Adventures in Freegal

During time at home during quarantine, we librarians were tasked with sharpening our skills--I personally watched and took notes on dozens of hours of webinars to continue thinking about ways we can improve our library service. The other thing we were asked to do during this time was to really get familiar with our digital library resources.

I myself had only been part of CMRLS for a month before the quarantine began, so I was really excited for this opportunity to really take a step back and look at what we had to offer. (No harm in looking on the bright side, right?) One of my favorite things I found, which I had not previously looked into much, was the digital music service Freegal.

Now, just to set expectations properly: Freegal is not Spotify. It doesn’t have everything available you could think of. But, unlike Spotify, it doesn’t have any annoying ads or make you pay for a subscription. And, for the time being during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has changed from 3 hours of streaming a week to UNLIMITED streaming.

And don’t worry if you’re not at your computer--it has an app ready for your phone. All you need is your CMRLS library card number and your PIN number.

But maybe you’re like me: not really all that into streaming. I like to download my music to my computer, and put it on iTunes, so then it’s stored on my phone. That way, I don’t have to use data to stream, and I don’t have to worry about it’s availability. If so, here’s my favorite part of Freegal: 5 free downloads per week!

It’s hard to tell what will and won’t be on Freegal, but I have to say, sometimes in the fun of discovery that I look forward to. In late March, I started a Jimmie Rogers kick after seeing his music on the soundtrack to the Ken Burns’s “Country Music” documentary from last fall. After perfecting my Blue Yodel, I downloaded a couple of Beyoncé songs I had been meaning to get for a while. I downloaded “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Lovely Day” when we all mourned Bill Withers’ passing. One of my favorite country musicians, Jason Isbell, has his new album available on Freegal after releasing it in mid-May.

Sometimes, though, the fun is in finding--or reminding yourself of--music that you would have never thought about. I heard about the calypso folk styling of Alexander D Great when I heard his song “Maya Angelou” in the old CMRLS playlist “Book It,” listing a bunch of crazy songs with literary influences.

At least for me, music has always been a source of healing and comfort, among other things. I know a lot of people feel this same way. Freegal is an excellent, free source of satisfying your musical cravings during this unusual time, and it’s available to you through the use of your CMRLS library card!

December Events for the Morton Library

On December 5 

We will be having our Family Story Time

We will be reading Christmas stories, playing songs and making a craft

Fun for the whole family! 5p.m.  

December 12

It's SANTA CLAUS!

Come see Santa and have your picture made.

You can make your own pictures for free or

we can make them for $1 with proceeds going to 

the Friends of the Library.

After pictures we will make an ornament craft.

Bring the whole family!

Also come check out our Whoville!

December 19

We will be having a Dungeons and Dragons game

for Teens.

It will be from 3-4 p.m.

Mississippi Swing Band and National Library Week

MISSISSIPPI SWING BAND

IS RETURNING AND WE'RE HAVING A PARTY!

The Mississippi Swing Band is returning to the Flowood Library! Back for an Encore Presentation! 

Monday, April 8, 6:30-7:30p.m. 

  

The music will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will rock the house for the rest of the evening. 

  

Food will be served before, during and after this event. 

  

Music will be played. People will dance. 

  

I can't dance. Don't try to make me. I don't have any rhythm. I tried. It wasn't pretty. I would rather not scare the children. 

  

The Mississippi Swing Band will play oldies, but goodies. It will also play more contemporary. All of the music will be uplifting and entertaining. 

  

It's not everyday I hire an orchestra especially one that will appeal to all ages and all walks of life. 

  

Let me eat good food and enjoy the musical atmosphere. 

  

This Open House celebration will commemorate the beginning of National Library Week. 

  

This event is a celebration of libraries and what they do for the community and is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Flowood Library. 

  

It begins on Monday, April 8, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. Bring your dancing shoes and an appetite. 

  

For our patrons looking to browse our DVD collection during this time, well, have a sandwich. 

  

Other events scheduled for National Library Week. 

  

Tuesday, April 9, 2019, All Day Puzzle Day 

Enjoy puzzle day in the Reference area at the Flowood Library. Challenge yourself to assemble a puzzle in record time. 

  

Wednesday, April 10, 2019, All Day Game Day 

Enjoy game day in the Reference area at the Flowood Library. Select your game from an assortment of games. 

  

Thursday, April 11, 2019, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Classic Movie Night 

Celebrate National Library Week with a viewing of 

"The Book Club" (PG-13, 1h 44min). 

Bring your own drinks. 

Popcorn will be sold for 25 cents a bag by the 

Friends of the Flowood Library. 

  

Friday, April 12, 2019, Tai Chi for Better Health 

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM 

G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library (Flowood) 

Some benefits of Tai Chi: 

Improves circulation, reduce stress, improves flexibility, improves balance, builds muscle strength, improves posture. This workshop is free and designed for beginners. 

  

Saturday, April 13, 2019, Poets Anonymous 

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM 

G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library (Flowood) 

Share your interest in writing poetry with a group of talented poets. This group meets every second Saturday of each month at the Flowood Library. 

  

School will be out soon, and our Summer Reading program will be here before we know it. How quickly time flies when you're having fun. I encourage each of our patrons to visit the Flowood Public Library during the summer. 

  

The Flowood Library is here to serve the informational needs of the community and to allow people to seek self-improvement and have fun doing it. 

  

Unlike a college or a university we provide access to informational materials free of charge.  Some academic institutions charge for parking.  We don't. 

  

Stop by your public library and see what we can offer.

Mississippi Swing Band

MISSISSIPPI SWING BAND

IS RETURNING AND WE'RE HAVING A PARTY!

The Mississippi Swing Band is returning to the Flowood Library! Back for an Encore Presentation! 

Monday, April 8, 6:30-7:30p.m. 

  

The music will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will rock the house for the rest of the evening. 

  

Food will be served before, during and after this event. 

  

Music will be played. People will dance. 

  

I can't dance. Don't try to make me. I don't have any rhythm. I tried. It wasn't pretty. I would rather not scare the children. 

  

The Mississippi Swing Band will play oldies, but goodies. It will also play more contemporary. All of the music will be uplifting and entertaining. 

  

It's not everyday I hire an orchestra especially one that will appeal to all ages and all walks of life. 

  

Let me eat good food and enjoy the musical atmosphere. 

  

This Open House celebration will commemorate the beginning of National Library Week. 

  

This event is a celebration of libraries and what they do for the community and is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Flowood Library. 

  

It begins on Monday, April 8, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. Bring your dancing shoes and an appetite. 

  

For our patrons looking to browse our DVD collection during this time, well, have a sandwich. 

  

Other events scheduled for National Library Week. 

  

Tuesday, April 9, 2019, All Day Puzzle Day 

Enjoy puzzle day in the Reference area at the Flowood Library. Challenge yourself to assemble a puzzle in record time. 

  

Wednesday, April 10, 2019, All Day Game Day 

Enjoy game day in the Reference area at the Flowood Library. Select your game from an assortment of games. 

  

Thursday, April 11, 2019, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Classic Movie Night 

Celebrate National Library Week with a viewing of 

"The Book Club" (PG-13, 1h 44min). 

Bring your own drinks. 

Popcorn will be sold for 25 cents a bag by the 

Friends of the Flowood Library. 

  

Friday, April 12, 2019, Tai Chi for Better Health 

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM 

G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library (Flowood) 

Some benefits of Tai Chi: 

Improves circulation, reduce stress, improves flexibility, improves balance, builds muscle strength, improves posture. This workshop is free and designed for beginners. 

  

Saturday, April 13, 2019, Poets Anonymous 

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM 

G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library (Flowood) 

Share your interest in writing poetry with a group of talented poets. This group meets every second Saturday of each month at the Flowood Library. 

  

School will be out soon, and our Summer Reading program will be here before we know it. How quickly time flies when you're having fun. I encourage each of our patrons to visit the Flowood Public Library during the summer. 

  

The Flowood Library is here to serve the informational needs of the community and to allow people to seek self-improvement and have fun doing it. 

  

Unlike a college or a university we provide access to informational materials free of charge.  Some academic institutions charge for parking.  We don't. 

  

Stop by your public library and see what we can offer.