Sumter County Library - A Place For You!

The Sumter County Library is very excited about the upcoming Forrest Ray 5K Classic Run/Walk Celebration on Saturday, October 13. The race begins at the Downtown Library at 9:00 am, and we'll be taking registration right up to race time. This years event will feature timing chips that will bring a bit more of a professional feel to the competition. Another added feature will be the awarding of the Forrest A. Ray Traveling High School Cup that will go to the fastest high school student. The Cup will remain at the High School until another school is able to wrest it away in future annual races. While the competitive aspect contributes to the sporting element of the event, the focus is still on fundraising for the Library. All proceeds go to the Friends of the Library and we welcome all participants - those who are determined to be best in the field, those who are organizing their own competitions with fellow runners, and also those who just want to participate in a great community event and support the Library.

As Interim Director of the Sumter County Library, I cannot begin to extend my thanks to those who have worked so tirelessly on the 5K or to those who support the Library in so many different ways. Bosch Braking Systems recently donated a collection of beautifully framed artwork featuring vignettes from around Sumter. These pictures are now hanging in the Library and have already attracted appreciative comments from Library staff and patrons. Bosch is also donating an extraordinarily restored 1929 Ford Model A to the Library. They should be delivering it to us shortly, and then the car will be auctioned online with the proceeds going to the Friends of the Library. The amazing restoration on this classic automobile was done by apprentices working at Bosch. Bosch also donated the funds that made the Technology Area possible at our Wesmark Branch. Thanks Bosch for all you've done for the Library!

The support we receive allows the Library to purchase items for our collection (books, audiobooks, dvds, etc.) that in turn benefit our patrons. We also receive support from people who come to our Library to present programs for the public. Kirstin Hemphill braved the rain and the traffic from the USC-Kentucky game to drive from Columbia to present an SAT Math Game Thursday evening, October 4, at the Downtown Library. The spirited students who attended formed three teams competing against each other in a "Jeopardy" style game that featured categories such as Arithmetic, Geometry, and Algebra I and II. Kirstin is a math and science tutor with a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Penn State. Kirstin says "I feel a responsibility to "the next generation" and South Carolina to give back to the community by providing this program free of charge, as a lot of students do not have the means of hiring a private SAT tutor, or attending an expensive prep course. I felt it was important to try to find a way to make it as fun as possible, as studying for the SATs can be a daunting task." Judging by the fun the participants seemed to be having, Kirstin more than achieved her goal.

Robert