New to the DVD Collection

Bruce Springsteen: the complete video anthology, 1978-2000 -- featuring everything from 1978's "Rosalita" to 2000's "If I Should Fall Behind." Brian De Palma, Jonathan and Ted Demme, John Sayles, Tim Robbins, and Sean Penn are among the Boss's directors.

The NFL's Funniest Players -- Hosted by Michael Strahan. Profiling hilarious moments, courtesy of the National Football League.

5ive Days to Midnight -- Timothy Hutton and Randy Quaid star in this SciFi channel miniseries about a physics professor who discovers he has only five days to prevent his own murder.

In our CD section: Bob Dylan

Okay, maybe you've heard that Bob Dylan has released a Christmas album. Maybe you've already listened to it. But long before he was harking the herald angels and walking in a winter wonderland, Dylan crafted some of the most powerful and memorable songs in the history of rock music. That isn't to say that his latest release isn't memorable in its own right (or that it won't be in the library's Seasonal CD collection one day)...but a better bet might be a trip down a different lane, and through the wonderland that Dylan wrote himself. Click here to see Dylan CDs in our catalog.

(And lest Santa's elves peg us for a bunch o' Grinches, here's a listen to folk rock's favorite son recite "The Night Before Christmas.")

New in the DVD section: The Wrestler

Director Darren Aronofsky's dramatic film stars Mickey Roarke in a gritty and often unsettling portrait of a wrestler at the end of his career. Roarke and costar Marisa Tomei both received Oscar nominations for their work, and Roarke won both the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor and Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead.

View this DVD in the catalog.

In CD music: Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead/ John Wesley Harding

Long before author Wesley Stace visited the Decatur Book Festival (he's been there twice), he was performing on stage at venues such as Eddie's Attic as John Wesley Harding. Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead is his latest album, the first in five years, and features guest appearances by many of Harding's musical peers, including REM's Peter Buck and singer-songwriter Kelly Hogan (Rock*a*Teens, Jody Grind). Named for a Barbara Comyns novel about ergot poisoning in a small village, the CD is everything Harding fans have come to expect and love about the man -- catchy riffs, lyrics that run from laugh-out-loud sarcastic ("Top of the Bottom") to the more meditative ("A Very Sorry Saint") -- but written and delivered with the assurance and introspection of a true poet. The CD also includes a recording of a live performance, featuring songs from his back catalog. Well worth the listen, whether the first or the twentieth time. Reserve this CD

Take A Tour of the New AV Department

Take a little peeksie at the library's flashy CD music section, divided by musical style. When completed, it will feature browser friendly and clearly labeled flip bins for the entire collection and rotating selections from the library's music-related book and DVD collections. Did I say flip bins? I sure did.

The audiobook, DVD and VHS collections also get fancy digs, in a forest of spacious shelves and displays. And, thanks to our wireless Internet connection, you can now search the catalog on your laptop from any of the library's hip new seating areas. Think of it as your own private park, where a festival of entertainments and information awaits. Only here, it's always sunny.

And did I mention the kiddies? They get a music bin all to themselves, in the Children's "Pond."

Welcome to the NEW Conyers-Rockdale Library.
We rock. Totally.

The AV Department Gets a Whole New Look.

Remember the old days? The CDs were next to impossible to look through, the DVDs were crowded together in plastic boxes on the wall, the lighting was nearly nonexistent, and browsing the collection was a nightmare. Well, no more. The Conyers-Rockdale Library has officially reopened its newly renovated upstairs area, and the Audio-Visual department proudly takes front and center. Thanks to our spankin' new, bright'n'shiny shelving, it's easier than ever to find that movie, audiobook or music cd you were looking for. Over the next few weeks, we will be making adjustments and additions to the shelving, including more music bins, all with an eye toward making this AV department (and library) among the best.

New in Music-related Books: The 50th Law by 50 Cent

Fear nothing, and you shall succeed. This is the philosophy embraced by 50 Cent, who offers life lessons and business advice in this book, co-authored by Robert Greene (The 48 Laws of Power). Highlighted by stories from 50's early life on the streets and during his rise through the hip-hop industry, The 50th Law is part autobiography and part self-help guide on what is needed to survive and thrive in business and in life.

Reserve this book today.