Hello from the Greenup Public Library System and happy December! This month’s birthstones are turquoise, zircon, or tanzanite. Its flowers are narcissus and holly and its zodiac signs are Sagittarius and Capricorn. In Spanish this month is named Diciembre and according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac the nights of December 13 and 14 after 9 P.M are your chance to glimpse The Geminid meteor shower.
Kentucky History
Located in Letcher County in the southeastern corner of Kentucky, Lilley Cornett Woods (LCW) encompasses 554 acres of mixed mesophytic forest. The word mesophytic refers to land growing plants which are adapted to temperate climates which are neither too dry nor too wet. Examples of mesophytic plants include goldenrod, clover and various oak species. 252 of the 554 acres are designated as "old-growth" forest; a forest which has not undergone any manmade changes in at least 150 years. The LCW is an extremely biodiverse location with over 530 species of flowering plants as well as an estimated 700 breeding pairs of birds. This is in addition to a variety of small mammals, amphibians and reptiles.
Due to its diverse nature the LCW has been the site of over fifty completed studies in multiple fields. These range from small animal surveys to archeological assessments of rock shelters. LCW is a U.S. Department of the Interior registered national landmark and a registered natural area of the Society of American Foresters. This marks the area as a protected nature preserve. It is considered one of the best studied old growth forests in the eastern United States with public access only allowed through seasonally-led tours. The Lilley Cornett Woods Ecological Research Station offers educational programming to approximately 300 Letcher County High School students a year. Once a year a small number of professors and students camp and learn at the edge of the old growth portion of the woods.
New York Times Best Seller
New to this week’s bestseller list is A Minute to Midnight by David Baldacci. The story follows Atlee Pine in her search to discover the fate of her twin sister, abducted nearly 30 years ago. Motivated by the horrible memory she pursues a career in the FBI, helping catch others who commit such horrific acts. Haunted by the mystery and convinced that a notorious serial killer confined to prison knows something, she has no choice but to go back where it all began.
Online Databases
The library website is your portal to online library resources! By visiting greenuplib.org you will find easily accessible links to all available resources. We offer access to many databases that include entertainment, books and music, research and education, and even genealogy. All databases are free with your library card, and usually require login with your card number and pin number (which is assigned to you the day you acquire your card). There are some databases that require additional passwords that are available upon request.
Stingray Qello
The world’s largest collection of full-length concerts and music documentaries streamed on-demand to just about any digital device. With the greatest performances on film of iconic and new artists, Stingray Qello brings the concert experience directly to you with over 1,500 titles to choose from. Available through the library’s website with a valid library card.
Learn It Live
A social learning platform for wellness and personal development. Live video sessions in real time from your computer or mobile device. All sessions are recorded for you to go back and re-watch. Available through the library’s website with a valid library card.
Quotes
“All forests have their own personality. I don't just mean the obvious differences, like how an English woodland is different from a Central American rain forest, or comparing tracts of West Coast redwoods to the saguaro forests of the American Southwest... they each have their own gossip, their own sound, their own rustling whispers and smells. A voice speaks up when you enter their acres that can't be mistaken for one you'd hear anyplace else, a voice true to those particular tress, individual rather than of their species.”
― Charles de Lint, The Onion Girl
“Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat,
Please put a penny in the old man’s hat;
If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do,
If you haven’t got a ha’penny, God bless you!”
—Beggar’s rhyme.
Jokes
I took part in the suntanning Olympics...
...but I only got bronze.
Murphy's Law says that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
Cole's Law is thinly sliced cabbage.
I can't take my dog to the park because the ducks keep trying to bite him.
I guess that's what I get for buying a pure bread dog.
What do you call birds that stick together?
Vel-crows.
I got fired from my job as a taxi driver.
It turns out my customers didn't like it when I tried to go the extra mile.
Lauren Cagle
Library Hours
Flatwoods: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 10-8. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 10-5.
Mckell: Monday,: 9-8, Tuesday-Friday 9-5. Saturday 9-2.
Greenup: Monday and Thursday: 9-8. Tuesday-Friday: 9-5. Saturday: 9-2
Closed Sunday.
Phone #s Flatwoods: 606-836-3771, Fax: 606-836-8674. Mckell: 606-932-4478. Greenup: 606-473-6514.
More about all the library has to offer is available on our website @ www.greenuplib.org. Make sure to read next week’s Beacon for more reads and weekly events.
