Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching...again. It's not like I didn't notice this, but I've been kind of busy trying to get the library reopened due to a power outage while handling a few other matters.

Now that the library is back in business serving patrons and the local community, I want to remind you that Valentine's Day will be here before we know it. Are you ready? We get so wrapped up in our daily routines that we often forget birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine's Day and other special events.


For so many people, Valentine's Day is a special day to remind the one(s) you care for that you love them. 

We can usually express this affection with the following items:


    Roses. Can't go wrong with roses. Stick with red roses. It's easier.

    Chocolates. Any kind of chocolates will do as long as they come in a box.

    Valentine's Day card expressing your devotion for the one you love.

    Dinner reservations at a restaurant where the meal is prepared in front of you or brought to you by a waiter or waitress.

    Optional: A musical stuffed animal that lights up and sings "Doctor, doctor give me the news. I've got a bad case of loving you," by Robert Palmer.

For others, Valentine's Day takes on a more sinister meaning. For example, it's a day many people hope to finalize a divorce proceeding or take the first husband or wife back to court to see about getting that restraining order removed.

Needless to say, Valentine's Day is an annual tradition and a boost to the local merchants and the economy.

I don't pretend to understand the intricacies of modern relationships, and I don't pretend to be Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli or "The Fonz," but there is a little advice I would have wanted to give my 18-year-old self when I first entered the dating arena:

-Avoid life-draining or toxic relationships.

-It's always good to have a background check done on your friend or intimate acquaintance.

-When searching for a suitable companion, take a look at their political affiliation, religion, education level, cultural background, marital status and age.

-Also take a look at their addictions: smoking habits, drinking habits, illegal drug habits and gambling habits.

-Ask if they are family-oriented or career-oriented. You can learn a lot from this question. You can also save a lot of time and money and effort.

-Social skills, something I was very much lacking at the time, are essential and take years or decades, for some people to develop.

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

What's Love Got To Do With It?

HAHAHAHAHA!

I bet you thought I was going to break into verse didn't ya, throwing that Tina Turner snarl on you! 

Yeah. Come on now! You know you did!

Nooooooo! This is about LIBRARY LOVE! And, by the way... it is definitely something to sing about!  

At the Pearl Public Library LOVE has EVERYTHING to do with it!  Sure does!

February is National Library Lover's Month. So, what does that really mean? 

Glad you asked!

Even though we may not think about it, patrons really do appreciate libraries! They really do. It's a place, not only that houses a plethora of material that can be borrowed, but that has so many other wonderful uses. And, it's all FREE!

Read the daily paper or an assortment of magazines, use free wireless internet, wireless printing, research subjects for papers, surf the internet for jobs, conduct meetings, attend programs for all ages and so much more can be done right at the Pearl Library!

So, the month of February is designated as a time when patrons can show their library some love. Sometimes it's just expressing their appreciation or even volunteering at their local library.

Now, at the Pearl Library, we like to show the community just how much YOU mean to us! 

Thaaaaaaat's riiiiiight!  

If it weren't for you, there would be no need for us! Believe me. We get that. That's why we try to treat y'all reeeeeeeeeaaaaalll good!

So, we want to make you feel right at home when you come in, and provide the best service with a smile! 

Then there's this special time of year when the Pearl Library puts on a big, two-day celebration just for you!

Come by the Pearl Library for the 12th Annual Come in From the Cold With a Good Book - Library Lover's Month celebration on Tues. Feb. 11 and Wed. Feb. 12 from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. both days! 

Free cookies, coffee and donuts -  all donated by local businesses - will be served up by library staffers and members of the Friends of the Pearl Library! 

Enjoy a cafe style, festive atmosphere! And, as it is really close to Valentine's Day,  why don't you make it a special date with a loved one? See. Now, that's a good idea!  And, did I mention it's all FREE? 

This program is so much fun, and quite the patron favorite!

There have been some really sweet moments during past Come in From the Cold With a Good Book programs. One special memory comes to mind. 

An eight-year-old boy was sitting with his uncle at a cafe table hungrily enjoying cookies. "I bet celebrities come in here," he said excitedly. "Look at this place! It's so romantic!" The uncle just smiled at him and nodded lovingly. The young lad went on enjoying the sweets and then blurted, "If Jesus was here I bet he would really like these cookies!"

What's LOVE got to do with it? EVERYTHING!

Always a great time! Don't miss out!

We'll see you there!

HAPPY LIBRARY LOVER'S MONTH FROM THE PEARL PUBLIC LIBRARY!

Morton Happenings For February

The month of February is Library Lovers Month! Come check out your favorite Romantic movie or book. We would also love to know why you Love our Library. Come in and fill out a heart to decorate our windows. 

Our events for February are February 6 at 5 p.m. We will be having Valentine's Day Family Story Time! Come join us and listen to stories and make a cute craft. It is fun for the whole family.

February 13 at 3:30 p.m. We will be having a teen Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament! There will be no card trading. Just bring your cards to come and have a good time.

February 20. We will be having a Morton Library Cook-Off!

It is for the whole family, just bring your favorite dish or dessert and we will hand out tickets to all

the patrons that come in and they can sample the foods and pick which one they think is best. The person with the most tickets at the end of the day will win the GoldenWisk Award!  

Please contact me Kelly Brown for more details 601-732-6288. 

On February 27 at 5p.m., for K-6. We will be having a beginner How to Draw class.

Every Friday morning, 10 to 11:00 a.m., we have Adult Coffee. Please come join us. This is a good opportunity to get out of the house and have coffee and board games.

Merry March Events at the Morton Library

February has flown by, and so have our wonderful February programs. The kids really enjoyed making Valentine’s Day cards to send to hospitalized veterans. Below are just a few of the cards that were made.

If you missed our February programs, that is okay because the Morton Library has many fun and exciting events planned for everyone to enjoy.

As usual we have Preschool Story Time every Tuesday morning at 10:30. This month's themes are:

March 5th: Dr. Seuss

March 12th: St. Patrick's Day

March 19th: Rabbits

March 26th: Llamas

So, bring your little ones and join us for stories, music, and crafts!

March 4-9 is Teen Tech week and we will be participating by hosting an Engineering Challenge! During the challenge each team will be designing a tower made from dried spaghetti and marshmallows; the team who builds the tallest standing tower will win a small prize. The Engineering Challenge will be held March 7^th at 5:00 p.m.

March is also the birth month of beloved author Dr. Seuss, and we would like to celebrate with a birthday party. Join us March 14^th at 5:00 p.m. to celebrate Dr. Seuss with crafts and snacks!

Family Bingo Night is back by popular demand! Join us March 21^st at 5:00 p.m. to play the classic game of Bingo and win some prizes.

Remember our Library Lover’s Month gift basket drawing will be March 1^st, so come by and get your name in the drawing to win!

The Unexpected Reference Question

A librarian is often tasked with the duty of helping a patron perform research on designated topics of interest. When a patron has a question that requires research, we call this a reference question. A librarian is capable of helping the patron and knows what research tools to use to get the patron the answer he or she needs in an expedited manner. Often a patron's question can be answered using the internet or using a book from our collection.

Sometimes a librarian must draw upon personal experience to quickly respond to a patron's request for information.

Whatever the path the librarian chooses to help the patron, it is the solemn duty of a librarian to pursue the research until the patron is satisfied that they have found all the information they are looking for.

It is a very challenging task sometimes.

Most of the questions asked by patrons tend to be routine. Some questions are downright unexpected.

One morning a patron walked into the library and told me that he wanted to understand women. The reason for this request is that he was getting married again and he did not want to make the same mistakes he had made from his previous marriage.

I thought for a moment. How best should I respond to this reference question? There were a number of approaches I could take to help the patron. There were several information resources I could draw upon including personal experience. I also needed to select an option that the patron would understand.

I had once as a young man asked my father a similar question, "Can you explain girls to me?" My father looked at me and said, "You're on your own, buddy."

I was left to my own devices. I had to learn by trial and error. I would find that some things can only be learned through experience.

There could only be one answer. I referred the patron to the book, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus by John Gray, Ph.D. I knew of this book from a documentary I had once seen on television by Barbara Walters.

If only I had had this information available when I was younger, I could have avoided many a train wreck of failed relationships.

The patron accepted the book and left satisfied to have found the means to understand his future wife. I never saw him again.

Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching. Cue theme from Jaws. It is the day many men fear because if they forget to make an effort to impress the love in their lives, there will be repercussions.

You will need the following items:

• Roses. Can't go wrong with roses. Stick with red roses. It's easier.

• Chocolates. Any kind of chocolates will do as long as they come in a box.

• Valentine's Day card expressing your devotion for the one you love.

• Dinner reservations at a restaurant where the meal is prepared in front of you or brought to you by a waiter or waitress.

• Optional. A musical stuffed animal that lights up and sings "Doctor, doctor give me the news. I've got a bad case of loving you," by Robert Palmer.

Have a Happy Valentine’s Day from the Flowood Library!

February Story Time at Magee Library

We love seeing our little ones every week at Magee. Every Wednesday at 11 am, we have our Story Time for Pre- Kindergarten age. We read books, sing and dance, and make a craft. Each week our stories all follow a theme. Some weeks, we use books that correspond with a holiday. Other weeks, the stories all include a particular animal or object. Sometimes, we read books are all written by the same author. February is a great example of using the upcoming holidays and introducing our little ones to new authors.

The first Wednesday of February is the 6th and that week is the Chinese New Year. Each year celebrates an animal and 2019 is the Year of the Pig. All our books will feature pigs. We will finish with a fun and simple Pig craft.

The 13th, we will get ready for Valentine's Day with some funny books and a really easy craft. We will also do some dancing and singing. It is always fun to the little ones jumping and spinning.

The last two Wednesdays of the month, we will feature two of our favorite children's authors.

On the 20th, author Jane Yolen will be our focus. Yolen's books are great for this age group for two reasons. First, the stories are short and action filled to keep the attention of our little ones. Second, the page illustrations are very colorful. Our craft this week will be taken from one of the books.

The 27th will be the last Story Time for February so we will end the month with one of our favorite authors, Mo Willems. His books feature a misbehaving pigeon that we will read about in one book. Another book will feature his beloved characters, Elephant and Piggie.

We hope to see you every Wednesday at 11 am at the Magee Library!

Gotta Love February at the Pearl Library! It's All About Showering Patrons With Really Good Stuff!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

This event should not be missed! Seriously!  

It's the eleventh annual, Come in From the Cold With a Good Book, the Pearl Public Library's star Library Lover's Month program. The library, local businesses and the Friends of the Pearl Library sponsor the two-day, sweet love fest! Free cookies, donuts and coffee! Yes, you read that right. It's all free, Wed. Feb. 13 and Valentine's Day, Thurs. Feb. 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days!

A huge shout out to  Community Coffee, Dunkin' Donuts, The Donut Factory, Sam's Club of Pearl, Wal-Mart of Pearl, That Special Touch Bakery and Simply Southern Cafe and Grill of Flowood for always coming through with fantastic, generous donations!   

Mmm, mmm, library love soooo good it makes you see sweet birds! 

Well, uh, actually you are seeing birds...paper mache ones. That would be Becky's Simply Crafts adult program Tues. Feb. 5 at 6 p.m.

Simply Crafts is a fun, FREE, and informal adult crafting group that meets every first Tuesday of the month at 6:00 at the Pearl Library.  There is no material fee, and all supplies are provided.  

WOW! Doesn't that sound so relaxing? Oh yeah, so relaxing it makes your eyes glaze over. That's OK! Lisa has just the thing for you! 

A Lavender Eye Pillow!

Uh-huh, Make and Take Lavender Eye Pillow, that's Lisa's How-to Tuesday program Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. Registration is required.  It's so easy. You can go through the CMRLS website at www.cmrls.lib.ms.us, click on EVENTS, choose the How-to Tuesday program and click on VIEW MORE. Or, you can call the library at 601-932-2562 and ask for Lisa or anyone at the reference desk.

How-To Tuesday's meet every third Tuesday of the month at 6:00 at the Pearl Library, and, as always, are absolutely FREE.  

Goodness, all these free, wonderful offerings seem like such a blessing don't they? Sure do.

And, hey, the Pearl Library also gives you a chance to be a blessing too!

Lisa reports that the Pearl Library Blessing Box started by Team Tungsten Robotics has been a huge success.   "We had many generous donations in November and December which sustained us throughout January. We are now in need of more canned food donations to help those in our community who are in need," she said. "We are accepting cereals, boxed foods, canned foods, and hygiene items.  Items can be placed directly in the blessing box in our front lobby or brought to the circulation or reference desks if the box is currently full.  Thank you for supporting your community!"

WOW! So much good stuff! You just have to get in all of the Pearl Library's February LOVE!

We'll see you there!

A MONTH WORTH LOVING AT THE PEARL LIBRARY!

     If it's February, then it must be Library Lovers' Month! If it's Library Lovers' Month, then it's the Pearl Public Library's time to shine! Oh yeah, baby! It's one of the most fun and sweet programs the library hosts all year. This is the Ninth Annual Come In From the Cold With a Good Book on Valentine's Day February 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m and Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 9 a.m . to 5:30 p.m. 
     Patrons will be treated to free coffee, donated by Community Coffee and free donuts and cookies donated by Pearl businesses - Walmart, Dunkin Donuts, Donut Factory, Sam's Club and That Special Touch Cakes and Flowers and Simply Southern Cafe and Grill in Flowood. The main entrance to the library will be transformed into a sweet cafe! Seriously, now. Do you really want to miss out on this?! I didn't think so!  Come in and enjoy the decorations and treats!

    While you are at the library any time during the month of February, write a couple of words telling why you love the library. Your entry will go into a Library Lovers' Month drawing to be held on March 1 for one sweet prize! Amy will be sure to take care of that!

      There's more. Amy has a Valentine's Day Strawberry Sugar Scrub for you lovely people that want to help your skin stay moist and smooth. Uh-huuuuuuuh! Amy's free, Simply Crafts group will be making this scrub on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. No reservation is needed and all materials are supplied! Remember, Simply Crafts is every third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m.

      Another Valentine's Day highlight is Patsy's Chapter 1 Book Club meeting at 6 p.m. on Feb. 14. Their book selection is Buried Secrets, the second book in the Heart of the Amazon Series by Margaret Daley. It's a free book club. No registration is required. There will be light refreshments and door prizes. The Chapter 1 Book Club meets every second Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m.

Don't miss out. We'll see you there!

THE SWEETEST LIBRARY LOVERS ARE AT PEARL!

Don't miss out! FREE cookies, donuts and coffee, all sweetly donated by Community Coffee, Wal-Mart of Pearl, Sam's Club of Pearl, Simply Southern, Dunkin' Donuts, Donut Factory and That Special Touch!! That's Thursday, Feb. 11 and Friday, Feb. 12, both days from 9 a.m. to 4 .m.! 

HAPPY LIBRARY LOVERS' MONTH AND HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

We'll see you there!

OH WHAT SWEET HEARTS WE WEAVE AT PEARL!

Paper Weaved Heart

Lana is busy looping her sweet, little heart into a wonderful February Simply Crafts program at the Pearl Public Library!   That's right!    February, the month of love and it's most identifiable symbol....the heart!  On Tuesday, February 9 at 6 p.m., Lana will be featuring paper weaved hearts!

"This craft makes me think of basket weaving with paper," says Lana. "To me, the art of weaving in general is kind of fascinating. What better way to honor Valentine's Day than by making a craft heart! We will weave red, pink and/or white construction paper into a red shaped heart!

Hey, you simply cannot miss this this craft night!  No reservation is required and all materials are supplied! You can't beat that!

We'll see you there!

February Craft Night at the Pearl Library!

Last week's Craft Night at the Pearl Library was a double-header!

First, we decorated some coffee mugs using stencils and magic markers. We then baked the coffee mugs at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. This sets the magic marker. I got this idea from Pinterest, and everyone had such a nice time doing this craft!

Next, while we waited for our mugs to bake, we made some Valentine's Day cards using repurposed book paper from an old book, along with some stencils, more markers, and acrylic paints. Look at all the fun we had!

And I forgot to mentino that the whole night got started off by a little celebration of Annie's birthday. Happy birthday Annie, and Happy Valentine's Day to everyone else!

If you're interested in coming to our craft nights, please join us every second Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.! Also, you can follow CMRLSLibrary on Pinterest and get a sneak peak at some of the crafts we plan to do.