The Need to Communicate with Rocket Languages

The Need to Communicate with Rocket Languages

In our Virtual Reference Collection, we have access to Rocket Languages, an immersion language program that teaches 15 languages free of charge. I don't know about you, but free is something I can afford. Learning a foreign language can be a daunting task, but it can bring several rewards.

I have taken three years of Spanish in high school and two years in college. I am by no means fluent, but on more than one occasion I have had a need to speak Spanish to make myself understood.

In a hotel room in Jacksonville, Florida a maid walks in to clean my room. I still had a couple of hours until checkout and I was working on my laptop computer. She spoke to me in rapid-fire Spanish and I told her that my Spanish was not very good. She thought this was the funniest thing in the world. Communication was a problem. The only thing I could do was say, "Quince minutos" which meant 15 minutes. She immediately packed up her vacuum cleaner and left.

At the Flowood Library we have a member on staff who is fluent in Spanish and Spanish speaking patrons can be referred to her when she is here. But what if she is not here? Well, we do the best we can.

I was in the Richland Walmart one day and a woman from India was saying to another customer, "ice cream." The other customer tried to tell her she didn't understand. I walked up to the lady and said, "ice cream." Using the words "ice cream" and some hand gestures I walked with this customer to the ice cream section at Walmart. She said, "thank you" and the problem was solved.

If I had only been using Rocket Languages to learn Hindi, then I might have been able to have a conversation with her. I had to stay with the only words that she knew and use nonverbal hand gestures. Fortunately, the word "ice cream" is a word that needs no interpretation.

Sign Language is often used by patrons when they come into the library. If a patron cannot hear, they can often read lips. Sometimes we must write in English on pieces of paper in order to communicate. Sign language is available in the Rocket Languages program.

There is nothing like the feeling of being in a foreign land such as South Korea and having a language problem. I was directed to a building on Yongsan Army Base where I was told I could get help and found myself facing three soldiers of the Republic of South Korean army. I asked for the return of my luggage keys in English and they responded to me in Korean or Hangul. I smiled and left determined to go back to HQs for reinforcements. I returned with a KATUSA (Korean Augmentee to the United States Army). I would find out later that they did not have my luggage keys and that they did understand English.

Learning a foreign language is not currently a requirement at the Flowood Library, but as our patrons become more diverse, I can see where one day it might be.

Here at the Flowood Library, we will adapt to the needs of our community.

It's a Circus of Fun at Raleigh

Read across America and Dr. Seuss's birthday are going to be celebrated at the Raleigh Public Library in a fun way with a circus party on Friday, March 1st at 3:30 pm. The circus is being based off a Dr. Seuss book called If I Ran the Circus. 

We will start by reading the book. We will also have a  mini magic show as well as plenty of circus carnival types of games and circus snacks. This will be a fun way to be reminded of how important reading is.

In order to accomplish fun things like this at the library we need our volunteers. There is no way we can accomplish this without them. Volunteers are such an important part of every library system. Whether it's for special parties like this or helping to shelve books, volunteers are necessary. If you have never thought about helping at your public library, check into it. I am sure they would appreciate your help. I know we do.

Dancin' Right Into Stimulating Programming at the Pearl Library!

Tuesday, March 12 will be a big night at the Pearl Public Library!  The Jackson Irish Dancers are back again this year, for Family Night, to throw down with some fancy foot work! It's a free program! Don't miss them at 6 p.m.! Enjoy delicious pizza provided by a regular Family Night co-sponsor, Pizza Shack of Jackson!

Not into Irish dancing, but into the Irish theme? Cool Beans! Come on in and enjoy a murder! Not a real murder! The Chapter 1 Book Club will discuss Murder at an Irish Wedding by Carlene O'Connor, Tues. March 12 at 6 p.m.! It's a free program. No reservation or membership required. The Chapter 1 Book Club is held every first Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. 

Like reading but really in the mood to create something.  Oh boy! Are you in luck! 

Becky and Lisa can HOOK YOU UP!

 That's right! 

Becky has Sensory Bottles on tap for her Simply Crafts night on Tues. March 5 at 6 p.m. Another free program that's beautiful, fun and hey, good for the nerves!  Very Calming!  Simply Crafts is every first Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m

If a sensory bottle doesn't float your boat, come see Lisa who is ready to dazzle with CD Suncatchers for her How-To Tuesday program on March 19 at 6 p.m. This painted creation is sure to beautify any yard or window! How-To Tuesday meets every third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m.

Last but not least by a long shot. March is National Youth Art Month and the Pearl Public Library has celebrated it in a huge way for over 10 years! This will be the eleventh year that students from the Pearl Public School District will canvass the library with their amazing art creations for viewing the entire month of March. On March 21 at 5 p.m. everyone is invited to a reception, sponsored by the Friends of the Pearl Library.

By the way, Lisa says that Team Tungsten Robotics is pleased to report that the Blessing Box is being utilized frequently, helping many members of the Pearl Community.  "If you find that you are able to give, our box is in need of canned and boxed food items," she said. "We are so grateful to have a wonderful community that provides support for those in need."

Thank you, Lisa and Team Tungsten!

Hey, there's so much going on at the Pearl Public Library! Remember, it's all free! Don't miss out!

We'll see you there!

Black History Celebration at the Brandon Library!

Join us Monday, February 25, at 6:00 pm, for a discussion of Coach
Rod Davis's life and experiences in sports! Coach Davis will be sharing to educate the public, promote understanding, and encourage fairness for all races.

Rod Davis is from Gulfport, Mississippi. He went to Southern Mississippi where he was selected as the Conference USA defensive player of the year during his junior year. Davis was the 2002 recipient of the Conerly Trophy, an award given annually to the best college football player in the state of Mississippi by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. He finished his college career with 526 tackles and 18.5 sacks. Rod was selected in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. As a professional linebacker, Rod played in the National Football League, Arena Football League, and the Canadian Football League. Coach Davis has spent the last 4 years at Northwest Rankin as their assistant head coach and defensive co-coordinator. Coach Davis was recently named the new head football coach at Florence. We are very honored to have Coach Davis speak at our library's Black History Celebration!

President's Day

President's Day

Many years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills near Rapid City, South Dakota. I got to see the sculptures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. Four dynamic presidents who had made a significant contribution to the history of the United States.

Mount Rushmore was majestic in so many ways.  It was the perfect day for my visit.

It's a good thing I brought my camera.

President's Day Holiday

This year we celebrated President's Day on February 18, 2019. What is President's Day? According to World Book Online,

"Presidents' Day is an annual holiday observed in the United States to honor the nation's presidents, especially George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. It is celebrated on the third Monday in February. The birthdays of Washington and Lincoln fall near or on the holiday. Washington, the nation's first president, was born on Feb. 22, 1732, according to the calendar we now use. Lincoln, who served as president during the American Civil War (1861-1865), was born on Feb. 12, 1809.

A federal holiday called Washington's Birthday also occurs on the third Monday in February. It became a legal public holiday in 1971. Later, many states adopted Presidents' Day instead, to honor not only Washington, but other presidents as well, especially Lincoln. Presidents' Day is sometimes called Washington-Lincoln Day.

On Presidents' Day, banks, government offices, libraries, and schools close. Most private businesses remain open. Many stores hold Presidents' Day sales."

Learning from History

I have a modest appreciation of history and I firmly believe in the adage, "If we do not learn from history, then we are destined to repeat it." There is another saying about history in an ancient Klingon quote from the television show Star Trek, "History is written by the victor."

We must study history from all angles to come close to finding out what really happened. I needed to step outside the history books to find out more about the presidents of the United States.

I have visited the presidential libraries of Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton. I have also visited a number of presidential hometowns, houses and grave sites.

No matter the character flaws of each individual president, no matter one's personal politics, it always seemed that the right person was in office at the right time to face the nearly insurmountable crisis of their time. Our nations' survival after 243 years is a testament to this.

The United States has a form of government that had never been attempted before. Each president in our history has been entrusted to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. Democracy is a great experiment. Not many countries have the option for an election of a leader followed by a peaceful transfer of power.

Recently I visited the Mississippi State Capitol and watched as Mississippi senators held a Christian prayer and said the Pledge of Allegiance before getting down to the business of politics. It was extraordinary. It was refreshing.

I'm a veteran and I've had the privilege of wearing the military uniform. To me President's Day is a reminder that we have had extraordinary leaders in our nation's history.

Rom-Com Trivia at the Brandon Library!

February is Library Lover's Month, and we at the Brandon Library want to make sure you all know how much we love having you here! Which is why, on February 21 at 6:30 pm, we're going to host our very first Rom-Com Trivia Night.

How well do you know your romance? Find out for a chance to win one of three awesome prizes!

(Remember: the bigger your team, the better your chances, but the more you have to share, as well!)

Black History Month: Following the "First" Footsteps

Whenever most people celebrate Black History Month, their minds immediately travel to the street marches of Martin Luther King, the Underground Railroad of Harriet Tubman, the bus ride of Rosa Parks, or the presidential trail of Barack Obama. African Americans have been on the move for years, advancing their race in all areas of American service. The theme of this year's Black History Month is Black Migrations; however, in Scott County, one only has to travel down the street to find African American accomplishments.

The Forest Public Library Teen Advisory Board (TAB) in partnership with the Legacy Education and Community Empowerment Foundation is presenting a Black History Month program at the library on Tuesday, February 26, at 6:00 p.m. The event for all ages includes a program compiled by Constance Slaughter-Harvey entitled THE FIRST: Legacy's African American Accomplishments in Scott County. On display will be the amazing artwork of Rev. Allen Cooks with a focus on local African Americans. The teens will assist with crafts and activities for children, and refreshments will be served after the program.

One of the highlights of the program will be a Jeopardy-style game entitled I AM THE FIRST. The challenge is to name the Scott County African American who achieved a "FIRST" accomplishment. Here are some examples of the first achievements:

I am the first African American Circuit Clerk elected in Scott County. Who am I? 

I am the first African American female graduate of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Law School. Who am I? 

I am the first African American in Scott County drafted by the National Football League in 1994. Who am I?

I am the first African American county-wide elected official -- Tax Assessor, 1997. Who am I?

I am the first African American female Forest Police Department Employee (31 years). Who am I?

Migration is defined as the movement of people from one place to another, requiring that the migration start over or begin anew. The Scott County African Americans who achieved the firsts listed above blazed new trails. Their migration did not require them to move to new locations, but rather to create new paths within their own community and county. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."  Journey with us on Tuesday, February 26, at 6:00 p.m., as the Forest Public Library follows the footsteps of these far-reaching Scott County African American "firsts". 

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!

Valentine Fun at Raleigh

We will have a busy but fun Valentine's Day at the Raleigh Library. It will begin with a book club meeting for adults and then a Valentine party for elementary kids.

We have a great book for our adult book club this month. It is a classic you may have read when you were younger. It is always fun to renew our memories. This month's classic is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It is the classic tale of four sisters as they relate to each other and the changes that life throws at them.

Our adult book club is a special time to get together with other book lovers for a time of discussion. We meet at 2:00 pm on the second Thursday of the month. It is a good time to read books outside of your normal genre. We would love for you to join us.

We will also be celebrating Valentine's Day with a party for our elementary kids at 3:30 pm.
We will have books, songs, cookie decorating, Valentine Tic Tac Toe craft, Valentine Card decorating, and games. This will be a really fun time. Come out and invite your friends.

Something fun is being planned for March 1st, be watching for the announcement!

A Fan of Psychological Thrillers? Some 1st Novels Worth Checking Out.

If you like psychological thrillers and need some new suggestions, we have recently read these first novels that are highly recommended by a number of Pelahatchie Public Library staff and patrons.

The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn

"It isn't paranoia if it's really happening... Anna Fox lives alone -- a recluse in her New York City home, drinking too much wine, watching old movies... and spying on her neighbors. Then the Russells move next door: a father, a mother, their teenaged son. The perfect family. But when Anna sees something she shouldn't, her world begins to crumble -- and its shocking secrets are laid bare. What is real? What is imagined? Who is in danger? Who is in control? In this gripping Hitchcockian thriller, no one and nothing are what they seem."-- Provided by publisher.

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

The divorce has just become final, and Richard is already engaged to someone. One woman is determined to change that situation-- no matter what it takes. Soon a tangle of lies binds her life with those of Richard and his new fiancée. A tangle of lies-- that hide some dangerous truths.

Hendricks/Pekkanen have a second novel recently released, An Anonymous Girl.

Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris

The perfect marriage? Or the perfect lie? Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth, she has charm and elegance. You might not want to like them, but you do. You'd like to get to know Grace better. But it's difficult, because you realize Jack and Grace are never apart. Some might call this true love. Others might ask why Grace never answers the phone. Or how she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn't work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. And why there are bars on one of the bedroom windows.

B. A. Paris has two additional novels published, both are unique from this novel's premise.  The Breakdown and Bring Me Back are good reads as well.

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

"Some women get everything. Some women get everything they deserve. Amber Patterson is fed up. She's tired of being a nobody: a plain, invisible woman who blends into the background. She deserves more--a life of money and power like the one blond-haired, blue-eyed goddess Daphne Parrish takes for granted. To everyone in the exclusive town of Bishops Harbor, Connecticut, Daphne--a socialite and philanthropist--and her real-estate mogul husband, Jackson, are a couple straight out of a fairy tale. Amber's envy could eat her alive...if she didn't have a plan. Amber uses Daphne's compassion and caring to insinuate herself into the family's life--the first step in a meticulous scheme to undermine her. Before long, Amber is Daphne's closest confidante, traveling to Europe with the Parrishes and their lovely young daughters, and growing closer to Jackson. But a skeleton from her past may undermine everything that Amber has worked towards, and if it is discovered, her well-laid plan may fall to pieces. With shocking turns and dark secrets that will keep you guessing until the very end, The Last Mrs. Parrish is a fresh, juicy, and utterly addictive thriller from a diabolically imaginative talent."--provided by publisher.

Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber

"Serial meets Ruth Ware's In A Dark, Dark Wood in this inventive and twisty psychological thriller about a mega-hit podcast that reopens a long-closed murder case--and threatens to unravel the carefully constructed life of the victim's daughter"-- Provided by publisher

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Tacos & Trivia

Everyone knows that Nicholas Sparks is the King of Romance. How well do you love them? How many times have you read all his books?

His first book was The Notebook, set amid the austere beauty of the North Carolina coast, The Notebook begins with the story of Noah Calhoun, a rural Southerner recently returned from the Second World War. Noah is restoring a plantation home to its former glory, and he is haunted by images of the beautiful girl he met fourteen years earlier, a girl he loved like no other. Unable to find her, yet unwilling to forget the summer they spent together, Noah is content to live with only memories...until she unexpectedly returns to his town to see him once again.*

My favorite is the sequel, The Wedding, after thirty years of marriage, Wilson Lewis, son-in-law of Allie and Noah Calhoun (of The Notebook), is forced to admit that the romance has gone out of his marriage. Desperate to win back his wife Jane's heart, he must figure out how to make her fall in love with him... again. Despite the shining example of Allie and Noah's marriage, Wilson is himself a man unable to easily express his emotions. A successful estate attorney, he has provided well for his family, but now, with his daughter's upcoming wedding, he is forced to face the fact that he and Jane have grown apart and he wonders if she even loves him anymore. Wilson is sure of one thing--his love for his wife has only deepened and intensified over the years. Now, with the memories of his in-laws' magnificent fifty-year love affair as his guide, Wilson struggles to find his way back into the heart of the woman he adores.*

On Tuesday, February 12 at 6:00 pm, the Magee Library will have a Tacos and Trivia Night. We will be asking trivia from all of the romance books written by Nicholas Sparks. 

For a complete list of his books click here.


We will be serving tacos from one of our local Mexican restaurants. 

*Book blurbs came from the website goodreads.com

Writers Meet at Flowood Library

Mississippi Writers Anonymous

February 16, 2019, 10:00-12:00 p.m.

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

Explore the art of writing with masters of the written word. Bring the book or short story you have been working on and have it critiqued and improved upon until it becomes a well-polished masterpiece that can be published.

Learning to write was one of the more difficult challenges I had to face when I started college at the University of Georgia. Fresh out of high school I had to take remedial English or English 100 as it was called. During this summer class, I learned to write a paragraph. I passed the class with a “C” and moved on to English 101.

My experience in English 101 was most unpleasant. The teacher had a “my way or the highway” attitude and the class had no sense of direction. I passed the class with a “D” and had to retake the class.

The University of Georgia offered English 101 as a correspondence course. We did not have online courses back then. If we had online courses, then I could have avoided setting foot on the overcrowded UGA campus.

Learning to write was hard for me. I had the imagination to write, but I lacked an understanding of the formal structure which accompanies writing. I did not understand thesis statements, themes, or the basic introduction-body-conclusion components of almost every form of writing. I did not understand the need for sentence diagramming. I did not know what a semicolon was. I could not write a paragraph, an essay, a research paper, a master’s thesis or a dissertation.

How embarrassing. 

I opened my Harbrace College Handbook 1984 edition and learned about subordinate conjunctions and subordinate clauses which for me are the basics of writing.

As part of the course I wrote the following story:

The Passion for Speed

Two racers decided to compete to see who had the faster car. The two drivers revved their engines as the flag dropped. The two cars started to move and accelerated to 30 miles per hour in a matter of seconds. They rounded a curve and increased their speed even more. A dog was in the road, so the cars swerved out of the way and continued. 

Their speed reached 100 miles per hour as each fought to keep the lead. They approached a one-lane bridge that could only fit one of the cars at a time. Their speed reached 120, and neither driver showed a sign of letting the other through first. The bridge was 100 yards away. The distance narrowed to 50 yards and then to half of that. Both cars impacted into the bridge and exploded. The race was over.

The assignment was to write a story that would end in a climax or immediate conclusion.

Why write?

Benjamin Franklin once said, “If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing.”

We learn to write to complete a research paper.

We learn to write to complete a job application and often a resume.

We write to create the great American short story or novel which may become a Hollywood movie someday.

We write because we live in a high literacy society where our ability to write can often make a difference between success or failure.

I write because I enjoy it.

The next meeting of Mississippi Writers Anonymous will be February 16, 2019, between 10-12 p.m. This group meets every third Saturday at the Flowood Library.

Come find your “muse” with a group of talented writers.

February Programs at the Pearl Public Library Never Disappoint.

From a great read to Bingo for Books to a Costume Pizza Party, and more, it's all happening at the Pearl Library! And, it's all FREE!

In honor of Library Lover's Month, the Chapter 1 Book Club will be discussing Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers on Tues. Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. This book club meets every second Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. No reservation or membership required. Just stop on by! They'll be happy to see you!

If a book club isn't your thing, come on by the library on this same night Feb. 12 for this month's Family Night program. It's a Costume Pizza Party with pizza provided by Pizza Shack of Jackson. It's first come first served! So, hurry on in and yes, any costume will do!

Or, how about a good game of Bingo!

 It's Bingo for Books on Thurs. Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. This program was brought back by popular demand. And, it is oh-so-popular! Bingo for Books is every second Thursday of the month at 6 p.m.

By the way, plan to come back the next Thursday for Third Thursday Flicks on Feb. 21 at 5:30 p.m. Watch The Notebook on the big screen and enjoy complimentary popcorn and drinks!  

That's not all! 

Don't forget about the 11th annual Come in From the Cold With a Good Book, the Pearl Library's big Library Lover's Month program. Get free cookies, donuts and coffee donated by Community Coffee, Dunkin' Donuts, the Donut Factory, Simply Southern of Flowood, That Special Touch Cakes, Sam's of Pearl and Wal-Mart of Pearl, on Wed. Feb 13 and Thurs. Feb. 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day!

We'll see you there!