SC DNR at Calhoun County Library

 The Summer Reading Program is winding down at the Calhoun County Library, but it was still in full swing when representatives from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources engaged older children with experimental archaeology and little ones enjoyed a dinosaur-themed puppet show! Thursday, July 23, 2026, children of all ages were having fun at the library!

For ages 5 and under, the staff at the Calhoun County Library presented a rendition of Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems. We were greeted by a momma dinosaur, a daddy dinosaur, and “some other dinosaur who was visiting from Norway” who were all trying to set a trap to catch a snack. They set the trap inside their house and left it unlocked for easy access. A sassy little girl named Goldilocks appeared and seemed to be completely carefree. She found the door unlocked and barged right into the house. She was lured by the trap of delicious chocolate pudding and ate until she was miserable and sleepy. As the dinosaurs phrased it, she was “like a chocolate filled bonbon!” After finding the oversized beds, she realized that this house did not belong to bears. It belonged to a family of dinosaurs! She ran out of the house screaming and we all learned a lesson from the moral of the story. Special thanks to Mrs. Mary Jo Springs for helping out with the puppets!

While the puppet show entertained the younger children, representatives from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources engaged the older kids with a hands-on STEM activity. Participants constructed a simple bow drill using popsicle sticks, string, and wooden skewers. By moving the string up and down, the center skewer rotated, allowing them to drill a hole through a piece of Smarties candy. This activity demonstrated how a bow drill works and illustrated the type of tool archaeologists use to collect and analyze artifacts during fieldwork. It was a fun, educational workshop.

Everyone who attended these programs shared plenty of laughs, learned something new, and, most importantly, had fun. The activities combined education with entertainment, creating memorable experiences for participants of all ages. 

This event was made possible with the support from the South Carolina State Library and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.⁠ We would also like to thank the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for coming to put on this program and teach for our Summer Reading Program!

Hatching Dinosaurs

            We had an adventurous time with The Story Ship at the Calhoun County Museum on Thursday, July 16, 2026, for our Summer Reading Program. A baby dinosaur hatched, and we were able to help find its mother by using fossils to save humanity!

The Story Ship is a new program to join our Summer Reading Program and they did not disappoint! The entire show was active, entertaining, and full of crowd-participation. As the world was ending at 10:30 AM, the children were engaged with helping scan fossils and figuring out the difference between all the dinosaurs that once lived around the baby dinosaur egg. It was amazing!

Porkchop Productions Dinosaur Sighting

            The Calhoun County Library I partnership with the Calhoun County Museum to host a fan-favorite group last week: Porkchop Productions. The stage was full of jokes, laughs, and lessons!

On Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 10:30 AM, Porkchop Productions put on a rendition of a classic fable but with a Summer Reading Program twist. Dinosaur, Dinosaur, Wolf! is The Boy Who Cried Wolf, made specifically for the topic of our theme “Unearth A Story.” Same story, just more dinosaurs, teeth, scales, and attitude! Jamie, the main character, is a bit of a prankster who likes to joke around to get attention. One day, they find out that dinosaurs are running rampant in an archeological dig site and that is the BEST way to get attention! That is, until no one believes a word coming out of their mouth!

We don’t want to give away too much, but the performance was very fun and full of laughter. It taught us all that honesty is always the best policy. What happens if a dinosaurs shows up and no one believes you because you lie too much? That’s not good!

We will say that the hit of the show was when the old professor came out at the end and started to dance to “Walk the Dinosaur” by Was (Not Was)! It was absolutely hilarious!

Bones and Stones Science Camp

            The Calhoun County Library had an exciting week exploring stones and bones digging deep into archeology and paleontology for the 2026 Science Camp! The students were able to look at the basics of human and plant life in unified stories of bones and stones. There were class discussions, hands on demonstrations, and a real-life simulated archeological excavation!

Science Camp started on Monday, June 22, 2026, and went all week through Friday, June 26, 2026. Each class lasted approximately an hour. They were for ages 8 - 14. Dr. Lesa Rice-Jackson, a retired chemist, used her previous experience to teach this class everything she knew about the study of archeology and paleontology.

Day One, we learned about room safety, student tool safety, and how to properly set-up a laboratory notebook (including a few dinosaur doodles). Once the notebooks were finished, we began learning about the terms we would be using all week. They included taphonomy, archeology, paleontology, and fossil. Then it was time for the activity! The class was assigned to groups to create the timeline of the earth. Students designed cards about the world’s beginning 4.6 billion years ago, when the first complex life started at 541 million years ago, and when the dinosaurs went extinct 66 million years ago. It was beautiful to watch everyone help put together the timeline!

Day Two of Science Camp was about ancient bones. We find records of human and animal bones in museums and schools. These bones are used to study human and animals and how they lived. Dinosaurs are the same way! Dinosaur fossils are the most exciting of all! They teach us about a time when these giant creatures roamed the Earth. After watching a few short videos on fossils, and different types of dinosaurs, each scientist got to choose a dinosaur to design. They began with a blank cardboard cutout of any type they wanted (raptor, t-rex, etc.) and started drawing what they wanted them to look like. They added scales, teeth, and funny eyes. One young lady even added lipstick on hers! Dr. Lesa Rice-Jackson wanted to make sure the dinosaur facts stuck in the heads of our paleontologists, so she had them also write a couple of facts on the back of their dinosaurs. It was brilliant watching both their creative, analytical brains remember such interesting details, like a t-rex had a bite force of 8,000 pounds!

Day Three was all about excavation. We learned to use all the proper tools: hammer, chisel, and brush. After going over the important safety procedures, it was time to begin chipping away at clumps of clay. All of our archeologists were stunned and excited to find glass, stones, and even coins from other countries! We watched closely as all of the students used scientific techniques to retrieve the artifacts from the clay.

Day Four, another professional arrived to educate and demonstrate us. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources came to simulating a hands-on dig! The students got real collection bags that stated the date, dig site, and how far down the artifact was found. They used the tools from the day prior and began excavating until they revealed pieces of plates and bowls. In a real dig, these pieces would tell the archeologists about the people that lived there. The process encouraged the students to want to learn even more about how it would be as a career!

On our final day, we had to celebrate all the hard work that went into the week. Each student received a certificate for attending Science Camp; a few students accepted special awards such as best dinosaur, best field technician, and best excavator. Our students presented a few facts they learned throughout the week and a group picture was taken to commemorate an excellent time together!

This Science Camp has been one of the most exciting that we have had so far. We learned much more than we could write about, and we know our little scientists ‘dug’ it! We can’t wait until next year!

Runaway Scales at the Library

            Scaly, creepy critters made their way into the Calhoun County Library to continue the excitement for our Summer Reading Program last week. A very special visitor, a Hydrosaurus weberi, named Ashes, broke free and led staff on a chase around the building. She was exploring our stacks and looking for something nice to read! Maybe she was searching for books on her dinosaur relatives.

Critter Keeper, the brave man with all these amazing animals, did two shows on Thursday, June 25, 2026. Both were PACKED! In total, over 310 people watched the shows with amusement, lessons, and thrills.

To kick things off, the Critter Keeper challenged people to Mr. Beasley, his friendly bearded dragon. Some attendees eagerly accepted the challenge, others hesitated before bravely reaching out, and a few opted to skip the petting, something the Critter Keeper graciously allowed.

Once the show started and everyone was in the seats, with the scaredy-cats in the back, patrons were able to see animals they never would in St. Matthews. There were giant African millipedes, cane toads from South America, and a Mexican beaded lizard, just to name a few. Each and every animal that was brought out created a crowd reaction that was exciting to witness. Screams and laughs filled the library with every new animal.

Then it was time for crowd participation! The Critter Keeper choose a child from the audience to read out a sticker that stated “I held a tarantula.” Some of those kids got super excited and were ready to hold a giant spider for the first time in their life and others were terrified! However, after talking about being brave, every person went through with it. They conquered their fear and held Cookie, the tarantula. Then, each child got to choose an adult to hold the adult-sized spider, a pinkfoot goliath birdeater. This spider was much bigger. At one point, the spider even jumped off the person onto the ground in an attempt to run away!

This wasn’t the end of the crowd participation though. At the very end of the show, the Critter Keeper choose seven people to help hold the main event: Julius Squeezer, a 50 pound albino boa constrictor. Picking him up took strength and bravery. This was the perfect photo opportunity for all as they held the massive snake that was stretched across their bodies!

We are only three weeks into the Summer Reading Program here at the Calhoun County Library. Looking forward, we have Porkchop Productions (Thursday, July 9, 2026) and a brand-new, never performed for us before, Story Ship (Thursday, July 16, 2026)!

Also, don’t forget! The library is offering FREE lunches every Thursday in June and July to anyone under 18, FREE crafts and snacks to program attendees, and FREE 100% fun while the summer lasts!

This event couldn’t have been possible without the support from the South Carolina State Library and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Summer Reading Program Tim Sonefelt at CCL

            The Calhoun County Library is THE happening place this summer! The Summer Reading Program is in full swing. The Kickoff two weeks ago was a huge success and a hard act to follow, however, it looks like we did it!

Last week, magician and storyteller, Tim Sonefelt performed in front of a full house. There were 186 audience members in attendance! On Thursday, June 18, 2026, Tim performed a number of magic tricks with young assistance from the audience. He amazed the audience with just enough slight-of-hand to keep everyone guessing. He told stories with the help of his puppet friend Larry, the talking duck. Larry helped Tim talk about dinosaurs and books about dinosaurs that were available in the library. While Tim and Larry were ‘quacking’ jokes, they also promoted the excellent series of books called “How Do Dinosaurs…?” The series helps children understanding things like cleaning the room, bathing, and saying good night. Everyone loved Tim’s show so much that the library has already invited him back next year.

This was the very first show performed on the library’s new stage. It was awesome, as everyone in the room could see Tim’s performance. The library will, in the coming years, present many more youth and adult programs designed to bring music, literature, and entertainment to Calhoun County.

We are only two weeks into the Summer Reading Program here at the Calhoun County Library. Looking forward, we have Critter Creeper (Thursday, June 25, 2026), Porkchop Productions (Thursday, July 9, 2026), and a brand-new, never performed for us before, Story Ship (Thursday, July 16, 2026)!

Don’t forget! The library is offering FREE lunches every Thursday in June and July to anyone under 18, FREE crafts and snacks to program attendees, and FREE 100% fun while the summer lasts!

Tea with T-Rex Event

            Have you ever thought about having a fancy tea party with a dinosaur? We did! Since our Summer Reading Program theme, Unearth a Story, is based on dinosaurs and paleontology, we decided to have a tea party with T-Rex!

In the book Tea Rex by Molly Idle, a charming dinosaur joins a traditional tea party, where they discuss familiar topics like the weather and their gardens. We knew we had to create an event inspired by this delightful story! Participants enjoyed a dinosaur-themed tea party on Monday, June 15, 2026, that brought the book to life while celebrating imagination, storytelling, and a little prehistoric fun.

Our tables were set with lace table runners, tea cups and saucers, fresh flowers, and tea party decorations. As guests entered the tea room, they received charming little fascinators to clip into their hair. Tea and lemonade were served from porcelain teapots decorated with flowers, bunnies, and teddy bears, creating an elegant tea party atmosphere. Guests also enjoyed a variety of treats, including macarons, cupcakes, wafer cookies, and miniature sandwiches. While children enjoyed snacks, we read Tea Rex aloud and our very own T-Rex named Tina joined the tea party, too. Tina even wore a hat adorned with flowers and sipped tea from her teacup. Although she made a little mess at the table, we enjoyed her company and cleaned up quickly. Everyone who attended learned what the phrase “pinkies up” means, and they even learned how to curtsy and bow. To complete the party, we made T-Rex hand puppets and took pictures with Tina T-Rex. It was a splendid experience that everyone enjoyed.

Summer Reading Program Kickoff at CCL

            The Calhoun County Library celebrated the beginning of this year’s Summer Reading Program at the Calhoun County Sports Complex with a Dino Run Kickoff.

Our Summer Reading Program officially started on June 1, 2026, and patrons were able to register and start logging minutes from their reading. For every 30 minutes logged, the person receives a reward and also gets an entry into the grand prize drawing at the end of the Summer Reading Program. We’ve got some pretty cool grand prizes such as Apple AirPods and Kindles, so the more minutes you log, the better chance you have to win! Also, we’ve consulted with the local school’s principals, and they’ve agreed to give some type of incentive - extra credit, a homework pass, a boost on a test grade, or something else that’s terrific - for each student who turns in a completion certificate for our summer reading program. So let’s start reading! You can use the QR code on our website or social media to register, or you can come by the library and we’ll help you get registered.

On Thursday, June 11, 2026, we held our Summer Reading Program Kickoff from 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM at the Calhoun County Sports Complex. Kids received free books, sunglasses, and white t-shirts for the color run, while supplies lasted.

We had to bring back the Color Run this year, but with a prehistoric twist! We transformed it into a Dino Run to match our summer theme, Unearth a Story, which celebrates dinosaurs and paleontology. Our giant inflatable dinosaurs were ready for photo opportunities, and a few smaller dinosaur visitors even joined the fun by running through the obstacle course alongside participants.

The course was packed with obstacles, including tunnels, bouncing balls, balance beams, stepping stones, pole jumps, and more. Of course, it wouldn't be a Color Run without plenty of color! Along the course, participants ran through color stations where vibrant powder filled the air, making the event as colorful as possible. By the end, both children and adults were covered from head to toe in blue, pink, yellow, and green powder! This was the perfect way to begin our dinosaur-themed Summer Reading Program. If you got pictures from this event, especially with our GIANT dinosaurs, please share them on social media and tag us. We would love to see how much fun everyone had!

Thank you to the Calhoun County Fire Department for coming out and keeping us cool by spraying their hose on us! We would also like to thank Hot Dog’on Hamilton and Randolph’s Italian Ice for filling our bellies after a great workout. This event couldn’t have been possible without the support from the South Carolina State Library and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Thank you to the nearly 500 people that also came out in the sun to celebrate with us!

2026 Summer Reading Program Schedule

            The Calhoun County Library is ready to announce that they have a dino-mite summer planned with an Unearth a Story Summer Reading Program!

Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 10:30 AM, we will welcome Tim Sonefelt, humorist, puppeteer, and storyteller. Come watch him perform tricks and illusions all about dinosaurs.

The Critter Keeper is coming Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM. He’ll  be bringing some interesting creatures. Don’t miss some scaly relatives of dinosaurs that might  scare you, so be prepared for a creepy, crawly fright. Enjoy some delicious Randolph’s Italian Ice from 11:30 AM- 1:30 PM!

Thursday, July 2, 2026: we will not be having a program this week in observation of the Fourth of July.

Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 10:30 AM, we will be at the Calhoun County Museum (313 Butler Street, St Matthews, SC, 29135) for Porkchop Productions’ performance of Dinosaur, Dinosaur, WOLF!, a rendition of the Boy Who Cried Wolf. Their new version of the story has more prehistoric creatures!

Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 10:30 AM, visit us at the Calhoun County Museum (313 Butler Street, St. Matthews, SC, 29135) again for The Story Ship. This theatre company has a “top secret” discovery featuring Paleontologist Diggery showing off his dinosaur fossils.

Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 10:30 AM, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources will be at the library with a hands-on experience for kids ages 8 and up. They’ll be using mini-excavation blocks in a workshop with fossils. Again, this event is for ages 8 and up.

To end the summer, we are having a Grand Finale to celebrate all the reading everyone did! Come get your prizes, certificates, listen to the Ukaloonies perform well-known sing-alongs, and enjoy tasty, free Randolph’s Italian Ice.

We are looking forward to a rawr-some Summer Reading Program this year!

Free Little Library Lunchers Program

            The Calhoun County Library is preparing to begin a new program to give away free lunches EVERY Thursday for children between the ages of 2 and 18 in June and July, starting on Thursday, June 4, 2026. These lunches will be given away from 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM and will feature local restaurants in the area. Make sure to attend our Summer Reading Programs on Thursdays and pick up a kids meal after!

Press Release for Unearth a Story 2026 SRP

            LOOK OUT!

            Something BIG is stomping its way to the Calhoun County Library and you don’t want to miss it!

            Kids are going to be amazed at the size of our first adventure on June 11, 2026. This year, we're going back in time to Unearth a Story. Whether you're a tiny Triceratops or a sophisticated Stegosaurus, our Summer Reading Program has something for you! Join us each Thursday at 10:30 AM for exciting, educational programs that will be dino-mite!

Do you think Summer Reading is just for kids? Think again. The fossils are older, but the stories are just as fresh! Adults and Teens can discover a new genre, tackle that TBR pile, and compete for prizes like a Kindle or Apple AirPods! Every 30 minutes you log, you bring yourself closer to prizes worth digging for! Grab your excavation tools and get ready to dig into some legendary adventures.

Kickoff Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026

Where: Calhoun County Sports Complex

When: 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Who: all ages!

2026 Summer Reading Program Schedule

            The Calhoun County Library is ready to announce that they have a dino-mite summer planned with an Unearth a Story Summer Reading Program!

Starting the year off with a bang, we will have a Dino Run Kickoff on Thursday, June 11, 2026. Let’s run through an obstacle course and get “powdered” with colors as we pretend to be dinosaurs. This will take place from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the Calhoun County Sports Complex (600 Chestnut Street, St. Matthews, SC, 29135). Enjoy a hot dog from HotDog’On Hamilton, and Randolph’s Italian Ice will be there to cool you down; FREE while supplies last! The St. Matthews fire truck will also be there to spray you down when you least expect it! We also have a BIG surprise that will be making an appearance at the kickoff! You don’t want to miss it!

Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 10:30 AM, we will welcome Tim Sonefelt, humorist, puppeteer, and storyteller. Come watch him perform tricks and illusions all about dinosaurs.

The Critter Keeper is coming Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM. He’ll  be bringing some interesting creatures. Don’t miss some scaly relatives of dinosaurs that might  scare you, so be prepared for a creepy, crawly fright. Enjoy some delicious Randolph’s Italian Ice from 11:30 AM- 1:30 PM!

Thursday, July 2, 2026: we will not be having a program this week in observation of the Fourth of July.

Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 10:30 AM, we will be at the Calhoun County Museum (313 Butler Street, St Matthews, SC, 29135) for Porkchop Productions’ performance of Dinosaur, Dinosaur, WOLF!, a rendition of the Boy Who Cried Wolf. Their new version of the story has more prehistoric creatures!

Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 10:30 AM, visit us at the Calhoun County Museum (313 Butler Street, St. Matthews, SC, 29135) again for The Story Ship. This theatre company has a “top secret” discovery featuring Paleontologist Diggery showing off his dinosaur fossils.

Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 10:30 AM, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources will be at the library with a hands-on experience for kids ages 8 and up. They’ll be using mini-excavation blocks in a workshop with fossils. Again, this event is for ages 8 and up.

To end the summer, we are having a Grand Finale to celebrate all the reading everyone did! Come get your prizes, certificates, listen to the Ukaloonies perform well-known sing-alongs, and enjoy tasty, free Randolph’s Italian Ice.

We are looking forward to a rawr-some Summer Reading Program this year!

Busy Bees at the Library

            The Calhoun County Library has recently hosted numerous events and outreach activities, keeping everyone very busy.

On Saturday, April 18, 2026, the Calhoun County Library Bookmobile took part in the Purple Martin Parade. We handed out purple candy to the crowd and had a great time waving to all the friendly faces along the route. After the parade, we headed to our tent where participants painted purple martins on canvases. We had an excellent turnout, with nearly 300 people stopping by to paint and learn about what we offer at the library.

Then, the following week, we continued with our regular programs: Yoga on Monday; Strong & Stable on Tuesday; Mother Goose on the Loose and Adult Computer Class on Wednesday; Yoga and Half & Half on Thursday; and Strong & Stable on Friday. In addition, we expanded our schedule with even more programs and outreach.

During the week, we also hosted Bee Field Trips, where fourth graders from our community schools visited the library to learn all about our in-house bees. Each student had the opportunity to observe and learn about the roles of real bees, perform the waggle dance, create a bee-themed craft, and explore the outdoor pollinator garden. Students from St. Matthews K-8  and Calhoun Academy learned fun facts about honey bees and were able to actually see bees doing the waggle dance in our hive! Every student left with a Magic Schoolbus book about beehives and a goodie bag including beeswax lipbalm,  honey sticks, and honey-filled hard candies. In total, we welcomed around 90 fourth-grade students, and we are already looking forward to hosting this experience again next year.

Also on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, we hosted an art reception featuring artwork from the lower school students at Calhoun Academy. The springtime theme brought a delightful display of bunnies and floral scenes, which guests enjoyed while partaking in light refreshments. Approximately 140 people attended the reception, and it was heartwarming to see families gathering to admire their loved ones’ artwork—some even brought flowers to celebrate the occasion.

On Thursday, April 23, 2026, we visited the Calhoun County Council on Aging. To celebrate the start of spring, we led a plant-themed craft activity. Participants decorated their own planters using pots, sunglasses, bandannas, googly eyes, and markers to create unique faces on each pot. Once finished, each planter was filled with two begonias, giving everyone a personalized spring plant to take home.

We had a very busy week and we loved every second of it. Be on the lookout for announcements for our Summer Reading Program soon!