Today is the anniversary of the dedication of Bartholdi’s famous sculpture, the state of "Liberty Enlightening the World," in 1886. Inside the pedestal of the statue are these words by Emma Lazarus: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Wednesday is the anniversary of the 1929 Stock Market Crash, when more than 16 million shares were dumped and billions of dollars lost. The resulting Great Depression, which lasted for nearly a decade, left one out of four US workers unemployed in 1932.

Saturday is National Authors’ Day, first observed in 1929 by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. The resolution to place it on the list of special days prepared by the US Department of Commerce states that to celebrate an Authors’ Day as a nation, we would show patriotism, loyalty, and appreciation of the men and women who have made American literature possible and that we salute these heroes with waving flags.

Sunday is Plan Your Epitaph Day. Dedicated to the proposition that a forgettable gravestone is a fate worse than death, this day is set aside to write the epitaph by which you would like to be remembered. Since this is an annual event, if you haven’t used it by next November 2, you can update it then!

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

Halloween is observed in pop-up "Goblins" and other tales at Wednesday’s 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. storytimes. Saturday’s 10:00 a.m. storytime features kangaroo and pocket stories.

A big thank you goes to everyone who helped to make the annual Altrusa/Friends of the Library Book Sale such a huge success! Remember, the library is already collecting books for next year’s sale!

BOOK TALK

Reference Librarian Loretta Clark provides this week’s book review list. Thanksgiving celebrations have been observed throughout the ages and around the world. In America, Thanksgiving makes us think of Pilgrims and Native Americans sharing food and friendship in the New World. In 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed a nationwide day of Thanksgiving, and it has become an annual holiday that brings family and friends closer together.

The Roswell Public Library has many books devoted to celebrating Thanksgiving. "Thanksgiving Dinner: Recipes, Techniques, and Tips for America’s Favorite Celebration" covers the entire meal from soup to suggestions for the leftovers. "Holidays: Recipes, Gifts, Decorations, Thanksgiving, Christmas: The Best of Martha Stewart Living" includes decorating ideas as well as food.

Children will enjoy the decorating ideas in "Crafts for Thanksgiving," and the "Thanksgiving Holiday Grab Bag" provides stories, crafts, recipes, and games for younger people. A search on the Internet at the Library provided "Home and Garden Thanksgiving Dinner," with recipes just for two people. Whether your Thanksgiving celebration is small or large, the ideas presented in these materials will fill your homes and hearts with thankfulness.

DID YOU KNOW?

Here’s some advice from "The 60-Second Shrink: 101 Strategies for Staying Sane in a Crazy World." If you feel yourself overreacting, take your emotional temperature. Imagine an emotional thermometer with a scale from zero to 100. When you feel upset, immediately assign yourself an appropriate temperature. This will help you decide if you are reacting or overreacting – and can make you feel less upset in most situations.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: "Relax – otherwise you might die all tensed up." (unknown)