What’s New @ AFPLS

Fulton County voters will be called to the polls one more time on Tuesday, December 2, 2008. The four undecided races on the ballot are as follows:

• Jim Martin vs Saxby Chambliss for US Senate
• Jim Powell vs. Lauren W. McDonald Jr. for Public Service Commission
• Kimberly Esmond Adams vs. Mike Wallace for Superior Court Judge (Non-Partison)
• Sara Doyle vs. Mike Sheffield for Court of Appeals (Non-Partisan)

Regular voting will be held at your normal precinct polling place. If you are unsure where to go you can check the Poll Locator from the Secretary of State’s Office here.

Absentee voting will be available, but you must fill out the application first in order to have a ballot sent to you. Please be aware of the time constraints involved and have these applications mailed in ASAP! Also, even if you did not vote in the general election, as long as you were registered on or before October 6, 2008, you may vote in the runoff. However, it is too late to register now.

Early voting will happen the week prior to the election from November 24-26. Be aware that this is Thanksgiving week and therefore Government Centers will only be open Monday-Wednesday of that week from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The three early voting locations are as follows:

Fulton County Government Center
141 Pryor St. S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30303

North Fulton Service Center
7741 Roswell Road, NE
Atlanta, Georgia, 30350

South Fulton Service Center
5600 Stonewall Tell Road
College Park, Georgia, 30349

Happy Voting!

Sisikala Penumarthi will host a Kuchipudi workshop on Wednesday November, 12 at 2:00 pm on the 1st floor of the Central Library.   Originally a dance of drama and devotion performed only by men of the Brahamin caste in southern India, the classical Kuchipudi style is now open to all learners.

Ms Penumarthi is a teacher and lead performer who has toured many countries.  She is a recipient of  the Master Artist Award from the Georgia Arts Council and the National Foundation for the Advancement of Arts.

Come and try the graceful and very quick moves of Kuchipudi. Or if you prefer, come and enjoy the workshop by just watching. 

Contact the Global Access Department at 404.730.1915 for more information.  All events are free and open to the public.

The Global Access Department is presenting a post-Election Day treat.  Coming at the end of Hispanic Heritage Month (okay, a little past the end) is the group Havana Son. 

Havana Son is lead by Cuban native Rene Herrera, an award winning composer and arranger who brings the music to life through his use of piano, vocals, guitar and TRES (Traditional Cuban Stringed Instrument).

His wife Lilian Herrera is of Cuban heritage and has sung professionally in the classical music world as well as with many Latin bands. Havana Son plays authentic Latin rhythms such as Salsa, Merengue, Son, Cha Cha, boleros, bachata, vallenato, cumbia and more.

Havana Son will perform on Wednesday November 5th at noon on the 1st floor of the Central Library.   Call the Global Access Department at 404.730.1915 for more details.  All programs are free and open to the public.

Mr. Jesse Franklin will continue his lecture-tour through Latin America as he shares his insights into the history and diversity of Venezuela, Mexico, Columbia, Panama and Puerto Rico on Wednesday October 29 at 2:00 pm in the 4th floor meeting room at the Central Library.    Mr. Franklin has charmed library audiences previously with his insights into the cultures of Latin America.

This event is sponsored by the Global Access Department.  Please call 404.730.1915 for more details.  All events are free and open to the public.

All Atlanta-Fulton Public Library system branches will be closed on Monday, October 13 for Staff Development Day. All libraries will reopen at their normal times on Tuesday moring. We appreciate your understanding as we work to improve our staff!

Come and enjoy a lunchtime jazz break with Earmail at noon on Thursday, October 9 on the 1st floor of the Central Library.  The program will feature saxophonist John James Willikes.  Mr. Willikes brings the flavor of his home in Curaçao, Dutch Antilles to his compositions.  

Listen to a sample of the Earmail sound  before you join us.  The program is free and open to the public.  Contact the Global Access Department at 404.730.1915 for more information.

The eighth annual National Book Festival will be taking place in Washington, D.C. this weekend, Saturday the 27th on the National Mall. The festival is hosted by First Lady Laura Bush and sponsored by the Library of Congress. This is a huge event for authors, publishers, libraries and readers everywhere, and always draws big names and big crowds. Authors from all genres and age groups will be represented and you can find the complete list here.

The festival homepage also has links to podcasts of interviews with some of the participating authors, including one with Grammy award-winning performer Dionne Warwick who has written a children’s book! So if you aren’t able to actually jet off to D.C. for the weekend, be sure and check back with the site for updates and added material as the festival gets underway.

You can also check out books by some of the authors that will be headed to the festival by checking the library’s catalog here. Here’s a few suggestions for children, teens and adults to get you started:

CHILDRENS

•  Gingerbread friends
      Brett, Jan
• No, David!
      Shannon, David

YOUNG ADULT

• Neverwhere
      Gaiman, Neil
• November blues
      Draper, Sharon M

ADULT FICTION

• People of the book : a novel
      Brooks, Geraldine
• Lush life
      Price, Richard

ADULT NON-FICTION

• Einstein : his life and universe
      Isaacson, Walter
• One minute to midnight : Kennedy, Khrushchev, and Castro on the brink of nuclear war
      Dobbs, Michael

POETRY

• Old heart : poems
      Plumly, Stanley
• Flamingo watching : poems
      Ryan, Kay (Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry for 2008-2009)

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System is partnering with Zoo Atlanta to promote family entertainment by allowing library patrons free entry to the zoo!! Beginning Tuesday, September 23 each branch of AFPLS will have one (1) pass that can be checked out for one week (7 days) and will allow free entry to Zoo Atlanta. These passes cannot be placed on hold and cannot be renewed. This is a great opportunity for library patrons like you to experience Zoo Atlanta! I can’t wait to see the baby Panda. Drop by your local branch starting September 23 or attend the official kick-off event at Central Library the same day at 10 a.m.

September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month.  A lot of activities are scheduled at Central Library and around the Atlanta area as part of the celebration. The Global Access Department of the Central Library is sponsoring two of the events.

You are invited to the first event to learn something about Hispanic culture, history, language and geography while you listen to the Mariachi Music of Mexico with Otto-Ron Don.  The program will be on the 1st floor of the Central Library at 12 noon on Thursday September 18th.  

The second event will be a performance by  the music group Havana Son (more about them later). 

For other events at Central Library this month, go to the AFPLS homepage and click on the link to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

For more details about the Global Access Department events, please call 404.430.1915. All programs are free and open to the public.

The AJC Decatur Book Festival kicks off tomorrow [Fri. 8/29/08] and you definitely don’t want to miss out this year! From tomorrow to Sunday 250 first rate authors will be milling about Decatur for readings, book signings, lectures and more. Check the full author list here for details about favorites like Rick Bragg, Eric Jerome Dickey, Emily Giffin, Haywood Smith and Karen Slaughter, just to name a few! There will also be plenty of entertainment for the kids, live music, poetry slams, food and cooking demonstrations and much more.

Everything you need to know about the festival, from directions and parking to event schedules and author information can be found at their official website here. Enjoy the festivities and have a safe Labor Day weekend!