October Programming Could Not Be Sweeter at the Pearl Public Library!

(The Pearl Public Library Book Sale scheduled for Thurs. Oct. 3, Fri. Oct. 4 and Sat. Oct 5 has been postponed. http://cmrls.evanced.info/signup)



Uh-huh!

 Swwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeetttt!

As in a HUGE jar full of the sweet stuff!  And, it all goes to the lucky person who comes the closest to guessing the number of candies in the jar! 

This confectionery guessing contest starts Tues. Oct 1 and runs through Saturday, Oct. 26. The drawing will take place on Mon. Oct. 28!  Stop on by and fill out an entry! What ya got to lose!

Also this week, is the Pearl Library's Book Sale!  Now, come on! You can just image what kind of sweet deals - at ridiculously low prices -  you'll be able to find! 

The book sale runs for three days, Thurs. Oct. 3 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Fri. Oct. 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sat. Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.!

Hey! You know that books make great gifts right? Right!

Speaking of gifts. How how about a cute, little, Halloween craft that would make a sweet gift for yourself or someone special? 

Then don't miss Simply Crafts Tues. Oct 1 at 6 p.m.! It's Ghost in a Jar! 

This is a FREE program. No reservation required and all materials supplied!

This craft session is sure to get you in the FALL mood.

So, don't forget about the special Family  Night program coming up. 

An event full of honest to goodness sweet fun for the WHOLE family is the Fall Family Festival, co-sponsored by Pizza Shack of Jackson, on Tues. Oct. 8 starting at 5:30 p.m.  Bounces houses, face painting, pizza and more! ALL FREE!

You do not want to miss out on these delightful programs!

Stay tuned to this blog for more October programming at the Pearl Public Library!

We'll see you there!

October 2019 Taylorsville Timeline To Do's

Outrageous October programming is coming to your Library in Taylorsville. Listed below are some of the October events we have planned for you to mark off of your To Do List.

October is the month we celebrate all things Teens with TeenTober. Here are some of the events we have coming up at the library here in Taylorsville.

For the entire month of October we invite Teens to come into the library and put your artistic twist on a bookmark and then step over to our YA area and put your mark on our table sized coloring page. On Wednesday, October 16th at 3:30 we will be dipping tiles to make marble-dipped coasters.

For our Magnolia Monday - Make & Take, Kindergarten to 6th grade children, we will be painting pumpkins on Monday, October 7th @ 3:30.

Each Wednesday at 11:00 am will be our Preschool Story Time.
Our Outrageous October themes are:

October 2nd:         Fall Leaves Fall

October 9th:          Boo! Said the Ghost

October 16th:        Halloween Upside Down?

October 23rd:        Paint a Pumpkin
October 30th:         All About Halloween

These preschool programs are filled with fun books, music, and crafts!

Our Adult and Senior Book Club meets on Tuesday, October 8th at 3:30. We will be discussing the various books our club members are reading. Since we all have different taste in the genre of books we read, we have a well-rounded discussion.

Our Friends of the Library Chapter invites you to join them on Tuesday, October 8th at 3:30, for their monthly meeting to discuss upcoming events and ways to help the library make them a success.

The week of October 20th to October 26th is Friends of the Library Week. The library staff will be hosting a reception on Tuesday, October 22nd at 2:00 to thank our current members for all they do for our library and welcome any new comers who would like to join our chapter here in Taylorsville.

All CMRLS libraries will be closed Monday, October 14th in observance of Columbus Day.

We look forward to helping you complete your Library To Do's.

Bringing in Fall Strong With Lots of Bounce at the Pearl Library!

JUMPIN' PUMPKINS!  Fall is officially here! 

That can only mean one thing!   

You know it!

The Pearl Public Library is throwing a partaaaaaay!

A FALL FAMILY FESTIVAL in fact!

This is the second annual Fall Family Festival, and Kristen, the library's Youth Services Supervisor and Family Night coordinator, says she can't wait!

"It really is a lot of fun," Kristen said. "We love seeing everyone come out and celebrate the beginning of fall!  We'll have face painting, bounce houses and more. This is an event for kids of ALL ages! It's a great time for the whole family!"

Pizza Shack, a huge Pearl Library and Family Night supporter, is generously donating their award winning pizza! Get there early as supplies are limited.

The Fall Family Festival is Tues. Oct. 8th at 5:30 p.m behind the library, next to the Pearl Senior Center. There is no admission fee and everything is FREE!

A reminder that Family Night is a free program every second Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m.

We'll see you there!

Far Out Programs at the Pearl Public Library!

Taking it celestial September's How-To Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. is Painting Planets!

All you do is take acrylic painting paper, paint, Mason jar lids and, of course, a little imagination and there you have it! Galaxy art! 

If you are all about creativity and enjoying a relaxing time, this program is definitely for you!

The How-To Tuesday program, which is the third Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m., is free and all materials are supplied.  

But that's not all that's going on this week at the Pearl Library.

So, let's talk about really taking it out there OK!  

How about a dark, romantic comedy involving a 20-year-old boy and a 79-year-old woman. 

That would be Harold and Maude, the Pearl Library's September Third Thursday Flicks offering.

Harold and Maude directed by Hal Ashby was released in 1971.

A young boy named Harold Chasen (Bud Cort) is intrigued with death. He meets Maude, played by Ruth Gordon, at a funeral and develops a strong friendship with her.  Ruth teaches Harold the value of  living life to the fullest.

Far out, funny movie, on a big screen! What could possibly be better! And, it's free!  That's Thurs. Sept. 19 at 5:45. Refreshments will be served.

We'll see you there!

Fitness Is Not a Fad at Forest Library

In a world full of fads, women's fitness is not a craze or a novelty or even a whim. A fad is defined as an intense and widely shared enthusiasm for something, especially one that is short-lived or without basis in the object's qualities. Synonyms include fixation, trend, fashion, or the latest thing; however, none of these terms apply to long-term women's health and fitness.

Forest Public Library and Clear Creek Bootcamp in Forest are partnering together to present FITNESS DAY @ THE LIBRARY on Saturday, September 21, from 9:00 a.m. until Noon. The focus of the event is to encourage and celebrate women's health and fitness as a lifestyle and not a fad. Branch Manager Dianne McLaurin understands the importance of this message. "In February of this year, I joined the local bootcamp to lose some extra pounds. For the first six-weeks of the program, I achieved all my goals and posted transformation pictures with zeal! Everyone was so excited that I had joined the "fitness craze" in Forest. However, it did not take long to realize that women's fitness is not a six-week program, but rather a lifestyle of nutrition, exercise and accountability. Fitness is not a fad."

The owner of Clear Creek Bootcamp and Forest firefighter, Jordan Barnes, compares this concept to a three-legged stool. Without all three legs of support -- sustained nutrition, regular exercise and personal accountability -- the stool will not provide the adequate foundation for a healthy lifestyle. When approached about partnering with the library about a FREE health and fitness workshop for women, Barnes stated that community collaboration is necessary to spread this important message.

National Women's Health and Fitness Day is celebrated each year on the last Wednesday of September and is the nation's largest annual health promotion event for women of all ages. Even though the library could not participate in the official nationwide event on September 25, the local organizers wanted to focus attention on the importance of physical activity and healthy eating by hosting a Saturday September program. The city of Forest is designated as a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation Healthy Hometown, and McLaurin participated in the grant process by serving on the Healthy Hometown committee. The Central Mississippi Regional Library System was just recently awarded a grant to provide FIT KITS for checkout to patrons. These fitness kits include everything from Zumba and Pilates to weight-lifting and yoga.

In the past few years, the library has also partnered with Lackey Memorial Hospital to present health literacy programs for residents of all ages, from preschool to senior citizens. Hospital spokesperson Nicole Kennedy stated that the hospital will have a table set up during the event to provide handouts about breast cancer and bone density scans in preparation for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Workshop participants can also register to win a free mammogram.

"What we all want Forest residents to understand is that women's health and fitness is not a fad. As someone nearing retirement years, I understand the idea of slowing down and enjoying life. Still, healthy eating and regular exercise are not "phases" that we outgrow or a "craze" that is no longer fashionable. I think the library and our partners have created an amazing program that will interest everyone and confirm our commitment to women's health and the overall health of our town," McLaurin added.

FITNESS DAY @ THE LIBRARY begins at 9:00 a.m. and the workshop schedule is as follows:
9:00 a.m. -- Jordan Barnes, Clear Creek Bootcamp
Accountability and Personal Training
Healthy Lifestyle Motivation and Management
Proper Use of Exercise Equipment
Exercise Modification for All Ages
10:00 a.m. -- Joanne Jones, Clear Creek Bootcamp
ZUMBA Class Demonstration
11:00 a.m. -- The Importance of Nutritious Meal Plans with Jordan Barnes
Meal Prepping for Busy Lives and Healthy Samples with Katie McLaurin
Healthy Shakes, Smoothies and Teas with C & C Power Nutrition

For more information concerning FITNESS DAY @ THE LIBRARY, please call 601-469-1481 or email fobm@cmrls.lib.ms.us. 

September 2019 Taylorsville Timeline To Do's

As the fall season approaches, come 'Fall Into' some great programming at your Library in Taylorsville. Listed below are some of the September events we have planned for you to mark off of your To Do List.

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. "A library card brings stories to life!" We would like to encourage each teacher in our community to come in and sign-up for a library card for your classroom as well as your personal use. As always, we encourage everyone to have a library card to access all the various services our library has to offer the community.

To encourage our young elementary age readers to sign-up for a library card, Elephant & Piggie will be visiting Taylorsville Elementary School on Tuesday, September 10th at 10:30 am. Elephant & Piggie are just two of the interesting characters from the children's author Mo Willems.

Each Wednesday at 11:00 am will be our Preschool Story Time. Our Fabulous Fall
themes are:

September   4th:   Time for School

September 11th:    Happy Grandparent's Day

September 18th:    Yo Ho Mates, It's a Pirate Kind of Day

September 25th:     "A" is for Apple

These programs are filled with fun books, music, and crafts!

Join us on Monday, September 9th at 3:30 we will celebrate International Dot Day with our after school program for grades Kindergarten to 6th grades.

       

Come by and see us on Wednesday, September 11th at 3:30, our Totally Teens Wednesday for Tweens and Teens will be able to make Stained Glass Jars using Sharpies and Mod Podge.

Our Adult and Senior Book Club meets on Tuesday, September 10th at 3:00. We will be reading and discussing a novel by: Sandra Brown, Tailspin.

Our Friends of the Library Chapter invites you to join them on Tuesday, September 10th at 3:30, for their monthly meeting to discuss upcoming events and ways to help the library make them a success.

We look forward to helping you complete your Library To Do's.

Star Tours-Astronomy at It's Finest

Join us as we study ASTRONOMY at the Flowood Library on September 16, 2019, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Sandwiches, Chips and Soda will be served.

Following the presentation we will all go outdoors to view the rings of Saturn, craters on the Moon, etc. through a powerful hand-crafted telescope, weather permitting.

May your introduction to astronomy be a pleasant experience.

As for myself I had a few obstacles to overcome when I developed an interest in the subject. This happened when I was about 16 years old back in 1983.

I wanted to learn about astronomy, so I invested in a 300X refracting telescope and set it up in the front yard. I pointed the telescope at the Moon and I was impressed. I was like a kid with a new toy.

I was so impressed that I showed off my telescope to the girl next door. I adjusted the angle and showed how I could read the license plate of a small bus that was parked next to her house. She seemed to express an interest in my new hobby.

Since she moved into the neighborhood six months earlier, she had sought my attention. She was the girl who lived at the end of the street and she wanted every boy's attention. But, I was more concerned about trivial things like surviving high school. I had studying to do and grades to make. I didn't need girl problems, too. I ignored her interest in me. She was offended.

Soon after my telescope demonstration she told her boyfriend that I was "peeping" through the windows of her house with my telescope. Her boyfriend came after me, and he brought three of his friends with him. I managed to elude her boyfriend and his entourage. I informed two teachers, but they dismissed the problem.

Back then fighting was something that this high school addressed by threatening suspension and failing grades on one six week term of classes. It was a lot easier to penalize all students involved rather than the ones at fault.

I called my mother. She called the girl's father who was a police officer, and I learned that he was about to get a search warrant and have me arrested. My mother told him that we would be moving soon, and the telescope would be coming with us.

How did this problem get so out of control?

Had this case gone to trial I would have found myself saying to the courtroom that I had purchased this telescope, so I could observe heavenly bodies, and the girl who thought I was observing her did not qualify.

Her boyfriend backed off.

I got out of town.

New children specialist at Raleigh

We at Raleigh are excited to welcome our new children's specialist of Lee (Alisha) Westbrook Hughes. Lee is a native of Raleigh and a graduate of Raleigh High School. She has an associates degree from Jones County Junior College. She is married to Paul Hughes and they have two children, Micah and Bethany. Paul will soon be returning from his third military trip to the Middle East and the family is anxiously awaiting his return.

Lee 's experience includes being a preschool teacher at 1st Baptist Preschool and has had several years of working with youth at her church. She will be continuing our Tuesday preschool story time and starting some other programs for the various ages of youth in Raleigh. We are excited to have her and hope you will all make her feel welcome.

Looking for your next read...

I am always trying to read a wide assortment of authors and genres because I enjoy a wide variety but also to assist patrons that are looking for a new book or author. Recently, it was a pleasure to read these three books. If you are looking for something new, I would recommend any of the three. The first two titles are actually first novels, and I will look forward to future books by these authors.

As I read Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly, my mind kept trying to decide if this was a horror story, psychological thriller, or a mystery. It definitely kept me thinking and engaged until the very end.

Twenty-five years ago, William Wheeler murdered his wife and three sons with an axe, then slit his own throat, leaving baby Dixie alive in their home. Dixie's childhood home comes up for sale, and Dixie impetuously moves in, furnishing the house with the original furniture that had been in storage since the tragedy. Dixie locates the police file on the murders and connects with the retired detective that investigated. Strange things start to happen; people begin to disappear. The many twists and turns will keep you turning the pages until late at night. Keep the lights on though.

Request a copy of Theme Music from CMRLS catalog.

Escape rooms are all the rage these days.  Normally, a group is given a mission then placed in a themed room to locate clues that will free them from the room. In The Escape Room by Megan Goldin, the escape room is an elevator inside a multi-story building where construction is complete but no tenants occupy the building. The participants, four coworkers at the top of their game in an investment banking company, receive a text to attend a team-building exercise at the location and find themselves locked in an elevator. They must put aside their differences and work together to solve the clues that will lead to their release...hopefully. These four have committed ruthless, unspeakable deeds to get where they are today, and these deeds are revealed as the game progresses. The question is not how will they get out of this elevator, but will anyone get out alive. This psychological thriller is a page turner.

Request a copy of The Escape Room from CMRLS catalog.

If you enjoy Jodi Picoult novels or time travel fiction, The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain will be a novel you do not want to miss.

Carly Sears is a young, expectant mother in 1970. Recently widowed, her husband was a casualty of the war in Vietnam. Now she finds that the baby she is expecting has a serious heart defect and will likely die shortly after birth. She discovers how far she will go to save her unborn daughter when her brother-in-law, a physicist with an obscure past, tells her there might be a way to save her baby. She must trust in the unbelievable and take a leap of faith to pursue her dream of having a healthy child.

Request a copy of The Dream Daughter from CMRLS catalog.

Look Up to the Stars at Brandon Public Library!

Astronomy is for Everyone: The 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing Edition!

Join us on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at 6:00 pm for a special celestial event!

Astronomer Kevin Manning, a former consultant with NASA, has always been passionate about astronomy, and wants to share the excitement with you! 

Over the next 1 ½ hours, you’ll learn about the size and scale of the universe, the stars, and other celestial wonders using hands-on activities and assorted visuals.

Ages 8+.

Stormin' Area 51

For those of you who are seriously planning to participate in the Stormin' Area 51 exercise on September 20, 2019, the Flowood Library has put together a special collection of Area 51 literature that can be used as reference material to become more familiar with the area.

Let's face it. You wouldn't want to be stuck in the middle of the Nevada desert without it. Just remember that these books can only be checked out for three weeks. If you bring them back dirty and full of sand, then you may be charged for the damages.

We may consider waiving the fines should any of our patrons be caught or arrested by the local authorities while trespassing on federal land, but ultimately you are still responsible for  returning library property in pristine condition. You can place all the books in a package or envelope and drop them off at the local post office prior to your excursion across the Nevada desert. Not sure if GPS works in Area 51, so we recommend checking out a book on survival, getting a road map, and drinking plenty of water.

For the record infiltration of an above top secret military base may not be a bright idea, but neither were some of the things I used to do in college.