Now, What Would You Expect On Halloween From A Bookworm?

I heard of something sooooo cute for Halloween! Carolyn, who works in processing, told me that her church holds on Halloween what they call, "Trunk and Treat." She said church members put their cars in a circle at the church and open their trunks-full of treats for all the little kids! Now, isn't that just about the best Trick or Treating you ever heard!
And I have to tell you this. . .the other day my coworker sent me an email. She was out of town and found some funnies to share. I just have to pass them on to you. Remember now, this IS Halloween!

• What do skeletons say before they begin dining? Bone appetite!
• What does a ghost eat for lunch? A BOO-logna sandwich.
• Where do ghosts buy their food? At the ghost-ery store.
• What does a skeleton order at a restaurant? Spare ribs.
• What do ghosts eat for dinner? Spookgetti.
• What do zombies like to eat at a cook-out? Halloweenies.
• What do you call a goblin who gets too close to a bonfire? A toasty ghosty.
• Why don't mummies take vacations? They're afraid they'll relax and unwind. (I really like this one!)
• Why don't angry witches ride their brooms? They're afraid of flying off the handle.
• What's a monster's favorite play? Romeo and Ghouliet.
• What's the ratio of a pumpkin's circumference to its diameter? Pumpkin Pi.
• How do you mend a broken Jack-O-Lantern? With a pumpkin patch!

Now, that wasn't so bad, was it? Better than a knock on the head, I always say. By the way, are you dressing up for Halloween? I am. I'm going to be a butterfly and look at the books from another angle! That's what bookworms do. . . .

We'll Treat You Like Royalty!

There's a newsletter put out for friends and employees of Georgia's public libraries. We get it here at our library. It's published bi-monthly by the Georgia Public Library Service, the state agency that supports public libraries and works with them to improve the quality and variety of library services available to Georgia citizens of all ages. That means YOU!
The October issue highlighted the Ellen Payne Odom Genealogical Library as one of the three libraries in Georgia that reign as "the Georgia public library system's genealogical crown jewels." Now, to those of us who work for the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library System (of which the Odom Library is a part), that just made our eyes sparkle!
The article stated that the Odom Library, "founded a scant 17 years ago, is a relative newcomer to the spotlight." Director Melody Jenkins stated: "Prior to 1990, we had a small Georgia history collection -- maybe 2,000 volumes. It was so small, my office used to be the history room!" When Mrs. Odom's bequest of $1 million was received, the south wing of the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library, which became the Odom Library, was built to house several collections, including the Emmett Lucas Collection. Mr. Lucas of Southern Historical Press was planning to retire, and he was interested in selling his collection about the southeastern United States, the Civil War and migration routes west.
Melody Jenkins said, "We purchased it as a whole, quadrupling the size of our collection in the process."
The collection took another giant leap in 1994 when the local high school's Class of 1944 held a reunion in honor of the 50th anniversary of D-Day and invited everyone who had graduated within four years of 1944 to attend and bring pictures related to their or their loved ones' armed service. The majority of this material was copied, the information identified, and placed in the library. That collection became the Veterans' History Project and was recently named for Catherine Bryant, who began her career with the library in 1944 and took over the project.
In addition to these collections, the library is perhaps most famous for its collection concerning Scottish genealogy. According to Ann Glass, genealogy clerk, the Odom Library is the archival home for more than 130 Scottish clan organizations, and houses many rare books including an original edition of Scottish Perrage, as well as The Highland Papers, and several Gaelic Bibles.
Genealogist Irene Godwin notes that American highlights at the Odom Library include original bound volumes of The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, as well as colonial and state records for both Georgia and North Carolina, and historical records from many counties in Texas.
Melody Jenkins also said, "The Odom Library has earned an approved attraction rating from the American Automobile Association, which features the library in its AAA Tour Guides for Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina.
If you're out there, somewhere other than Moultrie, Georgia, and you're interested in genealogy and you haven't been to the Odom Genealogical Library, now's the time to make the trip. We draw local, regional, and worldwide visitors. All the time! Come be one of them!
We'll treat you like royalty! After all, we're a crown jewel of genealogy libraries! (Source: Georgia Public Library Service)

Will You Make A Difference?

Saturday, October 27th, is Make A Difference Day.
What is Make A Difference Day? you ask. Well, it's a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. And everyone can participate.
Created by USA WEEKEND Magazine, Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. In 2005, 3 million people cared enough about their communities to volunteer on that day, accomplishing thousands of projects in hundreds of towns.
Who takes part in Make A Difference Day? you ask. Anyone! Young and old, individuals and groups, anyone can carry out a volunteer project that helps others. It might be as ambitious as collecting truckloads of clothing for the homeless, or as personal as spending an afternoon helping an elderly neighbor or relative. Your project can be as large or as small as you wish! Look around your community and see what needs to be done.
If you're reading this blog, that means you have access to a computer. If you'll go to http://usaweekend.com/diffday/aboutmadd.html you'll find all the information you need to participate. And you'll find that each year in April, hundreds of good deeds done on Make A Difference Day are selected for honors, headlines and charitable donations.
What are the rules to participate in the Make A Difference Day event? you ask. If you want to participate, just help someone else on Saturday, October 27th. If you can't participate on Saturday for religious reasons, you may do your project on Sunday. If you volunteer regularly, great! On Make A Difference Day, expand your volunteering by creating a special event for those you help. If you don't volunteer now, here's an occasion for you to get started. Clean an elderly neighbor's house, read a book to someone, visit institutionalized kids or the elderly. Join in someone else's project. Help at the community soup kitchen or food bank, help paint a house or clean a yard. Get a group of your friends together to hand-deliver food to homeless people or a shelter. Take first graders who don't have a library card to the library to get one.
If you participate but don't send in an entry form, you can't be considered for the awards and can't be counted among the millions of people who simultaneously reach out to help others. So, go to the above website and click on Entry Form and sign up.
What are you going to do for Make A Difference Day? you ask. Well, I'm volunteering to take care of any of my neighbors cats while they are out of town for the holidays, or if they need to go to the hospital, or if they just want a weekend away from them. And I'm going to continue to check on my 82-year-old neighbor, invite her to eat out or to lunch at my place, or just sit on the porch and talk with her. That way my Make A Difference Day will last all year! Make a difference on Saturday the 27th and stretch it into all year. It'll warm your heart! (Source: Make A Difference Day website)

United Nations Day. . .Should It Be Every Day?

Today, by my calendar, is United Nations Day.
The name United Nations was devised by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was first used in the Declaration by United Nations of January 1, 1942, during the Second World War, when representatives of 26 nations pledged their governments to continue fighting against the Axis Powers (at that time, the Major Axis Powers were Nazi Germany, Facist Italy, and Imperial Japan).
I could tell you all about how on April 25, 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco to draw up the United Nations Charter on International Organization. But I won't. I'll just tell you that these earnest individuals were "determined to set up an organization which would preserve peace, advance justice, and constitute a permanent structure for international cooperation."
They signed the Charter on June 26, 1945. And Poland, which was not represented at the conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51 Member States.
On October 24, 1945, with flags of all the nations flying together, the United Nations officially came into existence. And the chief observance of the United Nations was designated as October 24th of each year.
By 1956, the American committee for the United Nations promoted the celebration of United Nations week. The official American Association for the United Nations sent out information and suggestions for programs, requesting the people help the United Nations promote a peaceful future.
United Nations Day is celebrated very generally in all states and American possessions and by all 81 countries, which are members of the United Nations, for the purpose of informing the people of the world as to the aims, purposes and achievements of the UN. Some towns hold a public rally, perhaps at the City Hall, with the American flag displayed with the flag of the United Nations. Speakers stress the accomplishments of the organization. Some shop windows feature products and dress of other lands. Some towns put on an "International Festival" with songs and dances. Maybe a banquet with foreign dishes is held at a local church.
Once a year we designate a day to promote peace. Once a year we set aside one day, one week, where different nationalities, with different religions and colors, plan to come together and celebrate a peaceful coexistence.
A peaceful coexistence. . . . Why just one day? Why can't we plan to do this every day for a whole year? Why can't we plan to do this every year, all year long? Why do we have to plan for it? Why can't we just do it?
When are we going to learn that we all have the same feelings of pride in our traditions, the same hurt at being ignored or abused, the same desires for a safe home and good job, the same love for our families? When are we going to realize that we are all alike, no matter what our nationality, religion, or color?
Why just one day, one week out of the whole year? Why not united nations all the time? What have we done lately to preserve peace, advance justice, and constitute a permanent structure for international cooperation? Maybe United Nations Day should be every day! (Sources: United Nations Day websites at www.un.org, www.patriotism.org)

Early Physicians Still Live Here

Sometimes it's hard to stay out of the Ellen Payne Odom Genealogy Library.
Ann, our genealogy clerk, showed me an interesting article the other day and said, "This newspaper clipping talks about a record book of early physicians and dentists in Moultrie. There's a copy of the book, Superior Court Physicians Register 1886-1966, on file in the genealogy library. When I looked through it, I saw we still have some early physicians living here."
The article dated November 28, 1941, talked about "the little well worn record book in which early physicians and dentists were required to register in the office of Clerk Superior Court. It also serves as a valuable recorded history of this great community."
So, I decided to go to the genealogy library and take a peek at this book.
Ann took a minute to put the film in the reader and spun the wheels for me. Lo and behold, there ARE two physicians still living here whose names we recognized in the little well worn record book. . .Dr. Walter E. Harrison and Dr. John Newton!
The newspaper article of 1941 mentioned the name of J. S. McKenzie who registered here March 3, 1892. Also Dr. C. C. Fletcher came to Moultrie from Fitzgerald during the naval stores and lumber days. He registered here in February of 1900. The writer of the newspaper article promised to talk about another local physician in the next installment of these authentic historical records. I think I'll have to go back and see who is mentioned.
If you have an interest in the history of our medical community, ask Ann to show you these records. They are a fascinating read. (Source: Superior Court Physicians Register 1886-1966)

Today In History

On October 23, 1983, terrorists drove a truck loaded with TNT into the U.S. and French headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, exploding it and killing 241 U.S. Marines and 58 French paratroopers. (Source: The History Place at www.historyplace.com)

Technology Lunch Bunch Meets Tuesday, October 23rd

Did you get to go to the first meeting of the Technology Lunch Bunch? If you didn't, you missed some important information about how to check on your children's school work. But you're going to have another chance to join us and this time it's for genealogy.
The Technology Lunch Bunch, sponsored by the library, will hold its second meeting on Tuesday, October 23rd, in the library's Willcoxon Auditorium. And this program is really user-friendly. It will be held two times on the 23rd; one meeting from noon to 1 p.m. and the second meeting from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. So, you have no excuse about not being able to attend. Besides, you really don't want to miss this one!
Aileen McNair will present the 30 to 40 minute program, Free Online Genealogy Databases. She is a DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Field Genealogist and a Library Information Specialist at the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library.
The program will explore several FREE online genealogy databases that anyone with a computer and Internet access can use. (If you don't have a computer at home, you can use one of the library's computers by just showing your library card at the circulation desk.) Participants will preview the Odom Genealogy Library website, as well as the websites of World Connect, GenForum, and Family Search. They will also discuss how to use search engines as an aid to genealogical research.
After the presentation session, participants will be able to spend 20 to 30 minutes online with the presenter available to help explore the resources previously introduced.
If you're BIG into genealogy and want to know more about research, or if you're just starting your genealogy tracking, this is the meeting for you. Aileen's got loads of neat ideas to help you!!! And a major bonus of this meeting is that it's FREE! Another service provided by your local library. See you there!