Calhoun County Library Starry Kickoff

            The Calhoun County Library has announced their Summer Reading Program kickoff event: a Portable Planetarium from Roper Mountain Science Center.

            The Summer Reading Program is starting soon. The theme this year is “Adventure Begins At Your Library.” To really get the adventure started, we have a special kickoff event planned for Thursday, June 6, 2024. Roper Mountain Science Center is going to bring their portable planetarium to the John Ford Community Center gymnasium. So, what is a planetarium? Well, a planetarium is loads of fun! It is a large inflatable dome that shows what it’s like to be in outer space. This can range from the night sky to big shooting stars to the Aurora Borealis to other planets. To get our Summer Reading Program started off with a bang, we’re bringing the galaxy to St. Matthews!

            There will be multiple viewings for the Portable Planetarium. Each viewing will be 30 minutes long and can hold up to 25 people. Therefore, you must make a reservation to attend this stargazing viewing. Please call us at 803-874-3389 to choose a time slot. We are anticipating that this will get full quickly so don’t wait!

            Also, don’t forget to register for the Summer Reading Program to log all your books and get your prizes for every milestone. Registration for Beanstack will open on June 1, 2024. You do not need to be registered to attend the events, but you do need to be registered to get prizes. This includes the chance to win our end of the Summer prizes of bikes, gift cards, and more. So, register and log those books in just a few days!

Calhoun County Library’s Quarterly Employee Spotlight

            Meet our employee spotlight, Linda Coleman! You have seen her putting new materials out, helping you on the front desk, or leading one of our crafty programs. The Calhoun County Library has many wonderful employees who are dedicated to serving the community and helping out wherever there is a need. This month, we would like to shine the spotlight on a special staff member: Linda Coleman. Linda received a gift card and is featured on our Employee Spotlight wall in the library, so come check it out and congratulate her!

Linda’s professional title is Cataloger, which means that she organizes the library materials to make them easier to find here. It is because of her that we can find all the children’s books by the same author, all the Harry Potter movies, and all the Parent Help kits together by lesson. Linda has been with the Calhoun County Library for around 14 years which means that she has vast experience in the day-to-day workings of the library. She is a wealth of knowledge!

Linda also leads our Bee Creative group every 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday of the month from 5 PM - 7 PM. This is a program that Linda is passionate about as she enjoys sewing and crafting with the community she loves. In addition to Linda’s position here at the library, she has two children, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Come by and congratulate Linda and join us in thanking her for all her hard work and dedication to the Calhoun County Library because we appreciate her so much!

Calhoun County Authors

            Did you know that Calhoun County has a number of authors within the community that have their books in the Calhoun County Library? To celebrate these authors, who are both self-published and traditionally published, we held a Spring Author Fair last weekend.

On Saturday, May 4, 2024, from 11 AM - 1 PM, six local authors gathered at the library with the sole purpose of talking about writing, books, and their lives.

Authors included:

W. R. L. Battle, author of Wilhelm the Lemming

Heidi Bozard, author of Paper Plate, No Hair, & Jesus: Pictures,Posts,Prayers,and Pleas with Jesus on my Breast Cancer Journey 

Janice Larrymore, author of Emma Julia’s Journey: Our Family’s Faith Walk Through Dementia

Jay Mims, author of multiple books including The Gray Ghost Inn, The Five Santas, The Cult of Koo Kway, Racing the Storm, The Rose Bandit, and The Girl Who Saved Dan Landis.

Monica Roe, author of multiple books including Air, the Wilderness Ridge series: Turkey Hunt Tradition, Duck Hunting Dreams, Elk Hunt Adventure, and Big Alaskan Bowhunt, and several earlier books.

Christine Santana, author of Murder Beneath the Magnolias and Salt & Light Seasoning For a Simple Life Course Cookbook

Starting at 11 AM, all the authors began with introductions and then moved on to a Q&A session. Some of the questions our patrons had for our hometown authors included who their inspiration is, how long it took to write their books, and what were some of the best and most unusual experiences as authors. We won’t give away all of their secrets, but let's just say that the average time to write and edit was about two years. As far as unusual experiences go, one author actually got contacted by a police station that is NOT in Calhoun County for something they wrote. To get more answers, you’ll have to find these interesting authors and ask them yourselves! At noon, participants moved to the vendor’s room where they were able to talk one-on-one with the authors, purchase books, and enjoy delicious refreshments.

The whole event was locally represented through food, words, and a ton of talent. Everyone we spoke to loved the idea of showing support to the authors that have shown Calhoun County Library their support and had a great time. We would like to thank every author and patron for spending a Saturday morning with us for our first Spring Author Fair and we are looking forward to next time! Be on the lookout for our next Author Fair where you can meet talented writers from right around you.

From left to right: W. R. L. Battle, Monica Roe, Christine Santana,

Jay Mims, Heidi Bozard, and Janice Larrymore

School Bee Field Trips

            Did you know that inside the Calhoun County Library there is a real beehive full of living bees? Over 150 students visited the library and saw for themselves last week during Bee Field Trips. St. Matthews K-8, Calhoun Academy, and Sandy Run K-8 arrived at the library by the busloads to learn about the importance of bees in our community.

These three schools were invited to send elementary school students to the library to view our indoor bees while they received valuable lessons about them. On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, we had St. Matthews K-8; Wednesday, May 1, 2024, we hosted Calhoun Academy; and on Thursday, May 2, 2024, we had Sandy Run K-8. All of the students rotated through four bee stations: bee crafts, bee viewing in their hive, bee pollinator garden outside, and bee waggle dancing and fun facts.

Students were able to create two bee crafts, learn how to interpret the bees’ waggle dance (and they even did a little waggling of their own at the end), examine our pollinator garden with magnifying glasses and look for items on a scavenger hunt, and view our indoor beehive our very own beekeeper, Melissa. The bees showed off for our visitors flying in and out of the hive, depositing pollen, and even doing a waggle dance or two!  Each student left the library with fun facts, an interesting bee packet, and a goodie bag including a bee pen, a temporary bee tattoo, and a delicious honey stick for a sweet treat. We can’t wait to continue with these field trips for years to come and save the pollinators that are so important to us.

In case your child was not able to attend the field trip, or if you would like to view the bees yourself, we would love to have you visit the Calhoun County Library to watch these little busy-bodies fly in and out to gather pollen, make honey, and take care of their queen. Come and see what all the “buzz” is about!

Meet & Greet 6 Local Authors

            Calhoun County is a community filled with talent! On Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 11 AM, you can meet six talented authors from right here in Calhoun County.

The Calhoun County Library is hosting its first annual Spring Author Fair spotlighting six local published authors and their works. The Author Fair will take place from 11 AM – 1 PM, beginning with introductions and a Q&A session at 11 AM. At 11:45 AM, participants will move to the vendor’s room where they can talk one on one with the authors and purchase books while enjoying delicious refreshments locally prepared.

Authors who will be spotlighted are:

W.R.L. Battle, author of Wilhelm the Lemming

Heidi Bozard, author of Paper Plate, No Hair, & Jesus: Pictures, Posts, Prayers, and Pleas with Jesus on my Breast Cancer Journey

Janice Larrymore, author of Emma Julia’s Journey: Our Family’s Faith Walk Through Dementia

Jay Mims, author of multiple books including The Gray Ghost Inn, The Five Santas, The Cult of Koo Kway, Racing the Storm, The Rose Bandit, and The Girl Who Saved Dan Landis.

Monica Roe, author of multiple books including Air, the Wilderness Ridge series: Turkey Hunt Tradition, Duck Hunting Dreams, Elk Hunt Adventure, and Big Alaskan Bowhunt, and several earlier books.

Christine Santana, author of Murder Beneath the Magnolias, Salt & Light Seasoning For a Simple Life Course Cookbook

Please join us on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 11 AM to engage with and support these talented authors from your hometown. See you then!

The Mighty Purple Martin Painting

             Purple Martins are known for eating pesky insects and looking for a birdhouse to make a nest in throughout our county. In Calhoun County, we celebrate these beneficial  birds during the Purple Martin Parade and Festival. The festival has grown to its capacity over the years, and, of course, the Calhoun County Library is a part of it!

On Saturday, April 20, 2024, the Calhoun County Library set up a tent with several tables and chairs, multiple easels, paint brushes and paints, and a paintbrush rinsing station at the Purple Martin Festival.  Former teacher of the year and current art teacher at Calhoun County High School, John Sawvell, instructed people of all ages in how to paint a purple martin. We provided canvases with the bird already outlined on them or more advanced artists used blank canvases. Mr. Sawvell had his high school students create connect-the-dots to make it easier and more enjoyable for those who needed some guidance. Amidst all the happenings at the festival, there was something peaceful about sitting under the looming oak trees in front of the courthouse and leisurely creating a work of art.  Our community is filled with talented people, and they came to paint with us! This was a free event and activity for every age. We also gave out CCL pens and pencils, and every child that came to our tent left with a free book. We painted over 100 purple martins and we look forward to doing this again next year already!

We would like to thank everyone who came out to support the community and Calhoun County Library. Thank you to John Sawvell who assisted us making this festival a huge success and had a blast celebrating purple martins!

Growing with Music & Movement

            The Calhoun County Library loves to help babies find their rhythm through a program designed to get children moving!

On the 2^nd and 4^th Saturday of the month, we hold Music & Movement for children ages 0 to 5. This starts at 11 AM and lasts for a music-filled 30 minutes. On Saturday, March 23, 2024, we held our annual Grow with Me event. Since this was the 4^th Saturday of the month, we also had Music & Movement and it really drew in a crowd! Babies were kicking and toddlers were bouncing as we moved and grooved with tambourines, shakers, and scarves. Even Peter Rabbit couldn’t help but get in on the dancing, singing, and moving! Over 20 children attended this program and not only did they have so much fun, but they also received free diapers, wipes, and a board book at the end! If this sounds like something you would be interested in bringing your child to, we would love to have you! This is a completely free program. Our next date is on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 11 AM.

This program was 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. It is offered in partnership with Calhoun County Public School District with support from the American Rescue Plan.

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!

 

Grow with Me 2024

 

Calhoun County Library Activities

            The Calhoun County Library went to visit the legislative delegation at the State House for Library Day as directed by the State Library. Typically, library directors and representatives all go once a year to meet with their representatives and senators and promote libraries as a whole and their county libraries specifically.

Melissa McLeod of the Calhoun County Library met with Representative Russell Ott at the State House and then went to the Senate office building to meet with our senators on Wednesday, February 7, 2024. Senators Nikki Setzler and Vernon Stephens are currently our senators, and Melissa was able to see Senator Setzler in person and wish him well in his upcoming retirement. She left materials for Senator Stephens and also met with Senator Kevin Johnson, who will represent our region in the future. During these meetings, Melissa was able to share information about our Library’s successes with continued exciting programs and opportunities for patrons.

With the help of the SC Rural and Primary Healthcare grant, we welcomed a health and social services manager to our staff for the first time. She immediately set to work to utilize her skills and knowledge of the community. Confidential appointments provide assistance with benefits as well as guidance on housing, food, and social service provided to long-underserved residents. Health fairs were implemented, COVID testing and vaccination programs were offered, and long-desired plans for a county-wide, monthly pastors’ breakfast became a reality. This opportunity to provide community outreach and share the services available to the public with pastors has been a true blessing.

Our regular programs, from youth to adult, have continued to be popular and well-attended. With Mother Goose on the Loose and Music & Movement offered for babies and toddlers, Teen Programs led by the Teen Advisory Board, and valued adult programs like Bee Creative, Computer Class, Yoga, Strong & Limber, and BINGO, there are many weekly programs to appeal to all ages. Holiday programs have drawn huge crowds with more than 500 spooky guests at Halloween, a packed house for our Christmas program featuring cookies and cocoa with Santa and performances by the inimitable Porkchop Productions, and a new Grow With Me program at Easter that promoted healthy eating, growing fresh vegetables, and spending time outdoors.

Our STEM programs visit every school in Calhoun County and provide a feeder for our Summer STEM camp. Additionally, many staff members enjoy the outreach opportunities provided by story times at the various public, private, and faith-based schools across the county. Our beautiful Bookmobile makes multiple stops around the county, as well, with regular visits to our disabilities and special needs friends at The Gressette Center.

Summer Reading saw many happy children, teens, and adults taking part in our “All Together Now” programs. These programs include our kickoff event which saw the Calhoun County Courthouse lawn covered in spray foam tunnels for children to explore together. The fun continued with performances by a beloved Columbia Marionette Theatre company performance, an origami artist, a magician, the favorite Porkchop Productions, and our beloved and feared “Critter Keeper” who amazes everyone with his giant toads, spiders, and his challenge for brave volunteers to come together to hold his 9-foot Burmese Python.

We continued our Community Baby Shower welcoming and celebrating new and expectant parents with blankets, diapers, lunch, and a cadre of medical and service providers for their special arrivals. This has become an annual event that brings a smile to the faces of all who participate, and helps introduce childhood literacy from the start. We use this as an opportunity to promote the following programs: 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, The Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Mother Goose on the Loose, and Music & Movement.

Be on the lookout for more events and programs offered by the Calhoun County Library. There will be many more to come. Thank you for making this library a valuable staple of Calhoun County; we look forward to serving the citizens of Calhoun County this year!

Calhoun County Library’s Quarterly Employee Spotlight

            Meet our employee spotlight, Moriah Reed! You may have seen her smiling face at the circulation desk as you entered the library, or you may have experienced her warm reception as she expressed the greeting, “Welcome to the library.” The Calhoun County Library has many wonderful employees who are dedicated to serving the community and helping out wherever there is a need.  This month, we would like to shine the spotlight on a special staff member: Moriah Reed. Moriah received a gift card and is featured on our Employee Spotlight wall in the library.

Moriah is a Patron Services Assistant and has been with the Calhoun County Library for over a year. She started working here as an intern and was offered a permanent position around the time of our Summer Reading Program, the busiest time at the library. Moriah jumped in full force and eagerly trained for her position at the circulation desk. She is always willing to meet the needs of our patrons. Currently, Moriah is working at the library part-time and attending Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College pursuing entrance into the radiology program.

Come by and meet Moriah and join us in thanking her for all her hard work and dedication to the Calhoun County Library because we appreciate her so much!