Monday, December 22

Reminders on Your Cell Phone!

The following are two ways to keep ahead of library items coming due. Each one of these will notify you so that you can return the items or renew them, if you wish.

Library Elf works with the CMRLS catalog to not only send you email when your items are due, you can have the reminders sent to your cell phone!

The CMRLS Early Email Notification will send you an email 3 days before you or anyone in your household or care has library material due!

For CMRLS Early Email Notification, just let your library staff know that you are interested and supply a valid email address. You can have everyone in your household linked to one email! For Library Elf, just follow the hyperlink and fill in the information. Library Elf works with the library catalog to notify you by email or cell phone!

Stay ahead in 2009!

Wednesday, December 17

Libraries' ToolBar

Have you looked at the link for the libraries' free personalized toolbar; it works with Internet Explorer and FireFox, Windows and Mac. There is even an uninstall, if you don't like it; and there is no SPAM, viruses, or junk mail that is linked to it. You get a one-click button to the libraries' website, online catalog, quick reference, news links, and our job notices...even a "search the library website" textbox! Check it out!

Friday, December 12

Library Closings

Wasn't the snow nice? Unfortunately it meant that the libraries were closed on Thursday, Dec. 11, but opened Friday morning at 10:30. Administration wanted to make sure staff and patrons would be safe on the roads. Simpson County libraries (Magee, Mendenhall, and Harrisville) are still closed today, Friday, Dec. 12, as the Simpson County Sheriff's Department asked that citizens not be on the roads. These libraries will be open Saturday, Dec. 13, 9:00 a.m., for their regular hours of business.

ALL CMRLS libraries will be CLOSED at 1:00 p.m., on Dec. 24, and remain CLOSED on Dec. 25, 26, and 27, for the Christmas holiday. Libraries will again close at 1:00 p.m, on Dec. 31, and remain CLOSED on Jan. 1 and 2, for the New Year's holiday. You may renew items during these times on the website using Rosie's Web the online catalog or by phone at 601-825-5450. Please have your library card with you when logging on or making the phone call. Your barcode and Personal Identification Number are needed to complete the transaction.

Monday, October 27

CMRLS Staff Member Receives Scholarship


Congratulations, Mara!

CMRLS' and Pearl Public Library's own Mara Villa recieved the 2008 Virgia Brocks-Shedd Scholarship, awarded by the Mississippi Library Association Black Caucus Roundtable in honor of the late Virgia Brocks-Shedd who devoted twenty-six years of outstanding service to the Humanities. This award is made annually to a minority library science student and was presented during the 2008 Mississippi Library Association Conference in Natchez, held Oct. 22-24.

Ms. Villa, pictured far left, is the Youth Services Supervisor of the Pearl Public Library. She is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Library Science from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Thursday, September 25

Thursday, July 31

Getting Ready for School

While your child is choosing which color notebook to use for which class, remember that the most valuable tool for school is a Central Mississippi Regional Library System (CMRLS) LIBRARY CARD. “The library card is FREE to anyone living, working, or attending school in Rankin, Scott, Simpson, or Smith counties,” said Kaileen Thieling, Director of CMRLS. Not only will the library card give your child access to more than 350,000 books, newspapers, and magazines to be checked out or used in the library; your child will have FREE online access to even more up-to-date books, newspapers, and magazines for those inevitable school projects. These may be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from the library website, http://www.cmrls.lib.ms.us/.

Think of needing an encyclopedia or magazine article late one evening when the library is not open! The article will be right at your fingertips from any online computer. “Most teachers do not accept sources such as Wikipedia™ or Yahoo Answers™ for school projects not because they are found on the Internet, but because the sources of the answers are not verified,” said Director Thieling. “The libraries’ online sources are reputable, peer reviewed journal articles, books, encyclopedias, maps, and videos in all the subjects needed by your elementary, middle or high school student.”

This year, CMRLS has added Internet Math™ to the homework help resources found online. Internet Math™ teaches and reviews math word problems for students in grades 1-8. Each problem is accompanied by a series of visual hints that teach the student how to solve the problem. Library staff will set up a FREE account for any student wanting to use this resource. Lessons are saved by using the student’s password, allowing students to return to the lessons as often as needed.

Students with library cards may also practice the 4th and 8th grade proficiency exams and study lessons on math, language, or computer skills on Learn A Test™, another online library resource. “Library staff will be glad to help students access any of these resources,” said the Director. “The libraries want to help make this a successful school year.”

Central Mississippi Regional Library System serves the public libraries in Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith counties. Further information may be found online at http://www.cmrls.lib.ms.us/ or by visiting your local library.

Friday, June 27

Playing Games for Fun and Learning

Video games at your library? YES! Wii, Playstation 2 and 3, Xbox360, and Nintendo DS; at your library!
Central Mississippi Regional Library System (CMRLS) added more than 300 video games in five of the most popular game formats to its collection. The libraries are not choosing to offer video games rather than reading material to the young or the young-at-heart of the community. On the contrary, reading lists are available at the library for those wishing to read in the same genre in which they enjoy playing games. Science fiction and fantasy, military action, sports, adventure, and treasure seeking are popular themes of today’s video games, and of course, books for all ages. Slow or reluctant readers may learn to love books and become life-long learners from playing games and taking advantage of these age appropriate reading lists!
The video games are found at the Flowood Library in Rankin County, Forest Library in Scott County, Magee Library in Simpson County, and the Taylorsville Library in Smith County. However, the games may be checked out from any library in these counties for one week, by any library cardholder, 16 years of age or older. A list of the game titles in each format may be seen at http://www.cmrls.lib.ms.us/ from the Basic Search window of Rosie’s Web, the online catalog. All games in the collection are rated E for everyone through T for teen, by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.
Popular sports games such as SEGA Bass Fishing, Cabela’s Trophy Bucks, Madden NFL ’08, NASCAR ’08, FIFA Soccer ’08, Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour ’08, are among the many titles in this new collection. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Hannah Montana: Music Jam, Bratz, Ironman, The Bee Movie, LOST Via Domus, and Lego Star Wars are just a few of the television and movie tie-in games available.
For the younger gamer, the collection includes Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Mermaids, Go Diego Go: Safari Rescue, Strawberry Shortcake Sweet Dreams, John Deere Harvest in the Heartland, and many, many more. Physically interactive games requiring additional controllers are loaned with the needed equipment, such as the Wii Mario Kart (with wheel), karaoke games such as American Idol Encore and Singstar (with microphone), and Scene It Movie Trivia (with 4 wireless controllers).
Many CMRLS libraries are busy planning gaming program opportunities for all ages, to be held at the library. These events will be announced through the media at future dates. An Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, administered by the Mississippi Library Commission this year, funded the CMRLS video game collection announced here. This is the first such collection in the state of Mississippi.
For information concerning this or other library materials, contact your local library or visit on the web at http://www.cmrls.lib.ms.us/. Central Mississippi Regional Library System serves the public libraries of Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith counties.
-End-

Friday, June 20

Not Today's Music!

RatherGoWalking
RatherGoWalking, originally uploaded by msulibrary1. (Viewed during a breakout workshop at the MSU Library 2.0 Summit, 2008)

This is one of many scans of 100 year old sheet music from the archives of Mississippi State University! Check out the rest of the collection on Flikr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/msstatelibraries/sets/72157605711536723/.


Friday, May 30

JUNE is Audio Book Month


Are you planning a family vacation this summer? Gonna' have to be stuck in a car for hours? Take along a family-friendly audio book! Your library has them on cassette tape, CD, even a "Playaway."


What's a Playaway, you ask? It's a MP3 player (pictured above) on which the book is loaded; you can listen through earphones (or an external speaker, just like you use for iPod or other players). This is battery operated and comes with the batteries needed to listen to the book, even the long ones! No CDs or tapes to lose under the car seat or forget where you last put them! Patrons are listening to these while exercising and doing chores around the house; its small enough to fit in your pocket or hang around your neck.


Check here for a list of books on tape @ your library, here for books on CD, and here for Playaway.


Have a GREAT summer listening to books!

Thursday, May 8

NEW Library Card!

They are here!
The NEW plastic
CMRLS library cards
can be found at your
nearest CMRLS library.

Stop by your library with your current card and ask the staff to issue you one of the new plastic cards. You have the choice of a credit card sized library card or the convenient key tag library card. The key tag card easily slips on to your key ring just like your Kroger or CVS cards. You'll always have it with you!

The library staff will take your old paper library card and add it to the cards they have already collected. Make sure your signature is on the back, because your old card enters you into a drawing at the end of September! Each CMRLS branch will hold a drawing with prizes from local businesses.

While you are replacing your old paper card, you will want to tell the staff of any address, phone number, or email address changes that need to be made. EARLY EMAIL NOTIFICATION is available to those of you with email addresses. CMRLS will send you an email 3 days before any item you have checked out is due. This means NO late fees! Just tell your library staff to sign you up for EARLY EMAIL NOTIFICATION.

For branch location and hours of operation visit http://www.cmrls.lib.ms.us/BRANCHES.htm, with a new interactive CMRLS service area map!

Tuesday, April 29

Celebrate 100 Years - Ian Fleming

May 28, 2008 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ian Fleming who gave us that famous spy, James Bond! Check out his books and the movies @ your library. Take a look at the website Ian Fleming Centenary for a brief biography and news of the latest theatrical release coming in November. And, because of Fleming's Bond, not only do all of us expect spies to have great gadgets, we expect them to dress the part. Who would think of a spy not owning an x-ray vision camera pen and a tux, or two?

If you have enjoyed the Bond movies and haven't read the books, why not start with the latest release, Devil May Care, by Sebastian Faulks, writing as Ian Fleming. Just can't wait for your name to come up on the request list for Devil May Care? Try these series titles...

Hawke, by Ted Bell
Quiller bamboo, by Adam Hall
The spy who came in from the cold, by John Le Carre
Eye of the storm, by Jack Higgins

Still looking for something that reads like a James Bond novel? Ask your librarain!

Tuesday, March 25

Friday, March 7

LookyBook

Take a look at LookyBook, a great website with children's picture books that you can read online. I think my favorite is Bad Kitty, by Nick Bruel. I hope you enjoy it!




Thursday, February 14

Libraries Close for Holidays

will close
Monday, February 18
for Presidents' Day.
Branches will open
regular hours on
Tuesday, February 19.
Items may be renewed online,
or by phone,

2008 Presidential Election

Have you made your mind up yet or do you need help making sense of it all? Try some of these websites to follow along the campaign trail.

From the Librarians' Internet Index:

AltWeeklies.com: 2008 Presidential CampaignCompilation of news stories and commentary concerning the 2008 U.S. presidential election, from more than 100 alternative U.S. and Canadian newsweeklies. Entries include headline, brief story summary, author, publication, and option to email the stories. Also includes links to the full stories. Listed chronologically. From the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies.

Election 2008: Vote by Issue QuizThis quiz helps you "[l]earn about the [2008 presidential] candidates through their platforms, not their personalities. [It] features some of the issues that have gained traction this campaign season." Also includes an "Election Issues" section (top menu, once you enter the quiz) with candidates' statements about health care, immigration, energy, Iraq, abortion, and other issues. From WBUR and the Online NewsHour.

The Onion: War for the White HouseThis satirical publication's coverage of the 2008 U.S. presidential election features "news" stories, humorous candidate profiles and candidate statements on key issues, videos, and a creative description of the election process. From the Onion, which "is not intended for readers under 18 years of age."

PolitiFact.comThis website was created "to help voters separate fact from falsehood in the 2008 presidential campaign. Journalists and researchers from the [St. Petersburg] Times and CQ [Congressional Quarterly] will fact-check the accuracy of speeches, TV ads, interviews and other campaign communications." Searchable; or browse the site's "Truth-O-Meter" by candidate, subject, political party, and other factors. Includes related articles and in-depth features.

Resources found elsewhere on the 'Net:

Declare Yourself - Quick and easy Learn about the 2008 election.

Electoral Vote - Track the electoral college and congressional elections with a red/blue map of the US updated daily using the latest state polls.

2008 Presidential Election from Yahoo! - Full news coverage and opinions on the 2008 presidential election. Find photos, audio, video, and related sites about the 2008 election on Yahoo! on Yahoo!

The 2008 Election with CNN
- Latest headlines and video, candidates' positions on the issues, fundraising totals, States to Watch news and analysis, and a unique side-by-side visual ...

NPR & the 2008 Election - In-depth coverage of the 2008 presidential election, Democratic and Republican candidates, and primary elections and caucuses. Listen to audio and video ...

Election 2008 - Ongoing collection of nonpartisan and partisan national polls.

For teachers from Scholastic.com - Read our extended news reports of the Election 2008 campaign. This special report include stories, activities, background information and more.

From USA Today -
Up-to-the-minute breaking news coverage of US politics, including election 2008 and the presidential candidates. Visit USATODAY.com for complete access to ...

From Wall Street Journal
2008 presidential election -Learn more about the 2008 Presidential Election with news and headlines from the Wall Street Journal.

Reuters - Election 2008 - Link to Reuters Special Coverage pages for the major 2008 US Presidential candidates.

Wednesday, January 30

Best-selling Books @ your library

This is a list of best-selling books @ your library as of 1/6/08 from USA Today...
Use Rosie's Web/Online Catalog to search for and request any of these best-selling titles.

Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert
Atonement - Ian McEwan
The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
I am Legend - Richard Matheson
A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
The Innocent Man: Murder and injustice in a Small Town - John Grisham
You: Staying Young - Michael F. Roizen
Shooters - W. E. B. Griffin
Love in the Time of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The Secret - Rhonda Byrne
Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
The Golden Compass - Phillip Pullman
Double Cross - James Patterson
The Friday Night Knitting Club - Kate Jacobs
Exlipse - Stephenie Meyer
Shadow Dance - Julie Garwood
Into the Wild - Jon Krakauer
World without End - Ken Follett
Become a Better You - Joel Osteen
Shadow Music - Julie Garwood
I am America (And So Can You!) - Stephen Colbert
The Overlook - Michael Connelly
T is for Trespass - Sue Grafton
The Subtle Knife - Phillip Pullman
Deceptively Delicious - Jessica Seinfeld
Blood Brothers - Nora Roberts
Blood Dreams - Kay Hooper
Stalemate - Iris Johansen
The Amber Spyglass - Phillip Pullman
The Darkest Evening of the Year - Dean Koontz
12 Second Sequence - Jorge Cruise
The Memory Keeper's Daughter - Kim Edwards
90 Minutes in Heaven: A true story of Death and LIfe - Don Piper
The Daring Book for Girls - Andrea J. Buchanan
The Dangerous Book for Bosy - Conn Iggulden
The Shape Shifter - Tony Hillerman
Your: On a diet - Michael F. Roizen
People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks
Jim Cramer's Stay Mad for Life - James J. Cramer
The Road - Cormac McCarthy
Charlie Wilson's War - George Crile
Next - Michael Crichton
No Country for Old Men - Cormac McCarthy
The Choice - Nicholas Sparks
Born Standing Up - Steve Martin
Hide and Seek - Fern Michaels
Shopaholic & Baby - Sophie Kinsella
Stone Cold - David Baldacci
What to Expect When You're Expecting - Heidi Murkoff
The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory
Star Wars: Darth Bane rule of two - Drew Karphyshyn
The Glass Castle: A memoir - Jeannette Walls
Cross - James Patterson
Someone to Love - Jude Deveraux
The Alchemist - P{aulo Coelho
Playing for Pizza - John Grisham
Harry Potter and the Deathly Haloows - J. K. Rowling
The Best Life Diet - Bob Greene
The Audacity of Hope - Barach Obama
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A natural history of four meals - Michael Pollan
For One More Day - Mitch Albom
The South Beach Diet - Arthur Agatston
Blizzard of the Blue Moon - Mary Pope Osborne
Hunters: A Presidential Agen Nove - W. E. B. Griffin
The Emperor's Children - Claire Messud
Rhett Butler's People - Donald McCaig
The Suspect - John Lescroart
Women & Money - Suze Orman
The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers - Lillan Jackson Braun
The Venetian Betrayal - Steve Berry
Suite Francaise - Irene Nemirovsky
Home to Holly Springs - Jan Karon
Book of the Dead - Patricia Cornwell
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J. K. Rowling
confessor - Terry Goodkind
The Boleyn Inheritance - Philippa Gregory
Cesar's Way, Cesar Millan
The Almost Moon - Alice Sebold
Unnatural Exposure - Patricia Cornwell
Just a Taste - Deirdre Martin
The Nine - Jeffrey Toobin
The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield
Good to Great - Jim Collins
Deadly Gamble - Linda Lael Miller
Free Lunch - David Cay Johnston
Protect and Defend - Vince Flynn
World War Z - Max Brooks
Boom - Tom Brokaw
Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides
Lone Survivor - Marcus Luttrell
Rich Dad, Poor Dad - Robert T. Kiyosaki
Dear John - Nicholas Sparks
Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom
Flesh and Bone - Jefferson Bass
You: The owner's manual - Micael F. Roizen
Your Best Life Now - Joel Osteen
Snakehead - Antohony Horowitz
My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult

February is Library Lover's Month!

Wednesday, January 2

Best of 2007

If you "Google" the phrase 'best of 2007' today (Jan. 2, 2008), you get 2,050,000 hits! That number will change tomorrow. Here is a list of some of the interesting ones, in no particular order.

50 Best Websites of 2007 from Time
100 Best Companies from Working Mother
2007 World's Best Awards for Travel and Leisure from American Express
Best Books of 2007 from Amazon.com
Best Books of 2007 from Library Journal
Best Cars of 2007 from CNN and Consumer Reports
Best Employers of 2007 from AARP
Best Hospitals of 2007 by US News & World Report
Best of 2007 by Surfing the Net with Kids
20 Top Tens of 2007 by LifeHacker
Best of Zen Habits for 2007 by Zen Habits
Best of the Best Lists by Filmoculous.com (Lots of lists!)
Book Awards Lists
Best CDs of 2007 by NPR Music
100 Best Products of 2007 by PC World magazine
The Best of What's New for 2007 by Popular Science (PopSci.com)
Best Books of the Year by Publishers Weekly
Best of 2007 by Rolling Stone
Best 10 Books of 2007 by New York Times
TV's Best of 2007 by San Francisco Chronicle

Have fun finding out what others thought made 2007 a great year!