We're Closing For The Holidays

Yes, that's right. We're closing for the holidays.
We'll close at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 19th, and reopen on January 4, 2010.
And as much as we love our jobs, we will enjoy being home with friends and family for the Christmas and New Year
holidays.
I suppose people are already loading up on the books they want to read over the holidays. I came in this morning to find the table we keep filled with children's Christmas books nearly empty. And the "cold" mysteries are disappearing fast, also. In fact, the foyer table filled with Christmas-themed books are being constantly replaced as fast as the others are checked out.
This is a great time of the year to watch Christmas movies. On TV the other night, I watched "The Polar Express." Then last night we had a Christmas party where I live, and we watched "the Express" again on a big screen with the roaring of the train filling our ears. Somewhere along the way, I know I'll be able to watch the Muppets and all kinds of great movies about Christmas.
Of course, we have decorations up all over the library. But if you get a chance, you should take a drive around town and see the Christmas lights people have put in their yards and on their homes. There's a listing of a few of those homes in the newspaper, which makes finding them a lot easier.
We've had our cookie swap and this coming Monday the staff will have its Christmas party. It's also the last time we'll all see each other this year. Just imagine, after this coming Saturday the next time we'll see you will be in a brand new year.
We didn't quite hit the bottom in 2009, but we came close. So, maybe the only way to go in 2010 is UP! As my husband used to say, "Lord willing and if the creek don't rise."
See you next year!

Occasionally We Do Something That's Just Plain Fun

About a month ago, several of us decided to have a cookie swap here at the library.
Usually, we're all busy doing things for our patrons, but we decided that December would be a good time for an old-fashioned cookie swap among our employees.
We also decided it would be a good time to reveal our "Secret Pals"...those wonderful people who gave us gifts all year
round.
Well, today was the day! We came loaded with our special cookies and our last Secret Pal gifts. We set up a big table in the auditorium and placed our cookies on a lime-green Christmas tablecloth with a decoration in the center.
I suppose the best part was finding out who the Secret Pals were. Last January when we decided to have Secret Pals, we drew names out of a little basket. All year we've been giving small presents to each other. And today we revealed ourselves to our Secret Pals.
Aileen gave Norma her last gift...a tote bag made by her daughter that said "What's told in the library, stays in the library." Norma is our Children's Librarian and she gives a good many storytimes for the kids.
When Johnnie gave Irene her Secret Pal gift, Irene gave Johnnie hers! We all had a laugh about that. Who would have ever guessed they would have drawn each other's names?
For years and years Norma and Melody have been best friends. Lo and behold, Norma drew Melody's name back in January. Of course, since Melody is a frog-collector, that was one thing Norma gave her today...a big fat ceramic frog to go in her humungous
collection.
I know I said the best part were the Secret Pals, but I was wrong. The best part was sharing and sampling the cookies. And we had some really good ones...Choco-Hazelnut Latte Cookies, Gelatin Spritz Surprise, and Raspberry Jam Kolache were among the goodies. We divided them up into baggies for each of us and ate the remainder before we left.
OK. I've changed my mind again. I know I said the best part were the cookies, but it wasn't. The best part was sitting together and talking while we ate the cookies. The best part was sharing with each other. The best part was taking the time out of our busy day and being together.
It's another part of our Christmas Spirit. What do you want to bet we have another cookie swap next year?

Come Learn About Picasa For Your Genealogy Photos

We have a free genealogy study group here at the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library.
Next Tuesday, December 15th, they will meet for the last time this year, and it promises to be a very informational session.
The program will be "Old Photos - Scanning and Restoring with Picasa, a Free App from Google." If you've got old photos you've been trying to "spruce up" for your scrapbooks and genealogy records, now is the time to learn how to restore them. Aileen McNair will lead the group through the necessary steps of learning about
Picasa.
The meeting begins at 6:15 p.m. and will be in the Willcoxon Auditorium, right here in the library at 204 5th Street, S.E. in Moultrie.
For more information, call 985-6540 and ask for Aileen.

Christmas Traditions...Some Stay, Some Go

Today I was curious about the Christmas traditions our staff members have. A lot of us have the same ones that involve food, kids, and gifts. But I did find a few different ones.
For Keva, it's everyone in her family meeting at her grandparents' house on Christmas Eve for snacks and visiting. Then on Christmas Day, they all go back to her grandparents' for a BIG Christmas dinner, where Keva said they feed at least thirty people!
Melody told me when her children were little they'd go to the Christmas Eve service at their church. On Christmas Day, they'd open presents before breakfast, later watch football, and then take naps. Now that the children have grown up, her traditions have changed. But who knows what new ones will come along.
Christmas Eve for Johnnie involves everyone meeting at her sister-in-law's house for finger foods and a Chinese auction. That's probably an event every family wishes they could hold.
For Carolyn, they open presents and celebrate her daughter's birthday, both on Christmas Eve. Then on Christmas Day, everyone comes to her house where they eat a BIG dinner and enjoy family time.
Monique said her family comes to grandmama's on Christmas Day to show her their presents (meaning all the kids' toys). They bring food to share and have a feast.
Now, at Norma's house, there are lots of traditions. Decorating the tree is one, of course, and putting the stuffed animals in chairs by the tree. But her favorite tradition is setting up the manger scene she got in Columbia, South America in 1973. It has a llama instead of a
camel.
Since Holly is a newlywed, she and her husband will have the joy of discovering traditions together. She said this year they will give each other their gifts early on Christmas Day morning, before taking off for meals at her folks and his. Ah, newlywed Christmases are for sharing with parents when they live close by.
Elois said they always open their presents on Christmas Day morning and then have a nice brunch.
Aileen's tradition is using the same star on the top of their Christmas tree for the past 30 years.
Jinx said when her children were little, it was a tradition to always give the pets something special to eat or play with on Christmas Day. Now that her chidren are grown, she still keeps that tradition with her two cats.
One of the most traditional, old-fashioned Christmases I found belongs to Irene. She said she has always had a real pine tree, a tradition brought forth from her father. The tree goes up on December 17th, and she puts on all the decorations handmade by her children and other family members. On Christmas Day her children and grandchildren come to her house where they open presents. Later, they go to her mother's house where they have lunch. She said they always talk about the meaning of Christmas so the young ones understand the true meaning.
Christmas makes most of us think of families, children, decorated trees, and good food. But often, time changes things. Children grow up, some family members no longer grace us with their presence, houses become apartments, lots of decorations become just a favorite few, and round bellies can no longer take all that rich
food.
But the true meaning of Christmas never changes. This is a tradition that I'm thankful for.

What Are Your 10 Best Books of 2009?

Here I am writing about books again. We have so many things to talk about here at the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library, but today it's books. Again!
Yesterday I read through the list put out by The New York Times of its "10 Best Books of 2009." I wasn't impressed, but maybe I'm just too selective in what I like to read.
When I looked over another list by The Times, their "100 Notable Books of 2009," I did find three I think I'm going to put on my 2010 list of "must reads." Plus another I've wanted to read for a while
now.
"Lark and Termite" is a book I've kept my eye on for the past few months. When you have books stacked all over your house, sometimes you're hesitant to add one more to the pile. However, this little book by Jane Anne Phillips sounded intriguing. It revolves around a loyal sister and her impaired brother, who sees what others don't. "Shelter" is another book written by Phillips (1994).
"The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" by David Wroblewski on my list also. I didn't read it when it was a biggie on Oprah, but I've always kept my eye on it. This is a book about a speech-disabled Wisconsin youth, who bonds with three yearling canines and struggles to prove his sinister uncle is responsible for his father's death. This book wasn't
on The Times list of "100...," but I believe it's well worth
reading.
Another Times book is "Sag Harbor" by Colson Whitehead. Maybe 2009 was the year of youngsters, because this book is about a 15-year-old black hero, who lives in a world where life doesn't assault him, but rather affords him the time to figure out who he wants to be. Whitehead has also written "The Intuitionist" (1999), "John Henry Days: a novel" (2001), and "The Colossus of New York"
(2003).
As a lover of Southern writers, this book caught my eye on the "100" list. "Flannery: A Life of Flannery O'Connor" is authored by Brad Gooch. It's a nonfiction. The Times stated Gooch strives to make O'Connor, who was witty and obsessed into a quite normal person. But if you've ever read O'Connor's works, you can tell she was not quite the normal person. Gooch has also written "City Poet: the life and times of Frank O'Hara" (1993), "Godtalk: travels in a spiritual America" (2002), and "Scary Kisses" (1988).
If I add these books to what I already plan to read during 2010, I will have found four more wonderful reads. You know, we never have enough books. Of course, we don't have to go out and buy them. If they're not right here in our library, we can certainly put a hold on them through our Interlibrary Loan system.
So...what are you adding to your stacks of books to read in the new year? They don't necessarily have to be on someone's best 10 list or even their best 100!
(Source: NYTimes.com, Best Books of 2009)

Some People Got An Early White Christmas

Have you been watching that big storm sail across the United States? It's all the buzz on television, especially the weather station. It's like the weatherman's first Christmas present!
My brother lives in the Houston, Texas area. They were all surprised to see that white stuff called "snow" covering the ground.
I was in the sixth grade the first time I saw snow in Houston. It covered the playground of our elementary school and I walked through it to go to class. But when I came out at lunch time, the boys had been busy. During recess, they had rolled all the snow up into a big ball. And there it sat! One big white ball. Talk about being disappointed! I never got to play in it.
But through the years I got my fill of snow when I moved to Nebraska. Of course, it's always lovely when it first falls. In the right kind of light, with the biggest of snowflakes, you can see how different they all are from each other. They are amazing and beautiful little globs of frozen water.
Anyway...even though we probably won't have a white Christmas here in Moultrie, it seems most everyone is getting ready for the big event.
We have decorations up at our house. There are lights and wreaths and bows and trees. There are moving, lighted deer and Santas and sleighs. And there are red or white flowers of all kinds. This evening a group of people are going to decorate a clubhouse where a Christmas dinner will be held on Saturday. And they'll share special treats and sing carols. I'll be part of that group.
We've decorated here at the library also.
Our foyer table has a little sparkly tree and lots of good reading about Christmas. "'Tis The Season" for curling up or baking or creating, and plenty of books to fit your needs.
We have winter mysteries, books about good eating stuff, and plenty of kids' books to delight even the smallest child.
I think the thing I've enjoyed the most lately is listening to the children who look in the lighted glass cases in the front lobby. As I was filling the cases with Christmas ornaments the other day, a little black-haired boy of about five kept saying, "What's that?" and "What's that?" as each ornament was placed in the case. We had quite a discussion about each ornament. And this morning, a little boy and girl, looked like they were brother and sister, stood and pointed at the different wooden ornaments and carried on an excited conversation.
We've had adults stop and look in the cases also, especially at the large ornament tree filled with the most gorgeous golden ornaments I've ever seen.
Of course, you must take a drive around town and look at the Christmas lights, too...that wonderful canopy of lights that no other town has. If that doesn't get you in the mood, I don't know what will.
Who knows. We could get a covering of snow by Christmas time. Wouldn't an early white Christmas here in Moultrie look lovely? Well...for the first few hours, anyway.
Just thinking about it makes me want to curl up with a good book.

We Have A New Addition At Our Genealogy Library, But It's Old

Most people think of genealogy libraries as having "old" stuff, and I must admit we do have lots of "old" stuff in ours. But it's all "good" stuff.
We've added some more "old" stuff to our Ellen Payne Odom Genealogical Library that you might be interested in.
Our genealogist, Irene, showed me lots of containers in a flat drawer full of microfilmed newspapers from Southwest Georgia counties and some of the surrounding counties. She said these are original newspapers that have been microfilmed. However, some issues are missing.
For all of you genealogy buffs, here is an opportunity to come and look at "old" news that might possibly mention some of your relatives. Those of you who need obituary information, you'll find it here. And you'll read about interesting and outstanding events that occurred during these particular times. Community news was as big then as it is now: who visited who (or is that whom?), family picnics, births and marriages...all in the newspapers.
These are the counties and dates on the new microfilm:
Berrien County 1877 - 1931
Brooks 1866 - 1927
Calhoun 1882 - 1930 (2 different newspapers)
Clay 1897 - 1911
Cook 1900 - 1927
Dooly 1893 - 1918
Dougherty 1845 - 1880
Early 1863 - 1912
Irwin 1899 - 1920
Jefferson 1799 - 1807 (2 papers)
Miller 1907 - 1926
Mitchell 1904 - 1956
Pulaski 1867 - 1885
Randolph 1856 - 1888
Richmond 1786 - 1813
Taylor 1876 - 1913
Thomas 1860 - 1877, Jan.-Sep. 1965 (2 papers)
Tift (Omega) 1939- 1980.
So...there you are. Irene said that in 2010 (just around the corner), she'll be adding newspaper microfilm from Worth County.
Keep an eye open for more new "old" stuff in our Odom Genealogical Library. It's all here for you!

We're Thankful For You

At a time like this, a time of the year when we give thanks, we want you to know that we're thankful for you.
You're the one who comes to our library and works diligently at a computer, searching for a job. You're the one who uses one of the computers to keep in touch with your loved one in the military. You're the one who sits every day, working hard to further your education. We see you. We know who you are.
We're thankful for you as you come once a week to gather books to take to shut-ins, as you load up arm-loads of books to read to your children, and as you buy our sale books to put on your own library shelves or give to friends.
And to the teacher who brings the little tots in for storytimes, we're thankful for you. That makes us thankful, also, for the mother and father who bring their children to the Children's Library. Sometimes we see you sit with them and read a story; sometimes we see you let them pick out a book to take home. We're thankful you're teaching your children to love books.
We also see you as you roam the shelves, looking for that one special book. Or when you stand in front of the audio and CD books and spin the shelves, looking, looking, looking. We're thankful also for you as you check out the DVDs and VHSs for your entertainment.
For you who call in or come by to reserve a meeting time in the auditorium, for you who needs a paper laminated or copied, and for you who pays that late fine, we are thankful for you.
We're thankful when you come to read our newspapers and magazines, when you compliment us on our displays and thank us for our assistance. You make our day with your kind words.
We also thank you for visiting the Odom Genealogical Library. We appreciate you telling us how glad you are that we're here to help you locate some lost relative, help you climb your family tree, or make copies of that important family document.
You open our doors hundreds of times a year. You drop off books in the book drop by the tons. You visit our library from the time it opens at 8:30 a.m. until it closes at 5:30 p.m., and later on Tuesdays. We're glad we're here for you.
And to you, our Board member, who meets to decide which path we need to take next, we say thank you. Thank you for caring, for being present at the meetings, and for your guidance.
Those of us who work here at the library say to our director, Melody Jenkins, we're thankful for your direction, for your dedication, and hours, months and years of hard work.
At this time of the year, during the Thanksgiving season, we are thankful for our library. We know you are too. You show it in many ways all during the year.
We will be closed from Wednesday, November 25th, until Monday, November 30th. When Monday comes, we'll be thankful to be here for you again.

There's No Getting Around It...I'm Joining In!

Yep! I did it! I've joined the ranks of those who are preparing for Christmas.
This is the time of the month when I plan ahead for the hall calendar and the displays, among the other things I plan for (like our staff Pecan Tasting event on the 24th).
When you walk into our office, you'll hear Christmas music playing. My favorite station has become theradio.com on my computer, where I've clicked into their Christmas music and minimize it so it'll play all day long.
This morning I've been working on Miss Norma's "Children's Book Pick of the Month," meaning her Christmas book. It's author Tomie dePaola's Book of Christmas Carols. DePaola's love of Christmas and its traditions are evident in the magnificent illustrations he has created for the favorite carols in the book. For six of the carols, a foldout page opens up to reveal the carol dramatically illustrated across three pages, in a triptych-like design.
Our genealogist, Miss Irene, chose two books for the "Genealogy Book Pick of the Month." One, Civil War Celebrations, tells not only of holidays and festivities during the Civil War, but it also gives you great old Southern recipes. How about these: Molasses Pie, Christmas Eggnog, "Maybesome" Cranberry Sauce, and Mrs. Brotheton's Mincemeat Recipe.
The second book, Civil War Christmases, gives nine stories that echo the passions of a sensitive heart and of a devoted faith. As you read them, you'll learn more about the Civil War era and about
yourself.
One thing I'll do today is pull more Christmas books for our displays. And every staff member has been encouraged to bring special Christmas ornaments for our front lobby display cases.
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" is being sung in our office right now. I might as well join in, huh?
But I haven't forgotten Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

We Had The Most Wonderful Time

We held our second annual Veterans' Coffee last Friday, November 13th. We were just one of many celebrations in town to honor our Veterans during the week, and we had the most wonderful
time.
Our director, Melody Jenkins, started the program off with a heartfelt welcome, and then everyone stood and said the Pledge of Allegiance. Afterwards, Melody read the wonderful rendition of the Pledge as once said by Red Skelton. If you've never heard it (and you can find it on YouTube), you should. It will bring tears to your eyes.
Next, Dr. Hugh Ward, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Moultrie, brought the Invocation. His words of thankfulness and compassion echoed many people's thoughts.
Then Melody announced the names of the people who worked on the Veterans' interviews. Members of the Colquitt County High School's video team were Becca Evers and Dusti Hall. Their teacher was Samantha Hardin. And the videographer was the person who pulled the whole thing together, Mr. Beau Sherman of South Georgia Governmental Services Authority.
Of course, they had help, and such distinguished help made us all proud to know them.
The Veterans that were interviewed were: Jack Bridwell, Hinton Reeves, Hoyt Whelchel, Jim Kirk, Manis V. Long, Judson McLean, Hiller Gammage, Dr. Walter Harrison, Jr., Clarence J. Summerford, Emery J. Suber, and Howard Hall.
Beau Sherman made DVDs of their interviews about their years in the service. Copies of the DVDs were presented not only to the Veterans, but to Ann Glass, chairperson of the Catherine M. Bryant Veterans History Project at the library, and Jack Bridwell of the museum of Colquitt County History. The DVDs will be available at the library and museum for patrons to view.
After the program, the guests filled their plates with food and watched the interviews as they were shown to the
audience.
And food!!! Goodness, there was food galore!!! All provided by library staff members, as well as members of the John Benning Chapter of NSDAR, the Moultrie McNeil Chapter of UDC, the Moultrie Federated Guild, and Friends of the Library. Flowers were also provided by Ms. Mildred Rentz.
It's wonderful that the City of Moultrie took the time to come together and celebrate the service and dedication of our Veterans. It's something that we should do everyday, not just once or twice a year. I heard the other day that we now have only 93 World War II Veterans living. Of course, we have Veterans from all the other campaigns, and somewhere in the future their numbers will dwindle also.
In the meantime, when you see a Veteran, be sure to shake his hand and tell him how much you appreciate what he gave to help keep you free in our home of the brave.

This Cool Weather Makes Me Hungry!

When the weather turns a little bit cool, it makes me think of yummy winter foods.
During the past week I've made two huge Dutch-oven pots of stew. You know the kind. They are filled with carrots, celery, onion, potatoes, tomatoes and (for me) chunks of beef.
I even made German chocolate muffins last night! You'd think I'm like those little squirrels we see running around this time of year, hiding nuts in every nook and cranny. But I'm loading my freezer with stew and muffins instead of nuts.
This morning I looked on the Web at the different holidays for November and saw this week is National Split Pea Soup Week. Now, I'm not a big fan of split pea soup, but it did encourage me to look in our PINES catalogue to see what other foods I could cook up for my freezer.
How about these:
***Rice, Spice and Bitter Oranges,
***Soups, Stews, Casseroles,
***Red Flannel Hash and Shoo-fly Pie,
***Fix It and Forget It (this was a slow-cooker recipe book), and
***Food, Fun and Fable.
Of course, Paula Deen always has tons of good winter recipes and lots of funny comments. And we have several of her books we can check out.
Being a Weight Watcher, I try to make sure my recipes are within my point system, but occasionally I fail. Wonder how big a bite of a German chocolate muffin isonly two points!
You know, I suppose I'm doomed before I begin filling my freezer. After all, here comes Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
And I'm hungry already....

It's Not Even Thanksgiving And We're Thinking Christmas

Today I noticed our Christmas Wish List on the processing area's work table. It's that time again, and we've not even had Thanksgiving yet.
However, you have to take into consideration the game plan. Our Christmas Wish List is there for us to fill out because the big Calico Arts and Crafts Show will be in town this weekend. And everyone here at work usually fills in our Christmas Wish List so the person who draws our name will know what we want. That way they can get it at the Calico Show, if they so desire.
That means we have to think about Christmas before Thanksgiving gets here. And that's really hard for me to do.
We're also putting up Christmas decorations where I live. Some neighbors have Christmas wreaths on their doors. Some have lighted and moving deer in their yards, as well as decorated Christmas
trees.
But again, you have to take into consideration the game plan. On Thanksgiving Day evening, we will have the lighting of the Christmas tree on the Courthouse Square and the lights that are strung across the streets. Everything will be Christmassy-shiny on the evening of November 26th. So, our apartment complex decided to "light up" at the same time.
Well, I thought about what I wanted to put on the Christmas Wish List. My first request is always another book (not that I need any more). There are just so many on my list to read, and even though I can check out most of them from the library, there is an occasional one I'd like to have in my private library.
But I didn't ask for a book. Instead I thought long and hard about all those great Christmas movies that will be coming out, and I asked for a discount ticket booklet to the movies.
I don't intend to put up my Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving. I'll go to the Calico Show and look around, and maybe pick up something for someone for Christmas. But I really like the logical order to things.
I like Thanksgiving first, then decorating for Christmas.
But I'll be right there in the middle of the crowd on Thanksgiving Day evening when they light up the Courthouse Square. And I'll probably visit Books 'n' More, too. I might find that book I'm looking for along with a hot chocolate to drink.
I really don't want to be called a Scrooge.

The Children Are Meeting Peanut, The Library Dog

The Children's Library has been all abuzz lately about Peanut Butter McKellar.
Peanut, as his owner, Miss Norma, our Children's Librarian, calls him, is a black and tan dashchund. Norma said he's called a "tweener-weiner," because he's between a regular and miniature
dashchund in size.
Peanut is one year old with a birthday of October 20th. Miss Norma got him when he was four months old. He weighs almost 13 pounds, is very friendly, and doesn't growl. He has big black eyes, long floppy ears, little tan dots on his cheeks, and a tail that doesn't stop moving, unless he's sitting very still with Miss Norma.
Miss Norma said he is growing up to be a reading therapy dog. That doesn't mean he reads, but it does mean he listens. She said he is in training at Pet Smart in Valdosta and they have gone through one class already. He's so smart, he is now moving up into the intermediate class.
The program in the Children's Library this month is called "Be Paws-ative." So far, six groups of little children have seen Peanut. Many are eager to pet him, but some are cautious; only a few get very concerned.
Peanut is a delightful little puppy, most eager to share his doggy kisses. He's going to be in close competition with the Library Mouse, a creature I'm sure he'd love to give doggy kisses to also.

I Found Miss Tizzy

Occasionally, I don't want to write the blog. The words just don't seem to come to me, and I promised I'd write things about the library that would interest you. But, like I said, some days the words just don't come.
It's on days like these that I take myself for a walk around the library, checking up on who's here and what's going on. Of course, I start in the Genealogy Library and work my way down the long white hallway.
We have "Our Memory Wall" up again this year with the hopes that the public will recognize some of the faces in the pictures. We're still trying to identify many people. Maybe when we hold the Veterans' Coffee, someone will add to our identification struggle.
My walk always ends up in the Children's Library, and it's there I take peeks into various children's books.
Today I found Miss Tizzy.
This is a lovely, little story about a woman with personality. She's an individual with a purple hat and high-top green tennis shoes. And she loves the neighborhood children.
Each day of the week she has something planned to do with them. On Mondays, they bake. On Tuesdays, they make puppets and have a show. On Wednesday, she plays her bagpipes and the children form a band with spoons and pans. Each day is a special day with Miss
Tizzy.
Toward the end of the book, the children turn the story into a real work of love. You'll have to read it for yourself. I won't give the end away. But it is a lovely, little story.
"Miss Tizzy" is written by Libba Moore Gray and illustrated by Jada Rowland. The pictures are beautiful watercolors, full of patterns and shapes.
I'm going to put Miss Tizzy back in the Children's Library in the "EG" section. But I won't leave empty-handed. I'm sure I'll find another book just as lovely.
Why don't you see if you can find Miss Tizzy?

How About That Fall Weather?

Wasn't it wonderful to open the windows and let that good, cool fresh air float in? I tried to think of all the words that describe "fall" weather...things like crisp, refreshing, cool, colorful
leaves, etc.
This time of the year makes me think of apples and apple pies, pumpkins and pumpkin pies, turkeys and dressing...sounds like Thanksgiving Day things, huh? And all food, too!
It's the first of November and we've changed out the displays here at the library. But they are not all about food.
This is the month we are honoring our Veterans. This is the month when Veterans Day occurs. Did you remember that? It is always recognized on November 11th. In Canada, it's called Remembrance Day.
We have highlighted "Honoring Our Veterans" by placing things of remembrance in three glass cases in the front foyer. There are hats, caps and a helmet. There are medals and pictures and dog tags. Across the top of the cabinets are books about soldiers with stories related to them.
The library will also host its Veterans Coffee on Friday, November 13th, from 9 to 11 a.m., and we are expecting a special group of people to attend. But more about that later.
Getting out in this fall weather would be a good time to visit the library and see the displays.
The one in the main foyer is arranged to help you "Look for your blessings." And you'll find several books with that specific word in their titles.
In the bookrack beside the circulation desk, you'll find books about Thanksgiving. On the reading area table are books about turkeys, and on the table leading to the Children's Library are books about pumpkins. Oh, yes...there are some audio books included also.
Still sounds like I'm thinking about food, doesn't it?
Well. This is a good time of the year to think about food. Especially apples. And pumpkins. And turkeys.

We Have Friends!

A new group has been organized here at the library...the Friends of the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library System.
So, who are they?

• They are a fast growing organization consisting entirely of volunteer advocates who believe passionately in the need for a strong library system to benefit the community.

What do they do?

• They focus attention on library services and needs;
• volunteer assistance with programs, special events, or in-library services;
• promote the use of library resources and programs throughout the community;
• and raise funds for special projects, equipment, and materials in excess of the general library budget.

Should you decide to join the Friends, you'll receive a card good for the calendar year verifying your membership. With your card you'll be entitled to benefits such as:

• discounts on library specialty items, i.e., book bags, T-shirts, bookmarks, etc.;
• early admission to special events;
• invitations to library receptions;
• forgiveness of two overdue book fines per membership year;
• receive advance notice of special additions to library materials, i.e., Get Outdoors Georgia (family pass for free admission to any historic site operated by GA State Parks, Recreation & Historic Sites);
• and more!

There are different categories of memberships to fit your lifestyle, i.e., child/student, adult, senior/military, family, etc.

You're invited to join our corps of dedicated volunteers! For more information, pick up one of the Friends brochures at the library, email us at friends@mccls.org, or call us at 985-6540.

What Would You Do If There Wasn't A Library In Moultrie?

That's what popped into my head as I was working on the November calendar, the one we put in the glass case near the end of the long white hallway.
What would you do?
You wouldn't be able to use one of the 20 Dell computers. You'd have to find a friend with one you could use, or go to Walmart or Best Buy or somewhere and buy one. Or travel to the nearest library with one you could use for free. Let's see...how far away is that?
What about all those books you like to read? You could go to our local bookstore or Walmart to buy them. Or go as far as Valdosta or Albany or Thomasville or Tallahassee to make your book purchases. But you wouldn't be able to come to your local library and just check them out for free.
You also wouldn't be able to listen to all those audio books you like when you take a trip, or while you're working at home and want to listen a story, or you're sick and in bed and want to keep your mind occupied.
Speaking of being sick in bed, you wouldn't have that big stack of children's books available to read to your sick child. Have you priced how much children's books cost lately?
Where would you go to get those black and white copies made of the document someone asked you to bring to them? Where would you be able to make a color copy of that new baby to send to family members? There are places available, but not as convenient as the library.
What about all that reference material you need in order to pass the next test, or write your next book, or hunt for the location of that new place your son is going to?
Many people who don't take the newspapers come to the library to catch up on the latest local and state-wide news. And if they can't afford magazine subscriptions, they're here looking at the latest
ones.
Can you imagine what it would be like for all those people who come to the genealogy library to learn more about their family histories, find lost relatives, or look at a picture of grandma for the first time in their life? Where's the closest genealogy library?
Our frequent visitors, who like to rest on the comfortable couches and know where the bathrooms are, would need to frequent McDonald's more often. Some of them, who have no place in the world to go to except the library, would have no place to go.
What would you do if there wasn't a library in Moultrie?
I can't imagine what I'd do...even if I didn't work here.
Do you know how hard some people are working to keep the Moultrie-Colquitt County Libraries available for you? That means not only the main library and genealogy library, but the library in Doerun also.
Think about it.

"Where the Wild Things Are" Is Here

Last night I did what I said I was going to do. I went to see the movie "Where the Wild Things Are." I must admit I came away a little confused.
Confused because I felt it deviated from the story, and the book is such a pure thing that I almost feel it shouldn't have been messed with.
This morning I watched a video of Bill Moyers' interview in 2004 with Maurice Sendak and learned why Sendak wrote the story. Themes in a lot of his books are about innocence and evil. "Where the Wild Things Are" is no different.
The movie portrayed the little boy, Max, as an unhappy, alienated and extremely lonely child of a single mom, who is trying to balance a job, life with her children (Max has a teenaged sister), and a boyfriend. I guess I didn't get that image when I read the
book.
In both the book and the movie, Max is seemingly disturbed and mischievous. I mean, after all, he does run around the house screaming and terrorizing the dog with a fork!
In the book, when he defies his mother, he is sent to bed without supper. In the movie, he isn't sent to bed.
In the movie, he terrorizes his sister's teenage friends with snowballs and is devastated when they destroy his snowmade igloo with him inside. Afterwards, in a fit of rage, he destroys his sister's room. And in another fit (jealousy this time) of his mother's boyfriend, he climbs up on the kitchen counter while she's making supper and demands she feed him. In a struggle to get him off the kitchen counter, Max bites his mother's shoulder, then runs from the house with his mother following in her stocking feet. I guess I didn't get that image when I read the book.
In the book Max creates a magical world in his own room. In the movie he runs until he finds a small sailboat and sails away to the magical land where all the wild things are.
The book is sparse and sweet with only ten sentences. The movie plot is expanded so much that it brings about a different feeling than the book.
Granted, in both book and movie Max is fed warm food by his mother, proving that he has someone who loves him and protects him.
I loved all the Jim Henson characters in the movie, taken from the pictures of the wild things in Sendak's book. It was amazing to watch their eyes blink, slow smiles creep across their faces, and their funny little fannies wiggle as they walked away from you.
I think the book is far more magical. The film was made for adults, not kids. But then, when the book was published, the same thing was said about it. I suppose since Sendak liked the movie, I shouldn't complain.
Maybe you should read the book yourself, then go see the movie. Come up with your own conclusion. Just like we all did with "The Time Traveler's Wife" and "Topaz."

It's Expo Time Again

Once in a while, I take a break and read the newspaper while I'm at work. Of course, I'm always a little behind in reading it. Today was no different. Today I read The Moultrie Observer dated Friday, October 16th. And right there on the front page was the beginning of the article about the city preparing for the Expo.
Well, it's here, Tuesday, the 20th, through Thursday, the 22nd.
This is the 32nd Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition. It gets bigger and bigger every year. If you've ever walked the grounds out there, you know the show gets bigger and bigger. You're feet will tell you so. They're expecting their exhibition space to be nearly filled to capacity with approximately 1,200 exhibitors indoor and outdoor. The paper said attendance last year was 85,000 and they expected favorable conditions to top that number this year.
We couldn't have asked for better weather...a little crisp, but sunny, and no rain. They were hoping farmers who are out harvesting would take a little time off and come to the Expo. They are promised all kinds of interesting events.
There are seminars dealing with farm issues and products, precision agriculture, cotton seed varieties, fertilizers, crop protection,
etc.
This is also the time when everyone finds out who the 20th annual Sunbelt Expo Farmer of the Year will be. And just when you think that is the highlight of the Expo, you find out that NASCAR driver Jeff Burton is there, too.
But I think the event I'd like best to see is the milking contest put on by the deans of various local agricultural colleges.
The paper says the Expo has exhibits for backyard farmers, hunting and fishing enthusiasts, and homemakers.
(How's she gonna tie all this in with the library? you ask.)
Isn't that just like the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library (she says). Every year our events get bigger and better. Like the Veterans Coffee we're planning for the middle of November.
Every year we have items that cater to every person...farmers, fishermen, homemakers, students, small children, businessmen, etc.
You can take a look at our newspapers, listen to audio books while you travel, read biographies of famous people, catch up on current magazines, bring your children to children's programs, enjoy community events, etc.
I sure hope when those people at the Expo are touring around town, they take the time to visit both our libraries...the Moultrie-Colquitt County one and the Ellen Payne Odom Genealogical Library. If they do, they're in for a treat as great as the Expo.
Well...almost.
Source: The Moultrie Observer, Oct. 16, 2009)

We Have Birds At Our Windows Again!

With the weather turning cooler, we took pity on our little birdies this weekend and set out the new feeder and watering dish.
It took a good deal of scrubbing to clean the water dish, but once it was filled and placed on the shepherd's hook, the reward was watching the birds drink and bathe in the dish.
And the feeder got a good cleaning, also. Once seed was in it and it was hung on the opposite side of the shepherd's hook from the water, we had more feathered friends in a couple of hours than we could have dreamed to have. They literally flocked the place, including the holly bushes just beneath the feeder.
All this activity made me remember the year the Painted Bunting showed up. In fact, one showed up two years in a row, but I don't know if it was the same one both years.
Yesterday, the cats and I sat back from the window a little, so we couldn't be seen, and watched a bright red male Cardinal as he fed sunflower seeds to his little wifey (well, that's what I want to call her). It was like watching a movie. The cats surprised me at how still they could be, even with their tails switching slightly.
So, today when I got to work, I looked for just the right book to help me learn a little more about attracting more birds to the feeder. The book I selected is "How to Attract, House and Feed Birds" by Walter E. Schutz. It's an old book, but it's a goodie. Tells about bird watching, food, water, shelter, and some helpful hints. I was especially interested in that section, where it talks about winter care
of birds.
There's still lots for me to do before our coldest part of the year arrives. I need to stock up on peanut butter and suet (I plan to make my suet balls this year). And I want to find another source of water. Maybe one of those dishes with the small heating unit that doesn't shock the birds, but keeps their water from freezing.
I won't have any birdhouses. However, I do know that they sometimes make little homes in the holly bushes near the feeder, so they'll have homes. But if I can provide food and water at a time of the year when all the flying insects and bugs seem to be holding up somewhere else, then I'll be able to help feed them some. Winter's hard on the birds when their natural food hides from them.
This is a wonderful time of the year to watch birds. And we have plenty of books here at the library to help you learn about them. Just think, birdwatching and reading books from the library...nice fall and winter projects. And they're part of our FREE stuff!

FREE Seems To Be The Catch Word

Have you noticed all the advertisements on television about free stuff? And you hear about it on the radio, also. When I signed into Yahoo this morning, there were flashing signs about free stuff. So, I checked out a few "free stuff" websites.
There are freebies for bloggers, businesses, and families. There are free graphics, postcards and e-cards, prizes and contests, as well as seasonal stuff. And not to leave out all of those who use computers, there are free screensavers, technical support, and web space.
There's anything you want out there that's free, as long as you look in the right spot.
Well, I thought, we have free stuff right here in this library and at the Doerun library, also. (See, I told you once before, I always seem to get around to the library when I see or read or hear
things.)
Lately, we've had stacks of free magazines. They are coming in by box loads. We put them on the long counter at the front of the reading area. You can have as many as you want. All kinds...Gourmet, Southern Living, The Workbench, Architectural Digest, etc. Of course, some of them go faster than others.
We also have newspapers that you can read for free. You don't even have to subscribe to one. Just come in and sit in our lovely reading area, on one of those soft couches, and read till your heart's
content.
There is also free WiFi if you bring in your laptop. We only ask that you sit in the computer area at the special table that's provided for laptop users.
And our meeting rooms are free, also. There's the big auditorium and the small conference room (which we are still trying to renovate). You need to reserve one at the circulation counter, but they are free to use. Don't cost you a single penny!
Well, we have more free stuff, but you get the idea.
In fact, we have a free library card. All you have to do is fill out our application and you're set to use everything in our library...free...DVDs, VHSs, papermade books, audio books, etc. Even our genealogy library and the restrooms are free to use. There are plenty of tables and chairs you can use when you want to study or write a letter. And several times a year, we have free puzzles to work.
Now, how much more free stuff in one spot could you ask for? Aren't we great?

What Are You Thankful For?

Sometimes we have to plan a few weeks ahead to get our work done, don't we? If you're like me and I don't plan ahead, then it just doesn't get done.
Today I had November on my mind, and November usually makes me think of Thanksgiving and whatever I should be thankful for. In order to get my brain working in that direction, I checked out several websites and blogs to see what people were writing about in terms of being thankful.
My goodness! One person had a blog with 50 things they were thankful for! It included snow covered mountains, iPhones and iPods, and dishwashers. All of which I do not partake. If it has snow on it, then I'm not far enough South. If it has an "i" in front of it, then I leave it alone. And my dishwasher...well, it's used for
storage.
Several bloggers listed 10 things they were thankful for! That's more my number, too. One blogger included makeup, self defense, and cable TV. Those were all things I could relate to. The makeup made me think of my mother. She used to say (to us women) that you need to "put your face on in the morning so you don't make the world feel as bad as you look." As for self defense, my husband taught me and my daughter a good deal about self defense (for which we are thankful). And cable TV...well, I usually like it, but feel I could live without it most of the time.
Some of the bloggers wrote thoughtful things they were thankful for. Such as "the soldiers at war, in my place," and "time...don't take it for granted," and "that I live in the USA." I especially admired the blogger who said he was thankful "that my adolescent runaway is home," and the woman who said "a warm roof over my head, plenty of food, good books, in remission, and seven cats."
One blogger mentioned being thankful for libraries; another was thankful for a good novel. Many people were thankful for the same basic things: family, friends, health. Several were thankful for our president, religion, and peace of mind. I even saw bloggers who were thankful for "my writing career," blogging, and the
Internet.
I had to laugh at those who were thankful for coffee, chocolate, and air conditioning on a hot day. Those are my kind of people! Also the ones who were thankful for fresh fruit, red wine, and peanut
butter.
November is coming and it's never too early to plan ahead for the upcoming events. Just imagine starting on November 1st and writing down one thing you're thankful for each day until Thanksgiving Day. You'd have what...25 things you could list? Then on Thanksgiving Day you could read them all, while you're celebrating with that big turkey and dressing, or whatever traditional food you're
having.
However, since I started writing this blog today, I've also started my "thankful" list. I have 12 things on it so far. Guess you could say I have a jump on November 1st.
So. What are you thankful for?

You Can Sample Our Selection Without Stealing

This weekend I saw a program on television about books, and it wasn't on the Book-TV channel. Then today when I went home for lunch, NPR (National Public Radio) had a program about books. And when I opened the New York online newspaper I subscribe to, there was an article about Maurice Sendak's book "Where the Wild Things Are." (Do you know Spike Jonze made that 10-sentence, 338-word, 37-page book into a full-length film, which will be released on October 16th?)
It seems we've been hearing a lot lately about how books made of paper are disappearing, especially due to all the electronic books we now have.
The NPR program was about disappearing books, too. Rare books. But the thing that caught my attention was when they began talking about people stealing books, especially rare books, and how some were even stolen from libraries.
I guess I wouldn't worry too much about any rare book being stolen from our genealogical library, because we have alarms that go off if you try to take a book out. But in the public library, I can see how there would be opportunities to swipe a book or two.
Did you ever steal a book? I didn't, but that made me think of the time I worked in a hospital in Nebraska and some stealing from the kitchen was going on. They finally caught the employee, who had strapped a ham to the inside of each leg and slabs of bacon to each of her sides. They also found packages of pork chops and a chicken on various places of her body.
That made me wonder where a person would put a book that they'd lift from the library. Maybe they'd stuff it in the back of their pants, under their shirt. Or just put it in their book bag and walk out. Of course, books aren't the only things that could walk off from here. There are also audio tape and CD books, as well as magazines and newspapers. Occasionally, a computer mouse disappears. You have to ask for the DVDs and VHSs, so they don't count.
But you don't have to steal anything from here. You can get a free library card and check these things out. Even if you're supposed to return whatever within a certain length of time, you can ask to check it out longer.
You just need to come in and sample our selection.
Who knows, if you're especially fond of a particular item, you may find it on the bargain book rack someday and you'll be able to buy it for 25-cents or a dollar. Then it can be yours forever, without having to steal it.

The Veterans History Project Made The Front Page

Did you see this morning's paper? The Thursday, October 8th, edition of The Moultrie Observer had a nice color picture under the heading "Veterans' voices." World War II veteran Howard Hall is shown being interviewed by Dustianne Hall, a high school video production student.
The article told a little more about what I wrote yesterday regarding the interviewing of our Colquitt County veterans of all the wars and campaigns.
What many people don't know is that quite a few years ago, a lovely little lady who worked here at the library for 61 years, Catherine M. Bryant, began the Veterans History Project, which was later named in her honor.
Since it was her desire that veterans be honored and never forgotten, the Veterans History Project was housed in the Odom Genealogical Library. Catherine worked hard for many years to raise money to support the project and acquire information on as many veterans as she could add to the collection.
A library coworker said that Mrs. Bryant laid the foundation to help future generations develop a deeper understanding of peace. That she did!
So, thanks to Catherine Bryant, the library is still collecting information about veterans, as an adjunct to the general genealogy information in the library. Materials include personal information forms supplied by veterans or their families, memorabilia, and books covering the history of various conflicts and Spence Air Base. These forms may be obtained from the genealogy librarian.
There were eleven veterans interviewed yesterday. Memories of their trials and war years brought tears to the eyes of those listening. I imagine when you see the interviews on CNS, Channel 6, in a few weeks, you'll understand what I'm talking about.
As these collections of interviews are completed, they'll be on DVDs in the Odom Library and available for viewing.
And the Catherine M. Bryant Veterans History Project continues.

Let's Talk About Some Positive News

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of talking about negative things. And I imagine you're tired of reading about it. So, let's talk about some positive news from the Moultrie library.
Today we have long strings of little children walking our hallway, all the way from the parking lot to the Children's Library. Miss Norma is doing her children's programs again.
I must admit I'm very impressed with these little children. They walk with their hands held together behind their backs or their first fingers pressed against their lips. They are so quiet and polite and cute! Just makes a mother's heart melt. Makes our teacher's heart melt, too! The teachers need to be commended for caring so much for their children that the children return the caring right back to them.
Another event going on today is the taping of Veterans' interviews. Beau Sherman of South Georgia Governmental Services Authority has set up two interview stations in the Willcoxon Auditorium. Sam Hardin, a teacher with video and teleconferencing at the high school, brought the two interviewers, Dustianne Hall and Becca Evers. They have a list of prepared questions they are asking the Vets.
And speaking of the Vets, we have quite a nice list to interview. Several many of you know: Jack Bridwell, Hinton Reeves, Jim Kirk, Hoyt Whelchel, Jud McLean, Walter Harrison, Howard Hall, and a few others.
The interviewing is leading up to our Veterans' Coffee on Friday, November 13th, here at the library. But you should be able to watch the interviews on cablevision's CNS before then.
We have other events this month we're preparing for also. Like the genealogy workshop, "Tracing Your Roots," and the Genealogy Study Group. And don't forget, we've started a new Friends of the Library. They'll be meeting on Monday, October 26th, at 6 p.m. in the auditorium.
If we thought summer was busy, it wasn't. Fall is going to be much busier. Just watch us!!!

Let's Look At Things From A New Perspective

It doesn't take long for some people to feel like the library is their second home. I mean, after all, they're here five days a week. And often for the best part of a day.
For instance, we have a group of gentlemen who come in sometime during the morning and head for the reading area. They start out by sitting on the comfy couches and chairs, and read a book or the newspaper. But some time within an hour, they are no longer sitting. They have sprawled on the couch and are in deep dreamland. The other day one fellow was hugging the sofa pillow like his long-lost grandmother, while he was asleep. On another day, one fellow's head was hanging on the back of the couch and his snores could be heard for quite a distance.
We also have a few ladies who use the restoom as they would a home bathroom. It's the place where they wash up, comb out their hair, and put on their face for the day. Often, several service people from local stores come to change into their uniforms, then leave
for work.
We're one of those places where you're supposed to come in with shirt and shoes on, but to some people that means they only have to dress that way to gain entrance.
Like, for instance, about ten minutes ago I walked past the computer area and there sat a lovely woman with her jeans and spaghetti-strap T-shirt. She had kicked her shoes off and propped up her foot on top of the CPU. The other foot was tucked under her outstretched leg that led to the CPU. Around her on the floor was her purse and a stack of books, plus her flip-flops. Now, that's about as at home as the fellows on the couches.
When I came back to the office, I sat down in front of the computer and stared at the sign above my desk. It's a cool sign showing a tabby cat looking through a fish bowl at a gold fish. Of course, the cat's face is widened totally out of perspective. And the words on the sign say: Look at things from a new perspective.
So, I guess that's what I need to do. After all, I guess if you treat your library like you would your home, that's not too bad. But, if you're in our house, then I guess we need to say something to you once in a while. After all, we don't all live in the same kind of house.
So, maybe the people who come to the library need to look at things from a new perspective also. We don't mind sharing our house with you, but we'd sure like you to realize it belongs to not only you, but others also. And after all, you are in a public facility, not your home.

Can I Talk To You About Your Cell Phone, Please?

Remember the other day when we talked about controversial things? It did create some discussion around here.
One person told me that I didn't include cell phones and how annoying they are in the library.
So, can I talk to you about your cell phone, please?
We have an awful time with cell phones around here. Although there are signs posted all over the place, people still tend to ignore them, as well as the people they are bothering.
We ask patrons turn off their cell phones or put them on mute. However, if they ring, patrons are to take them to the genealogy foyer or outside to answer. Invariably, the person will answer it right then and talk (sometimes loudly) as they walk through the hall or down the steps to outside. Many times they get only as far as the short corridor where the restrooms are. They go around the corner and hide while they talk. They're standing in front of three signs that say "No cell phones." Blind as bats.
Many times they get upset with us because they can't sit at the computer and have their discussion. Of course, that upsets the people next to them, who are trying to concentrate on whatever they have on their computers.
We thought about banning cell phones. We thought about having a counter where cell phones could be checked in until the patron was ready to leave the library. You know, kinda like when the gunslingers used to have to check their guns in at the bar.
But we shouldn't have to do that with people who consider themselves adults. Just like we shouldn't have to ask a person to take his/her cell phone outside. Just like we shouldn't have to argue with someone who probably knows what the library rule is.
And have you heard some of the different rings those phones have? All the way from chimes to the latest number one song on the hit parade chart.
I have a little friend who would take me to task about even writing such things, since everyone is supposed to have the right to do whatever they want to do, if it's not hurting anyone else.
But, your cell phone, when it rings in the wrong place...like the hospital or church or movies or the library...does hurt others. It makes them angry you're not more considerate of them. It makes them really dislike you, especially since they were considerate enough to turn off their own cell phones.
I guess the last thing I'll say about cell phones is this. I received an email this morning showing an old gentleman, who said he was retired. And here's what he said about cell phones:
"I was thinking about how a status symbol of today is those cell phones that everyone has clipped to their belt or purse. I can't afford one, so I'm wearing my garage door opener. I also made a cover for my hearing aid, and now I have what they call blue teeth,
I think."
If you don't believe we have a policy regarding cell phones, please check at the circulation counter. Everyone would really appreciate it.

Family History Month Begins Tomorrow

We're getting ready for Family History Month, which begins October 1st. We're setting up family displays throughout the
library.
Some staff members have brought in items that are more than interesting. Some I've seen before, like the elastic garter to hold up socks. I remember my Daddy wearing some. Eloise brought one that once held up a sock worn by her grandfather,
W. J. Plymel.
She also brought in a wooden and leather corn shucker, a black plastic syringe that was used for giving enemas (yuk!), and some red plastic rings for chicken legs. I couldn't imagine what they used the rings for, especially after seeing the black plastic syringe. I hadn't seen any of those items before, but the chicken rings interested me the most. Elois said the rings were put on the chicken's legs, so close neighbors could distinguish each others chickens. Of course, each family had a different color. Elois's family was identified by
red rings.
A few other items of interest were brought in by Aileen. One was a wooden Kraft American cheese box, like I remembered seeing in our kitchen when I was growing up. And, of course, we all ate syrup from a Log Cabin tin shaped like a log cabin. I also had a Brownie camera, but not exactly like the one Aileen brought in. And I'd never seen wooden Pick-up Sticks (with the directions) or a metal boot jack shaped like a black beetle. She said all these items were from her's and her husband's family.
Melody brought a baby doll that belonged to her aunt, Lucille (Sissy) Sieve. The dress on the doll had been made by Sissy's mother, Gustava Stinson, for Sissy to wear when she was a baby. Melody also brought grandmother Gustava Stinson's wool wedding jacket from the late 1890s and two white handmade slips that were embroidered with flowers and swirls and lovely decorations.
From talking to other staff members, I know we'll have old reading glasses and shaving mugs, thimbles, Zippo lighters, brooches and necklaces, as well as an old butter churn. From what I've seen already, there's no telling what amazing things we'll have
on display.
We'll even have book displays about family biographies, family cookbooks, and family reunions.
If you're into genealogy and family momentos, be sure to stop by during October and see the different displays we'll have for Family History Month. They'll bring back a lot of memories.

We Always Like To See What Other People Are Reading

Once in a while I let my curiosity take me all over the library. The other day it made me stop in front of the "returned books" cart. I was somewhat amazed and impressed by what I saw. We're having a run on the Classics!
Look at these that had been checked out and returned:
The Great Novels of Mark Twain,
Edgar A. Poe's Selected Stories and Poems,
Steinbeck's stories (several),
Howard's End by E. M. Forester, and
Robinson Crusoe.
But the Classics weren't the only great books being read. How about:
Beloved by Toni Morrison,
Flower Net by Lisa See,
Dashing Through the Snow by Mary Higgins Clark, and
Dragonseyes by Anne McCaffrey.
Several of Anne Tyler's books had been checked out, including A Patchwork Planet. And several of James Patterson's books had been out, including Beach Road. Julie Garwood was another much-read author, including her book Fire & Ice.
There were other interesting reads that had been checked out also, such as:
Journeys of a Lifetime, a National Geographic book,
Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson, MD,
Hyper Kids by Lendon H. Smith, MD, and
Cross Creek Cookery by Marjorie Rawlings.
Now, isn't that an interesting bunch of books? We have a community with such a wide array of interests. It's also interesting to see how many people coming into the library will stop at the "returned books" cart before they go to the stacks.
We always like to see what other people are reading, don't we?

The Controversy May Not Be Worth It

I told my friend Nancy the other day that I didn't think anyone read this blog. She told me it didn't create any controversy.
"Like what?" I asked.
"Well," she said (and I could see the wheels turning in her head), "like when we talked the other day about that woman with lipstick on her teeth, and that guy in the restaurant with food stuck in his teeth. Stuff like that."
"That's not controversial!" I said. "I talked about that woman the other day whose shirt tag was sticking up, and I politely tucked it in. I know I'd want someone to do that for me, and tell me about the lipstick on my teeth, as well as the stuck food. But that's not controversial."
"Yeh, but we both know it gets worse," Nancy said with a little smirk.
"Like what?" I asked. "Besides, I have to tie the blog in with library stuff."
She smiled. I thought it was a kind of evil-looking smile.
"OK," she said. "How about all those people who come into the library with B.O. and bad breath?"
"OK," I said. "There are some."
"And don't you have someone with toilet paper hanging from their shoe once in a while?"
"No."
"Well, haven't you seen a woman with her skirt hiked up to there?"
"Well, yes."
"And a guy who accidently forgot to zip up his pants?"
"NO!"
"Don't you have people come in with dirty eyes and boogers and long nose-hairs and hairy ears?"
"Oh, yeah. I do remember a guy like that."
"And how about all those old guys that sleep on the couches all day long."
"Well, they do that for sure!"
"And those people who sit at the computers with their pants down to there and their shirts up to here, and you can see their plumber's anatomy!"
"Oh, yeah! We do get to see that!"
Nancy smiled her evil grin again. "See, I told you so. Now, those are things you can write about that are controversial."
After she left, I sat there thinking about what she said. But you know, even if we do have people come into the library like that, the controversy may not be worth it.

The Flavor of Fall and Food

It was my intention this morning to write about apples, because apples seem to symbolize autumn more than anything else. At least, to me.
I was lured into this thinking by my new copy of Victoria magazine and the gorgeous pictures of a Waldorf salad, a mug of apple cider, baked apple chips, a jar of apple butter, an apple crumb cake, and a lip-smacking deep dish apple pie.
So, I sought out the cookbook stack here in the library just to see what we have. What I found was better than writing about apples. I was amazed at the interesting cookbooks I found, and that's what I want to share with you.
When I saw the cover of Food for the Settler by Bobbie Kalman, it looked like a Christmas book, all red and green, with a woman of early times holding a steaming ball of something on a platter. But the inside was a surprise! Lovely old-fashioned, sepia-toned pictures of long ago, etchings and photographs and drawings. The contents spoke of Fishing the clumsy way, Sugar from the bush, Bread made with a loving touch, and (ah!) The apple harvest. Best of all, it has recipes.
I also found Campbell's Easy Holiday C0oking for Family & Friends, The Old Farmer's Almanac Blue Ribbon Recipes, and Cross Creek Cookery by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.
Of course, I had to peek in the Confederate Receipt Book, a Compilation of Over One Hundred Receipts, Adapted to the Times. (Notice, it doesn't say recipes.) There are no pictures, but you'll find recipes for Apple Pie Without Apples, Slapjacks, and Spruce Beer, as well as remedies for dysentery, chills, sore throats, and camp itch. Oh, and for destroying warts.
One cookbook I really like is Cooking with Southern Celebrities, such as Teddy Gentry, the bass guitarist for the music group Alabama, tennis favorite Chris Evert, and author Alex Haley, as well as these people we all know: Richard Petty, Naomi Judd, Ted Turner, and Dolly Parton.
Another book is called Red-Flannel Hash and Shoo-Fly Pie. I shouldn't have to say anything else about that one, except it's great reading with lots of recipes.
For those who need a few modern appliances, I looked into the Better Homes and Gardens Good Food on a Budget, Slow Cooker Cooking by Lora Brody, and Country Kitchen Microwaving. Those seem to be about my speed now days. They all have apple recipes.
And last but not least, I looked in The All Seasons Cookbook, The Market Place by the Augusta Junior Woman's Club, and Keeping the Harvest, Preserving Your Fruits, Vegetables & Herbs.
It seems if I'm going to get carried away and buy a bushel of apples, I'd better have some good apple recipes and learn how to preserve apples. Of course, I could always do my old standby...wash and cut them up, splash them with fruit preservative, and bag them for the freezer.
Well, that's after I make that deep dish apple pie from my new Victoria magazine.

I Can't Believe Today Is The Beginning of Fall

Where has the time gone?
I know there are lots of things to tell you about the library, but today I'm just piddling along, I guess.
You know how you feel when Spring comes, the breeze is warming up, the birds are crazy, and the flowers are popping out of all their little green leaves? Well, that's the way I get when Autumn arrives. I seem to have Fall Fever.
Now, don't get me wrong, it doesn't make me lazy. It just makes me...well, like I want to get outside and take a long walk in the fresh air, stare up at the blue sky (which doesn't have those big white, fluffy Summer clouds) and daydream. You know, the sky this time of year is really a different color of blue than it is in Summer.
So, as my poor brain struggles to write this blog, my "other" brain is thinking about outside.
By the way, if you get a chance, take a look at the display in the main lobby foyer. It's all about outdoors...hiking, rock climbing, historic sites, parks and nature. You can't miss the display. You'll see a small green camping stove and a pair of tan hiking boots.
We are gearing up, however, for October. We have big plans for October. And that's just around the corner. Eight days to be exact. The ninth day is October 1st.
I promise I'll do better tomorrow. Well, maybe not. Fall lasts a long time. Right up until Winter and we really don't have Winter here in South Georgia.

What Is A Life? Genealogy Tells!

We've been working on next month's displays and events, because next month is Family History Month. All this made me think how much it ties in with genealogy and digging up the past.
Lots of folks don't like to do that. However, there are many of us who do and because of that, October will be an interesting month here at the library.
But more about that later.
There is also a group of writers who meet here once a month. This month author Keith Taylor will talk to them about memoirs and how to write them. That's getting your past down in writing, even if you don't leave it for the whole wide world. But I bet your family will be interested in what you have to say. They'll be interested to see if it's the same as they remembered it.
If you need help in writing those memoirs, check out Writing Your Life Story by Bernard Selling (808.066S). We have a few other books along that line also.
I've always been interested in other people's lives, which make me a lover of biographies. If you check around in our bookshelves, you'll find a great many, such as these:
The Woman Said Yes: Encounters with Life and Death Memoirs by Jessamyn West (B West),
The Story of My Life by Clarence Darrow (B Darrow), and
Rebel Prince Memoirs by Louis Ferdinand (B Ferdinand).
Be sure you look in the Odom Genealogical Library also. There you'll find:
Memoirs of the Life of the Right Honorable Sir James MacKintosh (G16.4 MI, II) and
Memories by Robert Barr (G16.3B). And a great many more.
We have biographies of many famous people...Tennessee Williams, Gloria Vanderbilt, Liz Taylor, Norman Vincent Peale, Willie Mays, the Kennedys, Robert Frost, General Eisenhower, Martin Luther King, Jr., Princess Di, the Bush Family, and Alan Alda, to name a few.
We even have biographies of people just as interesting, but whose names you might not have heard of until you see them on our shelves. Interesting reading, all of them.
Maybe reading biographies will make you wonder if you should write your memoirs.
What is a life? Why not tell your loved ones about yours? Leave something for the genealogy buffs to enjoy.

I Want To Tell You Today About Thursday

That's right! Thursday!
In fact, do you know what the week of Thursday, September 17th, until Wednesday, September 23rd, is all about?
Here's a guess...it has to do with your rights as a citizen of the United States.
Maybe some of you guessed. It is Constitution Week and the 222nd anniversary of the Constitution's adoption.
Most of us who completed high school had to study the Constitution. But many of us who are now adults have forgotten what it said. This would be the perfect week for all of us to read the Constitution, a document for which our forefathers so painstakingly labored to create and perfect.
If you don't have the time to read the entire Constitution, you should at least read the first 10 amendments, because those paragraphs are collectively known as the "Bill of Rights."
Our library has volumes of information about the Constitution. And right now we have a display in the main lobby's foyer by Moultrie's John Benning Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution with posters and the flags of the original 13 colonies. You can pick up free handouts about the Constitution, as well as laminated bookmarks.
The library isn't the only place in town where Constitution Week is being celebrated.
On Thursday, September 17th, at 4 p.m., the First Presbyterian Church will be ringing its bell to mark the day and time when the Constitution was first adopted by the Continental Congress on September 17, 1787.
Then on Saturday, September 19th, at 10 a.m., a celebration will be held on the courthouse square. Members of the DAR will be dressed as patriotic symbols, such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. The Colquitt County High School choral group and the ROTC will also participate.
Why not put on your red, white and blue T-shirt and join the group on the Square on Saturday? Hold a copy of the Constitution in one hand and wave the American flag in the other.
After all, if it weren't for the Constitution of the United States, you wouldn't have any reason to be here.
(Source: http://www.holidayinsights.com/, http://www.moultrieobserver.com/)

Has The Flu Got You Scared?

Lots of people are scared of the flu this season. Me included. I know when the time comes, I'll be in line for my flu shot or shots, I should now say.
But this H1N1 flu stuff has a lot of people more scared than they normally are. And because of that, we here at the library are trying to help the public in any way we can.
In the long white hallway we have a wall display giving our patrons information about the H1N1 flu. I'm sure you've heard all this before, on the television, in magazines, and maybe even in your doctor's office. But it's important enough to say again.
The symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, chills, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
So, what can you do to help yourself? Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially right after you cough or sneeze. Drink lots of fluids and eat food that's good for you. Avoid people who are sick, and try to stay calm.
One thing a doctor on Good Morning America said was, "Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with your hands, because that's the best way to transmit germs." Keep that in mind.
When do you need to call for a doctor's appointment? When you have these symptoms.
And what will the doctor do? Well, he'll test you to be sure you have Influenza A (H1N1), and then treat you with anti-virals to help you get better fast. However, it would greatly benefit you to get those flu shots when offered.
I think one of the scariest things I've read is that you can make other people sick from one day before you have any symptoms to seven or more days after you feel sick. Just think how many people you could infect without even knowing it!
OK. So what are we here at the library doing to help curb this infection?
Our janitor goes around all day long disinfecting all the main "hand" areas. That means with a disinfectant-cleaner-deodorant he is wiping down all the entry doors, water fountains, restrooms, counter tops, computers (keyboards and monitors), walls, tables, showcases, windows - you get the idea. He even sprays a special disinfectant throughout the library.
And today I saw our shelver in the Children's Library taking books off the shelves and wiping them down. That's a job and a half.
We're hoping that between the two of us, you and us, we'll be able to help prevent the H1N1 from becoming worse in our community.
Has the flu got you scared? What are you doing about it?

The Nines Are Here

I understand there are a lot of people out there who have made big plans for this once in a lifetime day...09-09-09.
My coworker said it's also going to be a big day for those who geocach. She said she and some friends are going to Tallahassee to an event on this 09-09-09 to a nine-minute meeting.
I bet if you look online, you'll see a multitude of blogs about this day, and there will be a multitude of marriages on this day also. There might even be a multitude of births.
So, what's so special about the number nine?
Well, nine is a composite number (do you know what that means?), its proper divisors being 1 and 3. It is 3 times 3 and hence the third square number.
Nine (9) is a Motzkin number. (What does that mean?)
It is the first composite lucky number. (Hasn't brought me any luck yet!)
Nine is the highest single-digit number in the decimal system. 9 = 1001 in binary. (OK.)
Nine is the atomic number of fluorine. (I remember that from school.)
A human pregnancy normally lasts nine months. (I remember that, too.)
Nine ball is the standard professional pocket billards. (Interesting.)
Cats have 9 lives. (At my house, that makes 18 lives.)
"Love Potion No. 9" was originally performed by The Clovers in 1955. (Yep.)
The word "K-9" pronounces the same as canine and is used in many U.S. police departments to denote the police dog unit. (And they're great dogs, too!)
Well, that's the end of my "nine" facts for now. If you have more you know, add them here.
(Wonder if anyone will notice I said only one thing about the library?)
Hope your 09-09-09 is a special day for you.
(Source: Yahoo!)

It's Silly Frogs And Warty Toads

Since we have this hiking thing going on in our front foyer on the round table, it only seemed appropriate to have the glass cases filled with frogs and toads. After all, they're things you see when you go hiking and camping.
The cases fairly gleam with brilliant colors all the way from teal green to bright orange. And the frogs are made from wood, fabric, metal, glass, plastic, rubber, ceramic, and quite possibly stuff that we can't even describe. Oh, yes! There is a real petrified bull frog holding a harp, too.
There are three green ceramic frogs sitting in a circle around a candle. There's a three-foot, deep-green fabric frog, who can wrap his arms and legs around you. There's a wooden frog with ridges on his back, from Mexico, that can be played with a short stick as a musical instrument.
There's a key chain, a tall mug, a water globe, two jewelry boxes, a soap dispenser, salt and pepper shakers, a cookie jar, a cup and saucer with matching spoon, and several toys.
The frogs and toads have big eyes and silly grins. Don't all frogs?
The frogs and toads belong to our staff members. They represent remembrances from birthdays, anniversaries, vacations, children's gifts, whatever. Each frog and toad has been lovingly placed in the case and represents a special memory.
We couldn't leave it there, however. Since we're a library, we just had to include some books. So, across the top of the glass cases are a few books you can check out. Some are:
The Absent-minded Toad by Javier Rondon,
Grandpa Toad's Secrets by Keiko Kasza,
Jennifer Murdley's Toad by Bruce Coville,
A Frog Prince by Alix Berenzy, and
The Frog Prince Continued by Jon Scieszka.
And of course, my favorite, I Took My Frog To The Library by Eric A. Kimmel.
The next time you're in the library, take a look at our display of beautiful and interesting frogs and toads. They may be silly and warty, but we decided to share them with you. They'll bring a smile to your face!

We're Gearing Up For Our Hiking Days

You know, we live just down the road from the Reed Bingham State Park. It's out there off the Adel Highway, probably about 40 minutes from town. Well, by the time you get to the Park Rangers office, anyhow.
If you've ever gone to the Catfish House to eat, then you know where Reed Bingham Park is. And if you haven't been to the park in a while, now's the time to gear up for great hiking days.
We have a neat display in the front foyer of the library filled with books about hiking. The fun part was when we set up the Coleman two-burner stove with the black frying pan and stuck a pair of hiking boots beside it. It gave me the excitement of getting out in Reed Bingham Park and walking the trails, looking for the gopher turtles and the butterflies and pitcher plants.
I want to tell you about some information at the circulation desk that I think you might be interested in if you love hiking.
It's a folder is full of information about Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites. It's part of the Library Loan Program. There's even a family pass which will allow up to four visitors to be admitted at NO CHARGE to any historic site operated by the Georgia State Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites.
The magazine in the folder covers all the information you'll need for camping accommodations, discounts, field trips and programs, and historic site listings. There's a calendar of events, as well as information about golf courses (they DO hike on golf courses!), pet policies, and reservations.
There's also a vehicle parking pass that you hang on your rearview mirror. But there is a catch to that one. It's only valid at certain parks, not at State Historic Sites, the Chattahoochee River NRA, Jekyll Island, Lake Lanier Islands, or Stone Mountain Park. But think of all the other places you can use it.
So, just come to the circulation counter and ask for the Georgia State Parks folder. It's on the bookcase behind the counter.
And you can also check out the Georgia State Parks website at http://www.georgiastateparks.org/ or http://www.getoutdoorsgeorgia.org/. There's no telling what good hiking and camping stuff you'll find there.
Clean up those hiking boots and drag that back pack out of the back of the closet. September is a great time for hiking.

Do You Have One?

All across this great nation of ours, September is Library Card Sign-up Month. This morning we put up our wall displays and table displays. We've sent public service announcements to the radio and television stations, as well as the local newspaper. When the multitudes of people come in to get their new library cards, we plan to be ready.

Of course, I have some very interesting facts about Georgia's public libraries that I bet you don't know. How about these...

• In FY2008, Georgians checked out more than 43.6 million items from their public libraries.
• Almost 1.5 million kids attended one of the 41,300 events that Georgia's public libraries offered for children in FY2008.
• 100% of Georgia's public libraries provide free high-speed Internet access to the public.
• More than 6,300 public-access workstations are currently available at Georgia's public libraries.
• In FY 2008, more than 270,000 individuals used public-access computers at Georgia's public libraries each week - more than 14 million annual users.
• The numer of annual visitors to Georgia's public libraries in FY2008 far exceeds the number of visitors to many of the state's other attractions - combined.
• There are 9.68 million people in Georgia; there are 3.8 million total households; there are 3.7 million Georgians with library cards, 2 million of which have PINES cards.
• 3,109 Georgians work in public libraries.
• 2,500-plus Georgians volunteer with public libraries.
• 1,400-plus Georgians serve as trustees for local public libraries.

How about that! Public libraries are accessible to virtually every community in Georgia. There are 386 public library branches and service outlets, as compared to 388 golf courses, 178 Publix grocery stores, 168 Starbucks stores, 134 Walmart stores, and 63 state parks and state historic sites.

So! Do you have a library card? In these tough economic times, your library card will give you free access to books and computers, homework help, assistance with resumes and job searches, accurate financial information, adult education courses, assistance for new Americans, CDs, DVDs, and much more.

It's the smartest card you can have in your wallet or purse.

(Sources: Georgia Public Library Service, American Library Association

And The President's Reading...

A blurb on Yahoo the other day said that the President's favorite book is "Where the Wild Things Are." The book by Maurice Sendak was written in 1963 and has won several awards.

It's about the wild adventure of a boy named Max, who was sent to his room without supper for talking back to his mother. The amazing thing about the story, to me, is it's only ten sentences long! And it's available in our library for you to read.

Just today I learned it's going to be in theaters on October 16th, where you can see Max's wild adventure flashing before your eyes, big as life, while you're sitting in the dark. How scary can that be? I'll be one of the first ones to see it, I know.

But that's not all President Obama is reading. Yahoo listed five other books on his reading list.

• The Way Home by George Pelecanos is a crime thriller. Even though we don't have that book, we do have another by Pelecanos. The Night Gardner is not only in our fiction section, but we have the story on CDs, too.
• Lush Life by Richard Prince is about race and class in New York's Lower East Side. You can find that in our mystery section.
• Hot, Flat, and Crowded by Tom Friedman talks about the benefits to America of an environmental revolution. The book is on our shelf, located at 363.7F.
• John Adams by David McCullough is a biography and in our biography section.
• Plainsong by Kent Haruf is about eight people living in a Colorado prairie community. This surprised me, because it's the only book on the President's list (other than Wild Things) that I've read. But it's one that stuck in my memory as a great read. You can check it out through our PINES catalog as an Inter-Library Loan.

After looking over the President's list, I think I'll see what Lush Life is all about. I might even check out Plainsong again. And I definitely know I'll go see Wild Things the minute it hits the big screen. But I think I'll take a friend with me. Just in case I get scared!

Ted Kennedy's Last Sail

There's a wonderful thought floating through my mind. It's about sailing...sailing on a sailboat.
Now, if you've never had the chance to do that, you might have a hard time picturing such a thing in your mind. But I've been
there.
It kind of falls in the same category as snow skiing, drifting through the sky in a sailplane, or driving a convertible with the top down through a beautiful countryside. There's a rush to it, but a calming rush. And there's the invigorating feel of control over a particular power. There's the feeling of just you and nature. It can be hard to describe.
When I turned on the TV this morning, the news said that Ted Kennedy lost his battle with brain cancer during the night.
For some reason, I remembered a picture of him on that big sailboat of his, a grin on his face and the wind blowing through his white hair, and I immediately thought Ted Kennedy had taken his
last sail.
If you watch television, and I believe the entire world does, then I don't really need to tell you who Edward Kennedy was. You'll see a great deal of information about him and his famous family in the news throughout the next several days. But I will say he was one of the most influential and longest-serving senators in U.S. history. He was called "the Lion of the Senate."
If you are interested in knowing more about him, we have these books available for you:
The Kennedy Brothers (929.2S)
Living with the Kennedys: the Joan Kennedy Story (973.92C)
The Education of Edward Kennedy: a family biography (GB Kennedy)
The Senator: my ten years with Ted Kennedy by Richard E. Burke (B Kennedy)
The Last Kennedy by Robert Sherrill (B Kennedy)
Teddy Bare, the Last of the Kennedy Clan by Zad Rust (B Kennedy)
Death at Chappaquiddick by Thomas L. Tedrow (973.494T), and
The Last Brother by Joe McGinniss (973.92M).
Ted Kennedy was 77 years old and leaves quite a legacy.

We've Got Conroy's New Book!

I guess you've heard that Pat Conroy's new book, "South of Broad," is out. And we've got it!
Conroy was even seen on Good Morning America! the other day, talking about how this is his first published book in umpteen years, his fifth novel and nineth book. I can't imagine many people in this land of ours who does not know who Pat Conroy is, but I suppose there are some out there.
Just looking over his list of writing achievements is quite
impressive.
His first book, "The Boo," written way back when, was a tribute to a beloved teacher.
The second, "The Water Is Wide," written in 1972, is actually my favorite. It's about when Conroy was a teacher, and the book won a humanitarian award from the National Education Association. Then the book was made into a movie titled "Conrack" with Jon Voight playing Conroy.
Even the third book, "The Great Santini," written in 1976, was turned into a movie with Robert Duvall.
And the fourth book, "The Lord of Discipline," written in 1980, became a film.
But the biggest and best book, "The Prince of Tides," written in 1986, has been called his crowning achievement. Most everyone has seen the movie starring Barbra Streisand and Nick Nolte.
Then came "Beach Music" and "My Losing Season."
He even wrote a cookbook..."Recipes From My Life." There is just no end to this man's writing!
And now the book everyone has been waiting so patiently for..."South of Broad."
When you read this book, you're going to find it totally different. It's a book with a loveable father!
But really, it has been called a "love letter to the city of Charleston" from Pat Conroy, and many say "it's the celebration of a lifelong friendship."
We've got Conroy's new book. But, believe me, you're going to have to line up to read it.
In the meantime, don't forget all those other great books Conroy wrote. We have those, too.

Read Anything Good Lately?

Today while I was pulling books for September displays, I ran across the cutest children's book called "Read Anything Good Lately?"
That sounded like a great title for a blog...so, here it is.
The book is written by Susan Allen and Jane Lindaman, and illustrated by Vicky Enright. It was published in 2003 by The Millbrook Press, Inc. out of Connecticut.
The book takes an alphabetical look at some different places and things to read. And of course, as I read through it, I thought about whether I'd read anything good lately.
Here are some of the things mentioned in the book any of us can read: an atlas, a biography, comic books, the dictionary, an encyclopedia, fairy tales, gossip magazines, history, information on the Internet, joke books, the back of the Kellogg's (tm) cereal box, literature...well, you get the idea.
The pictures in the book are colorful, funny, and very detailed.
My friend Dorothy would like the one that says "Recipes in my rocking chair."
I would like the one that says "A vacation guide in the van."
And of course, we could all read "Whatever in the waiting room."
It's a perfectly delightful book for you to read to your youngster or just read all by yourself. Because the last page says "And what have you read lately?"
Good question, huh?

It's Like A New Year

Coming to work this morning was spooky!
As I left home at 8:45, the street I took to work was empty...no cars, no one walking along the side of the street, no one coming and
going.
When I turned the corner and headed toward the library, I saw only two cars in the parking lot. And there were only two cars and a bicycle parked in front of the library.
Even inside the library was extremely quiet. Spooky!
When I complained about not seeing anyone, a coworker laughed and said, "You must have thought the Rapture came and you were left behind." We both laughed about that.
As I headed for my office, I saw only three people in the computer center.
I dumped my stuff in the office and headed back out the door, wondering "Where is everyone?"
In the reference area a man hunched over to read a newspaper.
In the reading area, a man was reading also, but no people were sitting at the tables, heads bent, intently writing on school work or whatever.
The children's library had only one person; Keva, who was shelving books.
So, I stuck my head in Norma's office door. She's the children's librarian and she was busy working away at her computer.
"Have you noticed how quiet it is around here?" I asked. I told her about my trip to work and the other areas of the library.
She got a big grin on her face, and then I knew!
All the kids are back to school!
We know, however, that after school lets out for the day, the computer area will be tightly packed again. The reference area will have students seeking answers to homework given right off the bat, and the children's library will hold a bunch of little ones looking for library books they can take home to practice reading.
Life in the library doesn't sit still when the kids are back in school. It may be quiet for a while, but it always gets busy after a quick breather.
Norma said she's working hard on her new calendar for storytime. She's waiting for teachers to call back and verify the times their children will come for the stories. She said she always feels like it's a new year when inventory is finished and the new school year begins. And that's true.
It may be quiet now, but I can guarantee you it's going to get busy very fast. We don't have much quiet time in the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library. Even the Doerun Municipal Library will have its doors swinging off the hinges in a matter of hours.
So, although it's quiet and spooky right now, we want to welcome you to our new year, where things are bright and shiny and clean. We're ready for even the busy times.

Will Anybody Notice?

During the closing of our library for inventory, lots of things have happened.

When we reopen on Saturday, August 15th, at 8:30 a.m., will anybody notice our deep cleaning and extra hard work, such as

• the grass was mowed and trimmed away from the sidewalks, and the trees trimmed,
• the sidewalks and entrances to the building were pressure-washed, as well as certain areas of the building itself,
• the weeds were sprayed around the building and parking lots, and pulled from the flowerbeds,
• straw was spread around the plants, and
• the park was cleaned?

Will anyone notice when they come inside the library that

• the carpet was cleaned,
• the hard floors were mopped and buffed to a high shine,
• the computer screens and glass display cases were cleaned,
• the reading area furniture was cleaned and rearranged,
• the ceiling fans were cleaned, and
• everything everywhere was dusted?

No one will really know that the Bookmobile people were getting ready to go out again on August 31st by

• working on their schedule for the upcoming school year,
• transferring routes,
• repairing books,
• working on teachers' cards, and
• cleaning the inside of the Bookmobile.

No one will really know that staff members in the library

• cleaned their work areas by straightening, dusting, discarding junk, sorting, reorganizing, deleting and rearranging,
• repaired books,
• weeded books,
• straightened and cleaned books, audio books, DVDs and VHSs,
• discarded unused books, and
• prepared the sale books.

In the midst of all this activity, the everyday jobs had to go on...like paying bills, answering emails, cataloging books, etc., etc., etc. And writing this blog.

When we open the doors again on Saturday, August 15th, at 8:30 a.m., will anybody notice?