10 Things You Need To Complete Your College Application

Parents and students please take advantage of these free College Preparatory workshops coming to a library near you! Brandi Rae Hicks and The Rae Of Light Foundation are touring the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System offering free workshops for parents and teens gearing up for college application season! The workshops aim to transition high school students into college and beyond through Financial Literacy, Academic Preparedness and Basic Life Skills.

Please join us at one of the following branches:

Adams Park: Wednesday, September 21st, 6:00 p.m.

Adamsville-Collier: Saturday, October 15th, 12:00 p.m.

Buckhead: Monday, September 12th, 6:00 p.m.

Cleveland Avenue: Wednesday, October 5th, 4:00 p.m.

College Park: Monday, October 3rd, 6:00 p.m.

East Atlanta: Wednesday, September 28th, 6:00 p.m.

Georgia Hill: Monday, October 19th, 5:00 p.m.

Hapeville: Saturday, October 22nd, 3:00 p.m.

Northside: Saturday, September 24th, 1:15 p.m.

Ocee: Monday, October 24th, 6:00 p.m.

Peachtree: Monday, September 19th, 6:00 p.m.

Perry Homes: Saturday, September 17th, 1:00 p.m.

Southwest: Thursday, October 20th, 4:00 p.m.

Stewart-Lakewood: Thursday, September 29th, 6:00 p.m.

Washington Park: Friday, October 21st, 9:30 a.m.

For more information, please call (404)509-5797 or email raeoflightfoundation@gmail.com.

5K Run/Walk For Literacy!

The Literacy Alliance of Metro Atlanta (LAMA) will be hosting a 5K Run/Walk for Literacy on Saturday, September 24, 2011, at 8 a.m. Register today to help support the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System's literacy initiatives by selecting AFPLS to benefit from your registration fees! Be sure to indicate that you want your support to go to the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System. Your donation will go to help with our many literacy programs, including GED preparation and testing, and adult tutoring.

Not able to actually attend the 5K that Saturday? No problem! You can register as a Phantom Walker and still support literacy in our communities. The registration deadline is Thursday, September 22nd, so there is still plenty of time to sign up your family and friends. We look forward to walking with you, so come join the fun, rain or shine!

5K Run/Walk for Literacy:

Date
Start: Saturday, September 24, 2011 @ 8:00 AM

Address
Decatur Library
215 Sycamore Street Decatur, GA

Fees
Online Registration: Individual - $20, Family - $50
Day of Registration: Individual - $25, Family - $55

Registration Closing Date
Thursday, September 22, 2011 PST

6th Annual AJC Decatur Book Festival!

Yes, it's that time of year again. Time to celebrate this Labor Day at the 6th Annual AJC Decatur Book Festival, the largest independent book festival in the nation! The fun kicks off on Saturday, September 3rd, continuing throughout the holiday weekend, and all parts of the festival are free and open to the public. Visit the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System at booth 127 on Saturday and Sunday for crafts and storytelling for children, library card sign-up, and to learn about all the great things we have going on at our 34 branches. Many of our talented librarians will be on hand to represent our library system and to answer any questions you might have.

The list of visiting authors that will descend on the downtown Decatur square is quite impressive, so you truly don't want to miss out on seeing any of them! According to the DBF website, this year's keynote speakers are Colin Meloy (of The Decemberists) and acclaimed illustrator Carson Ellis, the nationally renowned pair behind a new book of bravery and adventure for families, kids, and adults alike: Wildwood.

Authors will give readings, panel discussions, book talks and signings. You can see the full list , or browse them by genre. Check the schedule ahead of time to plan out your weekend, and for all the latest updates and newsworthy tidbits, you can follow the festival on Twitter and Facebook!

An array of activities for children, teens and adults should keep the whole family entertained. From live music, cooking demos, poetry slams, children's parades and performances, and of course all the yummy food and drink vendors on hand, you really can't go wrong with this weekend celebration of books, reading and literacy. You can even bring in your own books for appraisal by the Georgia Antiquarian Booksellers Association.

We look forward to seeing you at Booth 127, so come on out and join us!

Beat The Heat @ Your Library!

The school year may be fast approaching, but the dog days of summer are just now settling in, and your local library is here to help you survive them in all kinds of ways! Check our events calendar for our wide variety of free programming for all ages and visit your local (air conditioned!) branch to participate.

While you're there you can browse for books about summer cooking, travel, or gardening. Or maybe you'll find inspiration in some craft books to keep your family entertained indoors until things cool off a bit. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

Vegetable Gardening : From Planting to Picking : the Complete Guide to Creating a Bountiful Garden by Jane Courtier

Fresh in Summer : Cooking with Alastair Hendy by Alistair Hendy

Around Atlanta with Kids by Mary Jo Dilonardo

A Backyard Vegetable Garden for Kids by Amie Jane Leavitt

Best Beach Vacations in the Carolinas & Georgia by Lan Sluder

Grillin' with Gas : 150 Mouthwatering Recipes for Great Grilled Food by Fred Thompson

Fast, Fresh & Freen : More than 90 Delicious Recipes for Veggie Lovers by Susie Middleton

Boredom Blasters : Brain Bogglers, Awesome Activities, Cool Comics, Tasty Treats, and More by Helaine Becker

As always, you can check the catalog for these and other titles available from the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and stay cool!

Database Access On The Go!

Have you ever been away from your computer and suddenly found yourself needing the answer to a reference question? Or wanted to listen to a downloaded Ebook while waiting in line at the grocery store? How about practicing your language learning skills while sipping your morning coffee at the local cafe? Well, now you can do all of these things by using library database apps on your smartphone or other mobile device! You can guarantee that there will be more of these coming out in the future, but for now, check out what you already have access to through the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System and some of our database providers.

Mango Mobile - Mango Languages Library Edition on the go!

Available on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, this free mobile language app gives you access to all of the languages and features available through the library in the palm of your hand!

OverDrive eMedia Console - OverDrive downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks on the go!

Available on the iPhone/iPad, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone 7, this free app will give you access to all of the titles available for download through the AFPLS collection. Anytime, anywhere access for all your favorite titles!

EbscoHost - EBSCO online research databases on the go!

Available on the iPhone/iPad/iPod touch, BlackBerry, Android Smartphones, Windows Smartphones, Dell Axim, Palm and Pocket PC this mobile research tool will give users all of the functionality of the databases that AFPLS has in its EBSCO collection. Popular research databases such as Academic Search Complete and MasterFile Premier can now be easily searched anytime and anywhere!

GALE Access My Library - GALE online research databases on the go!

Available on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android, this mobile research app uses GPS technology to locate libraries within a 10 mile radius of the user, then gives the user free and unlimited access to that library's GALE resources without even needing a library card number. Access library systems in other states while traveling!

We hope you will take advantage of these mobile tools and will take your library with you everywhere you go!

National Black Arts Festival

The National Black Arts Festival (NBAF) is one of the premier national and international presenters of the culture, music and art of people of African descent. Their mission is to "engage, cultivate and educate diverse audiences about the arts and culture of the African Diaspora and provide opportunities for artistic and creative expression."

The NBAF summer festival is now in full swing and will last through July 17, 2011, with many exhibits and shows running throughout the rest of the summer. Various events will be held during this time throughout the city of Atlanta celebrating visual art, music, dance, theatre and film produced by artists of African heritage. You can even celebrate with the library by checking out these exhibits and workshops at the Auburn Avenue Research Library.

For a complete listing of all dates and times of events, visit the NBAF website and view their calendar.

Still Time for Summer Reading!

Summer is about half over but you still have time to sign your children-or yourself!-up for Summer Reading 2011. You have until August 1 to get yourselves signed up and reading. Children, grades 5 and below, have to read 10 books to qualify. Teens, grades 6-12, have to read 5 and Adults just need to read. If you think you can do that then get yourself over to your nearest branch and sign up. If you are reading anyway, might as well get yourself in the running for prizes and free food!

Questions? Ask at your local AFPLS library.