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.

Book Sale at the Library!!!

It’s Book – a –palooza at the Library!  We have had a huge donation of books down at the Annex, and we have NO room for them.  Therefore we will be having a HUGE book sale starting on Wednesday June 5^th to Friday June 7^th.  Make plans to come to the Library Annex and take advantage of this opportunity to stock up.  We have priced all the books to GO.  So mark your calendars now and plan to join us. 

New and improved.........

Okay, Update on 'lil 'ol Lee County Library.

I am still working on the new website. Will be up and running soon! Meanwhile, some county citizens are organizing a community event calendar and I have linked it here on our blog. (Third link on the right.)

If your local organization would like to post an event please contact me at the e-mail listed.

The main purpose of this calendar is to help organizations plan their events so that they do not overlap.

Right now, we have a limited number of administrators. If your organization would like to name an individual as administrator; giving them the authority to post contact me, Don Mathis or Retta Tindal.

Will try to be more consistent in posting, but really, I want to get the website done!!