Maybe You Should Put Your PINES Card On Your Keyring

One of my favorite places in the whole wide world to visit is Jekyll Island. Of course, when Ann, who is our bookkeeper and also works in Genealogy, told me about the vacation she took last week, she didn't know that. She just told me about her big adventure on
Jekyll.
She said they stayed in a cabin a block from the water, visited the turtle museum, and took the sightseeing tram ride. They even considered going bike riding. They visited the gift shops, candy store, and book store. I could envision each place she talked
about.
When she told me her favorite place at Jekyll was Driftwood Beach, I could smell the water, dig my toes into the sand, and hear the birds call to each other as they sailed over the waves.
She told me while she and her friend Gwen were at Driftwood Beach, they sat on a driftwood log and had a couple of visitors take their picture. And they took the visitors' picture.
Not long after that, while Ann and Gwen were still there, they found a set of old keys on that driftwood log. The keys were rusty, and the ladies felt they had washed up from the water and got hung
on the log.
Then to her surprise, Ann said Gwen shouted, "There's a PINES card on here!" And sure enough, along with all those keys and a few other plastic-coated cards, was a PINES card.
Now, Ann, being an employee of the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library, knew exactly what to do. She called our library and talked to Monique, who looked up the card number in the PINES system and found out who it belonged to.
Next Ann and Gwen took the card and keys to the Brunswick Library and explained the situation to the staff.
After convincing the Brunswick staff to call the owner of the keys, they were able to talk to the woman. The lady said they'd never been on Driftwood Beach, but had been on the nearby pier. The woman said they'd taken their car apart, looking for the keys. She finally had to call her husband, who had gone to Brunswick, and have him come back to Jekyll with spare keys. She was astounded that the keys had been found...thanks to that great PINES card.
So, the keys and cards, which were lost on Jekyll Island and found by two Moultrie women, were put in the mail to the woman who lived in Cobbtown, Georgia.
Quite a big adventure, huh? Makes me consider putting my PINES library card on my keyring. How about you?
And that Cobbtown, Georgia library patron couldn't have had a better "finder" of her keys than Ann. Way to go, Ann!!!

Have You Used Your PINES Online Catalog Lately?

I read an interesting article this morning and was impressed as a library employee. Sometimes we sit in this lovely building and never know what the public thinks of our services. We've had surveys in the past, but this PINES survey was statewide and very
interesting.
What is PINES? The Public Information Network for Electronic Services - or PINES, for short - is a statewide consortium of more than 280 public libraries and affiliated service outlets in nearly 140 counties of Georgia. It offers citizens a shared catalog of approximately 10 million items, with a single library card that is welcomed in all member libraries.
The 2009 PINES User Satisfaction Survey drew more than 2,000 participants, who completed the survey from a library workstation or from a home or office computer between April 19th and 25th. The results showed a higher degree of satisfaction than the already impressive figures from years past.
The Survey showed that more than four out of five (82.9 percent) used the catalog at least weekly to renew books online, place holds on books, determine fines or see what items they have checked
out.
An average of 92 percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with these statements:

• It's easy to use the PINES online catalog.
• I typically find what I'm looking for using the PINES online catalog.
• It's easy to determine if my library owns a particular item.
• If my local library does not have an item I need, it's easy to find and obtain the item through the PINES system.
• It's easy to renew my mateials through the PINES online catalog.
• I'm satisfied with the PINES statewide library card system.

Users also indicated a strong desire to see full statewide access to materials; enhanced access to GALILEO databases, including meta-searches across PINES and GALILEO; and statewide access to electronic and audiovisual materials.

Julie Walker, deputy state librarian, said, "It's truly gratifying to see that Georgia's library users appreciate the benefits and conveniences offered by PINES and that, even in the light of the current economic uncertainties, they want to see the system expand to more areas of the state and offer more services."

If you don't know about the PINES system, information is available in the center of our home Web page. Just click on the PINES symbol for information and entrance to the system. It will open a whole new world to you.

(Source: Georgia Public Library Service News, June 2009)

A Week Of Summer Fun For The Kids

The Summer Reading Fun Program is in its fourth week of programs for the kids. And this week will begin with our favorite
ventriloquist.
Cliff Patton will be at the Moultrie-Colquitt County Children's Library this evening from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. If you've never seen him, you and the children are in for quite a treat!
On Wednesday, the 24th, at the Doerun Library, there will be a Karaoke Party from 3 to 4 p.m. Bring your best singing voice and plan to sing up a storm!
At the Moultrie Library on Thursday, the 25th, wonderful Stories by Josie will be told from 10 to 11 a.m. She is a fantastic storyteller and will have everyone mesmerized.
Then in the evening from 6 to 7 p.m., Just4Teens will meet for one more time to see "The Looney Librarian...Mr. Scott." You don't know what looney is until you've seen him!
If you haven't brought the kids to the library for summer fun, you still have time to join in. Believe me, they will enjoy everything the library has to offer them...from books to DVDs to good old-fashioned summer programs.
We'll be looking for you and the kids!!!!

Watch For Our Rotating Display Tables

Imagine my surprise when I opened the latest Coastal Living magazine and found an article about the author of the book I'm presently reading. The author is Dorothea Benton Frank, who wrote Sullivan's Island, as well as nine other books, the latest going on sale June 30th.
The article made me realize I have another few books to add to our "Beach Books" display, which you'll find in the aisle next to the reading area (the aisle that leads to the Children's Library).
Today our "Beach Books" include Cadillac Beach, Murder Down the Shore, The South Beach Diet, and An Access Guide to Florida's Sandy Beaches. These, of course, will change throughout the
summer.
We also have a bookcase display at the circulation counter titled "Hot Days, Cool Books." There are great titles for you to choose from, such as Escape from the Ice (for kids), Runs Cold, Hot Flashes and Cold Cream, Cold Mountain, and Exploring Our World: Polar
Regions.
And be sure to see the doll display in the glass cases at the front entrance. We have American Girl dolls, super hero dolls, Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, and many more. On a table near the display, you'll find interesting books about dolls...The Complete Books of Dolls, The Doll House Caper (a mystery for kids), Betty Doll (also for kids), and Dolly Departed (another mystery).
As July comes around, look for our July displays. We're planning a couple of good ones about baseball and freedom, and maybe even one about watermelons and ice cream.

The Bookmobile Is On The Summer Road Again

Sheila and Holly are on the road again with the Bookmobile and they're signing up children for the Summer Reading Fun Program. Once signed up, children receive a bag full of reading materials and can start counting the books they read during the summer. We're hoping they read tons of books.
Sheila said they have 50 children signed up so far, but it's still early. They've finished six routes and have a few more to go.
Their schedule reads like a road map and takes them all the way through July 27th. Look at the places they cover (and I'm going to give you the whole list):
Bay, Rosehill & Hartsfield
Culbertson
Berlin & Reedy Creek
Rockhill & Midway
Crosland & New Hope
Coolsprings & Ellenton
Centerhill & Hamilton
Doerun & Sigsbee
Sunset & Autreyville
Funston
Norman Park
Oakdale & New Elm.
If coming to the library is difficult for you and your children, and you're on one of these routes, and you still want to check out library books, call Sheila or Holly at 229-985-6540. They'll see about adding you to the route list.
And when you're on that list, it's like watching for the ice cream truck when you look for the red, white and blue Moultrie-Colquitt County Library's Bookmobile. Yummy things are inside!

Check Out This Week Of Children's Events

We're in the middle of our Summer Reading Fun Program with plenty of fun things left for the kids to do. Coming to the library when the weather is near 100 degrees seems the perfect thing to do. There are always lots of fun things to do at the library.
This evening in Moultrie from 6:30 to 7:30 at the library, the program will be by The Center for Wildlife Education and The Lamar Q. Ball, Jr. Raptor Center at Georgia Southern University. There's no doubt the kids will be fascinated by what they will see
and learn.
Wednesday, the 17th, at the Doerun Library, Master Storyteller Windell Campbell will give the kids stories to tickle their fancy and make them laugh. The time will be 3 to 4 p.m.
Then on Thursday, the 18th, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Moultrie Library, you'll need to come see our kids perform. The program is "Moultrie's Got Talent" and you're sure to be surprised at the great talent you'll see.
Also, that evening the Moultrie Library's Just4Teens will enjoy "Got Chocolate?" from 6 to 7 p.m.
Remember all the programs are free and open to the public. You just need to be on time and turn or or mute your cell phones.
Make this summer a memorable one for your kids...take them to the library. It's a good habit to begin.

Have You Started Your Summer Reading?

We've taken care of the kids for the month of June with all the programs that Miss Norma, our children's librarian, has come up with. Now we need to take care of the adults.
I checked over our new and bestseller racks to see what might be interesting for your summer reading. Are you ready?
In the romance section I found To Dream by Carolyn Brown. This is an Avalon romance and a Broken Roads romance. Romances are always a big summer hit...especially for the ladies.
One book I want to read is an Oprah book and New York Times Bestseller, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. I hear they're going to make it into a movie also.
Two well-known authors with books on our shelves are Mave Binchy with Heart and Soul and Pearl Cleage with Baby Brother's Blues, which is a New York Times Bestseller.
But I guess the most popular genre for any reading time is the cozy mystery, again mostly for ladies. The three I found just waiting to be read are Murder Takes The Cake by Evelyn David, Cream Puff Murder by Joanne Fluke, and Poisoned Tarts by G. A. McKevett. There were more, but for some reason I must have been hungry and these popped out at me.
Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin is a book you might want to pick if you have a middle-grader or teen and you'd like them to read this summer. Baskin's books are fun and crazy reading to be enjoyed especially by teens.
I also found a humorous memoir on the shelf by Philip Gulley. Just the name was funny. I Love You, Miss Huddleston, and Other Inappropriate Longings of My Indiana Childhood. That might have to be my next book to read. Of course, another memoir with some humor is by Bill O'Reilly titled A Bold Fresh Piece of
Humanity.
We have a large section of patrons who love Christian Fiction, especially Tales from Grace Chapel Inn. Two books on the shelf are Slices of Life by Judy Baer and Midsummer Melody by Rebecca Kelly. And there are even more Christian Fictions to select in the same section of shelf.
Of course, now and then I find books that are a little different. Today The Everything Chihuahua Book by Joan Walker took first place. Then Better by the Dozen Plus Two (from a family of sixteen) by James and Kathleen Littleton was my second one. And a book about a sobering piece of history, The Last Campaign (of Robert Kennedy) by Thurston Clarke, will make interesting reading.
That should get you started with your summer reading. I've picked out the three books I want to read from this list. Let's see who gets to them first.

A New (Old) Face To Help You With Your Summer Reading

It's not often we have a new employee. Our turnover is very small, because we have such a great place in which to work. But if you've been in the library lately, you've probably noticed the new face sitting at the circulation counter. Well, actually she's not a new face, but an old face.
Let me explain.
When Holly worked here a couple of years ago, she was part-time and finishing college. After graduating she needed to find a full-time job and left our library for the big town of Albany, where she went to work for the Albany Herald. Then she moved on to the Northwest Dougherty County Library where she was a library assistant.
But when our Spanish-speaking, self-professed "computer geek" Josh moved to Montana, our director contacted Holly for the bookmobile-circulation position that Josh vacated.
Now, Holly is back, not only as library help, but as a new bride, since she married Joe in April of this year.
When she's not working with Sheila, the bookmobile manager, she'll be at the circulation counter to help you.
So, welcome back, Holly. We're glad to see your face around here again.

Here's Another Week of Goodies For The Kids!

It's been so nice to hear the laughter from the kids who are coming in for the Summer Reading Fun Program.
This week promises to be just as great as last week, not only here at the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library, but at the Doerun Municipal Library.
Let me tell you what's going on.
This evening from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Moultrie Library, Sean Driscoll with Beathoven & the Big Note Band will be playing. Then on Thursday, the 11th, from 10 to 11 a.m. Miss Sally will be working with the kids in "Imagine, Create, Participate." And that evening from 6 to 7 p.m. Just4Teens will have a session of "Origami Dollars and Creating with Duct Tape."
In Doerun at the library from 3 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the 10th, the Curious Moon Puppet Theatre will present "The Princess & the Frog."
All these programs are free and open to the public. Our children's librarian, Miss Norma, has only two requests for those attending: Please be on time and turn or or mute your cell phones.
The kids can sign up for the Summer Reading Fun and receive free "Be Creative @ Your Library" materials and goodies.
So, there you are. Wonderful fun for youngsters, no matter what age! We'll look for you.

Summer Reading Fun Is Here!

You should see the line-up of events during June that our children's librarian, Miss Norma, has for all the kids.
Things start today when they will enjoy dancing, singing and cooking! Yep! That's right...cooking! Won't that tickle their imagination? I saw the peanut butter sushi! Yummy! And she's going to tell everyone how to bake a cake with only two ingredients.
The Summer Reading Fun Program is free and open to the public. All the programs are free. Now, where can you find a deal like that? Those attending (parents, included) need to be on time and turn off or mute their cell phones. The place fills up fast.
When the kids sign up for Summer Reading Fun from June 1st to 30th, they receive their free Be Creative @ Your Library materials and goodies. Miss Norma was signing up three little boys in the same family when I went to visit her a few minutes ago.
So, this evening from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. all the kids that show up are going to have a super-duper time dancing, singing and cooking! I bet they even get to eat something...probably that sushi!
These events aren't only at the Moultrie library. There will be events every Wednesday at the Doerun Municipal Library also. The time will be 3 to 4 p.m. The library is located at 185 North Freeman Street in Doerun.
In fact, tomorrow in Doerun, kids will be able to "Imagine, Create, Participate!" with Miss Sally. She's a well-known Moultrie artist, who loves to teach little children all the fun of art. She's the one with the big splash of blue in the front of her hair. Sure, you know
her!
Then on Thursday, June 4th, kids at the Moultrie library will enjoy the creativity of One Heart. I'm not going to tell you what that's about, but I think it has a banjo involved.
And there's something special the evening of the 4th called Just4Teens. It will be from 6 to 7 p.m. That's when everyone will see the wacky, high energy, juggling guy Todd Key. If you haven't seen him before, you better not miss this one. He's tooooo good
to miss!
That's all I'm going to tell you about right now. If you have children, the whole month of June is just for them at the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library. Each week will be something different and new.
It's time to sign them up now and let them Be Creative @ Your Library.