Several branches of the Atlanta-Fulton Library System are offering assistance to high school students and their parents with preparation for the ACT and SAT college entrance exams:

Mechanicsville Branch Library
-Kaplan SAT/ACT Strategies Workshop-
Saturday, 8/7/2010 12:30 PM-1:30 PM
Saturday, 8/28/2010 12:30 PM-4:30 PM For more information, call 404-730-4779.

Central Library
-Free Sat Math Tutoring-
Wednesdays, 8/11/2010 - 9/1/2010 6:00 PM-8:00 PM,3rd Floor Meeting Room. To register, call 404-730-1796.

There are also workshops for those who are looking for information about choosing the right school, college applications and scholarships:

Northeast/Spruill Oaks Branch Library
-College Admissions Jump Start-
Monday, 8/16/2010 4:00 PM-6:30 PM
Reservations Required. Call 770.360.8820

Northside Branch Library
-Prepare for College: Understanding the Application for Admissions Process-
Saturday, 8/28/2010 3:30 PM-5:00 PM
TheSecretToWriting.com is offering a free presentation at the library on the fundamentals of the college admissions process and details on how to pay for college. Sign up in the classes section of www.thesecrettowriting.com. Phone: 404.869.1290 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Go to our Events Calendar and choose Education in the Topic Menu or High School in the Age Menu to find these and other resources.

Students in all grades can get their academic year off to a good start this year with homework help at various branches of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System.

The Georgia Hill Library is offering a Free Homework for Heroes Workshop on Wednesday, August 18th at 5:00-7:00 pm. Call 404-730-5427 for more information.

The West End Library is offering tutoring on Tuesdays and Thursdays, through August 31 3:00st from 3-5:30 pm. Call 404-752-8740 for more information.

The Ocee Library is sponsoring a free Homework Databases at the Library session on Monday, August 30th from 4:00 5:00 pm . Call 770-360-8897 for more information.

The Teen Center on the 3rd floor of the Central Library offers 28 computers with Photoshop and Dreamweaver software, study rooms and a host of other services. Call 404.730.1796 for more information.

The College Park Library has free tutoring, in all subjects, offered by Math Mania to all students currently attending “Needs Improvement” schools. Available daily, during library’s operating hours. Call 678-799-2222 for more information.

You may take your child for free homework help at any of these branches, or check our list of library locations to find out if a library near you has tutoring assistance for your child.

You may also go to our Events Calendar and choose Education in the Topic Menu or High School in the Age Menu to find these and other resources.

It’s that time of year again. Summer reading programs are soon to be in full swing and parents and kids will be rushing into all branches of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System to find the books on their summer reading lists. It’s free and easy to join in the summer reading fun, so don’t miss out on this great opportunity!

Young children can sign up for the “Make a Splash” program at any branch, while teens should register for the “Make Waves @ Your Library” programs. After signing up, each person receives a reading log to keep track of books that are read during the summer. The library awards a certificate when young readers complete ten books and teens complete five books, and the readers’ names go into a drawing for prizes.

Parents and students will also be pleased to know that the summer reading lists for Fulton County schools are already available online. Simply visit this site for the 2010 Fulton County Summer Reading Selections, then select your grade level to view your book lists.

To see upcoming summer programs at all of the library system’s branches, visit the summer reading page of our website here.

We look forward to seeing you this summer!

According to an article yesterday on National Public Radio, young adult literature has gone through some radical transformations in the past decade, changing it’s status from the “redheaded stepchild of the literary world into one of the most dynamic and exciting niches in publishing.”

I for one just might have to agree. I have lately been challenging myself to read more YA lit in an effort to keep up with popular trends in the teen book world, and despite the plethora of vampires, werewolves and various undead beings, the variety of genres and subject matter provides plenty of interest for all types of readers. The list below is only a handful of some very interesting titles that came out this year, so I encourage all of you, teens and adults alike, to take advantage of your youth services librarians in the Young Adult and Childrens’ departments of your branch libraries. They are sure to help you find some great recommendations! In the mean time, click here for the full NPR article which includes descrpitions of the titles below, and click here to check the AFPL catalog for their availability.

NPR’s List:

Charles and Emma, by Deborah Heiligman
Lips Touch, by Laini Taylor
The Lost Conspiracy, by Frances Hardinge
Marcelo in the Real World, by Francisco X. Stork
When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead

Where The Wild Things Are, the beloved classic childrens’ book by Maurice Sendak, opens today as Spike Jonze’s latest film. This much anticipated movie is sure to draw in large audiences, just as the book itself has been doing for more than four decades. Originally published in 1963, the book about a little boy named Max who one night gets to explore a world created by his own wild imagination, was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1964. And despite some early controversy, has been a favorite of children and parents ever since.

Maurice Sendak, now 81, is still working and has given his blessing to the making of the film. And if you happen to have HBO you can catch Spike Jonze’s documentary about him, “Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak,” which airs tonight. Several other well-known artists, who’s other works can be found throughout the library system, where also involved. The screenplay is written by Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers, the original soundtrack is written and performed by Karen O of the indie rock group Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the voices of the monsters in the film are provided by such actors as James Gandolfini, Forest Whitaker, and Catherine O’Hara, and the whole thing is being produced by Tom Hanks. Search the AFPL catalog for other films and books attached to these famous names! Here’s a few suggestions to get you started:

The Wild Things, written by Dave Eggers and based on the film’s screenplay
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, by Dave Eggers
Adaptation, film by Spike Jonze
Being John Malkovich, film by Spike Jonze
Fever to Tell, album by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
It’s Blitz!, album by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Caldecott & Co.: notes on books and pictures, by Maurice Sendak
The Art of Maurice Sendak, by Selma G. Lanes
Making Mischief: a Maurice Sendak Appreciation, by Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked.

For the New York Times review of the film from today, click here.
For a list of showtimes and locations in Atlanta, click here.

Now somebody pass me the popcorn!