August is here, bringing with it Admit You’re Happy Month, Brownies at Brunch Month (celebrating 100+ years of the tasty American brownie), FamilyFun Month, National Inventors’ Month, and National Win with Civility Month.

Wednesday begins Simplify Your Life Week, and it is the anniversary of the First US Census in 1790. That Census reported 3,939,326 people living in the 16 states and the Ohio Territory.

Thursday is Friendship Day, set aside to acknowledge old friends and celebrate new ones. Saturday is National Mustard Day, and Monday is National Fresh Breath Day.

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

Wednesday’s 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. story times feature zoo animals. Saturday morning’s 10:00 story time celebrates goats in stories and activities.

Terrific Teen Tuesday on August 7 will feature beading. The fun begins at 7:00 p.m. in the library’s Bondurant Room.

On August 10, we’ll have another Introduction to Computer Basics class for complete beginners starting at 9:00 a.m. The class is limited to six students, so call today to reserve your place!

BOOK TALK

Librarian Mary Beth Wright provides this week’s book information. Do you remember starting the first day of school? It seemed like it would be forever before you would be graduating. Can you believe your senior year is here!

If you are a high school senior, you will be making many life changing choices this year. There is always the dilemma of what are you going to do with the rest of your life: college, travel, work, military service, etc. Regardless of what your decision, Bryna J. Fireside’s "Choices For The High School Graduate" is a must read. This timely book investigates a wide range of options available to the graduating senior.

With today's world of work rapidly changing, good career planning is essential. "The Top 100: The Fastest Growing Careers For The 21st Century," "Occupational Outlook Handbook," and "America's Top Jobs For People Without A Four-Year Degree" are a few of the books that offer guidance on career planning. They review major trends in occupations and industries and give insights into the best career opportunities.

If you are college bound, there are many resources available. Paul Phifer's "College Majors and Careers: A Resource Guide for Effective Life Planning" or Christine Maurer's "Professional Careers Sourcebook: Where to Find Help Planning Careers That Require College or Technical Degrees." These books offer invaluable step-by-step tips on career planning.

If you are unsure of "what you want to be when you grow-up," the Roswell Public Library has materials on careers from a-z. Whether you are a nonconformist or a traditionalist, the library offers career choice suggestions for you.

DID YOU KNOW?

When asked to give the commencement address at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, Maria Shriver spoke about the life lessons she has learned since her own college graduation – expressing how little she understood about the world when she graduated and the challenges she would face. She passed on to the graduates what she wished she had known then.

Pinpoint your passion and do what you want to do rather than what others think you should do. People you work for and with are as important as what you do. Your behavior has consequences. Laughter makes life manageable.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: "Sending a kid to college is sort of like a do-it-yourself recession." (unknown)