Fun is the Name of the Game For the Pearl Public Library Team!

You can bet on that!

Did you know that February 27 was/is recognized as National Pokémon Day? 

It sure is. That's because it was on that day when Japan launched the first Pokémon video game in 1996.

Kayla, a HUGE Pokémon fan, had the great idea of doing a Pokémon display in February. Then Kimberly saw this cute Pikachu toy that she thought would be a great addition to Kayla's display. 

See! Team effort! Team fun! Yeeeeeeepppppp!

Kayla had a wonderful idea for a drawing. And that's how it happened.

YOU GOTTA CATCH PIKACHU and "become the world's greatest Pokémon Master" was Kayla's fun creation!

All participants had to do was fill out their "Pokémon Trainer's Name" and turn in the slip to reference.

The drawing was held on National Pokémon Day. And the grand Pokémon Master was Penny Parker, 9, of Pearl! 

Congratulations, Penny!

Penny Parker, the Pearl Library's very own Pokémon Master

But the fun doesn't stop there!

First of all, we hope you made it to the 12th Annual Come in From the Cold With a Good Book February Library Lover's Month celebration. 

Free Community Coffee, cookies and donuts - all donated by local businesses - for two days Tues. Feb. 11 and Wed. Feb. 12!
Always a good time! There was also a cute cafe and helium balloons for all to enjoy! The balloons were up the whole month of February! 

It never fails; a balloon gets away and floats up to the ceiling!

It's so much fun to watch and see how long it takes for the balloon to come down. 

But we aren't going to keep this fun all to ourselves this time! No, keep reading this weekly blog for a periodic report on the great balloon descent! LOL!

Stop by the Pearl Public Library where the good times roll or FLOAT!

We'll see you there!

Book Recommendations for Black History Month

February is Black History month, as you might be aware. There are many well-worn tales of giants of black history: Frederick Douglass, George Washington Carver, and Martin Luther King, Jr.--great men whose stories deserve to be told. But if you’re interested in diving deeper, may we recommend some perhaps lesser known tales, that are but a small sampling of the rich tapestry of black history in America?

The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom - Winner of the 2019 National Book Award for Nonfiction, The Yellow House is Sarah Broom’s account of her family home in New Orleans East. It is at once both personal and connected to the wide sweep of history in the Crescent City, including harrowing first-hand accounts of Hurricane Katrina from her brothers’ perspectives.

The theme of identity is woven masterfully throughout the narrative, whether it Broom and her family tying their identity to their home, or society tying their identity to their blackness. Broom’s ruminations will stick with you long after you finish her story.

All Blood Runs Red by Phil Keith and Tom Clavin - Keith and Clavin have given some long-overdue notice to the remarkable life of Eugene Bullard, a black American expatriate and French war hero, spanning both world wars. Fleeing from racial prejudice in his native soil in Georgia, Bullard uses his competence and charisma to make his way to Europe just before the Great War breaks out. Bullard becomes the first black fighter pilot in aviation history, but his remarkable story doesn’t stop there.

An exciting story told in plain, readable prose, it is a treat to witness Bullard fight to be treated equal to any other man, and then go beyond to lead a remarkable life.

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson - The Warmth of Other Suns is Wilkerson’s 2010 opus regarding a sometimes overlooked, but monumentally important piece of our American history - the Great Migration of African Americans from the South to the cities of the North and West during the first half of the 20th century.

Wilkerson tells the story of the Migration specifically through the individuals stories of three migrants--a sharecropper from Chickasaw County in Mississippi, a college-educated orange picker from central Florida, and a young doctor living in Monroe, Louisiana. Wilkerson does an excellent job of focusing alternatively on the large-scale social change, and the lives of the people who lived it.

Classic Movie Fun

It always surprises me when you can be talking about a great classic movie, like It's a Wonderful Life, Arsenic and Old Lace, African Queen, or one of the great Alfred Hitchcock movies and no one has seen any of them. Just because they aren't in color doesn't mean they are not a great movie.
We are trying to correct that problem by having Classic Monday Movie and Munch on the second Monday of the Month.
So far we've shown Arsenic and Old Lace starring Cary Grand and Sabrina with Audra Hepburn.
Attendance has been slim but those who have attended enjoyed these great old classics.
The month of March we are showing Rear Window starring Jimmy Stewart in an Alfred Hitchcock movie. Did he see a murder of not?

The next showing is Monday, March 9th at 12:00  pm. We will also be serving a light lunch.

You will be able to eat, watch a great classic and still have time to pick up your kids after school.

March Happenings at the Rez

Spring Greetings!

The winter months are finally over here at the Rez and the librarians are looking forward to the return of the warmer and longer days of spring. We hope that all of our patrons are ready for the fun and exciting events that we have planned at the Reservoir Library.

Read Across America

Come by the library Monday, March 2nd from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., for a special Read Across America story time as we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss. We will read some of our favorite Dr. Seuss books and have a birthday party!

Mile March Madness

Come to the library Thursday, March 27th from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. to join us for our Mile March Madness. To celebrate the arrival of spring and our beautiful surroundings, we will be walking on the Reservoir Botanical Garden path during the noon hour. We will also have a special Mile March Madness drawing for a gift card.

Loose Knit Group

Are you a master knitter who is looking to pass on your knowledge to a new generation of knitters? Are you a beginner who is looking to learn from master knitters? Come by the Library every Tuesday during March from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. All experience levels are welcome as we work on our own projects.

High Noon Book Club

Join us at the library Tuesday, March 19th from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. as the High Noon Book Club has its March meeting. We will be reading the book An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor. All patrons are invited to bring a brown bag lunch and participate in the discussion.  Dessert will be provided.

Spring Break

March 9th through March 13th is Spring Break for our Rankin County students. Come by the Library to get your Spring Break Reads!


We hope that all of our patrons have a great and happy month of March! With the weather getting warmer and the days getting longer we hope that all of our patrons will come in and get some great books and movies as they get ready to enjoy the spring weather!

Displays Gone Wild at the Brandon Library!

It's Library Lover's Month at the Brandon Library, and we've gone all out on amazing titles just for you! First off, be sure to check out our BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK display, which you can see more of on Facebook here!

We're also celebrating Black History Month with some of our favorite inspirational quotes from black leaders across the globe, as well as incredible nonfiction about the African American journey, memoirs and biographies of black men and women, and fiction by black authors and/or featuring black protagonists!

This month is also featuring some super fun displays such as:

Cake pans, with accompanying books all about fancy cake techniques AND our catalog full of all of our available cake pans for checkout! We also took the opportunity to show off some pretty hilarious cake fails, so...have fun with that.

You Said Yes...Now What? featuring books all about weddings, decor, dresses, budgets, parties, presents, and more!

Ways to Love Yourself including titles on how to be stress-free, the secrets to happiness and contentment, and the art of achieving the life you want! This one includes hits like Sleep Rituals by Jennifer Williamson, Hygge: The Danish Art of Happiness by Marie Tourell Søderberg, and Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes! 

Look and Listen aka books based on some truly amazing podcasts and YouTube shows!

This display features titles based on the Adventure Zone podcast, the Lore podcast, Pod Save America, the Haunting of Sunshine Girl YouTube show, and more!

We've also begun leading into Women's History Month coming up in March with our triple display case, which is now featuring the Mississippi Department of Archives and History's traveling exhibit, Inspiring the Next Generation: Exceptional Mississippi Women.

MDAH says of this exhibit:

This exhibit focuses on thirty-two women who shaped Mississippi and the nation, divided into eight categories: artists, performers, civil rights, athletes, authors, suffrage, education, and government and law. The women featured in this exhibit include well-known individuals such as Fannie Lou Hamer and Leontyne Price in addition to influential, but lesser-known, women such as Burnita Shelton Matthews.

While some of these displays, like the one directly above, are sticking around for a bit, the rest of them won't be around forever. The titles are going fast, so come check them out today!

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!

Is Everyone In Scott County Related?

That's the BIG QUESTION the Scott County Genealogical and Historical Society endeavors to answer as its members launch an enterprising new project for 2020. The society is scheduled to meet Saturday, February 15, at 10:00 a.m. in the Forest Public Library conference room to begin building one big Scott County family tree.

With a 2018 U.S. Census population estimate of 28,287 residents and 10,435 households, how is it possible to produce one big family tree? The society is starting the process with the creation of a WikiTree - a free, accessible tree for county families. Next, family members are asked to contribute at least two names (self, spouse, parents, etc.) to the tree. The WikiTree then merges duplicates, creates branches, and displays names of people who are related.

"This sounds like so much fun," states society member Shawna Alexander, "but we have to generate interest and participation to build the tree. You don't have to be a professional genealogist or even a closet genealogist to participate; however, if you have compiled any family records, we invite you to attend the February meeting at the library. The public has access to the Sanders and Eady Genealogy Room and the Library Edition of Ancestry on the library computers. Once people start sharing their family surnames and the surnames of their parents or even grandparents, we will begin to fill in the Scott County families from A to Z. Then, the big tree branches will begin to grow and intertwine."

The society offers hints and tips for research to share family finds and get past brick walls. All the research is shared among the group. A single record might provide the one missing puzzle piece that breaks through the brick wall for someone else. Society member Patricia Hall is also excited about the one big family tree. "Anyone who is just beginning family tree research can get discouraged because until you go back a few generations, it's difficult to find information. No hits and no answers put up a brick wall, and people lose interest and excitement to dig deeper. Two heads are always better than one. One person can overlook something, and another person will have an open mind and spot it."

Even pictures can be part of the process. "One of our members brought a picture to one of the meetings. I looked at the picture and instantly knew that the lady was the sister to my second great grandmother because they looked so much alike. The brick wall came down because she shared a picture," Alexander stated. "I know that the more people who participate, the more the society can find those records that will motivate them to keep digging."

So...who is hiding among the branches in your tree? Is your family a branch of the one big Scott County tree? How is your branch connected to other family branches in the county? And could this be just the beginning of one big tree that connects us all.

If you know that your family surname is a branch of the Scott County family tree, please make plans to attend the meeting on Saturday, February 15. Unlike the natural branches of a tree, these branches grow stronger with more people.

The Temperature Outside May be Erractic, But...

the name of this long-time celebrated, Pearl Public Library program remains stable.

Come in From the Cold With a Good Book!

This festive event has proven to be a breeding ground for library lovers! LOL!

A February Library Lover's Month feature, for the whole family and all your friends, has held solid for years! Twelve in fact.

YES! You read that right! TWELVE YEARS!

The two-day - FREE - LOVE celebration, featuring yummy sweets and divine coffee, is Tues. Feb. 11 from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Wed. Feb. 12 also from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Why is it such a successful program? Glad you asked?

Well, number one, local businesses that know how to show huge community spirit and library love, make amazing donations.

For starters, a rockin' coffee bar is provided by Community Coffee! Patrons absolutely LOVE this! All the favorites..regular, decaf and hold on now...PECAN PRALINE! ooooh-la-la! Condiments included. Yep. Sure are! 

Patrons equally LOVE the donuts and cookies that are donated by Dunkin Donuts, The Donut Factory, That Special Touch Cakes, Simply Southern Cafe and Grill of Flowood and Sam's Club of Pearl.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to stop by the Pearl Library and enjoy meeting and visiting with library staff and members of the Friends of the Pearl Library! And, remember. It's all FREE!

If you don't have a library card, this is a great time to get one! And, Come in From the Cold With a Good Book!

We'll see you there!

What Do You Do on a Rainy Day?

This week's forecast calls for rain, rain, and more rain. While temperatures will be nice, it will not be conducive to outdoor activities. So what's a person to do? Why, go to a library program of course, and this week the 20 libraries within the Central Mississippi Regional Library System have over 75 programs on the calendar.

Monday, February 10
9:30 AM - Mother Goose Lapsit
10:30 AM - Brandon Book Club
10:30 AM - Mother Goose Lapsit
10:30 AM - Preschool Story Time
10:30 AM - Toddler Time
12:00 PM - Classic Monday Movie Munch
1:00 PM - Baby & Me
1:00 PM - Polymer Clay Jewelry Class
3:00 PM - Valentine Make or Take Craft
3:30 PM - Magnolia Mondays
4:00 PM - Beading Class (4 o'clock)
4:00 PM - U Don't Know POOP! Tween Edition
4:30 PM - After School Story Time
5:00 PM - Hook Me Up!
5:00 PM - T2 (Teen Time): Come and Go Chocolate Tasting
5:30 PM - Teens: Love Stinks!
5:50 PM - ReFit with Beth
6:00 PM - Beading Class (6 o'clock)
6:00 PM - Dulcimer Group
6:00 PM - Family Story Time
Tuesday, February 11
9:00 AM - Come in from Out of the Cold with a Good Book
9:00 AM - Free Filing for Senior Adults
10:30 AM - Peek-a-Boo Babies
10:30 AM - Toddler Tuesday Story Time
11:00 AM - Preschool Story Time
12:30 PM - Books & Lunch Club
1:00 PM - Loose Knit
1:00 PM - The Makery
2:00 PM - 2-TUE-2 Book Club: Blind Date with a Book
3:00 PM - Adult Book Club
3:30 PM - Friends of the Library Monthly Meeting
3:30 PM - Kids' Hour
4:00 PM - DIY Valentine Cards
4:00 PM - Kid Connection
4:45 PM - Tween Book Club
5:00 PM - Valentine's Day Craft Night
6:00 PM - Chess Club for Tweens, Teens, and Adults
7:00 PM - Teens: Drown Your Love in Chocolate
Wednesday, February 12
9:00 AM - Come in from Out of the Cold with a Good Book
10:00 AM - Morning Book Club
10:30 AM - Preschool Story Time
10:30 AM - Preschool Story Time
10:30 AM - Preschool Story Time
10:30 AM - V V A Meeting
11:00 AM - Preschool Story Time
11:00 AM - Preschool Story Time
11:15 AM - Preschool Story Time
1:30 PM - Bridge
2:00 PM - Fraud and the Elderly: Are You Being Scammed?
3:00 PM - Valentine Make or Take Craft
3:30 PM - Totally Teens
4:00 PM - Pearl Peanuts After School
Thursday, February 13
10:00 AM - Medicare Education Seminar
10:00 AM - Preschool Story Time
10:30 AM - Preschool Story Time
10:30 AM - Preschool Story Time
11:00 AM - Beginning Genealogy Part 1
1:00 PM - BYOP-Bring Your Own Project
2:00 PM - Cover-to-Cover Book Club
3:00 PM - Lego Free Play
3:30 PM - After Schoolers
3:30 PM - Teen Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament
4:30 PM - Library Lovers Party
6:00 PM - Bingo for Books
6:00 PM - Creative Crafters
6:00 PM - Love Bites Anti-Valentine's Day Celebration
6:00 PM - Movie Night
6:00 PM - Tacos & Trivia
6:00 PM - Teen Night
Friday, February 14
9:00 AM - Valentines at the Library
10:00 AM - AARP Tax Aid
2:00 PM - Valentines Day and Library Lovers Month Reception
4:00 PM - Valentine Bingo
Saturday, February 15
9:00 AM - Flowood Walk in the Park
9:00 AM - What Is Falun Dafa Exercise?
9:30 AM - Masterpiece Morning
10:00 AM - Mississippi Writers Anonymous
10:00 AM - Warm Up and Wind Down
11:00 AM - Dungeons and Dragons Game Day
12:00 PM - Video Game Day

Want more information on a particular program? Click on the link below, find the program you're interested in, and click for details.

CMRLS February Events

Hope to see you at one of our wonderful programs this week.

Flowood Walk in the Park

Flowood Library is located next to Winner's Circle Park in Flowood, MS. The park is central to a number of community activities such as tennis courts, exercise stations, playgrounds, and picnic tables, and it has a 1/2 mile sidewalk encircling it. This park has a lot to offer and offers it for free. Not very many things in life are offered for free.

Flowood Library is scheduling a Walk in the Park on February 15, 2020 from 9:00-10:00 a.m. There will be an opportunity for participants to win one of three Walmart gift cards plus a free book from our book sale. Everyone will get some exercise whether a prize is won or not.

If you complete one lap around the 1/2 mile walking course (about 10 minutes), you will burn on average 50 calories. If you complete two laps for a total of 1 mile (about 20 minutes), you will burn 100 calories. If you go beyond 30 minutes, then you get into the fat burning zone. Reach 5 miles or 500 calories everyday for seven days and you will reach the equivalent of burning 3,500 calories or one pound in a week.

As I pursue a more in depth study into the field of calorie mathematics, we can walk as a group, make a few friends, and enjoy the day.

Sebastopol February 2020 Happenings

Preschool - 6th Grade

Valentine's Day Craft Night

Tuesday, February 11 at 5:00 p.m.

Join us as we make Valentine's Day themed crafts!

All Ages

Library Lover's Month Contest

All Month

Show your love for the library by checking out any book in the month of February. For every book you check out you get entered into a $25 gift card drawing!

Winter Crafters!

Tuesday, February 18 at 4:00 p.m.

It's winter! What better to do than some winter crafts in this cold weather? Join us every month of winter as we try out some amazing winter crafts!

Sebastopol Cook-Off

Tuesday, February 25 at 5:00 p.m.

Join us for our very first Cook-Off for all ages! Bring your favorite dish for our library patrons to sample. The person with the most votes will win a grand prize!

Please register by phone or email.

601-625-8826

Sebastop@cmrls.lib.ms.us

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!

Notary Services License Renewed

Notary services have been available at the Flowood Library for over two years. This service is offered 9-5 p.m. Monday–Wednesday, and Friday; 12-8 p.m. on Thursday which are better than banker's hours. Additional times are available by appointment. The cost for the service is $3.00. I could probably charge more, especially for divorce cases, but $3.00 is just about right for this kind of service.

For four years I've been a public notary. I must confess I had no idea what I was getting into. It has been an experience unlike any other. I've notarized documents in a variety of legal categories. Just when I think I've seen it all, I find myself faced with a new problem or document I have not seen before. No formal certification is required in the State of Mississippi to be a notary. I would find myself receiving on the job training free of charge. 

Should we continue to offer notary services to our patrons and the community at the public library in the future? What can I say? There is a definite need for this kind of service and the investment in time, money and effort pays for itself within the first year.

Several months ago I submitted the paperwork to get my notary commission renewed. I also requested a few additional items, a few extra bells and whistles to enhance my understanding of the notary field. I wanted to know more than just the basics.

I recently received a new Notary Stamp, a Hand-Held Embossing Seal, and a Notary Plaque (to advertise my services). In the packet there was also an American Notary Study Course, a membership in the American Society of Notaries, and a certificate from the Notary Public Commission signed by the Governor of Mississippi.

All proceeds go to the Flowood Friends of the Library.