We're not just about books...

No indeedy! Of course, libraries have books...all kinds of books. But we're not just about books!
Have I ever told you about our additional services? That's right...additional services.
For instance, the library has Internet computers for public use. You must have a current library card, however, to use a computer. And you must follow ALL computer rules. Document printout is available at ten-cents per page. Now, that's not a bad deal.
Microsoft Word is available for public use also. Again, printouts are available for ten-cents a page.
We have a photocopy machine available and our staff is always ready to help you make copies. The charges for black and white copies are: 8-1/2x11 is ten-cents, 11x14 is 15-cents, and 11x17 is 20-cents.
We can make color copies for you also. The charges are: 8-1/2x11 is $1, 11x14 is $1.50, and 11x17 is $2. However, no professional prints can be copied.
There's laminating services available at ten-cents per inch. Laminating is done on Friday mornings. You can leave your materials at the front desk anytime and we'll have them back to you as quick as possible.
Meeting rooms are also available for your use free of charge for educational and civic groups. We do ask that you contact us as early as possible to make the reservations. That way our cleaning-setup crew can make sure the room is ready for you.
And we do have some sound and audio visual equipment available by reservation at no charge.
Lots of people ask us about two services we do not have: Fax and notary. There is no public fax service available. Notary service is available at most local banks.
Well, we hope this helps you know that we are a full-service library. We DO look forward to serving you.

The little people are coming to storytime

On Tuesday this week, the little people started coming to Miss Norma's storytimes.
At 9:15 the first group came. Sixty little people from Odom Pre-K; that was three classes of 20 each.
Right after them at 10 o'clock came two classes from Culbertson Headstart. And at 11 a.m. there was the Heritage PreK group.
It's nice to see the long strings of little people come through the library, heading toward the Children's Library. They're dressed in their T-shirts of yellow, red, orange, green, etc. They're holding hands or onto a colorful rope, or they walk with their hands together behind them, or stuffed into their pockets or mouths. They're little people; they do things like that.
Most of them are in awe of this great big high-ceilinged place. For many it's their first time here. They tend to look around while walking and sometimes walk into each other. Once in a while, someone gets frightened. After all, it is a big place and there are lots of other children from other schools and childcare facilities that they don't know. Life gets scarey sometimes. They even had a ride on a big yellow
bus.
But once they're back in the Children's Library, inside the Reading Garden's white picket fence, once they're sitting on the carpet, all lined up in rows, with their teachers sitting in chairs behind them...well, let's just say the show
begins.
Once Miss Norma begins her story, she keeps them interested. There's no telling what they'll do while visiting. Sometimes they sing, sometimes they do a little dance-in-place, but always they get right into her stories.
And before they leave, they all meet the Library Mouse. He has to say goodbye to each one, often touching the tops of their heads.
I counted 19 different groups that come to the library for the storytimes. However, the storytelling isn't just here in the library. Miss Norma also has her "traveling
storyimes."
Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for the rest of the month here at the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library you'll find little people coming for storytime.
Someday take the opportunity and stop by to watch these future library cardholders in their bright T-shirts as they do the long walk to the Children's Library. Honestly, they'll put a big smile on your face.

We have NOVELIST on GALILEO

I just learned about something really exciting...well, exciting for a person who loves to read books.
If you've read all the books by your favorite author and would like to know who writes like him/her, this is a database you will enjoy and appreciate.
We have on our library's home webpage the database GALILEO. Just go to GALILEO and search for NOVELIST on the "Databases A-Z" tab. The database deals only with fiction titles.
There are recommended reading lists in eleven different genres which can be searched by reading levels. You can search by author, title, or series. There also are lists of award winning books.
Each entry lists all of the information about the book (title, author, publication date, reading level, grade level, genre and writing style) along with a synopsis and reviews.
And there are book discussion guides for many novels that would aid teachers and members of book discussion
groups.
One of the most helpful areas of the database is the "Author Read-Alikes" section. This section recommends books by other authors who have similar writing styles, themes or genres to the author you are searching. This can be very helpful when you feel you have read all of the books by a particular author and need a recommendation for some other books.
Remember, just to go our library's home page of the website and click on the GALILEO icon. You'll have a great time.

10 simple things

As part of National Library Card Sign-up Month, the Georgia Public Library Service came up with "10 Simple Things...you can do to help your library." Why not see if there is anything on this list you can do?

1. Take a friend or relative - or even a class of youngsters - to the library. Show them what you most enjoy and offer to help them sign up for a library card of their own.
2. Consider a tax-deductible gift to your library. Libraries and library systems often have memorial programs and endowments that provide opportunities to support and improve library services.
3. Remember the library in your estate planning.
4. Sponsor a magazine subscription for the library or donate books - either to the library or to your local Friends organization to raise money for the library.
5. Volunteer your time. Opportunities could include delivering reading materials to shut-ins, helping children or teens with homework or being a reader to preschool children. Ask your library director or branch manager how you can best help.
6. Nominate your library as your community's, your company's or your school's project of the year.
7. Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper expressing how important the library is to you - and to your community.
8. Speak up for libraries at community groups that you belong to, such as the PTA, Chamber of Commerce, and others - even your book club! Invite your library director or branch manager to attend a meeting and talk about your library's services and its needs.
9. Attend a regular meeting of the city or county commission or other local funding agency and take the opportunity to thank its members publicly for supporting the library. Or send a short note to a council member to let them know how much you use and appreciate the library.
10. Develop a short "elevator speech" (just a sentence or two) that will help you quickly explain to others why libraries are more important than ever - and use it when you have an opportunity to encourage others to get involved.

The Moultrie-Colquitt County Library System thanks you in advance for doing these 10 simple things. You can help your library! (Source: Georgia Public Library Service, http://www.georgialibraries.org/)

We having a "red hot" September!

This is the month at Moultrie-Colquitt County Library when we have "The Hunt for Red September" going on. You're going to see "red" all around.

Our display table in the front foyer is covered with red-covered books such as:

• Jonathan Kellerman's "Bad Love"
• Terri Blackstock's "Cape Refuge" and
• Elizabeth Buchan's "Wives Behaving Badly," as well as
• books about depression glass, weight loss for men, and poems and fairy tales.

There are also red-covered audios such as:

• "High Profile" by Robert B. Parker
• "Bad Luck and Trouble" by Lee Child and
• "The Mephisto Club" by Tess Gerritsen.

The children's table has stacks of books to "Feed Your Reading Dragon" such as

• "Vulture View" by April Pulley Sayre
• "Squids Will Be Squids" by Jon Scieszka
• "Inside-Outside Dinosaurs" by Roxie Munro and
• "The Big Red Lollipop" by Rukhsana Khan.

Be sure you check out the lighted display cases. We've filled them with bright red things such as a chair, clothes, glassware, books, toys, flags, etc. All kinds of "red hot" things of interest.

The Smartest Card...what is it?

You can get the Smartest Card at your library.
It's your own personal library card.
Why do you need one? Well...

• Why buy when you can borrow? Your public library is a goldmine of books, magazines, movies, CDs and other great stuff.
• Make learning fun. Check out reading clubs, storyhours, movies and other free programs for kids and families.
• Free at your library. Most public libraries provide computers - and classes - for kids to use, mom and dad too.
• Keep kids reading. The more kids read, the better they do in school. Your library has something for every age and interest.
• Need homework help? Encourage your child to ask a pro - your librarian.
• Look, listen and enjoy. Borrow films and music for the whole family.
• Bring the whole family! How many places can you all enjoy together? For free!!!
• If you don't see it, ask! The library may be able to get it for you.
• It's never too late! Use the library 24/7 online.
• Remember, learning begins at home. See your library's parenting collection for tips on how you can be your child's first and best teacher.

National Library Card Sign-up Month is September. It's easy to get a your own personal card. All you need to do is come into the library and talk to one of the staff at the front desk. She will give you a form to complete. You'll need to bring a valid form of identification (driver's license, current phone bill, rent statement, etc.) that shows your mailing address. Students 17 or younger must have their parent's or guardian's signature in order to receive a card.

Sign up now. We'll be looking for you.

Why do you like the library?

I took a little walk through the library the other day and saw all the people who were visiting. It didn't take long for me to wonder what they like about our library, so I decided to take a small survey.
In the Willcoxon Auditorium two ladies were deep in discussion. I politely asked if I could intrude and ask a quick question. They politely told me yes. One lady said she liked the library because, "You allow us the space to have our meetings for the Colquitt County Retired Educators." The other lady said, "And because the library has a typewriter! And a paper cutter, too, and you let us use them." I never thought we're just about out of typewriters in this world. Two happy patrons.
In the foyer of the Odom Genealogical Library, I introduced myself to a young woman sitting on one of our three benches and asked why she liked the library. "It's quiet and easy to concentrate out here on the benches," she said. When I asked if she found it hard to concentrate in the adult reading area, she said no; she just liked it better on the foyer benches where she could see the plants in the atrium. Another happy patron.
In the genealogy library, I saw a woman who comes to the library every day to work on her genealogical projects. I knew why she liked the library.
But there was also a man sitting at a nearby table with books spread before him, the concentration line deep between his eyes. I quietly introduced myself and asked if he would tell me why he likes the library. He said, "The library." He explained he drives from Bridgeboro, about 25 miles away, only once a month. Since he didn't have the time to come more often, he spends about four or five hours each time on his research. He had a big smile. A happy
patron!
In the public library I saw a tiny woman standing at the VHS-DVD counter. When I asked her my question, she said she liked the old movies, like the classics that you can't get at the video stores. She said she homeschooled her children and the entire family liked to watch the old movies together in the evenings. She especially liked the fact that the movies were free with her library card. Ah! Another happy
patron!
As I turned to go back to the office, I noticed a woman sitting on one of the two couches in the adult reading area. She was reading a magazine. When I asked her why she liked the library, she said she liked the ladies at the circulation counter, because they were so helpful in finding her the books she wanted to read. She said she comes every day to the library, almost every week, with her boyfriend and, while he works at a computer, she sits and reads. She gave me a big smile also. Need I say "happy
patron"?
I talked with only five people. They all liked the library. They didn't just pop in and out; they stayed for a while.
Do you like the library? Do you visit often? Do you have a library card?
September is National Library Card Sign-up Month. Why not get a library card if you don't have one and let us know why you like the library.