BOOK CALENDAR

-- tuesday --

l Lorie Long Lecture and Signing

The author and dog trainer will sign copies of her new book, "A Dog Who's Always Welcome." She will bring along a special guest from the St. Francis of Assisi Service Dog Foundation.

When: 6:30 p.m.

Where: Westlake Library

Contact: 483-3098

-- thursday --

l "Fourth Thursday" Adult Book Club

Morning club (10 a.m.) reading "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and evening club (7 p.m.) reading "World War Z" by Max Brooks.

When: 10 a.m.

Where: HQ/419 Library, 3131 Electric Road, Roanoke

Cost: Free

Contact: 772-7507

l "Innovations for Increased Efficiency in Locomotive Design"

A locally grown dinner and lecture by Tom Hoover, the General Electric locomotive service manager for Norfolk Southern as part of the O. Winston Link Museum's Sustainability Lecture Series: Exploring Green Initiatives in Railroading.

When: 6:30 p.m.

Where: O. Winston Link Museum, 101 Shenandoah Ave., Roanoke

Cost: $65

Contact: 982-5465, linkmuseum.org

l Janet Beard Book signing

The author will read from her book "Beneath the Pines" and sign autographs.

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Floyd library, 321 W. Main St.

Contact: 382-6965, lspivey@mfrl.org

-- saturday --

l "Pulaski" Book Signing

John White will sign his book about landowners and industries in Pulaski County who sought to give their children a better life. All proceeds from the book support the Raymond F. Ratcliffe Memorial Museum in downtown Pulaski.

When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Coffee Buy the Book, 10 W. Main St., Pulaski

Contact: ehiggins@arcadiapublishing.com

l Sharyn McCrumb Talk

The author of "The Rosewood Casket" and other Appalachian ballad novels, mysteries and NASCAR books will speak about using history, folklore and popular culture in the creation of fiction and read short excerpts from several of her novels.

When: 7 to 9 p.m.

Where: Roanoke College

Cost: Free

Contact: sharynmccrumb.com

-- sept. 30 --

l WVTF Book Club

Discussing "Breathing Lessons" by Anne Tyler.

When: 7 p.m.

Where: WVTF Broadcast Center, 3520 Kingsbury Circle, Roanoke

Cost: Free

Contact: 989-8900

-- oct. 2 --

l Douglas Brinkley Lecture

The presidential scholar, Tulane University history professor and author of "The Unfinished Presidency," "The Boys of Pointe Du Hoc," "The Great Deluge" and other books offers a reassessment of the presidents of the 20th century.

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Bast Center, Roanoke College

Cost: Complimentary tickets required.

Contact: 378-5125, roanoke.edu/tickets

l Earl Hamner Reading

Best known as the creator of the popular television series "The Waltons," Hamner will read from his works. A native of Nelson County, Hamner is the author of six novels including "Spencer's Mountain" and "The Homecoming," which were both made into films.

When: 8 p.m.

Where: Talmadge Recital Hall, Hollins University

Cost: Free

Contact: 362-6451

-- oct. 3 --

l "2008 Presidential Elections"

A Virginia Tech Roanoke Center research forum with Robert Denton, W. Thomas Rice Chair of the Virginia Tech Corps and director of the Center for Leadership and Development.

When: 7 to 8 p.m.

Where: Virginia Tech Roanoke Center

Cost: Free

Contact: 767-6100, vtroanoke@vt.edu

l "Physical Computing and Performance"

A lecture by Tom Igo as part of the Virginia Tech School of Performing Arts and Cinema Speaker Series. When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Studio Theatre, Squires Student Center, Virginia Tech

Cost: Free

Contact: sopac.vt.edu/events/index.html

-- oct. 4 --

l Bassett Historical Center Regional History Symposium

A discussion on the Virginia 24th Cavalry given by Darryl Holland, author of "The 24th Virginia Cavalry Regiment" about the regiment that guarded the roads to Richmond during the Civil War followed by a discussion led by James Morrison, author of "Bedford Goes to War: The Heroic Story of a Small Virginia Community in World War II" and a presentation by Julie Williams Dixon of her documentary "Melungeon Voices". The final speaker will be Tom Perry on "William J. Palmer: The Man Who Didn't Burn Martinsville".

When: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Bassett High School auditorium, Bassett

Cost: $25 general advance; $20, students and seniors advance; $30 at the door; $25, students and seniors at the door.

Contact: (276) 629-9191, baslib@hotmail.com, bassetthistoricalcenter.com