Continue reading »]]> In May of 1992 an old train depot in Carson, VA was officially re-opened as the Carson Depot Library. The train depot had been moved across the tracks and lovingly restored by the community. This library joined the Appomattox Regional Library System and has been a community center ever since. In 2002, a caboose was donated to the library, restored, and furnished with authentic train details to be a tribute to the railroad history of the area and a fun way for children and adults to learn about that history through a special collection of books and media.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of this unique library, the Appomattox Regional Library System is hosting an Open House on Saturday, May 19 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Everyone is invited to stop by the Carson Depot Library for food and fun: there will be hot dogs, drinks and cake, along with crafts and games.  Visitors will be able to tour the Caboose and there will be a special memento of the occasion.

The Carson Library is located off I-95 South, exit 37 at 16101 Halligan Park Road in Carson, Virginia.  For directions or more information on this program, please call (804) 458-6329 ext. 3703.

Continue reading »]]> The poems featured here are subject to U.S. copyright laws and remain property of their respective owners. They are the intellectual property of their authors and are for private and/or personal use only. They cannot be reprinted, or retransmitted, or reproduced in whole or in part and cannot be changed, edited, and/or used in any other format and/or on any other link, blog, or website for any reason without the express written consent of their authors.

Evening
by Kelly H., Grades 4 – 8 winner

Moon is climbing
Up her ladder.
Sun’s put to sleep
By animal chatter.

Little mosquitoes
Are starting to swarm,
Although they know
Of the upcoming storm.

A bird’s starting to sing
Its evening song.
The forest is quiet
But not for long.

Soon a bat joins in
With his screeching call.
The forest bursts with life-
It’s a signal to all.

The hunters know now
To ready their guns,
And to watch for deer
Or anything that runs.

Some fishermen are heading home-
Their Enthusiasm deflated-
They haven’t caught a single fish
While worried wives have waited.

Now comes an owl
With his “Hoot! Hoot!” call.
Silent swift wings
And sharp talons scare all.

Then there’s a frog
Flopping her feet
And croaking a tune
To the swamp’s beat.

Then comes the gator
From his rock cave
Into the water
Not one single wave.

Sleek scales of silver
Sinister eyes of gold
Brother of gator
But not quite as old.

Beguiling snake slithers in,
Seeking his tortoise friend,
To join the celebration
Of another day’s end.

Now comes raccoon
Who’s completed his task
Of rummaging through trash-
While wearing his mask.

Then there’s a stray cat-
Half tabby, half Persian-
Preparing to go on
An evening excursion.

Also an Akita
Just 4 months old,
Retreating to her home
Without being told.

Overhead there’s geese
Flying lazily and slow,
Just going with the breeze-
For they have no place to go.

The mice seeking shelter
Have hid in a barn,
Avoiding a cat
As it plays with its yarn.

If a shotgun fires
And makes a deer jolt,
To the hunters’ dismay,
The herd starts to bolt.

Tree soldiers stand guard
And watch over the critters,
Guarding the swamp
And the parents with litters.

At last there’s the lizard,
Longing for a cricket,
Watching the sunset
From inside the thicket.

This is the animals’ story-
It happens every day.
When the sun begins to lower
They all come out and play.


Hiding In the Dark
by ShyAnne S., Grades 9 – 12 winner

ShyAnne S. of Hopewell was the winner in the 9th-12th grade category.

Hollywood Cemetery
by Julie N., Ages 18 & up winner

Julie N. of Hopewell was the winner in the ages 18 & up category.

Toys on this stone, assorted rocks
Around another, an angel or iron dog standing by
A bench, a cement tree trunk and fence, a cross, a fish hook,
a broken heart laying in the grass.

Nervously I begin to glance about
For my surname among the granite and marble.
Does someone from my family reside here
I wonder and begin to earnestly look not really
Wanting my search to become a mission of its own
As I meander the course of time
On a Sunday afternoon.

The Hollywood Cemetery,
A spot for everyone: Serene, peaceful, quiet.
My kind of place, really.

A stubble-faced skateboarder snakes his way
Down curving grades of shade and sun.
Spotting him I frown.
Is it disrespectful? then turn to follow
His graceful sway
Half-smiling at his silent dance.

The soldiers stand in mixed company
Unlike before in formation now
For eternity stiff-necked, lock-kneed,
No one falls out no matter what
The weather, it’s dress-right-dress
In the straight low rows on the rolling
Hillsides.

Stopping at a local pub on my way
Out of town I scribble some thoughts on the back of the directions
I had planned to use to reach the museum.
Today getting lost got me found
In another museum
Of sorts.

Continue reading »]]>
Congratulations and a big thanks to everyone who participated in the 2012 Poetry Contest. With so many great poems to choose from, competition was fierce. The votes are in and the winners are…

Grades K – 3
No entrants

Grades 4 – 8
Kelly H. – “Evening”

Grades 9 – 12
ShyAnne S. – “Hiding in the Dark”

Ages 18 and Up
Julie N. – “Hollywood Cemetery”

Continue reading »]]> Share a story with the Prince George Library’s book group THIS Tuesday, 5/8 as we discuss Marisa De los Santo’s book Love Walked In. The Prince George book group meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 6:00 pm at the new Prince George Library and everyone is welcome to stop by even if you haven’t read the book!

For more information on the book group meetings, or if you have any questions or need directions, please call (804)458-6329 ext. 3700. To learn more about Love Walked In, read librarian Chris Wiegard’s review below.

Love Walked In is unpredictable, charming.

Written by Chris Wiegard

Marisa De Los Santos is a poet and college professor living in Delaware.  Her first novel, published in 2005, is entitled Love Walked In.

This novel defies categories. Actually, it is quite clear that the author intends it do so! We begin the story with coffee shop manager Cornelia Brown falling in love with a handsome guy who walks into her field of vision. But instant gratification is not something that happens in romance novels; there have to be some bumps in the road! Well, there are plenty of bumps in this road. The handsome hunk turns out to have some problems- he just happens to lack the characteristic of being able to worry about people other than himself.

Meanwhile, across town, there is a young girl whose mother has abandoned her. After several days of keeping her school schedule without any food in the house, the desperate and crying girl shows up at Cornelia’s coffee shop. Surprise, her dad is the narcissistic new boyfriend. And surprise, Cornelia falls in love all over again, but this time it is parental love instead of romantic love.

De Los Santos invites us here to daydream about the infinite variety of ways to love.  She shows real talent in plotting, character construction, and dialogue.  Avoiding the erotic, she reaches instead for the heart of each character.  How mysterious are the ways of love here!  When we think we know what will happen, we are wrong, and when things seem darkest, dawn is on the way.

De Los Santos has also written Belong to Me and Falling Together.  She has however not yet managed to improve upon the unpredictability and charm of her debut effort, Love Walked In.

Continue reading »]]>

After writing a piece for The Wall Street Journal on the nature of women’s friendships, Jeffrey Zaslow received many letters from readers…including one from Jenny, who wanted to tell him about the group of 11 girls from Ames, Iowa who had been friends their whole lives. Years later, Zaslow contacts Jenny to arrange interviews with the girls, now spread all over the country, as a basis for this book. The end result is a touching and endearing story about 11 girls who grew up together in the Heartland, all from different families and backgrounds, who managed to hold onto each other through marriages, divorces, kids, moving to other areas, and the loss of one of their own.

A great book for any woman who has been a part of a long-term friendship with a group of girls, and anyone interested in the intricacies of female bonding. It is written so nearly every woman could relate to this group of girls and be able to compare it to their own lives in some way. “The Girls from Ames” is a warm-the-heart story that, while sometimes sad, reminds us of why our friendships are so vital to our lives, and takes us back to a time when we were sure all our childhood friendships would last forever.

Continue reading »]]>

Celebrate the magic of books during
Children's Book Week, May 7 - 13

Children’s Book Week is a national event that promotes the idea that children’s books can change lives. We will with a Peter Pan themed scavenger hunt at all ARLS locations all week as well as the following events:

Monday, May 7 ALL DAY: Stop by any of the ARLS library branches to see staff dressed as characters from Peter Pan and take part in our week long scavenger hunt!  Be sure to bring a camera so you can snap photos of your kids with their favorite character.

Monday, May 7 @ 4:30: Join us at the Hopewell Library for a viewing of the newest movie version of Peter Pan. The movie is rated PG and runs 113 minutes. Popcorn and lemonade will be served.

Tuesday, May 8 @ 4:00: Come to the Prince George Library for a second showing of Peter Pan. Popcorn and lemonade will be served.

Wednesday, May 9 @ 4:30: Stop by the Hopewell Library and make your own fairy wings or pirate craft to take home.

Friday, May 11 @ 4:30: Join us for a special meeting of the McKenney Cool Kids Club at the McKenney Library! We will be enjoying refreshments and making fairy and pirate crafts.

In addition to these exciting events, the library will be having a special Mothers themed story time during our normal story time programs. To learn more go to www.arls.org or call 804-458-6329.

Continue reading »]]> Come to the Prince George Library by Tuesday 5/8 for great deals on the remaining books from our weekend book sale. Everything will be on sale for $.25 each or 5 for a $1. EVERYTHING MUST GO!

Since opening 9 months ago, the Prince George Library has greatly benefited from the generosity of its patrons as donations of books, CDs and DVDs have flowed into the library. Now the library wants to share some of this generosity with YOU!

All the proceeds go toward the Hopewell/Prince George Friends of the Library which provides funding for author events, summer reading programs, volunteering, story times and more. For more information on the Friends group and library programming please call (804)458-6329.

Continue reading »]]> APPOMATTOX REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM has the following opening:

Library Assistant I (Part-time) $9.35 per hour to work approx. 15 hours per week for Hopewell Library. (High School Diploma or GED required)

To Apply: Please submit your completed application and résumé to mlawrence@arls.org no later than May 7, 2012 by 5 p.m. Applications and résumés will not be accepted by fax, by mail, or by in person delivery.

ARLS Employment Application
HQ Circulation Library Assistant I Job Description

Note: Due to technical difficulties with our website, we have extended the original deadline to May 7, 2012 at 5 p.m.

Continue reading »]]>

McKenney Branch Library

Twenty-five years ago interested citizens of the town of McKenney saw their efforts realized as the McKenney Branch Library officially opened its doors. The branch, located within the town hall, continues to enjoy a devoted following. To celebrate this anniversary McKenney Branch Library will be open on Saturday May 5^th  to participate in McKenney’s Annual Block Party, sponsored by the Bank of McKenney. The block party will have a variety of vendors and fun activities. The library  will hold an open house and a special book sale from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Stop by for refreshments and a book bargain. 

Continue reading »]]> Don’t have space for a garden? Please join us in the courtyard at the Dinwiddie Branch Library of the Appomattox Regional Library System for a greener spring . On Saturday, May 5, at 1 p.m.  Freda Thomas demonstrates how to build a container garden. The event are free and open to the public. Visit the library website at www.arls.org or call 804-469-9450 for more information.