Not Just for Kids..

The summer reading program is in full swing and libraries have tons of stuff for everyone to check out and do! Check out your local library for programs that can "Water Your Mind"! Here's the schedule for June programs for adults at the Pearl Public Library:

Tuesday, June 15, 3:00---Master Gardener
Topic concerns water and your plants!

Tuesday, June 22, 6:00--Oasis Salon and Spa
Get tips about relaxing, hair, nail and skin care!

Don't forget we have guessing jars for adults! Visit our summer reading registration table and make a numerical guess. The closest guess wins a prize! We'll have 6 winners!

Also, stop by any desk for book review forms! Read a book. Write a review on the form for one prize entry. There will be one winner each week! You could be the lucky one!

For more information--click on this link to our library system's calendar. Door prizes are compliments of the Friends of the Library, Sutherlands, Frisco Deli, Shoney's Restaurant, Wal-Mart, Revell Ace Hardware, Green Thumb Garden Center, Oasis Salon and Spa, Trustmark Bank.

Happy reading!!!

It's JUNE!

Summer Reading Programs have begun at the Libraries of Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith counties. You might just see Inky the Clown or Terry Vandeventer, aka "The Snakeman" at the library nearest you! They do seem to be two of the kids favorite Summer Reading Programs!

Take time to check out the CMRLS Online CALENDAR this summer. It can be sorted for the library nearest you, by age group, or by interest. Ask your library staff to walk you through it if you have problems, but its a straightforward search application in the near upper left-hand corner of the calendar page. Find a program you are interested in and click on the title. This links to a window with the address of the Library, hours of operation, and information regarding the program. It's an easy way to find FREE things to do this summer!

National BBQ Month

Yummy! May is National BBQ Month! The library is a wonderful place to pick up some grilling tips! From Food Networks' The Neelys, Bobby Flay, Sandra Lee, Paula Deen to heavyweight champion George Forman, check out the CMRLS BBQ collection today! Get a head start on your recipes and dazzle at your next cookout!

All CMRLS Libraries will be CLOSED Monday, April 26, for the State holiday -- Confederate Memorial Day.

There are books on your libraries' shelves that tell of life during the time of the American Civil War or about Mississippi and the South during that time if you would like to delve into some history.

CMRLS Libraries will open Tuesday, April 27 with regular hours.

Brown Bag Lunch @ Pearl

Join us on Friday, April 23, 12 Noon-1:00

Jerry Mitchell, award winning investigative reporter,

with The Clarion Ledger, will be the featured guest.

Bring a sack lunch.

Drinks and dessert are provided by the

Friends of the Pearl Library.

Great Quotes for National Library Week!

Libraries will get you through times of NO money better than money will get you through times of NO Libraries. ~Anne Herbert, The Whole Earth Catalog

CUTS to Libraries during a recession are just like CUTS to hospitals during a plague! ~Eleanor Crumblehulme via Twitter

Whatever the cost of our Libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation. ~Walter Cronkite

The three most important documents a free society gives are a birth certificate, a passport, and a Library card. ~E. L. Doctorow, New York Times, March 27, 1994

A Library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never failing spring in the desert. ~Andrew Carnegie


The public Library is the only public agency which serves the minds of ALL of the population, one individual at a time. ~Unknown

We are the only planet, so far as we know, to have invented a communal memory stored neither in our genes or our brains. The warehouse of that memory is called a Library. ~Carl Sagan

More than a building that houses books and data, the Library has always been a window to a larger world–a place where we’ve always come to discover big ideas and profound concepts that help move the American story forward. . . . . Libraries remind us that truth isn’t about who yells the loudest, but who has the right information. Because even as we’re the most religious of people, America’s innovative genius has always been preserved because we also have a deep faith in facts. And so the moment we persuade a child, any child, to cross that threshold into a Library, we’ve changed their lives forever, and for the better. This is an enormous force for good. ~President-elect Barack Obama in a speech at the American Library Association annual conference in June 2005

Celebrate Libraries!
Communities Thrive @ your Library!

Communities Thrive @ your Library!

All CMRLS branches are getting ready for National Library Week, April 12-18, 2010. Check out the online calendar for great programs and even a couple of open houses and receptions. There will be cookies and punch at many of the Libraries during the week! You will want to join the Library staff and Friends of the Library in celebrating the importance of Libraries in our communities.

Friends of the Libraries support CMRLS Libraries all year and take this time each year to remind everyone the importance of Libraries and the importance of supporting them. A big "Thank you" goes out to each of the Boards of Supervisors, Mayors, and Alderman of Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith Counties for the support they show CMRLS Libraries in meeting the needs of our customers. Everyone is aware of shortfalls and financial difficulties this year and yet these elected officials understand the importance of Libraries to their communities. Again, Thank You!

Central Mississippi Regional Library System, Staff, and Friends of the Library know OUR Communities Thrive @ your Library! Celebrate National Library Week with us!

Bank of Forest makes a donation!

Bank of Forest makes a donation!,
originally uploaded by CMRLS Photos.

Are you interested in writing or storytelling?

Who often READS, will sometime wish to WRITE.

~ George Crabbe, English poet & naturalist (1754-1832)

Magnolia State Romance Writers meets at the G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library in Flowood, Feb. 20 & Mar. 20 at 10:00 a.m. Writers meet to discuss and share educational sessions for writers & aspiring writers of romance fiction. Occasional guests and speakers.

Richland Writers meets at the Richland Public Library in Richland, Feb. 8 & Mar.8, 6:00 p.m. Local writers discuss the craft of writing.

Pearl Public Library in Pearl, will hold an All Writers' Workshop, led by freelance writer Margie Culbertson on Feb. 9, 23,  & Mar. 9, 6:00 p.m. The focus will be on inspiration, tips, exercises, and member critique. Open to all writers-from newbies to published, 16-116 years old. Attendees should be actively writing and wish to improve their writing skills.

Poets Anonymous meets at the G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library in Flowood, on Feb. 13 & Mar. 13, 9:00 a.m. Poets and aspiring poets meet to learn, discuss and share poetry and publishing.

Storyweavers meets at the G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library in Flowood, on Feb. 23 & Mar. 23, 7:00 p.m. Local adult storytellers meet to share the oral tradition of storytelling, for a time of education and sharing.

Southern Writers Group meets at the G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library in Flowood, on Feb. 12 & Mar. 12, 12 noon. Meet to discuss writing and publishing. Bring lunch; drinks provided.

Southern Writers Group meets at the G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library in Flowood, on Feb. 25 & Mar. 25, 6:30 p.m. Writers and aspiring writers meet to discuss writing and publishing.

Will you be planning a wedding soon?

Love is in the air. Valentine's Day is just around the corner and many will be planning a wedding soon. Don't forget to begin your plans @ your Library. You'll find books at the library that take a couple from choosing a ring and planning the date to choosing the music, do it yourself decorating (even your own wedding cake), and planning the honeymoon! Then, when you get home and you really start feeling married -- you'll find help, again, @ your library!

Here are just a few of the latest titles available @ your library:

• How to buy a diamond : insider secrets for getting your money's worth, by Fred Cuellar
• Bridal bargains : secrets to throwing a fantastic wedding on a realistic budget, by Denise & Alan Fields
• Weddings : ideas & inspirations for celebrating in style, by Marie Proeller Hueston
• 101 ways to save money on your wedding, by Barbara Cameron
• The bride's survival guide : 150 mistakes you should avoid to ensure the perfect wedding, by Sharon Naylor
• Wedding chic : 1,001 ideas for every moment of your celebration, by Colin Cowie
• Wedding flowers, by Antonia Swinson
• The DIY bride : 40 fun projects for your ultimate one-of-a-kind wedding, by Khris Cochran
• Michelle Rago's weddings : creating a day uniquely your own, by Michelle Rago
• Crafting a dream wedding, by Susan Cousineau
• Something new : wedding etiquette for rule breakers, traditionalists, and everyone in between, by Elise Mac Adam
• Somebody is going to die if Lilly Beth doesn't catch that bouquet : the official southern ladies guide to hosting the perfect wedding, by Gayden Metcalfe and Charlotte Hays
• Emily Post's wedding planner for moms, by Peggy Post
• Vows : the African-American couple's guide to designing a sacred ceremony, by Harriette Cole
• The Knot guide to wedding vows and traditions : readings, rituals, music, dances, speeches, and toasts, by Carley Roney & th editors of the Knot
• Happily ever laughter : inspirational stories, quotes, and quips about love and marriage, by Mary Hollingsworth, general editor
• Simple stunning wedding showers : festive ideas and inspiration for perfect pre-wedding parties, by Karen Bussen with photographs by William Geddes
• Wedding cakes you can make : designing, baking, and decorating the perfect wedding cake, by Dede Wilson
• The art of wedding photography : professional techniques with style, by Bambi Cantrell and Skip Cohen
• Wedding words : vows, by Jennifer Cegielski
• Scrapbooking your wedding : fresh ideas for stunning pages, by Memory Makers

 So, whether you are the nervous Bride...or Groom...trying to create your perfect day; the Mother of the Bride trying to "dot all the etiquette i's", or perhaps the Maid of Honor having to plan that memorable bridal shower, start @ your library!

Are You in the Mood to READ Romance?

Christmas holidays are over and Valentine's Day will be here, soon. Are you in the mood to read romance novels? Here are a couple of reader's tools to help you find a book to read.

Try the Next Good Book shelf link entitled "Trust Your Heart". You will find just a sampling of some newer romance titles and some older ones; some religious, funny, historical, or even mysterious! Sign up at Next Good Book and create your own 'book shelf' to share with friends or just to keep track of what you've read or want to read. You may comment on any of the books or just read what others have said about them. You may connect with numerous readers suggesting books or new authors that you may like to read!

You might also try the archived NextReads Romance newsletters found here. You will scroll through a year's worth of links to NextReads newsletters you may want to subscribe to but the Romance List is near the bottom of the page. Subscribe to one or all of these newsletters by following this link. Your email address will not be used for any other communication and we will not share your email address with anyone. No spam or ads! You will recieve monthly newsletters with suggestions for you to read and while you are on your computer reading through your email you may use the 'Library Catalog' link to go directly to your Library's catalog and request the book be held for you.

Both of these reader's tools are simple to navigate, but if you have questions just ask your Library staff for help. The Customer Service email form may also be used for help with these tools or any Library question you might have. If you would rather use your email server, the address is custsvc@cmrls.lib.ms.us

Happy New Year!

It's 2010 and a brand NEW year is ahead of us!
CMRLS wishes you and your family a very happy New Year!

Everyone is aware of State budget cuts, but you may not be aware that they directly affect your local Library and the services that are offered in your community. Your local CMRLS Library staff took a pay cut during the 2009 budget cuts so that local Library services would not be interrupted. More State budget cuts will certainly mean interrupted services, whether it is fewer hours your Library is open, fewer programs and books, or even fewer staff. This, coming at a time when personal budgets are causing families to cancel Internet access and cut back on many entertainment expenses.

Your Library, as part of CMRLS, offers your community

• more than 360,000 free books, Videos/DVDs, Audios/CDs, magazines, and newspapers
• free reference materials and services, many even accessible at your home, office, and school
• free public access computers
• free programming for all ages, including annual Summer Library Programs

So, this is the time when CMRLS Libraries must depend on you letting your state, county, and city officials know that your Library is important to YOU and your community. Let them know that your community needs and deserves the services that your Library offers to all the citizens in their districts. Cuts in services will mean that those citizens that need the free Library services, especially local and state newspapers, Internet access and job searching resources, will lose; and so will your community.

What else can I do to help MY Library? Join your local FRIENDS group! The Friends of the Library supports local libraries with a small annual membership fee, usually $5 per year. This helps with programming, books, or needed supplies. Just ask your local Library staff how you can join FRIENDS.  Your Library needs FRIENDS!

Central Mississippi Regional Library System serves the nearly 200,000 citizens and public Libraries of Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith counties.

Library Closings

All CMRLS Libraries will close

by 6:00 p.m. on Wed., Dec. 23 and

all day Thurs., Dec. 24,

Fri., Dec. 25, and Sat., Dec. 26,

for the Christmas Holiday!

~

The Libraries will also close

all day Thurs., Dec. 31 & Fri., Jan. 1,

for the New Year's Holiday.

~

Libraries will close all day Mon., Jan. 19

for the celebrated birthdays of

Martin luther King, Jr. & Robert E. Lee.

~

The CMRLS staff wishes you a

happy and safe holiday season!

Holiday Stress Help from MAGNOLIA

Reducing holiday stress is the topic in Health Highlight found on MAGNOLIA's Consumer Health Complete database this month. The link goes to an article entitled Holiday Stress Can be Navigated, written by Robert Preidt for HealthDay Consumer News Service. You can find more articles like this in the Consumer Health Complete database search found HERE.

MAGNOLIA is the Mississippi Alliance for Gaining New Opportunities through Library Information Access and contains magazines, journals, newspapers, and books on many subjects. These subjects include medicine, health and alternative health, the sciences, literature and language, history and politics, the arts and social sciences, encyclopedias and dictionaries, biographies, photos, maps, videos and more (whew); a virtual library. The main link to MAGNOLIA can be found on the CMRLS home page.

MAGNOLIA is a statewide consortium funded by the Mississippi Legislature which provides online research databases for publicly funded K-12 schools, public libraries, community college libraries, and university libraries in Mississippi. MAGNOLIA began in 1997 as one of the first such endeavors in the country and continues to be funded by the Mississippi Legislature for free use by all Mississippians.

Contact your library if you have trouble accessing these links or would like more information on this database and others found in MAGNOLIA.

Great Titles @ your library!

Are you waiting for any of these?

• The Last Song, by Nicholas Sparks
• Pursuit of Honor, by Vince Flynn
• Her Fearful Symmetry, by Audrey Niffenegger
• Under the Dome, by Stephen King
• The Scarpetta Factor, by Patricia cornwell
• Ford County: Stories, by John Grisham
• U is for Undertow, by Sue Grafton

These are just a few of the great new titles that will be coming to your library. Contact your library staff or go directly to the online catalog and get on the waiting list! You just need your Library card and your PIN (number).

If you want something to read while you are waiting, ask the library staff for something along the lines of your favorite book or someone who writes like your favorite author...OR you could wander around NoveList and find something all together new! Your library staff can help you maneuver through NoveList and the online catalog to help you find your next favorite book or author!

Ask the staff about NoveList, NextReads, the Online Book Clubs, and Next Good Book; all tools to help you find "something good to read!"

Ten Reasons to Visit a Library this Weekend!

10. Check out a DVD or VCR movie FREE for the kids (it's going to be raining)!
9. Pick up a book on CD, or tape, and listen to it while you drive home, again FREE.
8. Check out a CD of "Oldie Goldies", (FREE) whether that's the 90's for you, or the 40's!
7. Check out one of the newest Vampire novels, and learn why they're SO popular, and FREE!
6. Trek to another planet in a Sci-Fi (or SyFy) novel for FREE.
5. Sign up for Early Email Notification and let us remind you 3 days before books are due, again FREE!
4. Check out a video game for your PS 2 or 3, Nintendo DS or Wii, yep...FREE!
3. Learn to pinch a penny for FREE!
2. Find a new FREE recipe for chicken!
1. Talk to your librarian, anytime, for FREE.

Have a great weekend!

FRIENDS' Support Libraries!

While you are out and about on one of these pretty fall weekends, stop at one of these Libraries to look at the books, videos, magazines, and more for sale and to support the Friends of the Library!

Oct. 16 & 17 - Brandon Public Library

Oct. 31 - Sebastopol Public Library (@ Sebastopolooza)

Nov. 14 - Puckett Public Library

The money raised by these FRIENDS' groups will go to support programming or even to purchase books at their Libraries. Any one of these groups would be glad for you to join them for a small annual membership fee and all the money goes back into the Library!

Many of the CMRLS Libraries have on-going FRIENDS' Book Sales. Call your local Library to see if they have one, and "be more than a patron, be a FRIEND." Support your Library!

Back to School!

It's that time...we are thinking about school supplies and clothes and uniforms. Remember that a Library Card is the BEST TOOL for SCHOOL that you can get for the money! It's FREE! Check out the after school programs, craft projects, book clubs, Internet, etc. The Library can be used more that just when you have a book report! Ask staff for help with research, homework help, and even helping you find a good book to read.

Here's hoping you have a very successful school year and that we can be of help!

Summer Reading 2009!

Be Creative!

Try this trial database

from EBSCO for the

next 30 days,

it's very creative!

Hobbies and Crafts Reference Center!

Watch the CMRLS blogs all summer
for new and creative website finds!

Feel free to leave your comments concerning
this resource.

Forest Library is OPEN!

Forest Public Library opened Monday, May 18 at the temporary location; and the patrons were ready! Having spoken to the staff yesterday, everyone seemed excited! The temporary address is 415 East Third Street. The hours of operation, telephone and FAX numbers are the same.

Watch this blog and the CMRLS website for updates and pictures of the progress of the NEW Forest Library.