Friends Book Sale a Tremendous Success

A recent blog article brought to my attention contained the following:

"Whether it’s eBooks, websites or some other form of digitized distribution mechanism, the writing is on the wall for the printed “dead tree” medium."

If you were at our Friends book sale the first week of November and saw the throngs of people including pre-school, teens, young adult, middle-aged, and seniors grabbing up books, you might wonder if the writing truly is on the wall for the "dead tree" medium.

The sale was a tremendous success. Thanks to Library staff for manual labor, Sumter County Public Works for transportation, the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center for help in setting up and taking down, the Exhibition Center for tables, Sumter Mall for lending us the space, and especially to the Friends of the Library for their hard work and support in making the annual book sale an event the Sumter community looks forward to year after year. These include Friends members who sort through donations throughout the year, those who set up for the sale in advance, and those who volunteer during the sale itself. And thanks to everyone who comes out to load up on books and support the library.

Finally, very special thanks to Suzanne and Jess Begley for both chairing the sale (Suzanne), and all their hard work (Suzanne and Jess) in making it happen.

The Library appreciates your support more than you can ever know.

Robert Harden
Director

An Update

Hello again. It is now Fall. The leaves have changed colors and in the morning you are now experiencing chilly weather. Its a comforting time of year, a time for being closer with love ones, or to even become acquainted with a new book. We have the best new releases available for you this Fall and we hope you come to your closest library location to see them for yourself.

Early in October was our Forrest Ray 5k Run and Walk. It was a great success. We had so many runners and walkers eager to take part and it could not have been possible without the support and hard work of our volunteers. We would like to thank all our sponsors, individuals who helped plan and set up the race, including members of the USCS Fire Ants athletes who held signs directing runners where to go. Thanks to Ken Lowden of the United States Track and Field Association for measuring and certifying our race route. Thanks to Strictly Running for everything they do for us as well. We hope to make the race even more successful next year!

Our top overall winners hailed from Wilson Hall. Josh Jennings (18:48) and Anne-Davis Shaw (22:18) ran an excellent race. Wilson Hall also took home the Forrest Ray 5k Travelling Cup.



We would like to remind everyone our Friends of the Library Book Sale will be taking place November 3rd through the 7th at the Sumter Mall. This year's location is right beside JCPenney, across from LensCrafters. We have so many books this year for you to purchase so make your way out. The dates and times are as follows:

Wednesday, November 3rd (Friends Preview Night) 6pm to 8:30pm
Thursday, November 4th 4pm to 8:30pm
Friday, November 5th 4pm to 8:30pm
Saturday, November 6th 10am to 6pm
Sunday, November 7th (Bag of Books Day) 1:30pm to 5pm

If you are not a member of the Friends yet, please consider. The Library has faced significant budget cuts that have impacted our ability to purchase new items. Thank you for supporting your Library. We hope to see you at the Book Sale!

Sumter County Library Video Blog

Check it out!

A Summer Reading Success

Thanks to everyone who enrolled in the Summer Reading Program or attended events as part of the program. 1481 children enrolled in Summer Reading while 2116 people attended Summer Reading Events, a record! That is over 3500 people who enriched their minds over the Summer break. These numbers truly show how important Summer Reading Programs are to our community's youth.

During the Summer, it is far too easy for children to dislodge their minds from the day-to-day academic activities found in school. Instead of reading a book or learning new concepts from activities or presenters, children stare at television screens. The mind forgets all of the lessons learned during a school year. This is not a good thing for a child. A child must continue to learn and grow all year long so they have healthy and productive lives as adults.

Children who participate in Summer Reading events have better grades because they are more confident and prepared. Minds are focused because they have been learning and growing all summer. And this happens due to the hard work of library staff and community members willing to form a positive community. We hope you continue to support the Sumter County Library in its mission to enrich the lives of children and adults through knowledge.

A Summer Reading success is a success for the community.

2010 End of Summer Reading Party

Check out this video of our End of Summer Reading Party. Much fun was had!

2010 End of Summer Reading Party

Children's Librarian/Public Relations Representative Janet Caldwell discusses the party:

Libraries and Netflix

Today I read an article claiming libraries loan more movies than Netflix.

Libraries Loan More Movies Than Netflix

A recent study by OCLC, a nonprofit library co-operative and research organization, stated libraries loan over 2 million videos a day, slightly more than Netflix. What does that say about our communities? Families are looking to save money in any way possible. Is it cheap to subscribe to Netflix instead of going to the movies? Sure. Is it cheaper to rent the same movies at a library for free instead of using Netflix and/or going out to the movies? Absolutely.

Libraries contribute to our communities by doing more than loaning books. Libraries promote ideas through programs, magazines, newspapers, movies, comic books, audio books, educational tools, internet resources and more. Families and individuals these days are looking to stimulate their minds without spending money. Why buy a magazine when you can read it at the library? Why purchase a classic Jazz compact disc when you can check it out for free?

Come to the Sumter County Library today and read a new magazine and perhaps meet a new friend. Perhaps bond over a new movie.

Byki Foreign Language Training

Do you want to learn how to speak a foreign language? Are you traveling to another country and need to learn how to ask for directions/call a cab/etc.? Do you need to brush up on your language skills for a class or your degree? If so, Byki Foreign Language Training is for you. Byki is an online interactive language software tool. Byki is free. All you have to do is sign up for Byki in the library. Then you can use it anywhere on your laptop or home computer. Check out this helpful video created by library staff on how to use Byki.

Rappin' Poetry Slam!

The Sumter County Library presented a Rappin' Poetry Slam on July 30th, 2010. Children and teens performed raps and spoken word about reading and literacy.

Magician Brandon Wagster at the Library

State Funding Is Needed For Libraries

Governor Mark Sanford has recently decided to cut state aid to public libraries in South Carolina. What does that mean for your library? It means we need all of you, our great patrons, Friends of the Library members and community partners to notify your local senator or representative and let them know this cannot stand. Libraries are the hub of our communities. Without them, where would so many people go to apply for jobs, improve their education, hold important meetings which tie communities and neighborhoods together? Our local and state economies will certainly suffer if funding to our library and other public libraries around the state are cut even further.

Please take the time to contact your local legislator and let them know how much we mean to you and for our. If you do not know your local legislator, use the following link:

SC Statehouse Search

Thank you so much for your support!

More Video from our Everybody Eats Rice Event!

Everybody Eats Rice

Check out footage from our Everybody Eats Rice event on May 15th!

New Video Blog

Happenings

As we enter another hot Southern summer, the library is gearing up to provide the Sumter community with interesting programs and services.

We are offering a full array of computer classes in May, June and July. Basic Computer Skills, Keyboarding, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Ancestry.com will be taught at the Main Library. For a complete schedule, visit our Programs page at our website. To sign up for a class, call 773.7273.

Do you enjoy eating rice? Who doesn't? On May 15th, the Library presents Everybody Eats Rice from 2 to 4pm at the Main Library. Enjoy a Rice Cookoff, a movie presentation from ETV, amazing Rice Dancers and more! For information, call 773.7273.

We are also glad to announce our Wii Night was a big success and we will be having the program again in a few months!

Thank you for your patronage of the Library and we hope to see you soon!

Sumter County Library - Staff Reviews

Here is a review from Children's Librarian Karen Edgar on a few great books for the month of April!

Sumter County Library - Staff Reviews

Third Army Expo

I was very fortunate to be able to attend the Third Army/US Army Central Strategic Relocation Expo held at Fort McPherson, Georgia this week. The Sumter County Library joined many other County and City agencies in representing the community to both the military and civilian workers who will be relocating to Sumter. In my opinion the Expo was a resounding success. I know that a great deal of effort went into the groundwork for this event by representatives from SHAW, Sumter, and Fort McPherson. They deserve credit for an outstanding job. The people of Fort McPherson went out of their way to make us visitors from Sumter welcome. I was glad to be able to represent our community and especially the Library. Hundreds of people came through the Expo. Everyone seemed to enjoy the event and I believe they gained a very good impression of what the City and County of Sumter has to offer. Those who stopped at the Library table were especially interested in the programs and services we offer for children. We will certainly look forward to welcoming them to Sumter as graciously as they welcomed us this week.
Robert Harden/Director

New Video Blog!!

Thanks to Friends

Friends of the Library fundraisers in 2009 raised close to $20,000 for the Sumter County Library. Both the Fourth Annual Forrest Ray 5K and the Annual Book Sale were great successes; not only financially, but also in generating positive PR for the Library. These annual events are highly anticipated. The Library receives calls year round asking where and when the book sale will be held. Volunteering at the Book Sale, I hear many people tell me they look forward to the event every year.

Each fundraiser is a collaborative effort. The 5K has a committee that begins meeting in late spring each year to begin planning for the October race. Friends' volunteers organize books for the sale year round, and many Friends give generously of their time to organize, set up, and run the sale itself. What would the Library do without your generous assistance?

The Sumter County Library has experienced cuts in its funding the last two years. Money generated from Friends’ fundraisers help us “fill in the gaps” in the budget. How do we use that money?

To answer that question, I think the first step is to ask what the Library does. The Library mission statement begins, “The Sumter County Library is dedicated to the promotion of life-long learning that enhances the cultural, recreational, and education needs of the community it serves.” The Library helps deliver quality education for everyone. It does this by providing self-directed education through a collection of items in print and online. The Library is a source of research assistance and instruction for individuals and groups. Classes, seminars, and workshops for all ages taught or facilitated by library instructors. The Library also presents Instructive and enlightening experiences through cultural and community center concepts, events and partnerships.

Friends funding helps us in each and every one of these areas, particularly in programs and services to children, including the annual summer reading program. Recent research, released September 17, 2009 by Jumpstart, a nonprofit focused on early literacy intervention, highlights that reading to children during the early years, especially ages 3-5, when their brains are undergoing the most growth and development, sets the stage for all later learning and success in life. Intervening early to teach at-risk preschool children language, literacy, and social skills is critical. The widespread early childhood literacy crisis has an impact on the nation’s dropout rates, workforce competitiveness, and economy.

So whether you chair a committee, organize books for the sale, help to set up, spend your Saturday or Sunday at the Mall during the sale, donate or buy a book at the sale, help with the 5K – all of these contributions are like a pebble tossed into a pond. They ripple far beyond their immediate action and can positively affect people you may never meet, but who will benefit from your kindness and generosity.
Robert Harden/Director

A Random Thought on Libraries and Reading

When one reads a text, whether that text is a book, magazine, newspaper, internet article, encyclopedia entry, you get the idea; one is gaining an attribute or a value. When we read, what are we doing, after all? We are learning a new word, phrase, idea, notion, parable, moral, fact, lie, etc. We also re-learn old ideas and idioms passed down to us through years of education, whether through the musings of a schoolteacher or whimsical Saturdays browsing through books in a Library.

So we learn, constantly, always through our printed pages, environments and experiences. As we learn, our brain develops and we evolve as human beings. So I position this: if reading, throughout its various forms, causes us to change and rationalize the world more independently and thoughtfully, does that mean the act of reading is the highest of human virtues? Going even further; are libraries the highest of places for knowledge and intellect? I believe so!

What Do We Mean To You?

It has been quite a bit since we last posted on our blog. The past couple of weeks have been extremely busy here. Between teaching computer classes, planning new and exciting programs for our patrons or just simply dishing out answers on the Reference Desk, there has been an explosion of incoming patrons. We believe this shows an urgent need in the Sumter community for a library.

The Library means so much to our community because we do more than just check out books. We help people fax, make copies, scan documents, find older articles on microfilm, find research for an assignment, use Ancestry.com to form their family tree, assist in building resumes, teach computer classes...you get the idea.

If you are a patron of the Sumter County Library, please visit our website and fill out an online form telling us why the Sumter County Library is the best value in town.

Here is the link:

Comment Form

Also check out what other people have been saying at:

Patron Comments

Have a great weekend!

Keeping Track Of Your Books

Sitting here at the Reference desk, I notice there are a lot of younger children up here rather than downstairs in the children's department. Odd, I thought, but the children are reading and being relatively quiet, so all is good and well here. As I notice them reading I realize how many books I read when I was a child, and how many of those books ive forgotten.

Have YOU ever thought about all the books you previously read? Did you want to make a list? There are now several great sites out there for anyone interesting in cataloging all the books they have ever had the pleasure of reading.

Here is a list:

1. Shelfari
http://www.shelfari.com/

2. GoodReads
http://www.goodreads.com

3. Library Thing
http://www.librarything.com

4. BiblioPhil
http://www.bibliophil.org

I, myself, prefer Shelfari, for no particular reason. Enjoy, and good reading to you!

-Winniford A. Simmons

A Saturday Snapshot

Our Reference and Information Services Coordinator was recently featured in The Item, the newspaper for Sumter, Lee and Clarendon counties. Check it out here:

Winniford A. Simmons, Saturday Snapshot

What This Librarian Learned From Haiti

As the weekend ushers in hopefully everyone will have a little time to reflect on the important things in our lives; our family, friends, health and the ability to think and feel so many different, yet incredible feelings and ideas. As I woke up this morning I turned on the television to find images of bodies being thrown into pits, people crying and mourning their lost loved ones and news reporters in pure shock at the tragedy continuing to unfold in Haiti. I could not help but shed a tear or two as I packed my things up to head to a job I loved doing, however in the long run, trivial it may be.

Then I realized what I do isn't trivial in the long run. Being a librarian, which is the art of helping others become better people through cultural enrichment and education, is something to be grateful for. I should be lucky enough to even have a job, to work with other great librarians and the ability to travel to meet with other librarians and people who care about information, knowledge, books and education. The sadness and despair Haiti is going through right now is horrible and I know I could never, ever imagine being in such a situation.

I mean, im on Twitter and writing a blog as part of my job! Its amazing!

But it makes me know how important it is that librarians and educators continue their work. We must give people hope that they can achieve whatever they set their minds towards. I don't care if that sounds cliche, but its more than true. It is life itself. Life is about improving oneself in order to become a better person that is better to everyone in their environment. Librarians can do this through awesome customer service, expert knowledge and a little hard work.

I know im just lucky enough to be slingin' books for a living.

Have a good weekend,

Winniford A. Simmons III
Reference and Information Services Coordinator

2010 U.S. Census

Check out this YouTube video from the U.S. Census Bureau about the 2010 Census!

Ravens (Not the Baltimore football team)

Today we are going to mix things up a bit. Here is a book review from The Item, written by Reference and Information Services Coordinator Winniford A. Simmons.

Ravens by George Dawes Green

Some people believe winning a massive amount of cash is a life-changing experience. In "Ravens," written by George Dawes Green, winning the lottery is a life-changing experience, but not necessarily for the better.

The Boatwright family in Brunswick, Ga., wins $318 million in the Georgia Lottery and believes their financial troubles are over. It just so happens that two dead beat and bored young men traveling to Florida hear about the lottery winnings. They take the family hostage hoping to get away with some of the money. Of course, all hell breaks loose, driving everyone – captor and hostages -- insane.

At times captivating, other times maddening, "Ravens" is a book one would expect to be jam-packed with action. This is not the case. I found the book to be focused much more on the characters; Shaw, the main villain, is a reprehensible human being, willing to take advantage of his hostages using kind words and false promises. His soothing, yet always threatening manner is a light for the captive Boatwrights.

The Boatwrights are portrayed as an insecure bunch; the mother, Patsy, a chronic drinker, is obsessed with the lottery; the father, Mitch, lacks self-confidence because he can't pay the bills; and Tina is good-natured at heart but easily swayed by the ways of the world and men. They eventually lean upon Shaw, finding some release in his sociopathic behavior.

"Ravens" is full of twists and turns, with the biggest shock happening at the end. It's an excellent twist and ending to a good read. Green, who lives partly in Georgia, truly captures the Southern lifestyle as we know it, one rapidly assimilating into a broader American culture. Find these books and others at the Sumter County Library.

-Link to The Item

So, who was her Second Cousin?

What a busy day here at the library. From teaching computer classes, monitoring computers, riding on the Bookmobile and recommending readers, our Staff is constantly working towards providing the community with their personal, educational and recreational needs. We have had a good turnout for our computer classes so far, and everyone who takes the class learns something new.

As a librarian, I must say the chance to fill a patron's information need is probably the most rewarding aspect of the position. The feeling is especially strong when a patron brings in a very hard question which make take a good deal of time researching. At times these questions are few and far between, but when they do come, the time spent researching is rewarding because the answer is usually exciting.

So, random Q and A for you guys:

So what is possibly the toughest thing for a reference librarian to find?

I'll take Genealogy for $1000, Alex.

Genealogy questions take a good bit of time to research and often times we do not have the historical records to answer. Even though the internet has a ton of resources to assist with this research, we often times do not have first or last names, birthdates, or much of anything at all offered up by the patron. That does not mean we won't attempt to find answers. It just makes it all the more interesting!

If you have a question for us, please shoot us an email at sumref1@gmail.com!

-Winniford A. Simmons III

Reconceptualizing the Library, Or, We Aren't What You Think We Are

"Libraries are useless, I can find all the information I need on the internet."

"Isn't that a place where a bunch of old books that smell sit on shelves that are, like, 100 years old?"

"I have a computer at home, whats the big deal about the library having computers?"

Go out in public and sometimes you will hear people say those exact statements. Some people, no matter what, believe the idea of a well-funded, well-rounded library is an antiquated notion. They believe libraries were important during the time when there was no internet, no Google, no e-books. Whatever. The average person who holds such a belief about the library does not make them correct.

Sure, there are older libraries who have not quite adapted to the newly formed theory of what libraries should be. Maybe their funding is low, therefore not allowing them to keep up with the library Jones. It happens, it is unfortunate, but those are not all libraries.

The Sumter County Library is an example of what libraries are trying to become in this chaotic, evolving library landscape. The Sumter County Library is not just a library - we are a community hub where people all over the county come for many different reasons.

What are these reasons? Check them out:

1. Free meeting space. Groups from all over the country have come and used our meeting facilities for free. We have several different rooms for all sizes of groups.

2. Public computers. Many people in this rural area don't have a computer. They cannot afford one. They lack computer literacy skills and need a librarian to help them fill out job applications or find tax forms. Our free internet is a vital source. Even patrons with laptops may come in, sit in a comfy seat and browse the web.

3. Classes. In our Reference Department several librarians teach computer classes in the Fall and Spring. We teach everything from Microsoft Word and Excel, how to use Ancestry.com, Facebook, you name it. Patrons need these classes to form skills which hopefully will translate into a job, or simply being able to manage a household budget.

4. Entertainment. The number of programs we offer to the entire community is awesome. From our Classic Movie Nights at the Sumter Opera House, movies at the Main library, child storytimes in the library and community, author talks, Book Sales and on and on and on. There is always something going on in our library system.

I do not mean to brag about what we offer here. We are a hard-working library attempting to serve our community in many different aspects.

The next time you have a conversation with someone about libraries, tell them libraries are a hub of life, a center for the community, a place for everyone to enjoy life, obtain an education and attempt to harbor a better future.

What's Microsoft Windows?

Many of us are simply numb to computers. No matter what you try and do, you press a button and the big black box under the desk makes a funny noise and oops - no more computer. Trust us though - it's not your fault. The thing is - computers become far more easier to use once you figure out the very basics.

The same goes with Microsoft Word and Excel. Let's say you know how to use a computer, but need to make a household budget, or type out a letter to a landlord. If you aren't familiar with Microsoft Word or Excel, you should be! These programs allow you to simply create or edit documents. Once you learn how to use them, you will be equipped with valuable knowledge to use in your personal life, and professionally!

Where are we going with all this?

Take our computer classes!

Beginning today, January 11th, we have many computer classes available from Keyboarding, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Computer Basics, Ancestry.com, How to Use The Library and more!

Sign up today by calling 773.7273! Ask for the Reference Department and one of our amazing librarians will assist you!