08:19:00.000-05:00

The third group of talented Mississippi School of the Arts seniors hung their show yesterday. Please come to see these very creative works!

From the Williams Collection

2010-04-14T13:27:00.004-05:00

This is an autographed picture of Jerry Lee Lewis.

This publication is partially funded under the federal Library Services and Technology Act administered by the Mississippi Library Commission for the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

From the Williams Collection

2010-04-14T13:04:00.003-05:00

How would you like to have a fire department like this one?

This publication is partially funded under the federal Library Services and Technology Act administered by the Mississippi Library Commission for the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Mississippi School of the Arts Show II

2010-04-14T09:27:00.000-05:00

The second group of artists are presenting their thesis show at the library this week. Please come by!

MSA Senior Show at Lincoln County Public Library

2010-04-06T09:43:00.000-05:00

The first group of Mississippi School of the Arts senior Art majors has hung its show in the library. It is a wonderful selection of work, showing the talent and energy the students have.

Progress in New Hebron

2010-04-02T08:45:00.000-05:00

The new floor in the New Hebron library is almost complete. I almost hate to see furniture moved in because it looks so great. We hope the library will be ready for business Monday morning!

Millions of Americans are regular public library users

2010-03-29T11:29:00.000-05:00

A new study funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has found what most people already knew: library use is growing by leaps and bounds. The study shows that libraries are providing essential services for all segments of the population. Information about the study and the report can be found here.

And for a local view of library use, WLOX has done a great news report on library use in Biloxi. Read the text and watch their video here.

Bude Public Library

2010-03-29T08:34:00.001-05:00

Our adventures last week took us to Starkville, home of the beautiful campus of Mississippi State University. The students there seemed to have spring fever--the quad was filled and the library was empty! MSU has one of the great libraries, well worth a visit. Starkville's downtown is also a treasure. It is vibrant and exciting with a good mix of businesses, including an old fashioned luxury hotel. Restaurants provide all types of food from burgers and beer to sushi to white tablecloth fine dining. I realize that the university is a big factor in making Starkville so exciting, but all Mississippi small towns should aspire to Starkville's success.

And speaking of small town treasures, if you haven't visited the Bude Public Library lately, you should stop by! The Town of Bude and the staff of the Regional Library have combined forces to refresh and renew the library, polishing up the great resource it always was. This is one library where it is o.k. to talk out loud--as long as you're talking to the library's cockateel. In addition to the traditional books and other resources, the library also has public access computers and free wireless service. Children are especially welcome to select books from the expanded children's collection. Stop by the library and check it out!

Interesting Picture

2010-03-26T14:37:00.006-05:00

In 1960 Franklin County Fair had a parade. This is one photo from that parade. The sign reads sponsored by Meadville HDW Co. What company is that?

This publication (or website) is partially funded under the federal Library Services and Technology Act administered by the Mississippi Library Commission for the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Spring gardening

2010-03-24T08:25:00.000-05:00

We are having the greatest spring weather this year. We spent every possible minute outside this past weekend.

The library's copy of the Gulf Coast Camellian arrived today. Editor Jeri Jinks does a great job with this little magazine. It was great to see reports on camellia shows from Fort Walton to Baton Rouge, including Brookhaven's own show. There is an article on planting under live oaks and a skill my father was a master at, but I never did accomplish: air layering.

We went to New Orleans last Friday. The drive down was beautiful. Brilliant red swamp maples and yellow-green willows lined the bridge over the swamp. Palmettos and palms contrasted with their "summer" green. Our business was uptown, and we enjoyed the St. Charles Avenue and Garden District gardens as we drove. We couldn't resist running down to the Quarter when we were done, where we admired the beautiful "hanging gardens" on the balconies of many of the residences, all freshened up for spring.

Potted gardens such as these are the subject of the beautiful new book Pots in the Garden by Ray Rogers. The book is filled with inspirational photographs of pots filled with plants in gardens filled with pots. If you aren't sure the last cold nip has passed, starting out in pots is a great way to begin gardening now.

Remodeling project underway in New Hebron!

2010-03-18T16:20:00.000-05:00

The work has started on the long awaited New Hebron remodeling project. New floor tile is being installed in the meeting room now. Over the course of the next few weeks the library will be shined up and made ready for this year's summer library program. In the mean time, please excuse the mess--it will be worth it!

Not So Big Remodeling

2010-03-15T10:40:00.003-05:00

Friends of ours have turned "We need a new stove" into a floor-to-ceiling kitchen remodel. I was so jealous of their new project that I spent most of the beautiful spring weekend inside re-painting our kitchen. Cleaning and freshening up the space made me realize that our kitchen is already great, just a little cluttered. Maybe next week end we'll attack the clutter.
My kitchen efforts were based on one of the best tips Sarah Susanka and Marc Vassallo offer in Not So Big Remodeling: clean up and de-clutter. "You may discover that you already have the space you need without doing anything more than this" (p.8). It worked for me!
Susanka has made her reputation with her series of "Not So Big" books. She advocates for homes that are carefully planned to provide the best possible quality of life in the smallest required space. Her idea is to spend your money on top quality materials and design rather than empty floor space. Her ideas are practical and beautiful.
Not So Big Remodeling is filled with great ideas and hundreds of photographs to inspire you. They cover every aspect of turning an older house into a "not so big" home.

Mississippi School of the Arts Exhibit

2010-03-08T16:15:00.001-06:00

From Jennifer Jackson:

The Mississippi School of the Arts (MSA) Visual Arts students are currently exhibiting their work in the Lincoln County Public Library, 100 South Jackson St., Brookhaven. The work will be on display for the month of March. There will be a reception honoring the talented young artists at the library on Thursday, March 11, from 2 p.m. till 4 p.m. This exhibit coincides with Youth Art Month, which is sponsored by the National Art Education Association. Featured works include: paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculpture and fabric art and a range of styles from realism to abstraction.

More work by these talented young artists is currently on display thru April 18th at the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson, as part of the exhibition for the Scholastic Art Awards Competition. MSA Students won 134 awards in this statewide competition, including 2 American Visions Awards, 5 Jurors Awards of Excellence, 40 Gold Keys, 45 Silver Keys and 42 Honorable Mentions. The 14 students who entered art portfolios all received awards, 7 gold, 5 silver and 2 Honorable Mentions, and there was one gold key photography portfolio.

Green Design: a healthy home handbook by Alan Berman

2010-03-05T08:14:00.003-06:00

We spend most of our lives in our homes. That is where family and friends gather, where we eat most of our meals and spend most of our evenings. It makes good sense to make the place we spend most of our time as healthy for us as possible. Berman has written a book to help us move in that direction. Green Design is a beautifully illustrated guide to making more responsible and health conscious choices in our homes. Berman is an architect who practices in Britain, so some of his examples are different from what we might expect in the U.S. The British sense of modernism he presents is a fresh and exciting way to look at our living spaces.

Genealogy Resource for South Mississippi

2010-03-05T08:00:00.003-06:00

Local genealogist Fay Ratcliff has mounted her extensive genealogical database on rootsweb. Hundreds of local names are included. Check it out at http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=ratcliff96
Her email address is given there if you would like to discuss any common lines or add information to her database.
Genealogists are among the most generous of researchers and Mrs. Ratcliff is no exception. She has made a lifetime of research available for everyone for free.

Mississippi School of the Arts Exhibit

2010-03-02T11:03:00.003-06:00

The students of the Mississippi School of the Arts are currently hanging their annual group show at the Lincoln County Public Library. As you can see from the quick snapshots here, it is going to be spectacular, as always!

Barry Hannah

2010-03-02T07:59:00.003-06:00

The world has lost another Mississippi treasure this week with the death of author and Oxford resident Barry Hannah. Hannah's best writing is his short stories which are often wild explorations of the human soul, fueled by guns, booze, religion and sex. While Hannah's characters and situations are extreme, they are complex and often sad explorations of what it means to be truly human.
Hannah's novels feature the same incredible writing, but his plots don't hold together over the long haul. If you haven't read Hannah, start with a story collection such as High Lonesome, but don't ignore the novels because the wonderful writing trumps the poor plotting every time.
Mississippi has some of the best writers in the world. Please enjoy our literary heritage!

Library Support

2010-02-24T09:01:00.003-06:00

There was a great editorial this week in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal by Joe Rutherford. Please read it here.

Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje

2010-02-19T09:25:00.002-06:00

Divisadero is a wonderfully poetic novel, filled with beautiful language, memorable characters and deep symbolism. It is an atmospheric book best read with a quiet heart in a darkened room.

Divisadero is, of course, a street in San Francisco. But the name of the street describes the book's tenor: characters are divided from the things they love and long for unity.

Both Anna and Claire's mothers died in childbirth. Anna's father adopts Claire and raises the girls, along with Coop, a somewhat older boy whose parents died tragically. A romance between Anna and Coop drives them both from the family farm, he to the life of a gambler, she as a poet and academic. Anna finds herself in France, studying the melancholy life of a French poet/novelist, whose life story makes up half of this novel.

Nothing is really resolved in this novel, which is frustrating at first, but is the only possible ending for a book about such divided and unfocused lives.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in literary fiction.

Ash Wednesday

2010-02-17T07:59:00.004-06:00

Today is the first day of lent, known as Ash Wednesday. Once again, I am drawn to think of one of my favorite novels, Walker Percy's The Moviegoer. The book, mostly set in New Orleans and on the Mississippi Coast, begins during Mardi Gras and climaxes on Ash Wednesday. One of the most haunting scenes in the book is when the protagonist, Binx, sees a man who has just come from a church with ashes on his forehead. This symbol of penance and redemption is very powerful in this book where despair doesn't even know that it is despair (to paraphrase the Kierkegaard quote that is the novel's epigraph).

Another Lenten literary treasure is T.S. Eliot's beautiful poem Ash Wednesday.
An excerpt:

Wavering between the profit and the loss
In this brief transit where the dreams cross
The dreamcrossed twilight between birth and dying
(Bless me father) though I do not wish to wish these things
From the wide window towards the granite shore
The white sails still fly seaward, seaward flying
Unbroken wings

It is well worth your time to find a copy of this poem (available all over the web or from the library) as we begin this season of springtime reflection.

J.D. Salinger

2010-02-15T08:09:00.005-06:00

The recent death of J.D. Salinger encouraged me to return to his short list of published works. I remembered him primarily as that author whose work wasn't as bad as the rest of the stuff they made us read in school. Most of his published work consists of short stories published in the New Yorker, but his greatest fame is based on The Catcher in the Rye.
I picked up one of his 3 other books last week, Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour an Introduction. I discovered that I had forgotten just what a great writer Salinger was. He had a killer sense of humor and wrote internal dialog that Eudora Welty would be proud to have written.
This book consists of two novellas, both concerning Seymour Glass. Many of Salinger's stories center on the Glass family and their extended history. Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters is about Seymour's wedding day. Seymour, it seems, is just too happy to get married and doesn't make it to the ceremony. His brother, who tells the story, is left to deal with the new in-laws he has never met before. This wonderful character sketch puts you in the car with all that cigarette smoke and pretentiousness.
Salinger was notoriously reclusive and didn't publish much, but it is well worthwhile to read what is available.

An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa, 1942-1943 by Rick Atkinson

2010-02-10T08:00:00.003-06:00

An Army at Dawn is a totally engrossing telling of the early North African campaign of World War II. I was not very familiar with the War in North Africa and was surprised to learn that it was during this effort that the United States came into its own as a world power. Atkinson tells a compelling story, combining big picture views with intimate details to present a full picture.
Atkinson is a Pulitzer winning journalist who has written other best selling histories, including The Long Gray Line. An Army at dawn is the first volume of the Liberation Trilogy, a history of World War II in Europe.

Black History Month

2010-02-09T10:15:00.006-06:00

The Lincoln County Public Library is celebrating Black History Month with a wonderful display featuring some of Brookhaven's "First Black Achievers." Library staff member Maxine Allen spent months gathering photos and biographical information to present this great exhibit of local leaders. Don't miss it!

Diana Gabaldon, A Breath of snow and Ashes

2010-02-09T08:12:00.002-06:00

A Breath of Snow and Ashes is Diana Gabaldon's 6th Outlander novel. The series is a fun mixture of romance, adventure, history and a bit of science fiction.
Time traveling from the 20th century, Claire Fraser falls in love with and marries Jamie Fraser who lives in pre-revolutionary America. Having this modern perspective makes it easier for Gabaldon to present the sharp differences from the past to our comfortable lives. History is a large part of the books, but there is plenty of romance and adventure as the colonist attempt to create a sustainable future for themselves.
In this book, the American Revolution is about to begin. The Frasers live in the mountains of North Carolina, so they have been isolated from most of the revolutionary tumult. But as the war becomes closer to reality, they find they must choose sides and take a stand.
The book is nearly 1,000 pages, so there is lots of room for detail of everyday life, family melodrama, adventure and exploration. This is a great slow book that will entice you to spend many nights by the fire imagining life in 1776.

Waveland by Frederick Barthelme

2010-01-26T08:12:00.004-06:00

I've had some trouble with some of Barthelme's earlier books. He isn't the minimalist that his more famous brother Donald was (but then, according to those who've studied Donald's manuscripts, Donald wasn't either). Frederick's writing is superb and his dialog rings absolutely true. The characters are very much the modern, soulless creatures I assume he intended. I just didn't care to read about them very much.
In Waveland, however, Barthelme has created characters I know and care about. He writes beautifully and some of his passages approach Walker Percy's meditations. In fact, I couldn't help thinking about the trip to the Mississippi Coast in Percy's Moviegoer while reading Waveland.
Waveland is set on the Coast shortly after Katrina. The main characters are a "retired" architect, his ex-wife and new girlfriend. Their aimless lives are echoed in the senseless destruction of the storm. Yet there is humor and beauty and meaning in the characters.
Frederick Barthelme studied with John Barth at Johns Hopkins University. He is a professor at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Most Circulated Adult Fiction Books

2010-01-11T15:04:00.003-06:00

Sometimes I enjoy tinkering with statistics and sometimes the statistics tinker with me. Today I went into our handy-dandy statistics reporting tool for library circulations and created some really neat reports. The reports are for the most circulated titles in our library system and for each individual library. (The list for the system overall and the Lincoln County Public Library are the same.) It amazed me that each list was different which shows that each library has its own unique set of readers. I'd like to share some of the most loved titles from each list with you.

Overall, the most circulated title from the time we started using Polaris ILS in 2005 until today is: (drumroll please!) Oceans Apart by Karen Kingsbury.

The second most circulated title is At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks followed by Forgiven by Karen Kingsbury, Mary, Mary by James Patterson, The Choice by Nicholas Sparks, Step on a Crack by James Patterson, Outsider by Diana Palmer, Hey, Good Looking by Fern Michaels, Vanished by Karen Robards, and Fool Me Once by Fern Michaels.

At the Lawrence County Public Library, the most circulated title is Two Little Girls In Blue by Mary Higgins Clark. The following titles are also in the top ten: Dear John by Nicholas Sparks, True Evil by Greg Iles, A Thousand Tomorrows by Karen Kingsbury, Sweet Revenge by Fern Michaels, The Dream by Gilbert Morris, Cover of Night by Linda Howard, Divine Evil by Nora Roberts, and Sisters by Danielle Steel.

At the Franklin County Public Library, the most circulated title is 24 Hours by Greg Iles. The following titles are also in the top ten: Countdown by Iris Johansen, The Footprints of God by Greg Iles, Mary, Mary by James Patterson, Beach Road by James Patterson, Dead Sleep by Greg Iles, and Lifeguard by James Patterson.

At the Bude Public Library, the most popular title is Blood Lure by Nevada Barr followed by Borderline and Winter Study, also by Nevada Barr. Also popular are two titles by Catherine Palmer, Love's Haven and The Heart's Treasure. Karen Kingsbury scores 3 titles on the list: Divine, Sunrise and Take Two.

At the Newhebron Public Library, the most popular title is On Tall Pine Lake by Dorothy Garlock followed by Gone and Hide by Lisa Gardner. Also popular are Obsession by Karen Robards and Secrets by Jude Deveraux as well as A Promise for Ellie by Lauraine Snelling.

While looking at all the lists, we can see that both Mississippi authors and Christian fiction are very popular with our patrons. Then there are those patrons seeking a thrilling read or a mystery to solve. Whatever you enjoy reading, we'd like to see you in the library this year!

2009-12-21T16:01:00.003-06:00

These twin boys say it all "Merry Christmas!" This is a Christmas card that Mrs. Bill Martin from Meadville ordered from the Art Studio in 1955. Here's wishing you a Merry Christmas from Lincoln County Public Library.

The Road by Carmac McCarthy

2009-12-17T08:33:00.002-06:00

Our furnace went out last week and we spent several evenings huddled around the fireplace, drinking hot tea and griping about the cold. Reading The Road, however, made those cold evenings seem like the greatest of luxuries.
As usual with McCarthy's books, reviewers have mixed opinions about The Road. Most either love or hate McCarthy's writing leaving little space for balance. While I certainly agree with those who love McCarthy's work, I realize it takes a fair amount of work on the readers' part to get the most from it.
There isn't much story here. A man and his son are traveling through a post-apocalyptic America. Bad things happen, bad people appear and everything is shrouded in a cold grey ash. The plot isn't the point. The profound relationship between the man and the boy is presented in as few words as possible. The burned out world is presented in broken phrases and language to match the landscape. The symbolism almost overpowers the characters.
I won't see the movie at the theater--especially not during the holidays! And I don't recommend the book to everyone. But if you are interested in some of the best writing being done today, don't miss this book.