50 Books That Define the Past Five Years in Literature

Flavorwire.com has compiled a list of fifty books that define the past five years in literature. The traditional book publishing industry has been challenged by the rise of indie presses, new literary magazines, internet self-publishing, and the explosive popularity of e-readers.

That said, it has been a fruitful time for book lovers. These 50 books reflect the injection of fresh voices and also gives a glimpse into what the future holds. The list is not ranked, nor is inclusion dependent on sales or awards. These are fifty books that "show what is great about literature here and now."

Beauty In The Deep

This 1961 film, courtesy of the State Library and Archives of Florida, showcases the famous Weeki Wachee mermaids. This Saturday, November 16, you can meet former mermaid Bonnie Georgiadis at 4:00 pm at the Tarpon Springs Historical Society (Train Depot). She will be signing copies of the book Weeki Wachee Mermaids : Thirty Years of Underwater Photography, which she co-authored with Lu Vickers.

Today in Literary History

Today's remembrance is from recent history. From history.com:

On this day in 2004, Swedish writer Stieg Larsson died suddenly of a heart attack at age 50, only months after turning in the manuscripts for three crime thrillers—The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl who Played with Fire and The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest—which would later become international best-sellers. Known collectively as the Millennium trilogy, the novels feature the characters Mikael Blomkvist, a middle-aged journalist, and Lisbeth Salander, a young pierced and tattooed computer hacker with a troubled past. Larsson, who never lived to see his books’ success, died without a will, setting off a protracted legal battle for the rights to his work.

November 6: On This Day In History

On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States. By the time of Lincoln's inauguration on March 4, 1861, seven states had seceded, and the Confederate States of America had been established under the leadership of Jefferson Davis. Only one month later, the American Civil War began when Confederate forces opened fire on Union-held Fort Sumter in South Carolina. For preserving the Union and bringing an end to slavery, and for his unique character and powerful oratory, Lincoln is hailed as one of the greatest American presidents. [Source]

The Tarpon Springs Library has many books and DVDs for all ages to further explore the life of Abraham Lincoln.

Cinema Saturday

Cinema Saturday

 September 21st @ 11am

This coming week's Cinema Saturday hint is:

An FBI agent and an Interpol detective track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money.

This star studded cast includes:
Jesse Eisenberg
Isla Fisher 
Dave Franco
Mark Ruffalo
Woody Harrelson
Mélanie Laurent 
Morgan Freeman
Michael Caine

For more information about Cinema Saturday, please email us at tslref@pplc.us or call us at (727)943-4922 

There's an App For That- New Library Catalog App!

Smartphone users will be happy to know that there is now an app for the Pinellas County Library Catalog! This FREE app makes it easier for you to search for movies, books, ebooks and audiobooks without having to go on your computer! You are also able to access our Research Databases and access your account so you can renew your items.

A really cool feature on this app is the book scanner. Now if your friend recommends a book to you, just scan the barcode on the back of the book and the app searches for it in our catalog for you!

This FREE app is now available for both Android and iPhone smartphones.

Just scan the code below or visit http://pinellas.boopsie.com/ on your phone!

Library Card Sign-Up Month

 

This month is Library Card Sign-Up Month and to celebrate, the Tarpon Springs Public Library is offering a chance to win a Google Nexus 7 tablet when you register for a new card our Library this September. The Friends of the Tarpon Springs Public Library is sponsoring this prize drawing to promote the collections of downloadable e-books, audiobooks, and music accessible through the Library.

Drawings are open to Pinellas County residents who are first-time card registrants.  Official drawing rules are available at the Library. Free bookmarks and other promotional giveaways will also be offered at the Tarpon Springs Public Library during September.

When you sign up for a Pinellas Public Library Cooperative (PPLC) card, you gain access to countywide collections of digital audiobooks and e-books.  In addition, free downloadable music is available through the Tarpon Springs Public Library and several other PPLC member libraries.  Other benefits of a library card include being able to check out books, magazines, CDs, and DVDs and to use online research databases.

A new mobile app is also now being offered with a variety of resources to meet your library needs.  The Pinellas Online Portal (POP) app is provided through the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative.  To download the PPLC POP app, type in pinellas.boopsie.com on your mobile device’s web browser and click to install POP.

 

Free PPLC library cards are available to residents of Tarpon Springs, unincorporated areas of Pinellas County, and cities that are members of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative.  Residents of other areas may be issued a PPLC card for a fee.  Photo identification and proof of current address are required.  Applicants under the age of 14 needs to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to sign their registration form.  Visit our website (www.tarponspringslibrary.org) or contact the Library (727-943-4922) for more information.

New look for the library blog

As some of you may noticed, the blog looks very different than it did before. Our Library Blogging Team has been working hard to update our blog to include new features that will interest you. This process may take a little bit of time, but we promise it will be worth the wait! Meanwhile, check out some of the pages we have posted and let us know what you think!

Free Computer Tutoring Available

Have you recently purchased a new laptop and don’t know where to begin? Do you need to improve your computer mouse skills? Have you ever thought about learning how to email or explore the Internet?

Then stop by or call the Tarpon Springs Public Library and schedule your free one hour computer tutoring appointment today! The library is offering free computer tutoring for adults and seniors in need of basic computer help. Free one-hour appointments are available with our high school volunteers. Afternoon and evening appointments are available. Please contact the library by phone (727-943-4922, ext. 11), by email (tslibrary@pplc.us), or stop by the Library and see a staff member at the reference desk to register, or for more information.

Voter Registration Drive

Representatives from the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections will be at the Tarpon Springs Public Library on Saturday, February 2 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. You will be able to:

• Register to vote
• Update your address, name, party affiliation, or signature
• Apply to vote by mail

For further information, please contact the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections at (727) 464-6108 or visit www.votepinellas.com

Sunset Beach Concert Series

Looking for something to do this summer that is fun and free? Some Tarpon Springs residents say there is nothing better than listening to live music on the beach, watching the sun set and the moon rise, while couples stroll, children play, families enjoy picnics and the stars come out.

Concerts at Sunset Beach are scheduled once a month around the full moon, making for beautiful night skies. All concert times are 7:00 to 9:00 pm on Thursdays, unless rescheduled due to inclement weather. [map/directions]

A free shuttle bus is available for transportation between Tarpon Springs High School and Sunset Beach. Pets and alcoholic beverages are not allowed. A variety of concession items are available for sale at each concert. Here's the best part...admission is FREE! Special thanks to sponsor Sun Toyota!

• Feb 28 - Southland (Classic Rock) and Bonfire
• March 21 - Straight Up Blues Band (Rock/Blues)
• April 18 - Tarpon Springs High School Jazz Band
• May 23 - De Lei'ed Parrots (Parrot Head Music)
• June 20 - Crystal Beach String Band (Bluegrass/Folk)

Concerts at Sunset Beach are presented by the Tarpon Springs Recreation Department. Please call Daniela Smyth at (727) 942-5628 for further information.

Changes in Library Fines

Effective January 2, 2013, the Tarpon Springs Public Library's daily overdue fine for library materials (except DVDs) will be 20 cents per item.

The daily overdue fine for DVDs will be reduced to 50 cents per item.

For all library materials including DVDs, the maximum overdue fine for Tarpon Springs Public Library will remain at $5.00 per item.

Please note that these changes apply to new fines that accrue beginning January 2, 2013, and do not apply retroactively to existing fines on patron accounts.

Disaster Recovery Center Now Open

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state of Florida have opened a local disaster recovery center to help Pinellas County residents who have claims for damages due to Tropical Storm Debby. The center is located in the Park Station business complex, 5851 Park Boulevard in Pinellas Park. The office will be opened from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm seven days a week.

Representatives from FEMA, the state's Emergency Management team, Access Florida, the U.S. Small Business Administration, American Red Cross, Area Agency on Aging, Workforce Pinellas, and the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay will be on hand to provide assistance. No appointment is necessary, but claimants are urged to pre-register their claims with FEMA by calling the FEMA toll-free number at (800) 621-FEMA or TTY (800) 462-7585. Telephone lines are answered from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm seven days a week.

Claimants may also register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smart phone or tablet using the FEMA app or by going to m.fema.gov 

Disaster relief is available through FEMA grants for residential or business damages, large or small, sustained during Tropical Storm Debby not covered by insurance, including money for home repairs, rental assistance, medical expenses, unemployment assistance, transportation or other disaster-related expenses, and serious needs. 

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are also available to help with residential and business losses not covered by insurance. Information on SBA disaster loans may be obtained by calling (800) 659-2955 or TTY (800) 877-8339, or by going online to www.sba.gov  

Help in applying for low interest SBA disaster loans or a Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan can be also be found through Pinellas County Economic Development's Small Business Development Center, 13805  58th St. N., Suite 1-200, in Clearwater. Please visit www.pced.org/entrepreneurs or contact Dr. Cynthia Johnson by phone at (727) 464-7445 or email at cyjohnson [AT] pinellascounty.org.

Our DVD Collection Is Growing!

Have you noticed that we have been adding a lot of new DVDs to our collection? That's because the Tarpon Springs Library Foundation has generously provided $10,000 to the Library toward the conversion of the VHS videotape collection to DVDs, beginning with non-fiction.

Don't worry, we're not throwing away the old video tapes! The Friends of the Tarpon Springs Library will be holding a big sale at the end of the summer; the proceeds of which will go toward the purchase of additional DVDs.

New Book Club

Mystery, Murder and Mayhem
is the newest book club at the Tarpon Springs Library.

The group meets on the third Wednesday of every month from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. Dessert, coffee, and tea are served.

Subgenres the group is interested in include: true crime; women detectives; hard (or soft) boiled PIs; black ops/military murders; mysteries set in Florida; heroes.heroines who solve mysteries; police procedurals; and spies, assassins and terrorists. Bring your ideas for future books for the group to read and discuss.