And the Winner Is.......

For the past three years the Lee County Library has won the statewide photo contest held each year during Library Week. For three years we have won the Best Overall, Most Humorous and gotten three honorable mentions. These contests are sponsored by the South Carolina State Library and all the county libraries compete. Our photos have been published in both state and national publications.

This year, during the South Carolina Library Association annual meeting in October we were awarded not one, but two Presidential Citations to honor these achievements. Because it is a statewide competition to win top honors for three years is quite an accomplishment. We were thrilled by the recognition and thank the SCLA for the honor.

“I was so surprised and shocked when they called me up the second time that I didn’t know what to say,” Director Dawn Ellen said, “I just sort of stammered ‘thank you’ and ran off the stage!”

We also thank our patrons who allow librarian Elizabeth the chance to take their picture. All of our photos are candid shots and with them we try to portray our library in it’s true light – as a community meeting place where curiosity is welcomed and encouraged.

More from the Halloween Fall Festival,,,

Lee Count Americorps
Originally uploaded by Lee County Public Library - SC

We had a great turn out and want to thank the community and the organizations that came out and supported us. An especially big shout out goes to the Lee County School District’s Building Bridges Americorp team who arrived with 12 students to help organize and assist Chamber Director Pam Kelley and Librarians Brenda Brisbon and Elizabeth Snyder Powell. Because of their help the activities flowed smoothly.

More from the Halloween Festival

The next event was the stuffed animal contest. This event was ably judged by the members of the B.A.R.K (Bishopville Animal Rescue Krew) team headed up by the ever effervescent Tom Kerr. I unfortunately did not get the names of the winners in this event but if the young ladies will come into the library or call I will acknowledge their wins in a future column.

Trunk a Treat Unqualified Success!!

It was a delicious bright blue October day last Saturday. Out at the Grammar School Park, though, it was all witches, princesses, a Chucky or two and various ghouls and goblins! That’s because the Lee County Library and the Lee County Chamber of Commerce were hosting the first annual Halloween Festival Community Day.

We had a great turn out and want to thank the community and the organizations that came out and supported us. An especially big shout out goes to the Lee County School District’s Building Bridges Americorp team who arrived with 12 students to help organize and assist Chamber Director Pam Kelley and Librarians Brenda Brisbon and Elizabeth Snyder Powell. Because of their help the activities flowed smoothly.

The first event was the Halloween Costume Contest. The library has been hosting this for years at the library but this year it was fun to have it outdoors in the warm October sun. We had about 50-60 entrants and all of them showed creativity and imagination in their various costumes. The winners were:

Most Original .................. Nicholas Dolen
Scariest ......................Cole Huggins
Best over all .................Preston and Christian Seeby

Friends of the Library Week proclaimed..........

Governor Mark Sanford has declared October 17th – 23rd as “Friends of the Library Week.” Following is the proclamation:

WHEREAS, libraries are an essential part of the fabric of communities throughout the state and they link us to one another and to the ideas and events of yesterday, helping us prepare for tomorrow, and serving as a sanctuary in which we are free to read, write, and dream about events and ideas of the past, present and future; and

WHEREAS, libraries have become powerful equalizing forces in society where every visitor is welcome and knowledge is free to all regardless of personal wealth or position; and

WHEREAS, Friends of the Library groups energize libraries by enhancing their services and capabilities in communities across the Palmetto State; and

WHEREAS, Friends of the Library volunteers give their time and talents to sponsor recreational and educational programs for children and adults and organize book sales and other events to raise funds to meet special library needs.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mark Sanford, Governor of the Great State of South Carolina, do hereby proclaim October 17-23, 2010, as

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY WEEK

What Mr. Sanford has proclaimed, the Lee County Library has always known. Our local Friends of the Library are true and valuable friends. They have supported our programs both monetarily and with enthusiasm. This is a great opportunity to say thank you to them and acknowledge their value to us and our appreciation of them.

The witch is in............

Our favorite witchy-poo girl is in the house and promoting our "Trunk a Treat" event coming up on October 23rd. Make sure to mark you calendar! Call the library if you have questions, or you would like to participate. This is a community event - so the more the merrier!!

Banned Book Week.......

September 25th marks the start of “Banned Book Week” In support of the right to choose books freely for ourselves, the ALA and The South Carolina State Library are sponsoring Banned Books Week September 25 - October 2, an annual celebration of our right to access books without censorship. This year's observance commemorates the most basic freedom in a democratic society-the freedom to read freely-and encourages us not to take this freedom for granted.

Since its inception in 1982, Banned Books Week has reminded us that while not every book is intended for every reader, each of us has the right to decide for ourselves what to read, listen to, or view. Many libraries will celebrate the freedom to read by participating in special events, exhibits, and read-outs that showcase books that have been banned or threatened.