Grow with Me at the Calhoun County Library

            The Calhoun County Library had a successful spring event last Saturday to celebrate not only Easter but also the arrival of spring and the importance of early literacy.

On Saturday, March 23, 2024, from 10 AM – 1 PM, the library was filled with digging, planting, crafting, petting cute animals, smiling with Peter Rabbit, and eating some delicious, nutritious snacks. We welcomed over 150 people ready to see Peter Rabbit from the children’s story by Beatrix Potter.  After meeting and taking a picture with Peter Rabbit, everyone was able to start getting dirty with potting soil. Our day was centered around growing up to be healthy and happy. Children were able to pet baby chicks and the cutest little white bunny. Children had the chance to plant a tomato plant and take it home so that it could grow right along with them. Our crafts included learning the parts of a flower, making peanut butter pinecone bird feeders, and germinating lima beans in a bag. Local garden club members helped with planting windowsill herb pots filled with lavender, mint, basil, and a myriad of herbs, and children designed faces on clear cups and planted wheatgrass seeds that will grow to make hair in a few weeks at home. While children waited for pictures with Peter Rabbit, they were able to get their faces painted by some talented artists too!

Of course, no event at the Calhoun County Library would be complete without a tasty treat! Master Chef Whittaker Williams graced us with his excellent cuisine once again this year. These healthy food options included fruit kabobs and Caprese salad skewers, and we topped it off with oatmeal raisin cookies. The Calhoun County Library cares about offering healthy options that will appeal to every age.

We had so much fun with Peter Rabbit, doing all our crafts, eating great food, getting our faces painted, adding to home libraries, and planting vegetables that will teach children how to care for our planet while also growing themselves. Every child went home with a bagful of goodies and a free book for their home libraries. Grow with Me is designed to highlight the importance of literature and connecting children to being healthy.

Spring Author Fair

            Are you an author who lives or works in Calhoun County? Apply to participate in our Spring Author Fair where you can introduce yourself and your books to the community!

            Becoming a published author is a reward in itself, but we would like to recognize our local authors and show how much support they have from our community. Believe it or not, we have multiple published authors from right here in Calhoun County! On Saturday, May 4, 2024, from 11 AM – 1 PM, we will hold an event for local authors to tell the community about their works of art and give everyone the opportunity to mingle, learn, and support each other. This is a free event at no cost to you whether you're a reader or an author, but book sales are encouraged during the event. Space for authors is limited so you must meet some requirements and submit an application. Authors must live or work in Calhoun County. Authors must be published, which includes self-published. Applications can be found on our website and will be available at the library. When submitting your application, you must bring a copy of your book for our committee to review. These applications are due on Friday, March 22, 2024, by 5 PM.

            To be considered as an attending author, make sure to fill out the application and bring us a copy of your book before the deadline. In the meantime, readers and authors clear your schedules because we want to have a great turnout for this Spring Author Fair!

Coming Together at the Library

            What is everyone talking about? The Calhoun County Library hosted several events in February that are the talk of the town! 

            On Thursday, February 15, 2024, we hosted “Gather -n- Blend.” This was a networking event that gave small businesses in Calhoun County a chance to get to know each other and to learn about the services they provide. The event had a good turnout with a variety of businesses being represented. Refreshments were served by Chef Whittaker Williams, a Le Cordon Bleu in France alumni and graduate of the Culinary Institute of Carolina at the University of South Carolina. Mr. Williams currently serves as the Child Nutrition Program Director at Calhoun County Public Schools. All small business representatives who attended enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres including lemon pepper wings, Philly cheesesteak sliders, Greek meatballs, salmon hush puppies, and much more while they exchanged business cards. Non-alcoholic drinks for the evening included a signature rosemary-blueberry smash along with other nutritional beverages.  This event brought together Calhoun County small business owners and introduced services in the community that may have been overlooked. Attendees were able to engage community members who are facing the same challenges and successes that all business owners experience, and hopefully, they found some common ground and inspiration. 

            After “Gather -n- Blend,” the library hosted “Coffee and Chat” on February 21, 2024. This event was an invitation for community members to get familiar with the Calhoun County Library employees, programs, and services! “Coffee and Chat” provided an opportunity for patrons to meet each employee and to learn what they do at the library and how dedicated they are in assisting the community. We offered tours of the library so that everyone could feel comfortable coming in and knowing where to look for materials.  We also signed up several patrons for new library cards! Attendees were able to explore the library and enjoy a delicious breakfast including blueberry muffins, cinnamon rolls, and breakfast casserole along with freshly brewed coffee or hot chocolate for the kids.  As luck would have it, during this event one of our biggest programs was taking place! Mother Goose on the Loose was abounding with children singing, dancing, and moving. The grand finale was bubbles in the library which was full of fun and excitement! Mother Goose on the Loose is every Wednesday of the month from 10:30 AM - 11 AM. With a total of over 50 people attending “Coffee and Chat,” we were able to showcase one of our programs for everyone to witness.

            The last few weeks have been busy here at the Calhoun County Library and we look forward to offering more events like these to engage with our supportive community!