It is that time of year when various people and organizations offer up their favorite books of the year. Take a look at some of the lists and see if you agree:

• Publisher’s Weekly Best Books of 2011
• New York Times Best Books of 2011
  • see also their 100 Notable Books of 2011
• NPR’s Best Books of 2011 (you’ll also find some genre lists)
• goodreads Choice Awards 2011 – as voted by readers
• Library Journal’s Top Ten of 2011

YHPL’s Holiday hours will be as follows:

Friday, December 23 -  9 AM – 5 PM (regular hours)
Saturday, December 24 – Closed
Sunday, December 25 – Closed
Monday, December 26 – Closed
Tuesday, December 27- 9 AM – 8:30 PM (regular hours)

The Friends of Your Home Public Library in Johnson City will hold a Book Sale on Saturday, December 10 from 9 AM to 2PM.  Most items sell for 25 cents each.

A Bag Sale will begin at Noon: buy a paper bag for $2 and fill it up!

For more information contact the library at 607-797-4816.

A friendly group of readers meets monthly to discuss books in a fun and informal way.  Dates & titles have been selected for the first part of 2012.   Start reading and come join us!

Thursday, January 19 – The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, by Laurie King

Thursday, February 16 – The Alchemist, by Paolo Coelho

Thursday, March 15 – My Abandonment, by Peter Rock

Thursday, April 17 – Year of Wonders, by Geraldine Brooks

All programs begin at 6:30 PM.

The National Book Foundation has announced its 2011 award winners:

Fiction: Salvage the Bones, by Jesmyn Ward

Non-Fiction: The Swerve: How the World Became Modern, by Stephen Greenblatt

For a full list of winners and nominees, check out the National Book Foundation.