EdVenture kicks off the 2014 Summer Reading Program

What do you get when you take a bunch of children to the Lee State Park on a glorious day? You have a great kick off for the Lee County Library’s 2014 Summer Reading Program. Last Friday, Brenda and I took our readers out to the park to see a presentation put on by Edventure Children’s Museum in Columbia. Our educator, Mrs. Elena, was wonderful and presented a program called “Garbology.” Funded by a grant from the SC State Library and IMLS, Elena walked us through various stages of soil production and how our behavior can influence our world. We reviewed good garbage (recyclable) bad garbage (electronics, not reusable, etc.) and no garbage (compostable). She interacted with the youngsters to help identify each and answer their questions about each category. Then she rolled out the star of the show: “Garbagena.” This life like muppet-type doll lives in a composting bin and is full of various forms of garbage. The youngsters were invited to reach in her tummy and pull out what they found. As the items emerged they were identified and then arranged in each category. At the end of Elena’s presentation Ranger Laura Kirk showed us some of the projects she conducts at the park using recycled material. Everyone had a wonderful time; and learned something too!!

The parents and the kids then went around and explored the park. What a little jewel here in Lee County! Brenda, Laura and I served a lunch of hot dogs, chips and roasted marshmallows. Then it was off to the swimming hole. They all had such a great time in the water and it was a perfect day for it given the 94 degree temperatures. Finally the day was over and we all headed home a little more aware and considerably more tired.
Special thanks to all our partners: EdVenture, SC State Library, Lee State Park and Recreational Area, Coke, Friends of the Lee County Library and especially our biggest partner – the parents.

Our next program is June 26th with Clemson Extension and Blue Cross Blue Shield presenting “Healthy Snacking.”
The library ladies would like to welcome our newest neighbor, Scoops Ice Cream Shop. We are always happy to see new merchants on Main Street. We went over to visit and while speaking to the owner, Griselda Wilson, we asked if she would be interested in hosting our summer reading closing party. We got an enthusiastic “Yes!” So for our final program on August 1st we will be going to the Lee State Park to visit Ranger Laura Kirk and then heading back to go to Scoops. Sounds like a fun way to wrap up the 2014 Summer Reading Program.

SCLends to the rescue!!!

It has been brought to our attention that many patrons do not realize that you can access the library via the internet by using our BlogSpot account as a portal. When you go there you will see the email address as well as our online catalog. Go to www.leecountypubliclibrary.blogspot.com and on the right hand side of the blog is a link called SCLends. When you click on the link it will take you to the SCLends main catalog (16 statewide libraries!) You can browse the catalog or access your account. Once you have an account you can renew your books, change your address your e-mail or any other information we have on file.
If this is the first time you have accessed it, you will need to enter your library card and a four digit pin number. If you do not have the pin number, call the library and we can assign you one. Once you have entered the pin the main account screen appears. Click on the tab that says “Accounts Preferences” and your account information will appear. The first time you go there, click on the password field and enter your pin, then enter a password of your choice. That’s it! You are done!! (This is a good time to check that the information we have is correct.) It is hard to write up these steps in paragraph form, so if you need more help I have made a “cheat sheet” and it is available at the front desk. If you are still having a hard time, I will be offering classes on Saturdays to help you out; once you have done it a couple of times, all will become clear!
Many of our patrons do not have internet access or skills. Not to worry!! You can call or come to the library and we can search the catalog for you. You have to have your library card to place holds. But other than that there are no other requirements. Once you place a hold, a request goes to the participating library where they pull the book and send it to us. Once we get it, we scan it and an e-mail goes out to you.
Just a few random thoughts about SCLends: when you access your account to renew books, the books cannot be overdue. You will have to call to renew books that are overdue. I have asked the committee to look into this since it makes no sense to me that you can’t renew an over due, and we will probably resolve it in the future. Also, if you are wishing to place a hold on a new release book, there is a 60 day window where the home library restricts the lending. So, you can place the hold, they just won’t send it. Also, we have been pleased at the number of hold requests we get here at the library! Each week we send out 60-75 volumes that other libraries have requested – I think that speaks well of our collection; we have stuff that other people want!!

Our apologies.................

We would like to apologize to our patrons for any inconvenience we may have caused during our air condition malfunction. For several days the temperatures in the library exceeded 90 degrees and as a result we closed early. The public area of the library frequently has a capacity of patrons and with 17 computers running the temperature rises quickly. Also the night time temperatures never got low enough to cool the building. Several people have wondered why we can’t open the windows - well they are sealed! We did run a fan behind the desk to no affect and the main library room is just too big to cool with fans.
So again, we would like to apologize for the inconvenience and hopefully as you are reading this we are back on our feet and running full steam ahead! Additionally. rest assured that no fines were charged during the time we were closed. That is our standard practice. If we are closed and your books are due, we will not charge a late fee. Also we would like to thank Mr. Brian Bradt and the crew of the Lee County Maintenance department for the quick turnaround time on this. They had to switch the entire system and that is no small project.

A day at the Library........

There is a Greek word:  “Agora” which literally means “assembly’ or “gathering place” or “discussion place.”  If ever there was an appropriate word for the Lee County Library, agora is it.  This is especially true on Friday afternoons.  We have a rotating cast of characters who come in and the discussions are wide ranging and open.  As well as books, current events and top news stories are discussed.  All the debates are good natured and usually pretty funny.  Our Friday regulars really light and lighten up the day. 

Not long ago, a friend/patron returned a book and recommended it to me.  It was called “Still Life with Crows,” by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Childs.  I read it and loved it and recommended it to another friend/patron.  We all started recommending it and everyone loved it.  We are now having a run on Douglas Preston and Lincoln Childs books that cannot be believed.  Once, we had an entire shelf of them and now at last count there were about three of them on the shelf.  Showing the power of word of mouth!!

These could be classified as mysteries, but they are way, way more.  The protagonist, Aloysius Penergast is an FBI agent with some really unusual abilities.  He also has a back story that is dribbled out with new twists in each book.  This is a book series but they can be read as standalone novels.  All the ones I have read are slightly eerie, maybe even scary, but they are definitely interesting.  This brings us back to the Lee County Library “agora.”  Last Friday there was a heated discussion on old Aloysius’ back story and each of us had something different to add.  We are ordering copies of the titles we don’t have from SCLends. 

The upstart of all of this is that the original friend/patron who recommended it to me came in Friday and couldn’t find any copies.  I think he was a little cranky!  But we all had a good laugh; since we are all reading the copies and the original recommender couldn’t find his.  

18th Annual Book Festival

After many telephone calls and lots of thought Brenda and I have put together what we thing is a great Summer Reading Program.  Sign up week will start on June 9^th through June 14^th.  Our first program will be on June 20^th at the Lee State Park and featuring our partners at EdVenture in Columbia.  This program is funded by a special LSTA grant and awarded by the SC State Library.  The program will focus on the science of the natural world.  We are very excited about this program and I think our summer readers will love it and gain some insights into the natural world. 

We also will be offering a science themed magic show.  We will be hosting the play, “Rumpelstiltskin” Also holding two cooking classes and arts and crafts classes.  All and all it is going to be busy fun filled summer.  Bring your youngsters to the library to sign up the week of June 9^th.  

Book - a - Palooza

Heads up citizens.  So, you say you like books….you say you like book sales…..you say you like books that are priced to sell….well, look no further!!  On June 5^th, 6^th and 7^th the Friends of the Lee County Library will be holding a book sale at the Library Annex.  These books will be priced to sell - $.25 - $1.00 for everything.  We have a great selection of classic children’s literature, classic and newish fiction and a wide selection of non-fiction books.  The sale starts on Wednesday June 5^th at 10:00 AM and runs until Friday June 7^th at 5:00 PM.  That’s three days from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM.  We will have specials on bags of books and boxes of books.  So make plans to come join us and pick up some bargains for your summer reading. 

One more week.....

Plan on joining us!!

It’s that time of year again! The 17th Annual SC Book Festival is being held at the Columbia Convention Center on May 17th -19th. This is a great family day in Columbia. There are book dealers, author talks and a wonderful children’s exhibit with puppets, plays, music and general silliness. The children will love it. The Lee County Library will be represented and in past years we have met CJ Box, Scott Turow, Mary Alice Monroe and my personal favorite Pat Conroy. If you have never been, make plans to come this year. I know you will have a great time. I hope to see you there.


This year, Mr. Conroy will be back along with his wife, Cassandra King. Also attending will be Mary Kay Andrews (Savannah Breeze), Dori Sanders (Clover) and Mrs. Frances Ginsberg’s sister in law Nathalie Dupree, author of several popular Southern cookbooks. Director Dawn mentioned that she was excited about Patti Callahan Henry – we have several of her books on the shelf. We will be purchasing any new releases that the authors have written, and hopefully have them signed.