Talk to the Frackville Library

        Losing a pet through illness or accident is very difficult for many of our patrons. These 'wild' creatures become like members of the family in many households, and their owners remember them fondly. We've instituted a new program at the library that allows you to honor the memory of your pet and help the library at the same time. For a $5.00 donation to the library, you can place a photo of your pet on our 'Pet Memories' wall, and let others share in remembering your lost friend. Ask any librarian for assistance.

     The Adult Readers at the library have selected The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows for their next discussion. This novel in the form of letters, tells tales of what it was like on the small island of Guernsey in the English Channel, when it was occupied by German forces during World War II. The group will meet to discuss this popular selection on Thursday, February 18 at 7PM. They are always delighted to receive new members. Call the library for information or use our contact page at www.frackvilllelibrary.com.

      The date of the Annual Golden Ticket Dinner is fast approaching. Join us on Sunday, January 31, 2010 at the Fountain Springs Country Inn for a delicious dinner with drinks and a chance to win $2500! Tickets are $125 each and are good for two people. Help us get a jump start on 2010 fundraising, as we work to keep your public library strong! Call the library or any Library Trustee for tickets or information. 

     Our first session of Wii gaming for adults took place on Monday, and it was really fun! All of our attendees were playing  pretty much for the first time, but they caught on fast. We tried bowling, tennis, baseball, and golf. Tennis was probably the most challenging-you really have to keep your eye on the ball. But practice makes perfect, so I'm sure we'll be having some champions developing before long. This program is being held every Monday afternoon from 3 to 5PM.  Call the library for more information or use our contact page at www.frackvillelibrary.com.  

         Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell. I was originally intrigued by this book because the name of the Ukrainian family whose story it tells is very close to my own. It is a tale rich in detail, about a year in the life of an immigrant family trying to tame the great plains of central Canada during the 1930's. For a first novel, this is a superbly written piece, capturing the very essence of its characters and the environment they are trying to make their own. Mitchell shows a remarkable ability to write not only about the trials of the parents, but also paints extremely effective portraits of their children, as they experience the joys of childhood, while at the same time, suffer the pain and disappointment of carving out civilization in a wild landscape. Based on the quality of this first effort, I look forward to more of Mitchell's work in future.   

     I've just been having a look at a new fantasy series we received call The 13th Reality by James Dashner. The first volume is called The Journal of Curious Letters and it's all about a 13 year-old boy named Tick. Tick gets good grades, likes to read, and gets along with his parents. But when Tick opens a strange letter with an Alaska postmark, he finds hinmself right in the middle of an adventure that even his Dad can appreciate. Dashner writes with confidence and knows how to keep your interest right to the last page. And he has created one of the most original villains yet, the very 'yellow' Mistress Jane. Try this one, all you fantasy lovers out there, and if you like it, we have the second book of the series as well!  Good for young teens and anyone who likes Harry Potter, Lemony Snicket, or Spiderwick.