Friday, February 25, 2011

Free Nook Classes in March!


Learn to use your Nook and download ebooks from the library. FREE!!!!

We will have both free day classes and night classes in March at the Gardendale Public Library!
Day Class Thursday, March 10th:
  • 10-11 a.m. Nook Class
  • 11 a.m.-12p.m. NookColor Class
Evening Class Tuesday, March 22nd:
  • 5:30-6:30 p.m. Nook Class
  • 6:30-7:30 p.m. NookColor Class

The classes are presented by Barnes and Noble.
No registration is required.
Classes are free and open to the anyone with a Nook or interested in learning more about Nooks/e-readers.
Call the Library at 205-631-6639 for more info.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Monday Night BCB for March: The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.

Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.

What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.

For two decades, Jeannette Walls hid her roots. Now she tells her own story. A regular contributor to MSNBC.com, she lives in New York and Long Island and is married to the writer John Taylor.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Monday Night BCB for February : The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson.

Lisbeth Salander—the heart of Larsson’s two previous novels—lies in critical condition, a bullet wound to her head, in the intensive care unit of a Swedish city hospital. She’s fighting for her life in more ways than one: if and when she recovers, she’ll be taken back to Stockholm to stand trial for three murders. With the help of her friend, journalist Mikael Blomkvist, she will not only have to prove her innocence, but also identify and denounce those in authority who have allowed the vulnerable, like herself, to suffer abuse and violence. And, on her own, she will plot revenge—against the man who tried to kill her, and the corrupt government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life.

Once upon a time, she was a victim. Now Salander is fighting back.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Temporary Policy for Donations

Thanks to everyone for all the great donations over the last year! We’ve gotten so many and it really helps us to provide you with a good selection. We get a lot of great items! Also, it has contributed greatly to our ability to have awesome and successful book sales in the last year, helping us raise several thousand dollars for our building fund.

But for the next several months (until our building expansion is completed) we will not be able to take as many donations.

Here is what we will gladly take off of your hands throughout the expansion:
-    DVDs
-    Audiobooks on CD
-    Books with copyright dates 2009 and up

Here are the items we will not be able to take until the expansion is complete:
-    Encyclopedia sets or other sets of books
-    Audiobooks on cassette
-    Magazines
-    Books with copyright dates below 2009
-    Large quantities of any items

We ask that you either donate these items to another library who would like the donations, donate the items to your local thrift store, or hang onto those items until we are done with the expansion and then when we are ready and able to store and process them bring them on in to us!