Home Deliveries

             Can’t get to the library? We’ll bring the library to you! Using the library doesn’t have to stop if you’re unable to visit us in person. The Calhoun County Library’s Home Delivery Service enables customers of all ages to continue to enjoy reading and learning.

            At the Calhoun County Library, we want every patron to have an opportunity to get materials whether they can get to our physical location or not. If health or mobility problems are preventing you or someone you know from visiting the library easily, home deliveries can be requested by or for library cardholders. Individuals in private residences or group homes may request bi-weekly visits from library staff to deliver books, audiobooks, DVDs, and other materials. Interested in e-books and downloadable audios?  Need a laptop or a mobile WiFi unit? A staff member can demonstrate how to access lots of online library materials using a variety of devices. 

            We want you to keep turning the pages of your books, so every other Wednesday a staff member goes out to deliver and pick up materials in our Bookmobile. Since safety is a primary concern, we wear masks, use hand sanitizer, and provide contactless delivery. Your materials are placed in a plastic bag and left at your door. You may also return items when we make your next delivery.  

            To take advantage of this service, all you need to have is a library card or be eligible to sign up for one. This is a free service and there are no late fees for patrons 65 and over. In March 2022, there are three Wednesdays that we will be out for home deliveries: 2nd, 16th, and 30th. Call us at 803-874-3389, ask for Shelia, and we will bring the library to you!

            Don't forget that we also have Kajeet Mobile HotSpots available for checkout today! If you are interested, let Shelia know when you call to request materials and she will bring that too!

Teens Give Back

Part Two:

           Last month, Calhoun County teens started making sleeping mats for the homeless as part of the Calhoun County Library’s Teen Night: Give Back initiative. The mats are made from plastic shopping bags and nothing else. This design was chosen for many reasons: plastic bags are easy to obtain, simple to clean, conduct heat, waterproof, and bug resistant. Because they're made of plastic, the mats are ideal in wet conditions to provide a waterproof barrier to those sleeping on the ground. Once these mats are completed, they will be donated to the closest homeless shelter.

             Last month, the teenagers began to prepare the plastic bags needed and continued this process during their first meeting in February. After all, each mat takes anywhere from 800 to 1,000 plastic bags to complete. That’s a lot of plastic kept out of our landfills!

             The room quickly became filled with plastic bags, but no one minded the mess. The teens created an assembly line that started with cutting around each flattened plastic bag to create a series of circular rings, followed by balling them up, and finally, placing them to the side to keep the line moving. It was a seamless process that was entirely their own. It helped that they had the fun movie Jumanji to watch to keep their minds as busy as their hands!

            Our next Teen Night: Give Back session will be Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 5 PM. During this time, the talented crafters of the Library’s Bee Creative program, which meets at the same time as Teen Night, will be joining the teens. They will teach the teens how to loop these plastic rings together so that they will have one long plastic chain. This chain is called plarn, short for plastic yarn. The teens will then learn how to crochet the plarn using giant crochet hooks to create the finished mats.

            Anyone between the ages of 12 and 17 who would like to be a part of this humanitarian and environmentally-friendly project is encouraged to come!

            If you are a crafter who would like to join in this collaboration to help teach and encourage teens, please mark your calendar! 

            We would love to make as big of an impact as possible so we can donate many mats for the homeless!

Friends Book Sale

            The Friends of the Calhoun County Library (FOCCL) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that sponsors and supports library book clubs, fundraisers, teen internship opportunities, and library advocacy efforts. Every Tuesday afternoon between 2:00 and 5:00, the Friends of the Calhoun County Library opens their special sales room. The Friends Room can be accessed from inside or outside of the library. You can browse through the room and pick up whatever your heart desires: hardback books, paperback books, DVDs, audiobooks, puzzles, and some other surprises. In addition, it won’t break the bank.

                        Hardback books $2 (3 for $5)

                        Paperback books $1 (7 for $5)

                        AudioVisual Materials $2 (3 for $5) *BluRay $4 (3 for $10)

                        Board Books for Babies $ .50 (5 for $2)

                        Jigsaw Puzzles $5

            With a major overhaul and reorganization last summer, there are many new titles and categories to explore. There is also an extensive selection of Christian fiction, children’s books, biographies, historical non-fiction, and even fun, gently-used jigsaw puzzles. Check out the book display in the window to see what’s new. 

            During the library’s regular business hours, there is always a little cart by the circulation desk that has books for purchase. These purchases also benefit the FOCCL. So, whenever you come in, check out the cart to see if anything sparks your fancy. You might see something you must have for your own collection!

            For information on becoming a Friend, call the Library at (803) 874-3389 for a membership form. Don’t forget to come check out the sale next Tuesday; you never know what you might come across at the Friends of the Calhoun County Library Book Sale!

            Also, please be aware that the that the Annual Friends of the Calhoun County Library Meeting on March 3 has been canceled due to uncertainty surrounding COVID.

Child Development Screening

            When it comes to our little ones, we all want to make sure that they are learning every day. It is imperative for their growth and development. Healthy development in the early years (particularly birth to three) provides the building blocks for educational achievement, lifelong health, and a successful generation to come. What can we do during this incredibly important period to ensure that children have a strong foundation for future development? Simple steps like keeping track of milestones like smiling, eye contact, independent play and self-care can help give parents clues as to how their child is progressing.

            The Calhoun County Library was so fortunate to welcome  First Steps on Wednesday afternoon, January 26. While parents filled out a questionnaire about each of their children, First Steps representatives interacted with the children. This involved doing puzzles, reading, coloring, tossing foam balls, and playing with toys. These were all fun activities that kids already love doing!

            Because the instructor used a soothing voice to fill the children with affirmations, they felt very comfortable interacting with her.  While the babies and toddlers played and interacted, the instructor watched for certain attributes and monitored many areas that are crucial to proper child development. Fine motor skills, gross motor capability, social intelligence, emotional awareness, language possession, communication ability, and cognitive behaviors were assessed during their “play time.”

            As a thank you, First Steps and Help Me Grow South Carolina passed out goodie bags to each child tested which featured checklists of what milestones most children reach by a certain age. It also introduced signs to be on the lookout for and how to approach a healthcare provider about any concerns. An age-appropriate book was also gifted to each child. These were unique because they were age-related and personalized. According to the First Steps instructor, it “allows the child to become aware that they are the same age as another child and it helps deepen their love of literature.”

            It is well-known that different children learn and develop at different speeds. That could occur because of genetics, the environment, or it could be unexplained. Different stages of development are expected, but understanding the areas of development can benefit parents to help ensure that children continue to grow the way they should. We hope that more parents of  young children will register and join us on our next testing day in the future and take advantage of this free service to our community.