New Northwest Atlanta At Scotts Crossing Library Groundbreaking!

Come join the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System as we break ground on the new Northwest Atlanta at Scotts Crossing Library Thursday, July 17 at 11:00 a.m!

The new 25,000-square-foot library for Northwest Atlanta is part of Phase I of the Library Building Program, currently underway. The library will be located at 2489 Perry Boulevard in Northwest Atlanta.

CollinsCooper Carusi Architects, in association with The Freelon Group Architects, is contracted with Fulton County to provide design and engineering services for the new library. BenchMark-Brasfield & Gorrie, a joint venture, is contracted with Fulton County to provide construction management, and Heery/Russell is the program management team.

The grand opening of the Northwest Atlanta at Scotts Crossing Library is expected in the 3^rd quarter of 2015. This library will replace service at the Bowen/Bankhead and Perry Homes branches.

In November 2008, Fulton County voters overwhelmingly passed the Library Bond Referendum. The plan will greatly enhance all of the county’s libraries, and includes:

• 8 New Branch Libraries: Alpharetta, East Roswell, Milton, Northwest Atlanta, Palmetto, Southeast Atlanta, Stewart-Lakewood and Wolf Creek. You can check our website for construction updates on projects that are already underway! 

• Two expansion projects: Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History and the South Fulton Library.

Green building design and sustainability are priorities for these library building projects, and the Library System expects to achieve LEED Silver on all of the Phase I projects. Each library will reflect the culture and interests of its community.

For more information or to R.S.V.P. please call 404-730-1972 or email laura.wright@fultoncountyga.gov. You can also stay up-to-date on the Library Building Program by visiting www.afpls.org. We hope to see you there!

It's Time For Summer Cooking!

The temperature outside has officially confirmed summer's arrival! And tomorrow, June 21, also marks the official first day of summer. For a lot of us this time of year is a perfect opportunity to gather the family every weekend around the grill or barbecue, relax in the shade, and eat some delicious meals. Why not let the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System provide you with some summer culinary inspiration! We have a host of cookbooks that are sure to titillate every palate. Check the catalog for these and other titles, put on your apron, grab your tongs, and get cooking! 

• Fresh in Summer: Cooking with Alistair Handy, by Alistair Handy

• 100 Grilling Recipes You Can't Live Without: [A Lifelong Companion,] by Cheryl Alters Jamison

• Bobby Flay's Barbecue Addiction, by Bobby Flay

• Wicked Good Barbecue:  Fearless Recipes from Two Damn Yankees Who Have Won the Biggest, Baddest BBQ Competitions in the World, by Andy Husbands

• The Everything Grilling Cookbook : From Vegetable Skewers to Tuna Burgers-- 300 Healthy Recipes for Any Grill, by Rick Marx

And don't forget the libations!

• Classic Summer Cocktails, by Salvatore Calabrese

• The Backyard Bartender: 55 Cool Summer Cocktails, Nicole Aloni

• The Ultimate Party Drink Book, by Bruce Weinstein

Database Of The Month: Bookflix!

Don't let your child's reading skills get rusty during the summer break! Regular trips to check out books at your local branch of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System are a great way to keep kids engaged with reading during the season, and don't forget to sign up for the Summer Reading Program while you're there. But why not switch things up a bit by using online books and videos from Bookflix to keep them inspired and entertained! 

Bookflix has paired award-winning fiction with engaging nonfiction to help students become fluent, confident, and independent readers. The pairing of fiction and nonfiction has been shown to be an effective way to develop critical reading and comprehension skills. Fiction, with its narrative "story" structure, is often more accessible for beginning readers. It can be used to introduce a topic and provide a bridge to the informational text. This engaging resource for children in grades pre-K through 3 will help early readers develop and practice essential reading skills and introduce them to a world of knowledge and exploration.

Pairing fiction and nonfiction texts enhances readers' comprehension of a particular topic, exposes them to a wider range of vocabulary, and builds background knowledge—and therefore interest. With several topics to choose from such as Animals and Nature, Earth and Sky, Music and Rhyme and more, you are sure to find several title pairings that your child will enjoy and learn from. And they will enjoy watching some of their favorite stories come to life in the animated videos!

This resource is free to all library card holders and can be accessed through our website. Simply follow the steps below and get started!

1. Go to www.afpls.org
2. Click on the link to A-Z Databases on the right hand side of the page under Books, Research & Databases. 
3. Click on the icon for Bookflix
4. Enter the GALILEO password. (If you don't know the current password, find it by following these instructions!)
5. Have fun reading and watching videos with your kids!