FRIGGATRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA

  
      There's a new Bookworm in town.  For several years, this blog has been written by one of the staff members at the Moultrie Library.  In June, that staff member resigned and turned her many duties over to various staff members.  She was a most talented and creative person, making her shoes very hard to fill.  During the transition period, maintaining the blog has been put on the back burner, as evidenced by the absence of entries.  Having caught up on everything else, I now have time to concentrate on writing little tidbits of Library news and personal observations.  Just as the identity of the original blogger was a secret, I will not divulge my identity either.  That air of mystery will keep you guessing.  I know I won't be as creative either, but I hope to entertain and inform you with each blog.
     Friday the 13th is probably not a good day to begin a new adventure, but I'm the daring sort and decided not to let a little superstition deter me.  In European culture, Friday is considered to be an unlucky day.  This is thought to stem from the fact that Christ died on a Friday.  Many superstitions have arisen about the "unluckiness" of activities that are undertaken on a Friday...it is bad luck to be born, get married, take a new job, visit the sick, or cut your nails on a Friday.  Sailors are loathe to begin a voyage on a Friday.  Combine that with the notion that the number 13 is unlucky and you have a double whammy.  The fear of 13 also seems to have its roots in Christendom.  There were 13 people sitting at the table during the "Last Supper" and one of them betrayed Christ which lead to His eventual death. 
     So, have you figured out what all of this has to do with the title of today's blog?  The term "Friggatriskaidekaphobia" translates into "fear of Friday the 13th".  Frigga is the Norse goddess for which the day Friday was named.  Triskaidek comes from the Greek for thirteen.  Phobia means fear.  Apparently, I am not a superstitious person because I have begun this new job and I even cut my fingernails before I came to work today.  However, I have yet to explain why most of the computers at the library have been acting like they were possessed by evil spirits today.  Do you think the folks at Carver High School in Columbus, Georgia know about this?  I certainly hope so, because I'm pulling for the Pack tonight at Mack Tharpe Stadium.

HERE'S A QUICK COMMUNITY GARDEN UPDATE

     Elois, Aileen, and I went to the Community Garden this morning.  It's located adjacent to our library parking lot, surrounded by a chain-link fence, inside the Bert Harsh Park.  And once again, we walked the seven long rows and stared at the five huge black pots.  Here's what we found:
     Row 1 - spinach and zinnias
     Row 2 - yellow squash and eggplant
     Row 3 - zucchini and yellow squash
     Row 4 - tomatoes
     Row 5 - carrots
     Row 6 - turnips
     Row 7 - beets and beans (the running kind)
     Pot 1 - peppers (bell, I think)
     Pot 2 - peppers (hot)
     Pot 3 - cucumbers
     Pot 4 - English peas and basil
     Pot 5 - cilantro.

     Well, how about that?  And people are already coming to the Community Garden and picking the greens and squash.  Aileen and Elois are patiently waiting for the beets to be big enough, but I bet they will have to be out there fast to get some.
     Everyone is so excited about this corner of the park.  If you're driving by, just park on the side of the street and take a look.  Or better yet, come inside the fence and take a walk.  You'll be amazed at how lush everything looks.
     And thank you to all the fellows who tend the garden.  You are are taking care of a great show and resource!!!!

CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK IS COMING UP

     Next week we will be celebrating Children's Book Week...May 13 through 17...just as many libraries across the nation will be doing.
     And we need to remind you that Clifford the Big Red dog will be here for a "Meet and Greet" on Tuesday, May 14th, at 4 p.m.  In fact, there are children's events lined up for the whole month of May.
     If you do not know what Children's Book Week is, let me share this information with you.
     Children's Book Week is the annual celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading.  Established in 1919, Children's Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country.  Every year commemorative events are held nationwide at schools, libraries, bookstores, and home - wherever young readers and books connect!
     Children's Book Week is administered by Every Child A Reader, a 501(c)(3) literacy organization dedicated to instilling a lifelong love of reading in children.  The Children's Book Council, the national non-profit trade association for children's book publishers, is an anchor sponsor.
     While watching the news at 6 p.m. the other day, I heard one of the news anchors talk about Children's Book Week.  He asked his co-anchors to name their favorite children's book, and one anchor said hers was Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree."
     I have to admit that is my favorite book also.  In fact, I've not only given it as gifts, I have received it as a gift twice.
     The book details the events occurring throughout the life of a young boy, and the friendship that he shares with a tree—with which he is apparently able to communicate.
     In his childhood, he enjoys climbing her branches and enjoying imaginative play with her; however, as he gradually passes into maturity his requests from the tree change.
     After entering adolescence, he requests to pick her apples with which to make profit, and after reaching adulthood he cuts off the tree's limbs to construct a house.
     Years later, he returns to the lonesome Giving Tree as an old man to cut her down and use her wood to craft a boat with which to sail away, reducing her to nothing more than a stump.
     However, eventually he returns to his friend, asking for a resting place, and peacefully drifts off to sleep on the tree stump, the only thing the tree has left to give.
     If you have a favorite children's book, let us know.  And if you're near a library this coming week, take time to stop by.  In fact, if you have a youngster, bring that child to the library.  You just might find lots of events going on to enjoy.  Better yet, you'll find lots of books that not only the child will enjoy, but you will too.
     And if you're in Moultrie, Georgia, be sure to check us out!!!
(Sources: Children's Book Week at www.bookweekonline.com and "The Giving Tree" at .wikipedia.org)

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH ALL THAT GARDEN STUFF?

     If you're growing a fruit and/or veggie garden, do you usually plant way too much?  And have tons of veggies you have to get rid of...give to your neighbors, give to your children and grandchildren, possibly think about putting up a roadside stand?
     Well, if that's you, and you don't exactly know what you're going to do with all that garden stuff, we have the answer for you.
     Our library is going to host a program on Tuesday, May 14th, at 6 p.m. with specific answers to that concern.
     Andrea Scarrow is a University of Georgia, Colquitt County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.  She's going to teach us how to use our fruits and veggies in her program "Using Your Garden's Bounty."
     You'll gain insight about the importance of increasing fruits and vegetables in your diet to prevent chronic disease.  In addition, you'll receive new recipes for fruits and vegetables, as well as learn about cooking methods that preserve nutrition and taste without adding extra calories.  And we'll talk about ways to get children to eat more fruits and veggies...that's a winner in itself!
     There's a special part of Andrea's program that I'm really looking forward to...we'll taste-test a low calorie fruit and veggie dip!  Learn and eat, all in the same program.  Can't beat that!
     Don't miss this enjoyable, educational time.  The event is open to the public.  Just show up!

BOOKS WITH FUNNY TITLES AT OUR BOOK SALE

     A couple of events prompted this blog today.
     First, when I visited Bill Starr's blog for the Georgia Center for the Book, I read one of his March blogs about books with funny titles.  Seems the Diagram Prize from Great Britain was awarded to books with the oddest titles of the year...such as, Goblinproofing One's Chicken Coop.  Bill went on to list a few more that were runners-up.  Needless to say, they were really funny titles.  Maybe more funny than what I found.
     The thought of odd titles caused me to venture down the long white hallway to our auditorium where members of our Library Friends were sorting the many donated books for our huge book sale this weekend, May 3 through 5.
     I asked them to pay no attention to me, that I wouldn't get in their way, because I was just searching for different, funny, and odd titles of books for today's blog.  Like Bill, I love particular book titles and found quite a few as I roamed the tables that were being covered in rapid speed.
     How about these (with comments I just had to say):

• Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson (the same author of Three Cups of Tea and a scandal, I'm sorry to say)
• The Tender Shoot  by Colette (made me think of Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss)
• Rich Men, Single Women by Pamela Beck and Patti Massman (what? married women not included?)
• The Autobiography of Santa Claus as told to Jeff Guinn (since we have Santa Claus on our Odom Library Board, I thought I'd run this one past him to see how true it is)
• I Wish You Didn't Know My Name by Michele Launders and Penina Spiegel (and then we found the one below)
• That's Not My Name by Yvonne Navarro (we have a controversy here)
• Ten Letters, The Stories Americans Tell Their President by Eli Slaslow (some people would say this is better than the stories their President would tell)
• It Probably Won't Kill You...Twisted Humor for Your Kitchen by Iyan Igma (I'm proud to say this author used to work here at our library and has some very good recipes)
• The Hormone Jungle by Robert Reed (a fiction by a man, of course) and
• Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers by Robert Kriegel and David Brandt (this one instantly sold to one of the Friends members, who said she was getting it for her husband!)

     These are all real books - look them up (so said Bill Starr also).  In fact, come to our gigantic book sale this weekend and find them. 
      Times for the sale are:  Friday, May 3, 4:00 to 6:30, Friends Members only;  Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.;   and Sunday, May 5, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.  The Big Bag Sale will be from 4 to 5 p.m. for any items not selected, bags provided by the Friends, and only $4.00 per bag! Fill it full to the top!
      You really shouldn't miss this sale.  Everything will be from 25 cents to $2.00!!!  There won't be a good buy like this until next year.  So, we'll look for you there.

WE'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU

     Before I went to lunch today, I watched a small portion on a Yahoo! live feed of the dedication of the Bush Presidential Library  (for the last President Bush).  There was a running dialog box on the lefthand side of the screen.
     One person stated: "Libraries are so 1950s.  Couldn't we just make him a website and save a ton of taxpayer money?"
     Another person responded:  "Shame on you.  Libraries are the greatest gifts to us and should not and will not be replaced entirely by websites."
     How do you feel about that?  Are libraries so 1950s?  Should we replace them and save the taxpayers a ton of money?  How about..."should not and will not be replaced entirely by websites?"  I thought about that word "entirely."
     I feel a little biased working in a library.  And this is my second library.  I don't believe I could answer those questions without taking into consideration all of my feelings about libraries.  Or websites, for that matter.  It might take me a long time to write it all down.
     But I did wonder if you have an opinion on this subject and are willing to share it with us.  If so, please leave a comment here. 
     We'd love to hear from you...here at our library and on our website.
     Thanks in advance.

THE MONTH OF MAY AND CHILDREN'S EVENTS

     I know you can click on May in the Children's Library on our website home page, but you know what?  I think it's worth talking about right here also.
     We have such outstanding events for children at our library.  Michele Croft, our Children's Librarian, and her assistant, Nancy Ibarra, work so hard to make the children's library a really special place for children of all ages.
     In a way, May is not really a special month for children at our library, because every month is special.  It's just that during May this year, we have great special events that not only children but adults will want to be part of.  And if you think May is going to be great, wait until you hear about June!!!
     Our May children's events actually started on April 22nd, when children were encouraged to stop by the children's library and pick up a coloring sheet to enter the "Fancy Nancy Coloring Contest."  The contest is for ages 4 to 7 and 8 to 10 years.  The children pick up their coloring sheet, do their thing with it, and bring it back before May 18th when it will be judged.  (I'll not tell who the judge(s) will be.)  And the winners will receive a Scholastic Book Pack, a bookmark, and a great pencil.  So, encourage all your little ones to get busy and finish those coloring sheets and bring them in before the 18th.
     Of course, we know that May 1st is right around the corner.  That's the day when children can come to the children's library and look for the jar with the bookworms in it.  Once found, they should guess how many bookworms are in the jar and submit their answer.  The winner will receive a prize at the end of the month.  Just think!   Two good events with winners!
     Clifford the Big Red Dog has visited our library before, but he's going to be here again.  On May 14th at 4:00 p.m. children will enjoy a story, a sing-along, and then Clifford!  He'll come out to say hello and pose for photos with the children.  Everyone loves to have their picture taken with Clifford and this is the perfect opportunity for a really great one!!!  No registration.  Just show up!
     May 18th is also "Eric Carle Story Time."  The event will be at 11 a.m. and no registration is required for it either.  The event is open to all ages, but it's best suited for ages 3 to 6 years.  Eric Carle stories are aimed for early childhood.  And...a real treat...light refreshments will be served!
    We're always glad to have local authors join us and on May 25th at 11 a.m. Gary Hardy will read from his book about the adventures of "PJ The Water Breathing Dragon."  If you don't know this story, adults and children alike will enjoy it.  It lets everyone know it's all right to be different.  And Gary's book will be available to purchase for your child or to give as a special gift.
     I know you're thinking, WOW!, that's a lot of stuff going on at the children's library, but that's not all.  The Summer Reading Club will begin registration on May 1st and continue through June.  Michele Croft has a line-up of programs you won't believe!  The Big Kid Band, a comedy magic show, Clifford the Big Red Dog again, storytellers, a ventriloquist, puppets, and animals from Chehaw Park.
     There's lots more to tell you about.  But I have to save some for next time.  Till then...put these May dates on your calendar for a month of fun at the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library!