Celebrating the Community

            Calhoun County held Community Day last Saturday to celebrate every member of our community along with all of the commonalities that we share. The St. Matthews community members depend on each other to form relationships in order to meet common needs. During the event, the Calhoun County Library revealed the new bookmobile with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

            Our Community Day took place on Saturday, September 24 at the corner of Bridge Street and Richland Avenue. Calhoun County had a day of free fun to celebrate the community as a whole. There were fun games for all ages including giant checkers and Jenga, cornhole, a dunking booth, a fire station bounce house, and a slip & slide under the ladder fire truck spray. Community members also enjoyed free grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, cotton candy made on the spot, and ice cream from our local ice cream truck. A local DJ provided upbeat music that even had our vendors moving and grooving doing line dances and singing!

            In addition, Calhoun County Library gave away free books while providing opportunities to check out books, sign up for a library card, and register for Code Red, a community-wide alert system. At 12 PM, we had a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate our brand new bookmobile! Library director, Kristen Simensen gave a little history on our bookmobile outreach program, and one of our generous funders, Mr. Lanier Walling, representing the Dee and Joy Buyck Carpenter Trust, cut the ribbon signaling that our bookmobile is ready for reading! Being able to provide this outreach service to our community enables us to reach children and community members that otherwise may not have access to our library. Our bookmobile is already scheduled to visit local daycare centers and the Council on Aging. Look for us out on the road!

            “We had a wonderful time being part of Community Day along with many local residents that came to enjoy great food, music, and fun,” said Wendy Arends, Programs and Outreach Coordinator for the Calhoun County Library. “What a fantastic opportunity to showcase our Bookmobile to the patrons of our county.”

            This event was organized by the St. Matthews Fire Department and Police Department. Thanks to everyone who came out and celebrated our bookmobile and our community with us!

            We would also like to thank our generous donors for their support. The bookmobile is made possible with help from Calhoun County, the Dee and Joy Buyck Carpenter Trust, and by a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the South Carolina State Library.

Science Programs are Back!

            The Calhoun County Library is starting up the STEM and STEM, Jr. program again this fall for K5 to 6th grade students.

            Between the months of October and May, the Calhoun County Library offers a STEM program for kids in 3rd - 6th grade and a STEM, Jr. program for younger kids in K5 - 2nd grade. 

            STEM occurs on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 4 PM until 4:45 PM. STEM, Jr. occurs on the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 4 PM until 4:30 PM.

            The first STEM is Wednesday, October 5, 2022.

            The first STEM, Jr. is Wednesday, October 18, 2022.

            We are excited to offer this program to elementary-aged children in our community. STEM and STEM, Jr. is not only fun, exciting, and hands-on for our kids, but added benefits include problem-solving and teamwork. Kids will gain knowledge and learn to apply that knowledge to everyday events. STEM and STEM, Jr. will enforce concepts the area schools are teaching and instill a passion for innovation and the sciences. 

            Some of the topics covered this year will include circuits and currents, acids and bases, computer coding, geography, and astronomy.

            These programs are instructed by Dr. Lesa Rice-Jackson, a retired chemist; Mrs. Janice Baskin, a former chemistry and physics teacher; and Glenna Mason, a 4-H representative.

            This project is made possible by an awarded grant from Save the Children to support early childhood literacy.

What’s Happening This Weekend?

            The Calhoun County Library has a busy weekend ahead with two huge community events that are taking place in Saint Matthews. We’re getting ready for Community Day and our Community Baby Shower.

            Due to weather conditions on Saturday, September 10, 2022, Calhoun County’s Community Day had to be rescheduled, but we’ve planned a new date and location! The new date is this Saturday, September 24, 2022, from 10 AM - 3 PM and it will now be held on the corner of Richland Avenue and Bridge Street. During Community Day, the Calhoun County Library will be celebrating the new bookmobile with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 12 PM. We will also be giving away free books as well as allowing the community to check out books,  sign up for a library card, and register for Code Red, a community-wide alert system. You can grab a hot dog or hamburger while you’re there and get your groove on to the beats of the DJ! Come out and join us for all the fun!

            We would like to thank our generous donors for their support. The bookmobile is made possible with help from Calhoun County, the Dee and Joy Buyck Carpenter Trust, and by a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the South Carolina State Library.

            Following Community Day is our Community Baby Shower on Sunday, September 25, from 3 PM - 5 PM. This event will take place at the John Ford Community Center located at 304 Agnes Street in St. Matthews. The 3 requirements for this event are: 1.to be a Calhoun County resident  2.to be expecting/adopting or have a baby under one year old   3.to register for the event by calling 803-874-3389 or by visiting the library.

            We hope that you can join us for the second Community Baby Shower! You’ll be showered with great gifts for your child and be filled with new information and ideas! Call the library at 803-874-3389 to sign up today. It’s not too late!

            This project is made possible by a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the South Carolina State Library.

Hi, baby, hi!

            The Calhoun County Library is hosting a community baby shower at the end of the month for county residents who are expecting/adopting or have a baby under one year old.

            Our Community Baby Shower will be held on Sunday, September 25, 2022, from 3 PM - 5 PM at the John Ford Community Center located at 304 Agnes St, St Matthews, SC 29135.

            There are only three requirements for this event:

1. You must be a Calhoun County resident.
2. You must be expecting/adopting or have a baby under one year old.
3. You must register for the event by calling 803-874-3389 or by visiting the library.

            All attendees MUST register in advance for the baby shower.

            Welcome Baby bags have been taken to many businesses in Calhoun County. If you have not received one, feel free to stop by the Calhoun County Library to pick one up! These bags contain useful baby items, a board book, and an invitation to the shower. 

            While at the shower, you can get valuable information from healthcare professionals including a pediatrician, representatives from WIC, representatives from Safe Kids and Safe Sitter, Calhoun County First Steps, Head Start O.C.A.B., Family Health Center, and Regional Medical Center.

            Take part in question and answer sessions with knowledgeable professionals from the healthcare industry while you enjoy a boxed lunch and make a unique fleece baby blanket to take home for your baby. You’ll also be taking home free goodies including five FREE books to start your home library for your little one and FREE diapers and wipes.

            Please note that childcare is NOT provided for this event.

            We hope that you can join us on Sunday, September 25, and go home showered with great gifts for your child and be filled with new information and ideas! Call the library at 803-874-3389 to sign up today!

            This project is made possible by a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the South Carolina State Library.

Bookmobile at Community Day

            The Calhoun County Library will be celebrating the new bookmobile with a ribbon cutting ceremony during Community Day in Saint Matthews.

            Although we have had the bookmobile since 2020, unforeseeable events prevented us from celebrating and fully implementing its use. We are making up for lost time, and to introduce the bookmobile officially to the public, there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony. This will commence at 12 PM on Saturday, September 10, 2022, during Community Day. The Calhoun County Library will be giving away free books as well as allowing the community to check out books and sign up for a library card without leaving the festivities!

            Community Day is an event to celebrate every member of our community and what it has to offer with a free day of fun. This event is organized by the St. Matthews Fire Department and Police Department. They will have fun games for all ages and will be serving grilled hamburgers and hotdogs with chips and ice cream. This year, it will be held on Saturday, September 10, 2022, from 10 AM – 3 PM at the John Ford Community Center.

            Come out to celebrate our community and the new bookmobile reveal. You won’t want to miss this!

            We would like to thank our generous donors for their support. The bookmobile is made possible with help from Calhoun County, the Dee and Joy Buyck Carpenter Trust, and by a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the South Carolina State Library.