Closed for the holidays

     I always hate to say that...closed for the holidays.  It's hard for me to ever imagine a library being closed for anything.  Especially for the holidays.  But then, our staff needs time off just like others.  And being closed around Christmas time is probably the nicest time to be closed.
     But while we're closed I always wonder what those people will do who need to use our computers.  They're usually the ones who use the computer to job search, or do research for college classes, or just keep in touch with family and friends.
     I also wonder about those people who come to our library to get in out of the cold.  And it's been really cold lately for us Southern states.  The other day a staff member and I were talking about some of the homeless people who come to the library to get warm and get out of the cold wind.  They use our place as a refuge and even catch up on things they like to read.  I always wonder where they'll go while we're closed.
     Of course, there's been a great run on checking out books to read while we're closed.  Those items won't have to be returned until we reopen, so there's a nice long two weeks to read a stack of good mysteries, crime novels, or romances.
     And the children's books are going out in stacks also.  Especially the books about Christmas, Santa Claus, elves, and even the Grinch.
     So, let me tell you what the schedule will be.  The MCCLS libraries (includes the Doerun Library and the Odom Library) will be closed from Saturday, December 18th, at 5:30 p.m. until Monday, January 3, 2011 at the regular times (8:30 a.m. for headquarters and 2 p.m. for Doerun).
     Just writing 2011 looks strange, doesn't it?  However, after we're closed for the holidays that's the number we'll be using.
     I'd like to wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.  I hope all of you will be "open" for the wonderful opportunities that come your way in 2011.  And we'll be open for you also.  Happy holidays!