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!

Calhoun County Library Celebrates Purple Martins

            The Purple Martin Parade and Festival is coming up and the Calhoun County Library is going to be involved so make sure to find them while you enjoy your weekend!

On Saturday, April 18, 2026, the Purple Martin Parade and Festival will be taking over St. Matthews. Grab a lawn chair and get to Bridge Street to watch the parade at 10 AM. We will have the Calhoun County Library Bookmobile featured!

Right after the parade, head over to the Annex building, beyond the courthouse, and walk through the booths. There will be vendors, food trucks, and performers. The Calhoun County Library will be stationed to the side of the library and will be painting purple martins on canvases from 11 AM - 2 PM. This is a huge hit every year so don’t forget to find your way over and paint one yourself. This is open to all ages and completely FREE!

We look forward to seeing everyone and celebrating the trademark purple martins this year!

Library Proclamation Attendance

            South Carolina Public Libraries were recognized at the South Carolina State House on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in reference to the library proclamation declaring the importance of libraries for education and development of people of all ages, genders, and races. This gathering was in honor of a “concurrent resolution to recognize and celebrate the historical and ongoing contributions of South Carolina Public Libraries and to encourage continued support and investment for the benefit of all the palmetto state’s citizens.” (South Carolina State Library) The Calhoun County Library was invited and recognized via Director Boyd Bruce.

Thriving and Growing Together

            The Calhoun County Library held its annual Grow with Me event on Saturday, March 14, 2026, and it was very successful with over 100 attendees.

At the event this year, we created our own Hairy Harry, made a seed bomb, and crafted a homemade birdfeeder with a pinecone, peanut butter, and birdseed. We also learned about the parts of a flower and taught everyone the importance of helping plants grow as they support our everyday lives.

Each participant received a tomato plant to take home and a bird feeder to hang outside. Plus, we served healthy snacks, including oven toasted English muffin pizzas. Of course, everyone got a healthy plant book to take home for their personal library!

Join Free Yoga Classes

            Every day is a great day for yoga! Find your zen twice a week at the Calhoun County Library.

We invite you to join our welcoming yoga classes, designed for everyone—including seniors and individuals with disabilities—to relax, stretch, and calm the mind in a supportive environment.

Yoga classes are held every Monday and Thursday from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM, and best of all, they are completely FREE. Each session is led by Kathie Goodwin, a certified Sakhi Yoga and YogaFit instructor who is passionate about helping others improve their well-being.

You’re welcome to bring your own yoga mat or materials, but we also provide everything you need.

Come renew, relax, and restore as you learn to find balance and stillness through mindful breathing and movement. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, we’d love to have you join us—come find your zen at the Calhoun County Library!

Celebrate Spring with the Calhoun County Library!

            Spring officially begins on Friday, March 20, 2026, and we’re getting a head start on the celebration! Join us on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 11 AM to 1 PM for our annual Grow with Me event which is always a fun-filled experience for all ages.

At this year’s event, you’ll create your very own Hairy Harry, make a seed bomb, and craft a homemade birdfeeder. We’ll also learn about the different parts of a flower and how each one plays an important role in helping plants grow and support our everyday lives.

Each participant will receive a tomato plant to take home, along with a small windowsill herb garden and a bird feeder to hang outside as soon as you get home. Plus, we’ll be giving away books and serving delicious, healthy snacks!

Stop by the library to kick off the spring season, pick up a plant, and grow with us. We can’t wait to see you there!

Friends of the Calhoun County Library Annual Meeting Meet Author Tom Poland

            The Friends of the Calhoun County Library will welcome acclaimed South Carolina author Tom Poland as the featured speaker at their annual member meeting on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The event, held in the library’s Purple Martin Room, is free and open to the public.

            Poland, a prolific writer whose work explores the culture, history, and natural landscapes of the South, is widely recognized for his contributions to regional literature. He is the recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, and the author of more than a dozen books. His work frequently appears in magazines, newspapers, and public talks across the Southeast.

            His presentation, “Carolina Bays: Wild, Mysterious, and Majestic Landforms,” is sponsored by the South Carolina Humanities Speakers Bureau. The talk draws from the book he co‑authored with photographer Robert C. Clark, a richly illustrated exploration of the enigmatic, elliptical depressions scattered across the Carolinas and Georgia. Poland’s storytelling blends science, history, and personal observation, offering audiences an accessible look at one of the region’s most intriguing natural features.  

            The evening will begin with a reception at 5 PM., followed by the Friends of the Library annual business meeting at 5:30 PM. Poland’s presentation will start at 6 PM.

            The Friends of the Calhoun County Library invite community members, readers, and anyone interested in Southern landscapes to attend this special event.