Government Documents At Your Library!

Did you know that the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System is a Federal Government Depository? It's the oldest one in the state of Georgia and the only one located in a public (rather than an academic) library. It is housed in the Ivan Allen, Jr. Reference Department (IAD) on the 2nd floor of the Central Library.

Because so many government publications nowadays are found only in a digital format, IAD maintains a set of webpages with links to publications and websites useful to the general public. You can access these pages from the drop-down menu under the "Books and Materials" tab at the top of our homepage under "Government Information," and also from the IAD portion of the Central Library’s website (see the IAD link above.)

Periodically we post a short listing of some of the newer publications received. Check under "New Documents Received" from the U.S. Government Information list. Right now this includes: an article about the first Black physician in the U.S. Army, the website for The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association's (NOAA's) hurricane outlook for 2013, how to look up federal legislative information, a web portal to information on women's heart health, plus links for the latest on the budget and economic recovery.

There is a wealth of important and useful information contained in these pages, and we invite all of our patrons to spend some time with all that can be found here! To contact the Ivan Allen, Jr. Reference Department call 404.730.1900.

Muslim Journeys Theme: Points Of View

We always see the countries of the Islamic world in the news, but our knowledge of them is often so poor that the news can be hard to understand. How do people live their lives in Islamabad, Fez, Cairo, or Tehran? What are their experiences and histories? Through the titles in the Muslim Journeys theme “Points of View,” readers will encounter individual experiences that help make news events three-dimensional. Some are memoirs and some are novels, but all represent great storytelling.

The Muslim Journeys Bookshelf given to the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System includes books selected to breathe life into Western understanding about Muslims throughout the world. We invite all of our patrons to check out this rich collection of materials at the Central Library!

In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar:     A coming-of-age story set in Tripoli, the capital of Libya, told through the eyes of a 9-year-old boy in the year 1969. It puts a human face on the events following from the toppling of the Libyan monarchy by a young officer named Muammar Qaddafi.

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi:     Entertaining autobiographical graphic novel that covers the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, the rise of the Ayatollah Khomeini, and the Iran-Iraq War. Whether having a conversation with God or with her dear grandmother, the author’s girlhood self illuminates this tumultuous time in Iran for us - from the inside. Patrons should also check the catalog for the film adaptation of Persepolis and  the sequel to the book, Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return.

House of Stone by Anthony Shadid:     More than 100,000 inhabitants of the land that would later become Lebanon left their towns and villages to immigrate to the United States around 1900. The author’s family ended up in Oklahoma, and after pursuing a career in journalism, the author set out to return to the ancestral village in Lebanon and rebuild his grandfather’s stone house. The result is an amazing tale that is both funny and bittersweet.

Broken Verses by Kamila Shamsie:     A young woman begins to receive letters written in the private code of her missing mother and her mother’s lover, a famous poet who was supposed to have been murdered years before. This young woman sets out to decode the letters, hoping to learn the fate of her activist mother. In the meantime the reader is swept along on a tour of Karachi, Pakistan, during the tumultuous 70s and 80s.

Dreams of Trespass by Fatima Mernissi:     Autobiography about growing up in the 1940s in a Moroccan “domestic harem” that illustrates a vanishing tradition of communal life in the Islamic world. The “harem” provided both sanctuary and limitations. It hemmed its residents in but also made them care about one another and pay attention to each another in ways unfamiliar to most Westerners.

Dig Into Reading At Your Library!

The days are growing longer, the temperature is rising and around Atlanta it’s time to begin making plans for summer adventures for the whole family. Why not begin at your library? From babies and children to teens and adults, everyone is invited to participate in the many exciting summer reading activities at your branch of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System! The program runs from June 1 - August 1, 2013, so events are already underway!

This year's theme for children is Dig Into Reading, perfect for encouraging young readers to expand their knowledge of subjects such as archaeology, geology, gardening, and much more. For our teen readers the theme is Beneath The Surface. Delve deeper into your imagination and explore other worlds through books! Both children and teen readers will be eligible for prizes, coupons, certificates, and a grand prize drawing after completing the program. This year's grand prize is a Kindle Fire, so you don't want to miss out on your chance to win! And there's something for the adults as well. Displays, book lists and programs for adult library users highlight the 2013 theme of Groundbreaking Reads, so you're sure to find something for the whole family this summer at your library. For more information about our summer reading program visit our website or call your local librarian.

You can check our Events Calendar for weekly programs and activities at your local branch, or read the full version of Access, our publication of events, to see what your branch has in store for you this summer. Looking for books on your summer reading lists? Well, check the catalog and start placing your holds today!

And as always, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for daily updates and other literary tidbits all summer long!

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System would like to invite you to the Groundbreaking Event for your new Wolf Creek Library!

Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 11:00 a.m.

We are asking attendees to please park at the Wolf Creek Public Safety Training Center.
3025 Merk Road, College Park, GA

A shuttle will take you from this location to the ceremony.

Please RSVP by Monday, May 27 to: 404-730-1972 or laura.wright@fultoncountyga.gov

All are welcome! We hope to see you there!

And for more information on all of the new libraries that are a part of our Library Building Program, be sure to check out the "Your New Libraries - News and Updates" link on our homepage! The Library System is engaged in a $275 million building program, funded by a library bond referendum approved by Fulton County voters in 2008. Updates will be added to this page as the program progresses through the next couple of years, so check back often!

Muslim Journeys Theme: Art And Architecture

Most of us have encountered Islamic art in one form or another. Oriental rugs, the Yaarab Temple and Fox Theater are understood to be “Islamic” in some way. But exactly what makes a work of art “Islamic”?

 

The Muslim Journeys Bookshelf given to the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System includes books about Islamic art as well as films that furnish an introduction to the long history and breadth of the arts in Islam. We invite all of our patrons to visit the Central Library and check out this rich collection of materials!

The Art of Hajj: One of the five “pillars” of Islam is the injunction to make a spiritual pilgrimage to visit the holy places in Mecca – the Hajj – at least once in one’s lifetime. As a companion publication to an art exhibit, this beautifully illustrated book takes the reader on a wonderful journey through arts that celebrate the Hajj. It features illuminated manuscripts, wall paintings and photographs, calligraphy, textiles, scientific instruments, decorative tiles, maps, ceramics, metalwork, and powerful works by contemporary artists, all complemented with explanatory narrative and quotes from the Qur’an and traditional literary sources.

Islamic Arts: Artists and craftsmen in the areas influenced by Islam produced some of the world's most beautiful works of art: from the Alhambra to the Taj Mahal, from illuminated copies of the Koran to exquisite decorative arts: ceramics, textiles and metalwork. This well-illustrated is a great introduction to this vast history.

Islamic Art Spots (DVD): These are visual essays on Calligraphy, Mosques, Travel, Gardens, Textiles, Geometry, and Books, presented in a series of 10-minute explanatory pieces. The Art Spots are written and presented by D. Fairchild Ruggles, Professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World (DVD): A full-length film tracing the history of Islam in its art and architecture. Narrated by Academy Award winning performer Susan Sarandon, this dazzling documentary reveals the variety and diversity of Islamic art.  It provides a window into Islamic culture and brings broad insights to the enduring themes that have propelled human history and fueled the rise of world civilization over the centuries.