Magee: What a year it has been!

Well, 2018, has come and is just about gone. We have had over 44,700 people come through our doors, for all different reasons; checking out or checking in, copying, faxes, scanning, computers, studying or even just waiting on Mom or Dad to pick them up.

Our hottest ticket this year was our Printeron services. It is so easy to use. You can submit your print job through our Printeron app on your smart device or submit through our homepage. Any patron can choose Brandon, Pearl, Flowood, Forest, or here at Magee to pick up their copies.

Our top check outs at the Magee Library were:

1. Wonder (DVD)
2. The Dark Tower (DVD) 
3. Coco (DVD) 
4. Kong : Skull Island (DVD) 
5. The Emoji Movie (DVD)

No books made the top 5! Can you believe that?

The Books & Lunch Club's top book was entitled, The Great Alone by Kristen Hannah. The book is set in 1970’s Alaskan Frontier. It is a coming of age for thirteen-year-old Leni and her mother, Cora, to finally learn to stand up and be strong.

Our top Summer Library Program this year was a tie between Inky the Clown and the all-time favorite, the Snakeman! You can look back at the pictures from Facebook here.

Our favorite family program was Mitch Warner with his steel drums. Loved how he gave the children and teens a chance to learn how to play the drums.

Tea & Coloring has been a surprise hit. When we have it, we usually have around twenty to twenty-five people here. This coming year, we will offer it at least once a month. We started out using mostly colored pencils and just a few Sharpie markers, now we use mostly Sharpie markers. I love going in and coloring and listening to all the conversations between people.

It has been a wonderful year, full of joy, thanks to all that come through our doors at the Magee Library. We hope this coming year will be even more joyful! 

Happy New Year from the Morton Public Library!

We hope everyone had a happy and safe Christmas. We are very excited for a new year and to have new programs for everyone to enjoy!

Preschool Story Time is every Tuesday morning at 10:00. Bring your little ones, and join us for stories, music, dancing, and crafts!

January’s themes are:

• January 8th: Winter 
• January 15th: Snow 
• January 22nd: Snowmen 
• January 29th: Frosty the Snowman 

Do you ever wish you could bring snow inside? With snow dough, you can! It's cold, squishy, moldable, and feels just like snow! So join us, January 3 at 5:00 p.m. for K-4th grade Craft Night to make snow dough! All supplies will be provided.

We will be having Tween Craft Night on January 10 at 5:00 p.m.! The tween group is grades 5-8. We will be making art using old CDs! You can make a winter themed CD, such as a snowman, or you can let your imagination run wild and come up with your own unique design! This event is free, and all supplies will be provided.

January 24, 4:30 p.m. we will be having Family Movie Night!
We will be watching "Disney's Christopher Robin" Produced by Walt Disney Pictures. Rating is (PG) Run time is 2 hours. This is a free event. Popcorn and soda will be provided while supplies last!

We look forward to seeing you at our programs!

Happenings at Flowood Library

The Flowood Library has a lot to offer and for the remainder of the month of December 2018 the following programs are scheduled:

Mugshots Trivia

We had a lot of fun at Mugshots Trivia last night, December 18, 2018, 6:30-8:00 p.m.  A special congratulations to our trivia prize winner, Morris Mermelstein, for winning first prize, a $15 gift card at Mugshots. Join us again on January 15, 2019, for another night of family-friendly fun at Mugshots Restaurant in Flowood. Presented by the Flowood and Reservoir Libraries. 

Flowood Book Club

January 15, 2019, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Everyone is invited to come and discuss their favorite books and, perhaps, learn of a few more good reads in the process. The selection for January is Guardian Angel by Sara Paretsky.

The club meets every third Tuesday of the month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. There shall be coffee and refreshments for attendees. We hope to see you there!

Crochet with Donna

January 17, 2018, 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Join Pamela and Donna and learn to crochet. Must bring your own supplies.  Contact the library for more details. Preregistration is requested.

What Is Falun Dafa?

January 19, 2018, 9:00-10:00 a.m.

Experience Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, at the Flowood Library. It is a meditation practice that brings about serenity and a higher level of awareness while also greatly benefiting your physical well-being.

FLOWOOD LIBRARY RECIPE CLUB

Meets every second Thursday 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Join us on the second Thursday of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for a meeting of the Flowood Library Recipe Club. Bring copies of your recipe to exchange along with a sample platter so everyone can try it! "Samples are optional and appreciated." Please preregister.

Mother Goose Lapsit

Mondays, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. 
Story Time for children up to 3 years old. This month's themes are Penguins, Polar Bears, and Happy Holidays! 

Peek-A-Boo Baby
Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. 
Babies to 16 months; join Ms. Emmy for a fun time singing songs, reading stories, and developing fine motor skills through finger plays. This month's themes are Snow, Snowmen, Happy Holidays and Penguins! 

Preschool Story Time 
Every Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. & Every Thursday, 10:30 a.m.
For children ages, 3 to 6 yrs; Ms. Eleanor hosts a fun-filled story time every Wednesday and Thursday mornings! Come join us for songs, stories, and work on a neat craft that you get to keep! This month's themes are Bears, Winter, Happy Holidays, and New Year's. 

Kids' Hour

Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m. when school is in session 
Join Ms. Emmy for story time and crafts for children in kindergarten to sixth grade. This month's themes are Snow, Snowmen, and Happy Holidays!

Teen Night

Thursday, December 27, 6:30 pm 

Teens grab a hammer and get ready to make nail art. We'll have funky patterns to choose from or be creative and design your own.

Seniors

The Flowood Library offers something for everyone. Our Flowood Prime Time Seniors meet every Tuesday for Card Day 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.  On the first Wednesday of the month they meet for Game Day 10:00 am.-12:00 p.m.  On the last Wednesday of the month they meet for BINGO, 9:30-11:00 a.m.

When our seniors are all played out, they come inside the library and check out books, audio CDs, DVDs, or simply stop by to say, “Hello.”  Our staff is available to assist them with their information needs.

December Fun at the Magee Library

Open Mic Night was a “Rocking” good time!

We had 12 people that performed at our Christmas Open Mic Night, Thursday, Dec. 13. The favorite song of the night was “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree,” performed by Julia Chencharick and then Walter Baldwin did his version of the song. We also had “Jingle Bells” performed by Danial Baldwin. My favorite was “Blue Christmas,” performed by Walter Baldwin. (Ok, now you know I am a big Elvis fan!) He also performed “White Christmas” and “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth” which had us all laughing. Joshua Wickes recited an Edgar Allen Poe poem entitled “The Bells.” We had a trio of boys who even tried to rap “Silent Night!” Everyone enjoyed it when the moms stood up and sang, “Dashing Thru the Snow.” The Baldwin Family did a great job on “O Come, O Come, Emanuel.”

There were a few people that performed more than once. So, we did not have a first or second place; instead, everyone that participated in the event got to put their name in a drawing for one of three $5.00 gift cards from Walmart and one $10.00 gift card from McAlister’s Deli.

The winners: Walter Baldwin won the $10 gift card, Danial Baldwin won a $5.00 Walmart card, Micah Floyd won a $5.00 Walmart card, and Julie Baldwin won the last $5.00 Walmart card.

Santa visited the Magee Library!

Santa has come and gone so he could get back to the North Pole in time for Christmas Eve! But when he visited the library, we had sixty-five little ones come to get their picture made with Santa Claus. While they waited for their pictures “to develop” the children had refreshments of hot chocolate and cookies. The children made a Christmas ornament to take home with them. It was a foam craft of a snowman holding a candy cane with the year on it to mark the occasion. We are already looking forward to next December!

Check out the fun things going on for January (Bingo, Tea & Coloring and Snap circuits).

'Tis the Week Before Christmas and All Through the Pearl Library...

EVERYONE is stirrin'!

Yep! A lot going on. Don't miss out on these wonderful, free programs!

Lisa is ready to get you in the Christmas spirit with her December How -to Tuesdays offering...Make Your Own Handprint Snowman Ornament. Materials are furnished and no reservation required. So, plan on coming, and bring your friends for this fun holiday craft on Tues. Dec. 18 at 6 p.m.

Don't stop there though! Amy is hooking you up with a holiday classic for December's Third Thursday Flicks. Bring the whole family and enjoy White Christmas complete with popcorn, hot cocoa, and cookies. How can you possibly think about missing this chance to cozy up to a free Christmas movie and treats! That's Thursday, Dec. 20 at 5:30.

We'll see you there!

Merry Christmas from the Morton Public Library!

We are so excited that it is the holiday season! We have lots of Christmas displays and decorations for everyone to check out. We also have some fun and exciting holiday programs.

Santa Claus came to town and visited the Morton Library on December 13th. He posed for pictures, picked up letters and heard what you wished for under the Christmas tree! Of course, we couldn't invite Santa over without having his favorite snack, so there were milk and cookies for everyone! Check the CMRLS Facebook page for the pictures from his visit!

This month we will be starting a new program night for our tweens! Tweens are students in 5^th – 8^th grade. This month we will be making snow dough! It’s cold, squishy, moldable, and fun to play with. So, if you’re wishing for a white Christmas join us to make your own snow on December 20^th at 5:00 p.m.

We hope to see you at a Library event.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all! 

Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

¯Santa Claus is com-ing to town¯

The children of Magee have been good this year; so Santa Claus is on his way! Santa will be here Saturday, Dec. 15 at 11:00 a.m. Each child will receive a FREE picture with him, enjoy his favorite snack - hot cocoa and cookies; and the little ones can make an ornament.

This is our third year for Santa to visit the Magee Library. Last year saw our biggest group ever. We want to make this year even bigger!

December at the Flowood Library

The Flowood Library is a community resource for the City of Flowood and the surrounding area. The Flowood Library has a lot to offer and for the remainder of the month of December 2018 the following programs are scheduled:

Mugshots Trivia December 18, 2018, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Join us for a night of family-friendly fun. Trivia-Nite will be held at the Mugshots in Flowood. Presented by the Flowood and Reservoir Libraries. Flowood Book Club December 18, 2018, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to come and discuss their favorite books and, perhaps, learn of a few more good reads in the process. This month's selection is Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror by Steve Alten. The Flowood Book Club meets every third Tuesday of the month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. There shall be coffee and refreshments for attendees. We hope to see you there! Crochet with Donna December 20, 2018, 6:00-7:00 p.m. Join Pamela and Donna and learn to crochet. Must bring your own supplies.  Contact the library for more details. Preregistration is requested. What Is Falun Dafa? December 15, 2018, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Experience Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, at the Flowood Library. It is a meditation practice that brings about serenity and a higher level of awareness while also greatly benefiting your physical well-being.

Flowood Library Recipe Club  Meets every second Thursday 6:30-7:30 p.m. Join us on the second Thursday of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for a meeting of the Flowood Library Recipe Club. Bring copies of your recipe to exchange along with a sample platter so everyone can try it! "Samples are optional and appreciated." Please preregister. Mother Goose Lapsit Mondays, 9:30 & 10:30 AM Story Time for children up to 3 years old. This month's themes are Penguins, Polar Bears and Happy Holidays! Peek-A-Boo Baby Tuesdays, 10:30 AM Babies to 16 months. Join Ms. Emmy for a fun time singing songs, reading stories, and developing fine motor skills through finger plays. This month's themes are Snow, Snowmen, Happy Holidays and Penguins! Preschool Story Time Every Wednesday, 10:30 AM; Every Thursday, 10:30 AM For children ages 3 to 6 years old. Ms. Eleanor hosts a fun filled story time every Wednesday and Thursday mornings! Come join us for songs, stories, and work on a neat craft that you get to keep! This month's themes are: Bears, Winter, Happy Holidays and New Year's. Kids' Hour Tuesdays, 3:30 pm (when school is in session)  Join Ms. Emmy for story time and crafts for children in kindergarten to sixth grade. This month's themes are Snow, Snowmen, and Happy Holidays! Teen Night Thursday, December 27, 6:30 pm Teens grab your hammer and get ready to make nail art. We'll have funky patterns to choose from or be creative and design your own. The Flowood Library offers something for everyone. Check out our New Book display. We have DVDs for movie enthusiasts. We have audio CDs for your listening pleasure. If you are working on a research project or need to be proctored for a test, the staff at Flowood Library can help you. Check out our Used Book Sale or sit quietly reading a book in our living room. The outside patio is available for your use; however, we recommend you wear a coat because it’s cold outside.

Pajama Party

What can be more fun than a pajama party? A pajama party with a great story teller!
The Raleigh Public Library will be having a merry time Thursday, Dec 13th at 3:30 pm as we have a Pajama Party with Diane Butler. Diane is a great story teller so it should be a really fun time.
So put on your favorite Christmas pajamas (non pajama wearers welcome too) and come to the library to have some fun. And a party is not a party without some great refreshments.  See you there.

Quit rushing around; stop and get lost in a fairy tale.

This month our book club is reading Harry’s Trees by Jon Cohen and what a great story to get lost in during the rush, rush of the season. I don’t know any other way to describe the book but as a fairy tale for adults. 

Take one man that loses his beloved wife in a freak accident (for which he blames himself), add a little girl that loses her dad unexpectedly and thinks he’s come back as a forest creature. Stir in a fortune the man receives for the accident that cost him his wife and an odd brother named Wolf that is intent upon taking the money for himself. Fold in a librarian’s story about a grum and his gold. Add in a grieving wife trying to move on, a forest, a cast of unique characters from a small town, a treehouse in the forest, a falling-down library, and $4 million in gold. Beat together a man and a little girl on an adventure that helps them reconcile their great loss, and you truly have the makings of a fairy tale.

All in the book club have wonderful things to say about this book. Charming! Enchanting! A true modern-day fairy tale! I have personally read this book twice and enjoyed it as much the second time as the first. Take our advice and read this delightful title. If you’re truly too busy now, it would be a great pastime for those cold January days.

CMRLS Catalog to Request your Copy

December Programs Just Keep On Giving at the Pearl Public Library!

That's right! Don't miss out on these wonderful, free opportunities to get into the holiday spirit. 

Starting with the library's featuring of New Stage Theatre's Youth Acting Troupe as they present 'Twas the Opening Night Before Christmas  on Tues. Dec. 4 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  Refreshments will be served.

Bring the whole family!

But, hey, if you aren't into live theater, come on in anyway and enjoy some crafting on the very same night!  Oh, yeah, the Pearl Library can hook you up there too! Come make Borax Crystals! Fun aaaannnnd beautiful! That's from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

Keeping in the crafting spirit, don't forget about this month's How- to Tuesdays. Come on to the Pearl Library and make your own Handprint Snowman Ornament on Tues. Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. Wouldn't that be a great gift for yourself or someone special?!!!

Don't forget! All programs are free!

We'll see you there!

The Brandon Library is Prepping for Santa!

Though it's a little more than twelve days before Christmas, Santa will be here at the Brandon Library even sooner! 

Join us on Thursday, December 6 at 6:00 pm for a chance to meet the reindeer wrangler himself. We'll have stories, snacks, and more for you to enjoy and get into the holiday spirit while you wait for your turn with Santa.

Don't forget your wish list (we know you made one)!

We can't wait to see you there.

Happy Holidays!

Traveling for the Holidays?

Every trip I take requires plenty of reading material to carry along. After all, you never know when you might get a chance to read and you certainly don’t want to be stuck reading labels, assembly instructions, and so forth. I like to take at least several books, an audio or two, and several magazines. Sometimes I need an extra bag just to tote all this necessary stuff. See?

With the advent of eBooks, eAudios, and eMagazines, I have to confess that I still prefer to put my hands on the book or the magazine. There’s just something about the experience of holding the book in your hands and turning the pages (sometimes quickly) that electronic devices just do not equal. A year or so ago, though, I had an “AHA” moment. I was traveling light and decided to try the CMRLS Axis 360 and Flipster apps for my reading/listening needs. I downloaded an audio and a book from the Magic Wall, then I went to Flipster and found a magazine to download. The great thing about this download was I could get all three items where I could read/listen while offline. Who knew you could have access without an Internet connection? Well, you can! The other great thing was IT WAS FREE.  Using my library card, there was no cost to borrow all these items.

So off I went on my trip with just my iPad as my reading buddy and guess what? I found happiness and joy reading on an electronic device plus my load was much lighter. Did my discovery cause me to abandon my old friend, the book? No. Never. But I have found a balance to the book vs. eBook question because sometimes it is just more convenient to have the electronic version of my current read. I’ve been known to have the book checked out and the eBook as well and trade back and forth. 

The holidays are coming up and many of us will be traveling to visit family and/or friends. If you haven’t tried any of our free electronic books, audios, or magazines, experiment on your next trip. Download an item or two and give them a whirl. You might find, like me, that it’s a wonderful complement to your reading pleasure. To access these items, all you need is your library card. Go to our website, www.cmrls.lib.ms.us and click on the “Digital Library” tab. You will see the link to the Magic Wall for eBooks and downloadable audios and Flipster for downloadable magazines.  Give it a try this holiday season…then let us know what you think. 

Family Night with Santa @ Richland Library

Crafts and Christmas

Crafts and Christmas seem to go together because the best gifts are those that are made with love. My family one year decided that we would make Christmas special by everyone making gifts for each other. When my mother passed away, one of her items I got back was something I had made her that Christmas. It has a special memory for me now.

Libraries love to have special crafting programs during Christmas time. Here at Raleigh we just had a painting class of a stocking door hanging, and will have a family craft next Monday making snowmen, penguins, and bears out of socks. These crafts can be turned into a special gift for someone on your special list.

I went on the CMRLS website calendar and checked just the art and DIY craft events
in the system for the month of December. There are so many different programs available. Find something you think would be fun, check with that library, and then make something special for someone special to you this Christmas.

December Programs at the Pearl Public Public Are the Recipe for a Great Holiday Season!

ATTENTION BAKERS!

Here's your chance to show off your culinary skills and compete to win the GOLDEN WHISK! Thurs. Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. at the Pearl Public Library! 

All are welcome to participate in the competition or to come taste test to vote for your favorite!

Sign up now through Mon. Dec. 3. Call or come by the library to sign up or go online at  

http://cmrls.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=8170&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2018/12/01

The program is free, so no reason to miss out!

You also don't want to miss the library's very special Country Christmas Family Night on Tues. Dec.  11 at 6 p.m. featuring Dancin' Dan the Banjo Man and Santa Claus!  Also a free program for the whole family to enjoy!

There's so much more going on in December at the Pearl Public Library. Visit www.cmrls.lib.ms.us and click on EVENTS to see all scheduled programs!

We'll see you there!

New Ways to Support the Brandon Library!

We at the Brandon Library are excited to announce that we are now affiliated with Amazon Smile!

Much like our Kroger Community Rewards Program, Amazon Smile allows patrons to support us with no cost and no effort! Go to smile.amazon.com and select "Friends of the Brandon Library" as your organization of choice. As long as you log in to Amazon via smile.amazon.com, .05% of your entire purchase total is donated to us each time you shop! This may not seem like a lot, but remember: every little bit helps.

(Besides, we're librarians! We're used to doing a lot with a little.)

Are you gearing up for a big virtual trip to Amazon this Black Friday? Want to get a head start on the Season of Giving? We have the perfect opportunity for you.

Click here or call the library at 601-825-2762 for details!

Santa Claus is Coming to Pelahatchie Public Library

We’re not sure if this has ever happened before - perhaps it did many years ago – but Santa Claus will be visiting the Pelahatchie Public Library at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 29.  It is just a short visit (5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) so make sure you mark your calendar. 

Santa Claus will start visiting with boys and girls starting at 5:30 p.m. Photographs of your little one with Santa are allowed.  If you would like us to take a picture, we will be happy to do so.  We will follow up by emailing you a digital copy of the photo, so please be prepared to provide us with your email address.

In addition to Santa, there will be cookies and hot chocolate for refreshments (Ooh, wouldn’t that taste good today!).  So make plans to stop by Thursday, November 29, at 5:30 p.m.  Hope to see you there!

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!

Happy Holidays from the Rez!

Are you ready for the holidays?! All the librarians are. We have been busy decorating and selecting books, movies, and many other library materials that we hope will help all our patrons pass the time as they gather with friends and family to celebrate the holidays.

Book Bubbles with Uno. Our library goldfish Uno has been very busy the past couple of weeks. What with reading his favorite books and working on his very own book he has had a lot on his plate lately.  He was taking a bubble blowing break the other day when he noticed the librarians here at the Reservoir putting up Halloween decorations. He asked us what they were for, and when we told him he jumped for joy knowing that it was the start of the holiday season! With that, he swam back into his sunken pirate ship home and got busy planning his holiday season! Like the rest of us, Uno cannot wait to see his family and friends during the holiday season.  He told me that his favorite time of the year was the Christmas season. It is during this time that he and his friends that live in the Reservoir gather together and exchange Christmas gifts with each other.  His plans for the holidays are to visit his friends and family in the South Pacific!

Veterans Day. On November 12, The Reservoir Library will be closed for the observation of Veterans Day. We will return to our regular business hours on Tuesday, November 13. We hope all our patrons have a safe and happy Veterans Day.  We would like to especially thank our veterans for their service to our country.

International Games Week. Let the games begin! Join us for International games week as we celebrate International Games week at the Northwest Point Reservoir Library. We will officially open the games on November 5th and end them on November 9th. We will have game for all patrons to play ranging from popular favorites such as chess and checkers to more modern favorites such as monopoly and Settlers of Catan! Patrons are also welcome to bring their own games to join in the fun!

Movie Matinee. Join us on November 14, at 11 am, for a trip back in time to the 1800s to experience an old-fashioned American Thanksgiving.  We will be showing the New Line Cinema production of An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving, which tells the story of a poor family torn apart by grief and loss. The only way for them to have a holiday is to enlist the help of their estranged wealthy grandmother to help bring them all together for an unforgettable holiday.  We will have free popcorn for all patrons while supplies last. All are welcome to come enjoy this timeless classic to start off the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving! We at the Northwest Point Reservoir Library would like to take a moment to wish all our patrons a blessed and happy Thanksgiving.  The Reservoir library will close at noon on Wednesday, November 21, and remain closed through Saturday, November 24, so that the librarians (and library goldfish Uno can enjoy the holiday with their family and friends. Normal business hours will resume on Monday, November 26. We are so thankful to all our supportive patrons without who this Library would not be here. Thank you for your continued support for the library and have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Trivia Tuesday! The third Tuesday night of each month, at 6:30 pm, we will test our trivial knowledge skills as we battle with others to win a gift card for Mugshots great food. If you are a Trivia master, then join us for the ultimate battle for the title of trivia king! Free Rotel for all and as always lots of fun and friendship! The next game is December 18, at Mugshots of Flowood.

Pictures with Santa! On Wednesday, December 12, at 3:30 pm, bring your Christmas letters to Santa. The Jolly man himself will be taking a break from his busy holiday rush at the North Pole to come visit us! Be ready to take plenty of pictures and ask him lots of questions about his North Pole workshop.  Parents are encouraged to bring their own cameras to take pictures of their children as they visit with Santa.

  

The High Noon Book Club. December 13, at 12 pm, we will hold the second in a series of book club meetings. Bring your favorite book and a brown bag lunch for a fun-filled lunch hour of reading and friendly discussion as we dive into the world of fine dining and literature. Deserts will be provided! This month we are reading the Richard Grant book Dispatches from Pluto, which tells the story of a young couple from the Northern United States who on a whim decide to move down to the small Mississippi Delta community of Pluto to buy an old antebellum plantation home.  While living their new lives as Mississippians they meet a colorful community.

This past month we read the book A Man Called Ove which is written by Swiss author Fredrik Backman.  The consensus was that the book does have a curmudgeon with a heart of gold as the main character and that it was a great book to start off the book club.  Of the nine people that were in the first meeting only one person generally disliked the book.  I would suggest this book to any readers wanting to start a book club but don’t know exactly where to start.  A Man Called Ove is a very easy read of only 337 pages and each chapter is like a separate story. An enjoyable book!

Loose Knit Group. Join us every Tuesday, from 1pm to 3pm, for conversation and knitting! Bring your own projects to work on as we discuss the events of life and work on our knitting and crocheting together. All experience levels are welcome.

We have many fun and exciting events planned for all our patrons this holiday season! We hope that all of you enjoy these events free of charge and will please help us ring in the New year by providing their input to the staff of Northwest Point Reservoir Library. 

A Season of Blessing at the Pearl Library!

A Blessing Box Food Drive, sponsored by the recently formed Team Tungsten Robotics of Rankin County, will be underway on Tues. Nov. 6 and run through Fri. Dec. 21 at the Pearl Public Library.

Bring canned or boxed nonperishable food items or hygiene items. Each item you donate will allow you to enter into a drawing for a prize. The drawing will be held during the library's Family Night program featuring Zoe Brumfield, bagpipe player, starting at 6 p.m. 

The Blessing Box is a community outreach event the robotics students chose to hold to fulfill one of their requirements. There are five members of Team Tungsten Robotics, ages 11 and 12, who work together as a team to design a build a robot. Team members will be available to answer questions at the Family Night program.

Team Tungsten Robotics, started in August, is mentored by the Wait For It Robotics team of Pearl which won the World Championship robotics competition in Houston, TX last year. 

For more information you can call robotics' team coach and Pearl Library staffer, Holly Hardin at 601-932-2562. 

Come on by the Pearl Library and be a part of this wonderful community event. And, don't miss Family Night with Zoe Brumfield!

We'll see you there!

*Note:  Tungsten is a chemical element, with the atomic number 74 on the periodic table. Tungsten has the highest melting point of any metal. It is used in alloys, such as steel, to give it great strength.

Music, a Movie, Holiday Spa Gifts OH MY!

It's a given. The Pearl Public Library will always showcase great programs and events! The month of November is no exception! 

For starters, the Friends of the Pearl Library sponsored Big Book Sale is starting Thurs. Nov. 1 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m and running Fri. Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sat. Nov. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The $5 a bag sale will be going on all day on Saturday. Everything you can stuff into a grocery bag for just $5!!!! WOW! What a bargain! All proceeds benefit the Friends' group.

Just to share a few wonderful programs for November, there's Zoe Brumfield - Lady Piper - on tap Tues. Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. for the library's Family Night. Zoe Brumfiled will play the bagpipes as well as speak about Scottish culture and dress! Pizza Shack of Jackson will provide yummy pizza!

Family Night offers a different program every second Tuesday of the month at 6 for the entire family to enjoy!

The monthly big screen, Third Thursday Flicks is Thurs. Nov. 15 at 5:30 p.m. The night, featuring the delightful movie, Home for the Holidays rated (PG-13), comes complete with popcorn and drinks! What a great way to enjoy an evening out...FREE!

O00h la la, talk about relaxation and mmmm mmmm decadence!!! How about learning how to make your own lavender bath soap and peppermint foot soak!!!  Doesn't that make you wanna holler!!!! You know it does!!!! So, come on in for this month's How-To Tuesday program- DIY Holiday Spa Gifts on Tues. Nov. 20 at 6!  

The How- to Tuesday, adult program, is every third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m.

Remember all programs are free!

There's really so so soooooo much more going on! Check out the Central MS Regional Library System's website at www.cmrls.lib.ms.us and click on EVENTS for a full calendar of events, not only for the Pearl Public Library, but for all 20 CMRLS libraries!!!!

Don't miss out!

We'll see you there!

A Nightmare, a Competition, and a Teenage Girl

"We will each write a ghost story," said Lord Byron, and his proposition was acceded to. There were four of us....I busied myself to think of a story - a story to rival those which had excited us to this task. One which would speak to the mysterious fears of our nature and awaken thrilling horror - one to make the reader dread to look around, to curdle the blood, and quicken the beatings of the heart. If I did not accomplish these things, my ghost story would be unworthy of its name."

                                                    ~from Author's Introduction, FRANKENSTEIN

Talk about a challenge, issued by Lord Byron himself! Quite the writing group and next door neighbors: 18-year-old Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, physician John Pollidori, and Lord George Gordon Byron. The setting was Switzerland in the summer of 1816 when the now historical challenge was issued. However, writer's block can prove to be a dread in itself. Every morning, Mary was asked the same question, "Have you thought of a story?", and every morning the answer was no...until the nightmare. In her dream, Mary saw a "pale student" kneeling over what was described as a hideous sleeping corpse until...his eyes open and he stands!

Mary opened her own eyes in terror, and thus began the creation of the horror novel FRANKENSTEIN, now celebrating its 200th year of publication! Mary's quote from the book's introduction breathes life into the idea that still surrounds the story today, "I have found it! What terrified me will terrify others; and I need only describe the spectre which had haunted my midnight pillow."

The next morning Mary announced that she had "thought of a story", the first line beginning with the words, "It was on a dreary night in November." The book was published in 1818, and just like the scientist who brought the monster to life, FRANKENSTEIN was a fully-formed work of fiction at its creation.

The Forest Public Library is saluting the teenage girl who first introduced us to THE MODERN PROMETHUS with a FRANKENFEST program for teens on Tuesday, October 30, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. The Back Door event features a costume contest, frightening "finger" foods, and the showing of the original 1931 FRANKENSTEIN movie produced by Universal Pictures. The created monster is played by Boris Karloff in the film, and no one remembers who plays the scientist Dr. Frankenstein. (Trivia note from an over-zealous librarian - Colin Clive plays the scientist.)

According to various internet sources, the film was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress in the United States National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant." The film begins with a warning of caution:

     How do you do? Mr. Carl Laemmie feels it would be a little unkind to present this picture without just a word of friendly warning. We are about to unfold the story of Frankenstein, a man of science who sought to create a man after his own image without reckoning upon God. It is one of the strangest tales ever told. It deals with the two great mysteries of creation: life and death. I think it will thrill you. It may shock you. It might even horrify you. So, if any of you feel that you do not care to subject your nerves to such a strain, now's your chance to uh, well ---WE WARNED YOU!! (Another note of trivia: Carl Laemmie was an American filmaker and a founder of Universal Studios.). 

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley received no formal education but spent her years as a young girl in a library. What a fitting way to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the author's most famous literary work and the horror genre she helped to create than in a library with a group of teens. Join us from 7:00-9:00 p.m on Tuesday, October 30th, as we serve up the heart of  FRANKENSTEIN, along with a few fingers and a couple of eyeballs.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!