Explore the history of Labor Day from these websites:
United States Department of Labor: http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm
Library of Congress: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/today/sep05.html

At Old City Point Dock shipping cotten linter for Samscott circa 1920s

Don’t forget to join us September 16 at 7pm at the Hopewell Library for Shrouded in Silk to learn a piece of the history of industry and labor in Hopewell.

We wish everyone a safe and fun holiday!

Please join us to discuss Heart full of Lies on Monday, August 2nd at 3:00 p.m. in the Hopewell Library.

An idyllic Hawaiian wedding held the promise of a wonderful future for handsome, athletic Chris Northon, an airline pilot, a confirmed bachelor-turned-devoted family man; and Liysa, an acclaimed surf photographer, loving mother, and aspiring Hollywood screenwriter. But few, including Chris, had seen Liysa’s other side — her controlling behavior and dark moods, her insatiable hunger for money and property. And no one anticipated the fatal outcome of a family camping trip in an Oregon forest. Liysa soon revealed herself as a victim of domestic abuse that culminated at the campsite, where she shot Chris in self-defense, but crime scene evidence led detectives to wonder if Liysa was a killer, not a victim. Her controversial trial stunned all who thought they knew her. A lifetime of sociopathic manipulations and lies had been expertly hidden behind her facade of perfection — as was her rage to destroy any obstacle to her ultimate happiness, even if it was the man she vowed to love forever.

Contact Joan Fleshman at jfleshman@arls.org or call (804) 458-6329 for more information.
This event is part of the Water Your Mind READ Adult Summer Reading Program. Only four more chances to qualify for the $100 grand prize!

Ms. Young-Stone will be discussing her debut novel The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors. It’s a fresh and creative story that does include people struck by lightning, along with many, many other things. Librarian Chris Wiegard reviewed her book earlier in the year, which you can read here on our Library Blogs. Copies of her book will be available for sale at the event for your convenience. Or, of course, you may check out a copy to read from the library!

To learn more about Ms. Young-Stone, visit her website at www.micheleyoung-stone.com.

Carbs and Cadavers by JB Stanley

James “Professor Puff” Henry may as well have “loser” stamped on his forehead. Divorced, overweight, shy, and living at home, he relies on books and his favorite snack — cheese puffs — for sweet relief from his problems. A former English lit professor at William and Mary, he moves back to Quincy’s Gap, a small Virginia town in the Shenandoah Valley, to take care of his recently-widowed father. To improve his social life and waistline, he joins a supper club for dieters who lovingly call themselves the “Flab Five.” Avoiding carbs is nearly impossible in this deep-fried potato-loving land, so a mysterious death in their small burg provides an effective, if disturbing, distraction. While dodging delectable temptations, Professor Henry and his fellow dieters work together to shed pounds and find the killer who has struck fear in this tight-knit community.

Please join us to discuss Carbs & Cadavers on Tuesday, July 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the Hopewell Library. Snacks and beverages will be provided. Contact Carol Farmer at cfarmer@arls.org for more information.

This event is part of the “Water Your Mind READ” Adult Summer Reading Program. For more information, call 458-6329 x1005

Bernadette wanted to go to college and make something of herself. But she hadn’t counted on meeting and falling in love with Herman Smith. And then she hadn’t counted on the beatings. Herman hit her, tied her up and threw her down the stairs. On July 9, 1978 Bernadette Powell shot and killed her husband. What seemed to be a routine case of involuntary manslaughter soon turned into a second degree murder charge. This is not simply a courtroom drama but an examination of how issues of race, sex and class affect the judicial system and the most basic right of Americans.

Please join us to discuss Everyday Death on Monday, July 12 at 3:00 p.m. in the Hopewell Library. Contact Joan Fleshman at jfleshman@arls.org for more information.

This event is part of the “Water Your Mind READ” Adult Summer Reading Program. For more information, call 458-6329 x1005.

It’s National Library Week, a time to celebrate the contributions of libraries, librarians and library workers in schools, campuses and communities nationwide.

During National Library Week the Appomattox Regional Library System is featuring the following events:

• National Library Workers Day: Give thanks to the stars of the library!
  Tuesday, April 13th
• National Bookmobile Day
  Wednesday, April 14th
• Recyled Craft: Get ready for Earth Day with a recycled craft in Hopewell.
  Thursday, April 15th 4:30pm at the Hopewell Library
• Spring Story Times
  Monday – Friday
• National Poetry Month
  The month of April

“Libraries are the heart of every community and our library helps our community thrive,” says Director Scott Firestine.  “At our library, people of all backgrounds come together for community meetings, lectures and programs, to do research with the assistance of a trained professional, to get help finding a job or to find homework help.”

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April.

For more information, visit ilovelibraries.org.

Tell us how you use your library by leaving a comment below!

For help with commenting, please see How to Create an Account.

Thank you again to the sponsors and service providers who helped make this event possible:

Donations from:

• Upside to Youth Development
• Swaders Sports Park
• Bojangles
• Food Lion
• Old Navy
• McDonlads
• Kroger
• Blockbuster

Service Providers:

• Worship and Reconciliation Ministries
• Females At their Best
• Smart Beginnings
• Pediatric Dentristry and Orthodontics of Virginia
• Hopewell Department of Social Services
• Hopewell-Prince George Red Cross
• Upside to Youth
• New Way New Day
• Medicaid

*Limit one entry per account. Comments must be made before Tuesday, April 13 at 9:00 am. The winner will be contacted by email.

You may notice a few changes to our website.

Taking suggestions from patrons over the last year, we rebuilt the website from the ground up to improve your online library experience.
What’s new:

• Better Listings of Library Events
• Dedicated Mobile Site for your iPhone, Blackberry or other web accessible Cell/Smart phone
• Site Search
• A Cleaner Look
• RSS Feeds for your Library Articles
• Library Blogs and Book Reviews
• More Concise “Library Location” Information
• The ability to comment on articles and announcements

…And Much more!

We still have the popular features you’ve grown to enjoy such as easy account access, catalog search from the homepage, and quick links to online resources like Ancestry, NetLibrary and Find It VA.

We hope you enjoy using the new website as much as we enjoyed creating it!

Please explore the website to see all that’s going on now @ Your Library^®.

Also, if you’re interested in leaving comments on this website, please see: How to Create an Account on the New ARLS Website

Next week: Thursday, March 25 at 7pm the Prince George High School Jazz Choir will perform at the Hopewell Library.

Prince George High School Jazz Choir

Enjoy free musical performances by local groups, every Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the month of March at the Hopewell Library.

• Fort Lee Dixieland Jazz Band, March 4
• Owen Brodie, songs and trivia of the bagpipes, March 11
• Johnny Jones Band, March 18
• Prince George High School Jazz Choir, March 25
The Hopewell Library will be hosting local musicians every Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the month of March. The Fort Lee Jazz Band “Dixieland” ensemble will be the first presentation and will perform on March 4. This seven-man unit will thrill you with their virtuoso performances of standards from the history of American jazz. Come show your support for our troops!

On March 11, Owen Brodie will visit the library. Richmond resident Brodie will perform on the bagpipes, in full Scottish regalia. Brodie will also share historical lore and trivia on this most Celtic of musical instruments.

Week three, March 18, brings back “The Ralph Jones Group,” who has delighted library audiences in the past. Local musician Johnny Jones and his friends will perform Americana music standards from the worlds of folk, rock, and country accompanied by guitar and mandolin.

Then, on March 25, the series will finish with the Prince George High School Jazz Choir. This group has performed at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond among other venues and are a real crowd pleaser with their a cappella stylings.

Ft Lee Dixieland Band

Come visit the library Thursday evenings in March and enjoy a variety of musical traditions, in a low key, informal atmosphere. Best of all, it’s absolutely free! For information on these and other events at the Appomattox Regional Library, please call 458-6329 x1005 or visit www.arls.org.

From the Heart,

Yarn and needles are provided free of charge for those who need them but donations of yarn and needles are welcome.

All ages and levels of experience are invited to participate. Whether you have never stitched before or are a pro, we encourage you to join us!

February 4 & 18 6pm to 8pm
February 10 & 24 10am to 12pm
@ the Hopewell Library Cafe

To RSVP, call (804) 458-6329, ext 1005 or visit the Information Desk at the Hopewell Library.

Also, check us out on Ravelry.com! After creating your free account, go to “groups” and search “Southside from the Heart.”