Ark Valley News - From the library

From the library
By Janice Sharp, director
Last Updated: February 05, 2015

Library's new Sat. hours start this week

The library will have a change in Saturday hours beginning Feb. 7. The new hours will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Board decided that patrons may prefer to begin their errands, including their library visits, earlier in the day. The change in the hours will be evaluated at the end of the year.

Do you have plans for Valentine's Day? If not, why not plan to attend the Bucky Fowler concert Valentine's Day at 7:30 p.m. at Le Venue. For tickets, call 755-SEAT. The Bucky Fowler Band and Southern Charm will provide great entertainment for your evening.

Since the recent upgrade to our Polaris automation system, we have found that some updating may be required to patron accounts. Some blocks and messages may appear when patrons are trying to utilize Ebooks. Please call the library for assistance.

The library has started a weekly gaming program from 4 to 5:30 p.m. each Friday for those in fifth grade through 12th grade. We were awarded funding for an Xbox 360 and some games through a grant several months ago. The library will reserve the right to pull kids from the games if their behavior is inappropriate. Parental permission forms are available.

The 2015 Adult Reading Challenge is well underway. The library is promoting an adult reading challenge that encompasses all of 2015. The challenge is for adults to read a minimum of 26 books in different categories. There are 50 categories to choose from allowing patrons to select from many possibilities. Once patrons have completed the required reading and returned their form, they will have their name entered for a drawing to be held Dec. 28. This will be a fun endeavor encouraging us to read materials we may not normally choose. There are forms and selections of titles on our display at the circulation desk. Materials may be chosen from any source, not just our library.

The committee for the potential combined facility met and chose the architectural firm Spangenberg Phillips Tice. The architectural firm will hold meetings with various organizations in the community to determine the wants and needs of each. The proposed facility would include the library, the senior center and the Community Building and would be located in Lions Park on the corner where the current Community Building sits.

What would you like to see in each area of the facility? Obviously some areas would be used by all organizations such as restrooms and a large meeting room. Please contact each organization and let them know what services you would like to have offered. This is your opportunity to have your voice heard. There will be several meetings in the next several weeks for individuals to express their ideas.

Thanks to our patrons for heeding our request to not come in while they had been ill. Please remain at home if you or your children are not feeling well. Our staff is small, and we always have at least two staff members in the building. Some years back, the library board determined that for the sake of staff safety, we should always have two staff in the building. If one of us gets sick, it's difficult to switch schedules to cover the library. We appreciate your understanding in not visiting the library when you have a temperature and may be contagious with a cold or flu virus. Call us; we'll gather materials you would like to check out and meet you at the curb.

Upcoming Events

February: Library lovers' month

Feb. 6 — Gaming time

Feb. 7 — New hours start

Feb. 9 — Library board meeting

Feb. 11 — Cintas, pick up shredding

Feb. 13 — Gaming time

Feb. 14 — Bucky Fowler Valentine's Day concert at Le Venue.