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.