November Events at the Morton Library

November officially kicks off the holiday season, and we are very excited! We have been decorating the library for fall, and all our November events will be centered around fall or Thanksgiving!

Preschool Story Time

We always have so much fun at story time, and this month are themes are fall and Thanksgiving! Bring your little ones, and join us for stories, music, dancing, and crafts! Story Time is held in the meeting room every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

This month's themes are:

 November 6th: Scarecrows

November 13th: Turkeys

November 20th: Happy Thanksgiving

November 27th: Fall

K-6^th Grade and Teen

We will be having a K-6^th grade Craft Night on November 15 at 5:00p.m. We will be making birdfeeders using pinecones.

We will also have a Teen Craft Night on November 29 at 5:00 p.m. We will be making our own fall bookmarks.

Friends of the Library Meeting

The Morton Friends of the Library will hold a meeting on November 20 at 12:00 p.m. in the Morton Library meeting room. If you wish to become a friend of the library please join in on this meeting or come to the library for more information.

We look forward to seeing you at all of our programs and hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

R. T. Prince Memorial Library Reopens

Betty Medlock

New Branch Manager for Mize Library
 

The R. T. Prince Memorial Library in Mize reopens this month beginning Monday, Feb. 6, at 2:30 p.m. The Mize Library’s hours of operation are each Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; 2:30-5:30 p.m. Mrs. Betty Medlock is the new branch manager.

Mrs. Medlock has lived in the Smith County area for two and a half years with her husband, the minister of the South Raleigh Christian Church. They have been in the ministry for more than thirty years and have lived in many places; the most exotic of which was the Grand Cayman Islands. The Medlocks have three grown children, 4 grandchildren and another one on the way! Mrs. Medlock also teaches preschool at the First Baptist Church in Taylorsville. 

Medlock has worked the last couple of weeks with the staff of the Raleigh Library during her orientation to the Library System. When asked what she wants for the Library in Mize, Medlock answered, “I hope to make the community aware of the Library and the services available. The Library has a lot to offer the community.” Programming, including Preschool Story Time and summer reading programs, will continue at the Library. For information on how you can get involved through programming, donations, or volunteering call the Library at 601-733-9414 during business hours or email mize@cmrls.lib.ms.us. Mrs. Medlock can also give information regarding the Friends of the Library, a membership organization that supports the Library with projects throughout the year. 

The R. T. Prince Memorial Library in Mize is part of Central Mississippi Regional Library System, which serves the public libraries of Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith Counties. Further information about the Mize Library or others may be found online at http://www.cmrls.lib.ms.us.

Friends of the Mendenhall Library Raffle

The Friends of the Mendenhall Library are selling chances on a Valentine basket.  Chances are $1.00 each.

Drawing will be held Friday, February 11, 2011.

It's in the bag!

Are you in need of a way to transport your books to and from the Library? Would you like to support children's programming such as Summer Reading at your Library? Now, you can do both!

Your support is literally "in the bag!" Purchase the bag pictured - or any item - and the profits go toward helping your Library with children's programming.  Libraries offer everyone a lifetime of reading and knowledge; a gift to be treasured by all ages. You are sure to receive compliments on this unique tote as you proudly display your support of your Library and the children of your community!

You may also support your Library by joining your local Friends of the Library chapter. Contact staff at your Library for more information.

Be MORE than a patron, be a FRIEND and supporter of your Library!

"Friends" Meet to Help!

Many Friends of the Library groups will meet this summer to discuss helping their libraries during this time of economic uncertainty, while others have postponed meeting until fall when everyone has returned from their vacations. Please, consider joining the group associated with the library nearest you. In most cases, membership is just $5 per person. No one, or in this case -- no library can have too many Friends!

Those meeting this summer are:

• Pearl Library Friends will meet June 11 & July 9 at 10:30 a.m.
• Brandon Library Friends will meet June 15 at 6:00 p.m.
• Florence Library Friends will meet July 1 at 6:00 p.m.
• Taylorsville Library Friends will meet July 12, 3:00 p.m.
• Raleigh Library Friends will meet July 13, 5:00 p.m.
• Forest Library Friends will meet July 15, 4:30 p.m.

If your library isn't listed here, contact the staff for information about becoming a FRIEND!
Become more than a patron, become a FRIEND of your Library!

Happy New Year!

It's 2010 and a brand NEW year is ahead of us!
CMRLS wishes you and your family a very happy New Year!

Everyone is aware of State budget cuts, but you may not be aware that they directly affect your local Library and the services that are offered in your community. Your local CMRLS Library staff took a pay cut during the 2009 budget cuts so that local Library services would not be interrupted. More State budget cuts will certainly mean interrupted services, whether it is fewer hours your Library is open, fewer programs and books, or even fewer staff. This, coming at a time when personal budgets are causing families to cancel Internet access and cut back on many entertainment expenses.

Your Library, as part of CMRLS, offers your community

• more than 360,000 free books, Videos/DVDs, Audios/CDs, magazines, and newspapers
• free reference materials and services, many even accessible at your home, office, and school
• free public access computers
• free programming for all ages, including annual Summer Library Programs

So, this is the time when CMRLS Libraries must depend on you letting your state, county, and city officials know that your Library is important to YOU and your community. Let them know that your community needs and deserves the services that your Library offers to all the citizens in their districts. Cuts in services will mean that those citizens that need the free Library services, especially local and state newspapers, Internet access and job searching resources, will lose; and so will your community.

What else can I do to help MY Library? Join your local FRIENDS group! The Friends of the Library supports local libraries with a small annual membership fee, usually $5 per year. This helps with programming, books, or needed supplies. Just ask your local Library staff how you can join FRIENDS.  Your Library needs FRIENDS!

Central Mississippi Regional Library System serves the nearly 200,000 citizens and public Libraries of Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith counties.

FRIENDS' Support Libraries!

While you are out and about on one of these pretty fall weekends, stop at one of these Libraries to look at the books, videos, magazines, and more for sale and to support the Friends of the Library!

Oct. 16 & 17 - Brandon Public Library

Oct. 31 - Sebastopol Public Library (@ Sebastopolooza)

Nov. 14 - Puckett Public Library

The money raised by these FRIENDS' groups will go to support programming or even to purchase books at their Libraries. Any one of these groups would be glad for you to join them for a small annual membership fee and all the money goes back into the Library!

Many of the CMRLS Libraries have on-going FRIENDS' Book Sales. Call your local Library to see if they have one, and "be more than a patron, be a FRIEND." Support your Library!