Blind Date With A Book!

We're just a couple of days away from February, so I thought I'd let you know what we're doing for Valentine's Day. 

All through the month of February we invite you to come in and check out a Blind Date.  We have pulled books off the shelves from all sections of the library and wrapped them in brown paper.  You can pick a mystery date! 

Each book has a small survey inside that we would like you to fill out to Rate Your Date.  This will help the library with future purchasing. 

 

We hope you'll find something new and interesting to read, but if your "date" disappoints you can always bring it back and get a new one! 

 

Happy Valentine's Day!!

This Day in History : Challenger Explosion

Where were you 28 years ago today?  I (Julie) was in my kindergarten classroom and, just like millions of other kids in the United States, I was watching the launching of the Challenger spaceship which was to carry a teacher, Christa McAuliffe, into space.  73 seconds later the shuttle exploded, and all on board were lost. 

Even more tragically, later research would determine that the cause of the explosion was a faulty O-ring, a very small rubber seal, that had gotten too stiff to function properly in the cold temperatures of that day.  

I was very young when this happened, but I remember as I learned more about it, realizing the horror of the families watching with pride, only to have their pride turn to heartbreak and sorrow. 

 

In his statement that evening President Ronald Reagan said "We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of Earth' to 'touch the face of God.'"



Chance's Corner: Texas Traveler

It's been awhile since I've hit the road and had some fun. I've just been super busy here at the Franklin County Library ever since the holidays swept through, but this past weekend I decided I needed some TLC. I didn't have to go very far this time. For the Chinese New Year, Fair Park in Dallas is hosting the Chinese Lantern Festival until February 17th. You may not be Chinese, but I'd definitely recommend going to see this beautiful festival. As I usually do, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

If you look very closely, you can see that this structure is entirely made up of plates, cups, saucers and spoons!



 

Ancient Chinese Carving

 

Palm Leaf Weaver

 

 

 

The Wishing Tree

 

Gardening Series Starts Next Week!

Chance's Corner: A New Year's Resolution Bites the Dust

 

Well, it's two weeks into 2014, and I'm proud to say that one of my resolutions has been checked off. My goal was to finish off the Film Noir script I have been working on for over a year, and last night at approximately 12:20 AM it finally happened. Tears welled into my eyes as I typed, centered and underlined the simple phrase "The End". I also cranked up some of my favorite tunes and jammed out for a bit as pure adrenaline coursed through my veins. But... then I remembered I had work the next day and hit the bed. I still didn't get much sleep because David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel kept interviewing me. Ha!

I've always admired Film Noirs from the golden age of cinema. It was then that Humphrey Bogart smoked it up in The Maltese Falcon as well as The Big Sleep and Dark Passage (with his then wife, Lauren Bacall); Barbara Stanwyk pulled off the ultimate dastardly seduction in Double Indemity; Glenn Ford and Gloria Grahame dealt searing revenge in The Big Heat; Gloria Swanson vamped her career back to life in Sunset Boulevard; Marilyn Monroe proved she can act in Niagara; and Ralph Meeker slapped and punched his way through Cold War paranoia in Kiss Me Deadly. I took the time to mention these particular classics because they were my biggest influences as I tackled my own Film Noir.

The title of my Film Noir is Kiss Off. No, there isn't any form of a kissing competition going on. It's a deadly turn of phrase as private eye Johnny Calhoun pries deeper into the reason behind a beautiful girl's murder. There's gangsters, corruption, blackmail, and bombshell women galore in this fictional 1950's setting. That's pretty much all I can say on the subject, but if you hit me up in person I might just leak a few more details.

Overall, I'm just glad that my hard work and dedication has paid off in some form. The script may never see the light of day or touch the vinyl of the silver screen, but I can at least say I finished it.

Free Books!

Did you know? Tax Forms

Every year, Franklin County Library provides tax forms as a free service.  We have all the 1040 forms and books and well as most of the schedules.  If there is something you need that we do not have, generally we can print it out for you at no charge.  With the IRS no longer sending out packets to individuals, we want you to know that we are a source for tax forms. 

 

So far this year, we have received most of the schedules, but haven't yet received any of the 1040 forms or books.  However, we expect them to continue to trickle in over the next couple of weeks.  When you get ready to do your taxes, come on in and see if we have what you need!

Where is your favorite place to read?

Inspired by this board we follow on Pinterest, I thought I'd ask where your favorite place to read is?

Here are a few ideas...

 

I (Julie) prefer a corner of my couch or my chair on the back deck.  Some of these are a little more creative though!  What is your favorite place to enjoy a good book?

How about a giveaway?!?

***Sarah Baker wins the books!!!***

This week enter to win three Inspirational Fiction titles from Franklin County Library.

 

To win all you have to do is comment on this blog.  At the bottom of this post is a link with the word "comment" in it.  Click on the link to leave a comment.  If you are viewing this post in your e-mail you must first click on the post to be taken to our actual blog.  At the bottom of the page will either be a place to leave a comment or a link that has the word "comment" in it.  Click on the link and leave your comment. 

 

The books will be given away on Friday.  Good luck!!

New Year at the Library!

Well, it's officially 2014!  Hard to believe!  Have you made any New Year's Resolutions this year?  The library staff came up with a few goals for 2014.

Lisa - Lisa came to the library in January of 2003, making this her 10th year as Library Director.  Lisa plans to expand her reading into new genres and find a wider variety of programming for the library's events.

Julie - Julie has been at the library a little over five years, since October of 2008.  Julie wants to read more Classics in 2014 and grow the readership of this blog.

Chance - Chance has been with the library regularly since February 2013, but worked with us as a substitute for several years before that.  Chance wants to finish the book and movie script that he is currently writing.

Debbie - Our newest employee, Debbie has been with the library since May 2013.  Debbie wants to read more new authors this year and make more contributions to the library blog. 

Do you have any suggestions for us?  Any ideas to make the library better?  Any thoughts on what new genres Lisa should read, what classic Julie should start out with?  Any tips for Chance on finishing his writing projects?  Any authors to suggest for Debbie?  Let us know in the comments below and we'll try to implement as many ideas as we can.



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Also, check out our website for a current schedule of upcoming events.  First up this year is a Tech Zoo all next week.  Bring in your new devices and we'll help you learn how to use them and get you set up to check out e-books from Franklin County Library.

Happy New Year

We will be closed today!  Have a safe and happy New Year!