This Is Just One Of Those Days...

Yep! This is just one of those days. . .when things are whirling around in my head and I can't begin to think of one single thing to write about for this blog.
Actually, things aren't whirling around only in my head! It's all over the library! The whirling things, I mean. And there's more than one single thing to tell you about.
We have had crews here inside the library doing maintenance (like new, long light bulbs in the ceiling and small, candle-like bulbs in the atrium's chandelier) and housekeeping (like dusting all the ceiling fans and cleaning scuff marks off the baseboards). We have had all the plants in the foyers repotted and their leaves dusted. We have polished, straightened and freshened up everything we can see. I just don't know what more can be left to do.
What's all this whirling about? you ask. (Did you really ask that?)
Well, we are one day away from the beginning of our 100-Year Celebration, and we are anxious and excited and in a big whirl trying to get things ready for you to come see us. You know how that is. It's like you do when you know that the relatives are coming for the big family reunion, or when you get ready to host your lovely daughter's wedding shower, or when it's time to get ready for grandma's annual two-month stay.
Everything has to be sparkling clean and fresh smelling and just downright beautiful.
So, when you come visit us, it's a time we want you to really look at the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library and see how lovely it looks after months of renovating and upgrading and updating. Be sure to sit on the new benches in the genealogy foyer. Take a peek inside the Odom Genealogy Library and see how large it is now and bright and cheerful. Check out the comfortable new furniture in the reading area. Pay attention to all the interesting displays throughout the library.
And when you get to the Children's Library, take a seat on one of the bright, colorful couches and just let your eyes roam around the room. Imagine how the children feel when they come to this magical place, this whole big library, and hear stories by the children's librarian. Imagine how they feel when they get their first library card.
My mother read to me from the time I was a little bitty girl. She gave me a love for books and reading. I never dreamed I'd get to work in such a great place.
If you ever find me, I'll be glad to take you on a tour and show you why we are so excited about having our 100-year celebration.
I just remembered that saying I used to hear. . ."We've come a long way, baby." Do people still say that? We do! We are so proud to be 100 years old!
There! I didn't do so bad after all for not having one single thing to write about!

Two More 100-Year Celebration Events You Need To Know About!

It's only three more days until our 100-Year Celebration Month begins. And today I want to tell you about two more events that are coming.
On Thursday, May 22, from 6 to 8 p.m., Reading Rocks will be held for students in grades 6 through 12. Our local band Quarter After Disorder will play for the kids. Many of you know the band members: Owen Blank, guitar/vocalist; Brandon Plymel, saxophone; Ariel Whitaker, vocalist; Adam Eubanks, bass guitar; Morgan Castellow, drums; and Mark Hannon, sound technician. Tickets will be handed out at the door for a slice of pizza and a soft drink, as well as for door prizes! It's an event the kids won't want to miss. Remember, you have to let us know you're in grades 6 through 12 in order to get in. Library staff members and friends are looking forward to joining in with the fun.
The last of the 100-Year Celebration events will actually be held on Monday, June 2. Family Movie Night will be in the Bert Harsh Park from 8:40 p.m. to about 10:15 p.m. The movie, "Horton Hears A Who," will delight all ages and refreshments will be available for purchase. Be sure to dress comfortably and bring a lawn chair or blanket for an evening of outdoor fun.
I guess I could say that our family movie night is also the kickoff of our Summer Reading Program, because the very next day, Tuesday, June 3, it begins. But I'll tell you about that another day.
Y'all come see us now during our 100-Year Celebration! We're looking forward to seeing you!

More 100-Year Celebration Events!

I told you we have lots of events planned for our 100-Year Celebration during May! Now, here are three more...
On Tuesday, May 13, at 10 a.m., Clifford The Big Red Dog will be here. For those of you who don't know who Clifford is, let me tell you.
Clifford was the runt of the litter and was chosen by a city kid named Emily Elizabeth Howard as her birthday present. No one expected Clifford to grow, but Emily Elizabeth's love for her tiny red puppy changed Clifford dramatically. Before long, he was over 25 feet tall, forcing the Howard family to leave the city and move to the open spaces of Birdwell Island.
Clifford The Big Red Dog, written by Norman Bridwell, is an enduring American children's book series first published in 1962.
Children from all over everywhere have been invited to join Clifford as he celebrates our 100 years of service to the community of Moultrie, Georgia and surrounding areas.
As part of the children's celebration, there will also be a Tuesday evening event (same date...May 13) from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. here at the library. We're having a party, and children and their parents are invited to attend.
For both of these events, the children's librarian, Miss Norma, is asking that you let us know you're coming. Just call 985-6540! Thanks!
Another special event to be held on May 21 from 10 a.m. until Noon will be our Community Elders' Tea. This will be a time when the senior members of our community (we call them "wisdom warriors") will be honored. Light refreshments will be provided and our Hundred-Year-Old Librarian will help us celebrate the day.
Well! What do you think about that? Wonderful events for people from pre-school age to our wisdom warriors! And all in between.
There will be something here during the month of May for all of you. Come celebrate with us!

We Are One Week Away And Counting Down!

This is a very exciting time for us here at the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library. Once before (maybe even more!), I told you about our upcoming 100-Year Celebration. So, we are one week away and counting down to the month of May and a whole lot of
events.
On Friday, May 2, we will have our kickoff celebration. Special invitations were mailed to local dignitaries asking them to join us for a Come & Go Luncheon, and the response has been tremendous.
During the luncheon, the winners of our Logo Contest will be announced and prizes will be awarded. Before long, the whole community will see a brand new logo for the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library System on our stationery, bookmarks, flyers, pencils and pens, and even our tee-shirts.
On Tuesday, May 6, an Authors' Tea will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Willcoxon Auditorium at the library and the public is invited. Patrons will have the opportunity to meet several area authors, including Jackie K. Cooper, Jack Hadley, Buddy McCoy, Josh Nobles, James K. Taylor, Marsha Carol Watson, Gary Wilde, Dr. Charles "Pedro" Williams, and Dr. Michael Helms. And there will be more attending!
But I have to tell you, of all the people I'm dying to meet, it's our 100-year-old librarian! She has promised us some interesting stories. And she will be at all the events.
I'm planning on telling you more as the week goes along. Keep your eyes on the Bookworm Blog, 'cause it only gets better!

Today Is Teen Literature Day

The number and variety of books available for teens to read today is dizzying.
According to the Cooperative Children's Book Center, nearly 5,000 titles are published each year for children and teens. When I was a teenager, there were only about 1,000 titles published a year for young people, and not many of those were for teens.
Parents tell me it has been a challenge for them to find books for their teenagers that are both interesting to teens, as well as suited to their age and to their family's values. That is partly because bookstores only carry a small segment of what is actually in print for teens. While it is true that there are a few books out there for teens that have stirred up controversy, there are also thousands that are interesting, well written and age appropriate.
How do you find them? Ask your local librarian! If you haven't stopped by your library in a while, it is definitely worth the
trip.
Take a moment today, April 17, which is Support Teen Literature Day, and explore all there is to offer in the world of books for teens. Here at the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library we have a good many books that may interest your teen. They can be located in the long, low bookcases that face the Fiction Section stacks.
You may also want to visit www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists for lists of recommended reading created by the Young Adult Library Services Association. With so many books out there for teens today, there is no reason for them to be reading something that is not the perfect fit for them and their families.

Outdated Comments and Forgotten Books

Are any of you old enough to remember these comments?

• Be sure and refill the ice trays; we're going to have company tomorrow.
• Don't forget to wind the clock before you go to bed.
• There's a dollar in my purse. Go by the service station and get five gallons of gas before you leave town.
• No! I don't have five cents for you to go to the show. Do you think money grows on trees?
• If you get a spanking in school and I find out about it, you're going to get another one when you get home.
• It is "Yes, Sir" and "No, Sir" to me and your elders, and don't you forget it!
• Quit slamming that screen door!
• Take that empty bottle to the store with you so you won't have to pay a deposit on another one.

Not all of the comments are outdated, as far as I'm concerned. Especially the "Yes, Sir" and "No, Sir." My brother still takes a wind-up clock with him when he goes hunting for several days. And I haven't forgotten my mama telling me to stop slamming that screen door or about the spanking.

Of course, working in a library makes me wonder how most things relate to books. The comments made me wonder if there are books in our library people have forgotten. So, I took one of my little tours to look for such books. And I found them:

• Sword and Scalpel - Frank G. Slaughter
• Ann Landers Talks to Teen-agers - Ann Landers
• Moll Flanders - Daniel Defoe
• 'Twix Twelve and Twenty - Pat Boone
• The Tall Ships - John Jennings
• A Certain Evil - David Kraslaw & Robert S. Boyd
• Something Happened - Joseph Heller
• Trixie Belden and the Black Jacket Mystery - Kathryn Kenny
• Odd Girl Out - Elizabeth Jane Howard
• The Day Miss Bessie Lewis Disappeared (A Crime Club Selection) - Doris Miles Disney

I even took one of the books back to the office with me: Travels with My Aunt by Graham Greene. Looked pretty interesting.

You should see all the books that people seem to have forgotten. They're in our "sale books" and should be rescued by people who love to read. They're in the long, low bookcases facing the reading area. Hardbacks cost anywhere from 25 cents to $1.00; paperbacks cost only 10 cents.

Rescue a good read today and keep it from being forgotten, because books are never outdated!

We've Made A Start In Our Walk to Las Vegas!

Hanging on the break room door here at the library is our map to Las Vegas. Eleven staff members are signed up for the long hike. The anonymous names they've selected couldn't be more strange than our desire to walk all that way to Las Vegas. Names like Kestral, Valen Aklason, Sunflower, On the Road Again, and Lulu are lined up down the sheet of legal size paper. Across the top of the paper are the dates we are to record our weekly miles.
We recorded our first miles on April 9. The last date to record will be August 6, unless we get to Las Vegas before then.
When I went back to the break room today to tally up the miles, I came up with 120 miles for our first week. That's a tiny dent in the 2,119 total miles we have to go. But apparently, we have a long time to hike.
Did I tell you that we will have exercised 42,380 minutes to get to Las Vegas just by walking? My friend told me her ped-o-meter (as she calls it) will be broken by then.
Wish us luck! And wish us lost pounds in our long hike to become more healthy than we already are.
I just might get a new pair of tennis shoes for myself.