Donation Policy for the Friends

            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 PM and 5 PM, the Friends of the Calhoun County Library opens their special sales room which  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. Best of all, 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 over the last year, 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!

            If you would like to donate your books and movies to help out the Friends of the Calhoun County Library and the Calhoun County Library, please read the following policy:

The Friends of the Calhoun County Library accepts donations of reading and audio/visual materials in good condition. Good condition items are new/gently used and free of mold, mildew, stains, strong odors, and missing/torn pages.

We are unable to accept reference materials (encyclopedias, dictionaries, textbooks, etc.), older nonfiction materials (more than 5 years), computer/technology/medical manuals, Reader’s Digest Condensed Books or Illustrated Classics, periodicals/magazines of any type, and obsolete media formats (VHS, cassette, etc).

            For information on becoming a Friend or finding out when the best time to donate is, call the Library at (803) 874-3389. 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!

Santa at the Library

            Patrons of the Calhoun County Library came together to snack on some hot chocolate and cookies with Santa on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, from 5 PM - 7 PM.

            Over 300 people visited the library to celebrate Christmas which is quickly approaching. There were crafts for the children to create angel doilies, cinnamon stick Christmas trees, and other holiday-themed fun. After making crafts, guests enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies while listening to Christmas books being read aloud. We even spotted the Grinch lurking around and posing for pictures with patrons!

            Of course, the big highlight of the night was Santa Claus. Many children asked where his reindeer were. Sadly, the library does not have a big enough parking space so Santa had to park his sleigh by the Convalescent Center and get a ride to the library! Santa found his way to the library and made his way through our doors with jingling bells and a hearty Ho, Ho, Ho! He sat in his big chair in his red suit and listened to what every boy and girl wanted for Christmas as they sat on his lap. After their visit with Santa, each child received a special candy cane from the North Pole!

            This event was the perfect way to get in the holiday spirit and we are happy to announce that it was a huge success this year!

            If you came to the event and took a picture with Santa, feel free to tag us on social media. Our tag on both Instagram and Facebook is: @calhouncountylibrarysc

20 things You Need to Know Before Leaving High School at the Calhoun County Library

Part Three: Cooking

            We were cooking up some fun at the Calhoun County Library last week! Local teens of Calhoun County gathered at the library to learn more life skills that they should know before leaving high school. Our focus was on cooking.

            On Tuesday, December 6, 2022, teenagers learned the difference between tablespoons and teaspoons, the purpose of using oil or butter when cooking on a skillet or griddle, the proper way to use a spatula, how to blend flavors, and what the buttons on a microwave mean. They also took a kitchen utensil quiz and were introduced to items like a colander, a grater, and a garlic press.

            Our teens even got hands-on experience! We brought in a griddle and a microwave to get our teens cooking. After getting instructions along with a recipe, these teenagers made themselves a full meal! They made pico de gallo from scratch including seasoning to taste with cumin, chili pepper, garlic powder, cilantro, and lime juice. Then they moved on to the griddle for grilled quesadillas prefaced by learning how to coat the surface with either cooking spray or cooking oil. They waited patiently until their tortillas were golden brown and the cheese inside was ooey-gooey and then enjoyed a delicious quesadilla with homemade pico de gallo. To finish off their culinary skills, they made microwave S’mores that were just right. Ten seconds in the microwave is all it takes!  Our meal consisted of easy recipes that teens can make with a few ingredients and a little bit of time.

            Our teens were so proud of themselves and didn’t realize what they could actually cook. After last week’s Teen Night, they know they can survive if they ever have to! It was a lot of fun and delicious too!

            With the holidays so close, our teens have decided to skip meeting again in December. The next Teen Night will be on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 5 PM. Any teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 are welcome to join us and have fun!

Library Card Design Contest

            Have an artist in your family or maybe just a doodler? The Calhoun County Library is hosting a design contest for the new library cards that will be making their way into the library shortly.

            We’re introducing two new library cards at the Calhoun County Library: Early Leaning and Juvenile library cards. Help us choose the artwork to be featured on these cards by participating in our design contest. 

            This contest is for students ages 5 - 16 who reside in Calhoun County. This is open for all schools in the county including homeschooled children. Three designs will be chosen for the new cards. Winning artists will receive a $25 gift card and their art teacher will receive a gift card for future art supplies for the classroom. 

            To apply, pick up an application at the Calhoun County Library, get one from the art teacher at all Calhoun County schools, or visit our website (calhouncountylibrary.org). The application consists of two sheets: one is where the artist will place their creation and the second is an information sheet that needs to be filled out together as it gives us permission to use the winning design on our new cards. Designs may be submitted at the library or electronically at info@calhouncountylibrary.org.

            The due date for the application is next Friday, December 16, 2022, by 5 PM.

            If you want to see your design or your child’s design on our new library cards which will circulate throughout the county, pick up an application today!

Feeling Festive with Porkchop

            Porkchop Productions, a community favorite, visited the Calhoun County Library on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at 5 PM to get everyone in the holiday spirit. We had a full house with 90 people who visited the library to watch Porkchop Productions perform their Christmas play Holly and the Christmas Kerfuffle.

            “With only a few days left before Christmas, toys are disappearing from the Toy Safe in Santa’s Workshop and Holly the Elf is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery! Holly will go to any length to catch the thief…from the outrageous to the hilarious… to make sure Christmas goes off without a hitch!”

            “This installment of our Holly the Elf series was filled with plenty of laughs, and taught important lessons in understanding, the gift of giving, and learning to put yourself in someone else's shoes.”

            The roomful of people were laughing and problem-solving with the actors who were trying to protect the toys from being stolen by a thief. We won’t give away the ending, but the life lessons of caring and believing in yourself were important for everyone to learn. Audience members learned to give back to others, be understanding, and remember that you do not know what someone else is going through. This play will be one Christmas memory people of all ages will savor for a long time.

            The Calhoun County Library’s next holiday program will be held on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, from 5 PM - 7 PM. Join us for Cookies with Santa! There will be hot chocolate, cookies, crafts, books, and, of course, Santa Claus! Sit on his lap, tell him what you want for Christmas, and take some holiday pictures before Santa has to return to the North Pole. We hope to see you for Cookies with Santa!

20 things You Need to Know Before Leaving High School at the Calhoun County Library

Part Two: Car Maintenance

            Need a spare tire put on your car? Call one of our teens from Teen Night at the library! Last Tuesday, Lee Hollingsworth of Hutto's Transmission came to speak at Calhoun County Library’s Teen Night about car care as part of the 20 Things You Need to Know Before Leaving High School series.

            On Tuesday, November 15, 2022, Lee Hollingsworth presented a hands-on approach to learning about how a car works and how to maintain it during Teen Night at the library. Hollingsworth taught the teens many important aspects about a car including:

1. Where the radiator is located and how to check the water in it (do not check it when the engine is hot).
2. Where the oil well is located and how to use the dipstick to check oil.
3. Where the washer fluid tank is located and what to put in it (do not use soap because it will leave a soap residue on the windshield).
4. Where the battery is located and how to use jumper cables to jumpstart a car.
5. Where the spare tire and jack are located in a car, truck, and Jeep.
6. How to use the jack and chock the wheels of the car.
7. How to check the air in a tire with a tire gauge.
8. How to put air in a tire.

            After instructing teens about each aspect, Hollingsworth put them to the test. The teens actually removed the lug nuts with a lug wrench and then took the tires off, rotated them and put them back on. After that, they checked the air pressure in the tires and put more air in the ones that were low. They engaged in other hands-on activities with the car as well and many said they learned a lot from this experience.

            We appreciate all of the teens that came with the mindset to learn important skills. The Calhoun County Library appreciates Lee Hollingsworth for teaching and for his time.

            Join us for Teen Night on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 5 PM from October through May. This program is for teens ages 12 - 17. We may interject other programs throughout this school year, but we will focus on 20 Things You Need to Know Before Leaving High School periodically.

Holidays at the Library

            Calhoun County Library has two Christmas programs coming up within the next few weeks for the community to get into the holiday spirit.

            Porkchop Productions will be at the Calhoun County Library on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at 5 PM. The fan favorite is coming to perform the Christmas play Holly and the Christmas Kerfuffle for us!

            “With only a few days left before Christmas, toys are disappearing from the Toy Safe in Santa’s Workshop and Holly the Elf is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery! Holly will go to any length to catch the thief…from the outrageous to the hilarious… to make sure Christmas goes off without a hitch!

This installment of our Holly the Elf series promises plenty of laughs, and teaches important lessons in understanding, the gift of giving, and learning to put yourself in someone else's shoes.”

            Our second holiday event, Cookies with Santa, will take place on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, from 5 PM - 7 PM. Santa Claus will be at the Calhoun County Library to take pictures and listen to what all the good little boys and girls would like from him this year. Along with the Santa Claus main attraction, there will also be crafts, hot chocolate, cookies, book readings to listen to, and a free book to read before Santa visits your house on Christmas Day!

            Come and get your Christmas spirit going while having fun with the Porkchop players and Santa Claus. These two events are sure to keep you laughing and having fun the entire time! It is also bound to get you in the holiday spirit. We'll see you there!

20 things You Need to Know Before Leaving High School at the Calhoun County Library

            Our Teen Nights have started back and we're launching a series of programs called 20 Things You Need to Know Before Leaving High School. This past Tuesday, November 1, we invited members of the Bee Creative group to collaborate with our teens and teach them a few life skills. We focused on laundry and clothing care.

            Tuesday, November 1, at 5 PM the teens started rolling in for Teen Night at the Calhoun County Library. We also had three ladies from the Bee Creative group at the library who arrived with needles, thread, an iron, and an ironing board. Linda Coleman, Linda Felkel, and Thelma Miles handed out squares of fabric, spools of thread, needles, and buttons. Teens learned the correct way to sew on a button and did a great job with it! After buttoning things up at the table, they moved to the ironing board where they learned about the settings on the iron and using steam. Each teen took a turn ironing a cotton shirt including sleeves, collars, and cuffs. 

            After sewing buttons and ironing shirts, the teens learned how to do laundry and how to read labels on clothing. We looked at all the dials on a washer and dryer and learned what they mean, and we discussed what terms like “dry clean only,” “hand wash only,” and “tumble dry low” mean on a clothing label.

            Hopefully, our teens left with a sense of accomplishment and felt like they could sew on a button, iron a shirt, and do their own laundry. We appreciate the help of our Bee Creative members and are thankful for their time.

            Join us for Teen Nights on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from October through May. This program is for teens ages 12 - 17. We may interject other programs throughout this school year, but we will focus on 20 Things You Need to Know Before Leaving High School.

Come Meet A S.C. Author

            The Calhoun County Library is hosting an event to meet a South Carolina author next Thursday.

            We are having an author event on Thursday, November 10, 2022, from 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM here at the Calhoun County Library. The author, William A. Glass, is a South Carolina native who started writing to pass the time in the car during road trips. Glass will be here discussing his second published book, As Good As Can Be, which came out in 2020 and is about “a wayward child growing up in a military family during the 1950s.” When he isn’t writing, Glass is a soccer coach at the Salkehatchie branch of the University of South Carolina. He is a retired businessman.

            Join us for this author event next Thursday and enjoy light refreshments and stimulating conversations with a South Carolina author.

            This event is made possible by the support of the Friends of the Calhoun County Library.

Boo Bash! at the Calhoun County Library!

            BOO! Did we scare you? Don’t be scared to come to the Calhoun County Library on Halloween night!

            The Calhoun County Library is hosting Boo Bash! on Monday, October 31, to celebrate all of our spooky, cute, and funny patrons who will be out trick-or-treating.

            Our Boo Bash! will take place on Halloween night from 4 PM - 7 PM at the library! We know that children don’t want to stop in one place for too long because that limits the amount of candy they may get while trick-or-treating, so we have a quick plan in place to make sure everyone has fun. Come through the main doors of the library and work your way through for crafts, games, a free book, and, of course, CANDY! We will have activities like sensory squirm, ring the skeleton, pin the spider in the web, and much more to keep you entertained while taking a break from walking.

            We hope to see everyone here at the Calhoun County Library on Halloween night!

Yoga: Connecting Mind and Body

            Although Monday’s are considered one of the worst days of the week, Calhoun County Library might be able to change that opinion with a fun class.

            Experience mindfulness on and off the mat with yoga. Start your week off right by attending a yoga class taught by Kathie Goodwin. Every Monday from 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM, we get out our yoga mats and focus on connecting our minds and bodies.

            Exhale to strengthen. Focus on balancing. Square your hips. Back to center.

            Through multiple stretching and breathing techniques, Kathie will guide you through movements that provide mental and physical benefits.  These classes focus on your inner awareness and your body’s present capabilities and emphasize the development of mind and body strength. Her instructions will challenge you without making you feel overwhelmed. Instead of feeling pressured to immediately perform correctly, the class feels more like a group of people encouraging each other. The energy is beautiful.

            It is only $2 a class or $7 for the entire month! All of us yogis (people who partake in yoga) meet every Monday first thing in the morning. We hope you join us for a class!

            There will not be a yoga class on Monday, October 24, 2022. This class has been rescheduled to Friday, October 28, 2022, at 9:30 AM.

(Photo by Rachel B. Ficek)

Staff Pick!

Janice Baskin

            Here at the Calhoun County Library, staff gets to express their creativity and enjoyment to promote fun reading and learning on a daily basis.

            “When I first read the Harry Potter series years ago, I was blown away. I read it along with my oldest daughter and we both fell in love with the books. Not only are the books magical and very adventurous, but multiple life lessons are hidden among the pages as well,” says Janice Baskin, Programs & Outreach Coordinator.

            Out of this mischievous group of friends, who are always managing to stumble into problems at every turn, Hermione is 9 times out of 10 saving the day. How did she get so smart? The answer is pretty simple actually. Since she was born to muggle parents, she nor her family had any idea of the wizarding world. They had to research to learn! I can only imagine how many hours Hermione stayed awake late at night, definitely using the Lumos / Nox spells, and reading to find out about the power she possessed.

            One scene that always stuck with Janice is when Hermione was petrified in the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. She was found near the library and eventually Harry and Ron found a piece of paper balled up in her fist. Hermione’s passion for the library saved the day!

            Follow Hermione’s example: come by the library, pick up a book, and learn something new. 

Community Baby Shower Success

            Calhoun County Library hosted its second community baby shower the last Sunday in September to celebrate parents in our community.

            We were excited to host our second Community Baby Shower on Sunday, September 25, 2022, from 3 PM until 5 PM. Babies are such a joy and we want a happy community with healthy babies. The Calhoun County Library and supporting partners throughout our county want to make sure every child is welcomed home with all the necessities. Therefore, we gifted each family with diapers, wipes, a bib, a reading calendar, and five brand-new board books to start the baby’s home library. Not only do we want to provide some necessary items, but we also want to connect our parents with the many resources we have in our community. Our partners, Calhoun County First Steps, DHEC/WIC, SafeKids, and Family Health Centers, are valuable assets to these families, and this shower is the first time many of these parents are learning about each organization’s wealth of knowledge and support. Attendees enjoyed a lunch followed by cupcakes while listening and learning about newborns with various professionals from our community. 

            Javonna Lewis, Cassidy Gleaton, and Quinetta Garner attended representing Calhoun County First Steps. Donna Williams and Latasha Priester were representatives of DHEC/WIC. LaShayla Vernable, Dr. Sandra J. Stephens, and James Rickenbaker were representatives of Family Health Center.   Patricia Funderburk, a representative of SafeKids, supplied gift bags for the parents.  All of these community professionals provided essential information to our expectant or new parents as well as relevant answers during our question and answer sessions.

            The community baby shower welcomed 30 attendees, which included 13 expectant or new mamas. Parents had the opportunity to sign up for the library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program and for First Steps’ Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. These two programs expose infants and toddlers to books and the love of reading by celebrating reading milestones and by providing a free book delivered to each child’s home every month.

            The Calhoun County Library would like to thank everyone who came as attendees, volunteers, staff, speakers, and supporters. Thank you to our community members who graciously donated baby items for door prizes. We were thrilled to be part of this community project and we look forward to the next baby shower!

            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.