Just wanted to wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
Remember that the Main library and South Sumter and the Bookmobile will be closed Thursday through Sunday and reopen all services Monday. Wesmark however will be closed Thursday and Friday BUT OPEN Saturday and Sunday.

A Deep Fried Delicacy: The How-To on Deep Frying Turkey
Deep-fried turkey, a concept that started in the south, is gradually rising in popularity nationwide. It's a perfect twist for barbecues, block parties and holiday feasts. In fact, since deep frying turkey requires special equipment and lots of oil, families and groups of neighbors often get together to share the costs and the feast. To get you started, we have several deep-fried turkey recipes for you.So if you’re planning on frying a turkey for the dinner, this page might be useful to you.

http://www.epicurious.com/cooking/holiday/thanksgiving/
Or if you're just looking for great receipes or ideas, loosen your belt a notch as you browse Thanksgiving menus, cooking tips, and hundreds of recipes (many featuring beautiful photographs). Includes wine and beer suggestions, a "turkey primer," vegetarian dishes, and suggestions for using up leftovers. From Epicurious.

Or if you want to educate your guests on the non-Disney side of Thanksgiving, this site traces the history of Thanksgiving in North America and the U.S. "Most Americans are familiar with the Pilgrim's Thanksgiving Feast of 1621, but few realize that it was not the first festival of its kind in North America." Discusses Native American harvest celebrations; celebrations in Newfoundland, Florida, Maine, and Virginia prior to the Pilgrim's celebration; and presidential Thanksgiving proclamations. Part of the Encyclopedia Smithsonian from the Smithsonian Institution.
http://www.smithsonian.org/resource/faq/nmah/thanks.htm

In any case have a great one and come see us Monday!

In case you haven't been in a retail store since Halloween, Christmas is apparently coming whether we're ready or not - I'm in the not category. When I was younger and actually watched TV, I used to look forward to this time of year because all my favorite shows would do special Christmas programs. They weren't always good, but they did seem somehow to add to the season. Now I don't think many of them do that - although it's such trash that I haven't actually watched any 'hit shows' in so long I can't tell you which ones are popular - nor understand why they would be since they're written for a slow witted seven year old. Oh, sorry, editorial opinion there. But in the spirit of Christmas - and making money, a growing number of popular authors are releasing books that use Christmas as its central motif. Like the TV of yesterday, they aren't always good - but they do offer something different! And most are entertaining reads that may make a good movie someday - or be absolutely horrid, ie. John Grishams' Skipping Christmas (good)and the dreadful Christmas with the Cranks (disaster). Here is a brief rundown of the season's new books - all are available at the library either now or very soon after Thanksgiving!

The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog by Dave Barry
Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark & Carol!
First Impressions by Nora Roberts
A Carol for Christmas by Robin Lee Hatcher
Sugar and Spice by Fern Michaels and others
Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber
A Christmas Secret by Anne Perry
Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews

Welcome to the Sumter Library's newest attempt to keep you updated - our own blog. Here we will share with you new books just arrived, selected reviews, ideas from other libraries that might be popular in our community, updates on events etc.

There is no set schedule for updating the blog, but I'll try to do it at least once a week. What I promise is to listen to your suggestions and comments. So RSSs us if you wish or at least check back from time to time! Talk to you soon.