Natchez Adams Wilkinson Library Service

Tax Season is Here - But So Is Your Library

2012-01-27T13:08:00.000-06:00

It's tax time again, but your Library is here to help you. It may not be much fun to file your taxes, but your Library will make it as easy as possible.

The most valuable tax service available at your Library is the tax preparation provided absolutely free by the well trained volunteers from AARP. They'll be here every Wednesday from 9 am to 5 pm, from February 1 through April 11. People are served on a first come first served basis. It's very popular, so you might have to wait a while. However, thanks to a grant from Entergy, there will be coffee and cookies available - and you can always browse the Library while you're waiting.

Looking for FORMS? We have the Mississippi tax forms, instruction booklets, and mailing envelopes - as well as a few Federal forms - conveniently located at the information desk just inside the front door. Come in and help yourself. Federal tax forms and instructions are no longer mailed out by the government, but they can be downloaded and printed from the internet by following this link, which is also on our web site, either at the Library or at home. Also thanks to the grant from Entergy, all tax related printing charges will be discounted. The grant also allows us to set up a special computer just for patrons printing forms or filing taxes.

Everyone can use FREE File and let the IRS do the hard work for you. Brand name tax software is available free from several participating software companies if your income is under $57,000 - and some companies also include free filing of state tax returns. Everyone is eligible to use Free File Fillable Forms, which are online versions of the paper forms designed for people comfortable preparing their own tax returns.

Today is Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day. Created in 1975, EITC helps offset the impact of Social Security taxes and provides an incentive for work. It is the federal government's largest benefit program for low income workers. You could be eligible to get more money back from the IRS - as much as $5,751. If you earned less than $49,078 from wages, self-employment, or farming last year, you may qualify for EITC. EITC is a financial boost for working people in a recovering economy. You may be among the millions who will qualify for the first time because your financial, marital, or parental status changed during the recession. So click on the widget below to see if you qualify.

New Best Sellers for January

2012-01-20T11:10:00.000-06:00

FICTION

Private: #1 Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. When a former lover’s dead body is found in his bed, Jack Morgan, a former Marine and the head of an investigative firm, is accused of murder.

Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly. A former magazine editor attempts to turn her parents’ summer house into a bed and breakfast.

Death comes to Pemberley by P D James. Elizabeth Bennet and her husband, Darcy, of Pride and Prejudice, must deal with a murder.

77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz. A 19th century tycoon’s mansion has been turned into luxury apartments, but it remains in the grip of evil forces.

Locked On by Tom Clancy with Mark Greaney. Jack Ryan Jr must stop an emerging threat from a Pakistani general.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson. The third volume of the Millennium trilogy, about a Swedish hacker and a journalist.

Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell. The chief medical examiner Kay Scarpetta investigates a string of killings linked to the murder of her former deputy.

The Drop by Michael Connelly. Harry Bosch of the LAPD uncovers both the operations of a sadistic killer and a political conspiracy.

A Devil is Waiting by Jack Higgins. Dean Dillon helps to foil a plot to assassinate the President in London.

NONFICTION

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson. William Dodd, the US ambassador to Germany, and his daughter, Martha, in 1930s Berlin.

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent. A boy’s encounter with Jesus and the angels during an emergency appendectomy.

TEENS

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick. Sixteen year old Nora Grey struggles to face the truth while coping with having a fallen angel boyfriend named Patch and unraveling the mystery surrounding her father's death.

Wolfbane by Andrea Cremer. Alpha wolf Calla Tor forges an alliance with her masters' enemies and tries to rescue her pack from imprisonment in Vail.

Crossed by Ally Condie. Seventeen year old Cassia sacrifices everything and heads to the Outer Provinces in search of Ky, where she is confronted with shocking revelations about Society and the promise of rebellion.

Love, Inc by Yvonne Collins. When three fifteen year old Austin, Texas, girls, who met in group therapy, discover that they are all dating the same boy, they first get revenge and then start a wildly successful relationship consulting business.

CHILDREN

The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse by Eric Carle. Rather than use the same old colors, a child paints animals and objects in a variety of different hues. Includes biographical information about the German painter Franz Marc, who created unconventional animal paintings in the early 1900s.

Dork Diaries 3 ½: How to Dork Your Diary by Rachel Renee Russell. Includes tips and blank pages to write your own diary.

The Best Mouse Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff. A mouse concocts a batch of cookies in his little house in a tree trunk, sets them in the oven, and then dozes off, with worrisome consequences.

Tales From a Not So Popular Party Girl by Rachel Renee Russell. When scholarship student Nikki Maxwell, whose father is the school exterminator, decides to enter the talent show at her expensive private school, her nemesis MacKenzie threatens to reveal Nikki's status to the rest of the school.

A New Year!

2012-01-13T14:42:00.000-06:00

Not this again!

New year's resolutions have almost become a thing of the past and the object of jokes. Let's face it -people are very skeptical of them. But in this new era of self improvement and reinvention, perhaps there is a place for a new brand of resolutions. After all, starting a new year is almost like having a clean slate, a fresh beginning. So if you're not perfect yet and want to change some part of your life, the Library can help you succeed. Here are just a few resources, but we have many more.

Get Organized

What's a Disorganized Person to Do? 317 Ideas, Tips, Projects, and Lists to Unclutter Your Home and Streamline Your Life by Stacy Platt

Grow Your Own Food

Starter Vegetable Gardens: 24 No Fail Plans for Small Organic Gardens by Barbara Pleasant

Save Money

Thrifty Living by Barty Phillips

Improve your Relationship

1001 Ways to Be Romantic by Gregory Godek

Get Fit or Expand Your Horizons with DVDs

Yoga for the Rest of Us: Back Care Basics featuring Peggy Cappy

Carol Dickman's Seated Yoga and Bed Top Yoga

The French Chef with Julia Child - the original PBS series featuring 12 episodes

Visions of Europe travel DVDs featuring 6 different countries or regions

And if you've always wanted to brush up your Shakespeare, we have 15 of his greatest produced by the BBC.

If you just want to read more, join our Brown Bag Book Discussion Group. Our next meeting will be at noon on Wednesday, February 15, and the book we're discussing is The Shipping News by Annie Proulx.

Come on in, get a library card, or use that old one you've been carrying around - library cards never expire. You'll find a great selection of helpful books, DVDs, and audio books that will help you get your new year off to a great start.

LSU's First Touchdown & First Win were in Natchez!!

2012-01-06T15:16:00.000-06:00

1893 was the first year LSU had a football team, and they were coached by a professor. They played one game, which was against Tulane. LSU lost and never even scored. However, this was the beginning of the Purple & Gold. They wanted to use Mardi Gras colors on their uniforms, but they couldn't find any green ribbons because the Tulane Green Wave bought them all.

1894 LSU football team

In 1894, they got a real football coach (Albert Simmons) and played three games. Their first game was on November 30 and was against the Natchez Athletic Club in Natchez. Here they scored their first touchdown and went on to get their first win with a score of 36 - 0. The team's captain, Samuel Marmaduke Dinwidie Clark, became the first LSU player to ever score a touchdown.

Johnny Waycaster had heard this story and asked us if we had the Natchez paper for that time on microfilm. We looked, and sure enough there was an article in the Natchez paper, The Saturday Evening Banner. (You just never know the treasures and trivia your Library has available!) Here's the story - it's hilarious:

The foot-ball game between the University team of Baton Rouge and the Natchez team came off yesterday afternoon. The game was to have taken place on Thanksgiving day, but the visitors were detained on a sand-bar near Lehmann's Landing, on board the steamer Royal, until yesterday morning, when they came up on the Natchez. The game attracted a large crowd to the park, as a foot-ball match was something new for Natchez. It proved to be quite entertaining to those present, but the home team proved to be too weak for the visitors, the score standing 36 - 0. The visitors were entertained last evening at the hospitable home of Capt. F. J. Arrighi, whose son, Hughes Arrighi, is a member of the Baton Rouge team. They departed for home this morning well pleased with their visit, and the courteous treatment received while here. The Natchez foot-ball colors, red, orange, and blue, have been quite prominently displayed during the past few days.

So Natchez families have been sending their children to LSU for a long time - and Natchez hospitality and partying after games are obviously well established traditions.

LSU's second game that year and first home game was against Ole Miss, and LSU had their first loss to Ole Miss. LSU's only touchdown was scored by the coach, who was presumably a player-coach.

1895 LSU football team

In 1895, Coach Albert Simmons, in his last year at LSU, helped the Tigers to their first undefeated season in LSU football history. The season also featured the first home victory in LSU history with a win over Tulane in front of 1,500 spectators. They did not play Ole Miss that year - but they did play Alabama in the last game of the season. Surely that will happen again on Monday!.

1896 LSU football team

In 1896, LSU played 6 games, was again undefeated, and won their first Conference Championship. This time, they beat Ole Miss for the first time. And this rivalry continued forever.

NOTE: The pictures and some of this information came from Wikipedia.

A Special Website that Helps Turn Kids into Readers

2011-12-22T14:43:00.000-06:00

Wouldn't you like your children to read more? Wouldn´t you like to motivate them to enter the wonderful world of literature? If the answer to those questions is Yes, then you have to check out Book Adventure This is the ultimate reading site.

Book Adventure, sponsored by Sylvan Learning Centers, is a FREE Web based reading motivation program that encourages students in grades K-8 to read more often, for longer periods of time, and with greater understanding. Book Adventure is organized so that even the youngest child can easily navigate through the site. Registration is required, and participants need parental or teacher approval to collect prizes.

Parents and teachers looking for ways of motivating youngsters to read will find Book Adventure a wonderful resource. Students can read books, take quizzes on them, and earn points for correct answers on the quizzes. There is also the possibility for them to manage their own list by adding the books they read or they like to read. Kids can redeem accumulated points for prizes.

There is a database of quizzes on more than 7,000 popular children's titles. Using Book Finder, readers can search the titles by author, title, grade level, or interests. Book Finder will then create a reading list that can be printed and used at the library.

After reading a book, children go to Quiz-O-Matic to take the corresponding quiz. Quizzes have from five to ten questions, depending on grade level.

Teachers or parents can register their children and select literature at the appropriate grade level. You can check the list of the Top 10 Quizzed books to know what kids are reading at the time, and you´ll find in that list, for example, the latest Diary of a Wimpy Kid. There is also a mechanism for keeping track of children's scores and points earned. Teachers or parents can generate reports.

Please remember that this site IS NOT to be associated with the Accelerated Reading test that children take at school. This site will, however, help them to be better prepared for that test. Think of it as a pre-test where you and the child can see what they know before the actual test is to be taken!

So, wait no longer and turn your children onto the fantastic world of book adventure. Put this safe, child friendly site for improving reading comprehension at the top of your list.

Answers to Questions about Christmas Symbols

2011-12-15T14:40:00.000-06:00

Not long after Thanksgiving the phone at my reference desk began to ring and my email box began to fill with questions about the symbols of Christmas. What's a busy librarian to do? Go check out a reference book about Holidays and Traditions, and thats just what I did and here is what I found. By the way these are actual questions.

Q: Is Santa Claus the same person as St. Nicholas?

A: Yes and no. The original Santa Claus was Nicholas, the legendary saint who was bishop of Myra (Turkey) in the fourth century. He was usually shown wearing the fur-trimmed robes of a cleric, with a beehive (symbolizing industry) and a bulldog (fidelity) at his side. He was a gift giver but also a disciplinarian, bringing switches and rods for children who misbehaved. December 6 was his feast day, and in many countries, it is on this day, not Christmas Eve that St. Nicholas arrives to hand out his presents and punishments. It wasn't until the December of 1823 when Clement Moore's wrote the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" that the American Santa Claus was transformed from a tall, slim bishop to a jolly, overweight fellow who wore a red suit and entered the house via the chimney.

Q: Are reindeer for real and can they really fly?

A: Again, yes and no. More than 600 years after the death of St. Nicholas, Russians carried his legend back from Constantinople, and he became Russia's patron saint. From there his story spread to Lapland, home of the reindeer, which may explain why the modern Santa lives at the North Pole and gets around in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer. It was again Clement Moore's poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" that popularized the names of Santa's reindeer: Now Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen. On Comet, Cupid, Doner and Blitzen! Rudolph is a whole other question!

Q: Are Luminarias more than just a pretty way to light your path?

A: Yes, Luminarias mean "lights" or "illuminations" in Spanish. The word also refers to the small bonfires that illuminate the dark nights of the Christmas season throughout the American Southwest. These bonfires are made from pinon pine logs that have been stacked in log cabin style to form a box about three feet in height. Some believe that luminarias can be traced back to the fires that warmed the shepards to whom the birth of Jesus was announced. Today luminarias acn be seen on Christmas Eve in front of churches, homes, and public plazas.

Q: What is the history of the Christmas carol "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"?

A: This popular secular 16th century English carol is from West Country of England. It is one of the few traditional holiday carols that make mention of the New Year's celebration. This song actually reflects the Christmas tradition of showering gifts on the people who wandered from house to house (known today as carolers), singing these Christmas songs to please the wealthy people of the community.

Q: Why do we send Christmas cards?

A: In Ancient Rome, it was the custom to exchange greetings and gifts on the first day of January. With the advent of Christianity , the giving and receiving of such tokens continued in some European countries, often taking the form of New Year cards. These contained no reference to Christmas and were sent out after December 25 so they would arive on New Year's Day. The first printed Christmas card was produced in England in 1843. Designed by John Calcott Horsley, it sold for a shilling and looked like a postcard. It wasn't until the 1880s that cards became folders of four, eight, or more pages. Cards became more elaborate throughout the Victorian period, with "frosted" surfaces, fancy cut edges, layers of lace-paper, and other forms of decoration. Now, in the twenty-first century the christmas card is still out there, I saw them in Walgreens. There were religious ones and some with cute little penguins and little forest friends dancing around the decorated christmas tree. There were even some for those who enjoy a little "wicked" fun. I love Christmas cards. To me, it's more special whem someone sends me a hand written card with a scene that warms my spirit. After looking at ten different designs and still not making up my mind as to what I wanted I decided to rebel against my own tradition and send everyone a Christmas E-Card... So now you know a little bit about some of our more famous Christmas traditions

HoHoHo...Happy Holidays to All!

New Bestsellers for December

2011-12-09T10:35:00.000-06:00

FICTION

Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich. After a disastrous vacation in Hawaii, Stephanie Plum becomes the target of an international killer.

11/22/63 by Stephen King. An English teacher travels back to 1958 by way of a time portal in a Maine diner. His assignment is to stop Lee Harvey Oswald.

Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson. Alex Cross investigates when the President's children are kidnapped, but the FBI and CIA. stand in his way.

The Litigators by John Grisham. Partners in a small law firm take on a big case after a fast track burnout joins them.

V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton. Pursuing a shoplifter, Kinsey Millhone discovers that retail crime is run by organized gangs.

Micro by Michael Crichton. Seven graduate students from Cambridge travel to Hawaii, where they are miniaturized by an evil entrepreneur. They escape to the rain forest, where only six inches tall, they do battle with insects. Crichton completed part of this novel before his death in 2008.

The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks. Twenty five years after their high school romance ended, a man and woman who have gone their separate ways return to their North Carolina town for the funeral of a friend.

Zero Day by David Baldacci. A military investigator uncovers a conspiracy.

Devil's Gate by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown. In the ninth NUMA Files novel, Kurt Austin and his crew uncover a plan to blackmail major nations.

The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo. A widow keeps the identity of the new man she is about to marry a secret.

The Snow Angel by Glenn Beck. A woman re-evaluates her life.

A Dance with Dragons by George Martin. After a colossal battle, the Seven Kingdoms face new threats; Book 5 of A Song of Ice and Fire.

NONFICTION

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. A biography of the recently deceased entrepreneur, based on 40 interviews with Jobs conducted over two years.

Catherine the Great by Robert Massie. The author of Nicholas and Alexandra provides a sweeping narrative of the life of the minor 18th Century German princess who, thanks to ambition, luck, wiles, and a strategic marriage, became Empress of All the Russias.

TEENS

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. When Kendra and Seth go to stay at their grandparents' estate, they discover that it is a sanctuary for magical creatures and that a battle between good and evil is looming.

Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull. At the end of the school year. Kendra and her brother, Seth, find themselves racing back to Fablehaven, a refuge for mythical and magical creatures where their grandfather is caretaker. The Society of the Evening Star, an ancient organization determined to infiltrate the preserve and steal a hidden artifact of great power, is storming the gates. If the artifact falls into the wrong hands, it could mean the downfall of other preserves and possibly the world. Time is running out.

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare. As the Council attempts to strip Charlotte of her power, sixteen year old orphaned shapechanger Tessa Gray works with the London Shadowhunters to find the Magister and destroy his clockwork army, learning the secret of her own identity while investigating his past.

Everlasting by Alyson Noel. Ever and Damen have spent centuries facing down bitter rivals, jealous friends, and their own worst fears in the hope of being together forever, but something threatens to tear them apart.

Tour of Homes Preview: Stratton Chapel (Refreshment Center)

2011-12-02T11:19:00.018-06:00

The Friends of the Library annual Christmas Tour of Homes is Sunday, December 4, 2 - 5 pm. Admission is $15 for one ticket or $25 for two tickets. Tickets may be purchased at the Armstrong Library, Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, or at any of the homes the day of the event. You can tour four beautiful homes in any order and have refreshments at Stratton Chapel. This is the final preview of the Tour of Homes. Two homes were previewed last week, and the two more were previewed earlier this week.

Stratton Chapel
(Refreshment Center)
405 State Street
Located in the First Presbyterian Church

Located behind the Federal style First Presbyterian Church downtown and across from City Hall is an outstanding collection of photographs taken from as early as 1840 and offering a grand depiction of life in Natchez over the course of its early history. The collection boasts over 500 photographs of steamboat activities along the river, the families and homes of Natchez, and downtown Natchez as it once looked in the days of old. The collection for viewing is made possible through the generosity of the late Dr Thomas Gandy and his wife Joan who spent many years restoring the photographic works of Henry and Earl Norman.

Refreshments will be served to the accompaniment of organ music.

Tour of Homes Preview: Staniforth House

2011-11-30T11:06:00.002-06:00

The Friends of the Library annual Christmas Tour of Homes is Sunday, December 4, 2 - 5 pm. Admission is $15 for one ticket or $25 for two tickets. Tickets may be purchased at the Armstrong Library, Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, or at any of the homes the day of the event. You can tour four beautiful homes in any order and have refreshments at Stratton Chapel. This is final preview of one of the homes. The first two homes were previewed last week, and the third was previewed earlier this week. Later this week, we'll preview Stratton Chapel, where the Refreshment Center will be.

Staniforth House
315 North Rankin Street
Home of Kirk Bondurant & Bruce Zabov

Built in 1852, the Staniforth House is a classic Greek revival brick cottage. Thomas Staniforth, its builder, was a Natchez contractor/builder who lavished extra attention on what was a comparatively modest house for the time and neighborhood, probably because it served to advertise his business. Original casings highlight the large windows across the front, and fireplaces grace several rooms.

Large antique salvaged windows have been added to the kitchen, providing a lovely view across the back gallery and walled garden toward Holy Family Church. Other particularly attractive touches are the decorative painted paneling restored in the dining room and the faux stone walls in the entrance hall. Beautiful cypress cabinets complete the kitchen. The modern and handsomely upgraded baths make this home truly comfortable.

Many Natchezians will remember a previous owner repainting the bricks. An article in the Natchez Democrat in 2001 indicated that he had found photographs in Dr. Thomas Gandy’s collection including one taken by Marshall Gurney in April 1865, showing the front and northwest sides of the house. The walls were brick with a white cornice along the side.

The people staffing the house on the day of the tour include some of the people who did the actual restoration work on the house.

The Staniforth house is the home of Kirk Bondurant and Bruce Zabov. They have restored it carefully. Furnishings include antiques as well as interesting artifacts and memorabilia from years of living in Key West and Costa Rica.

Tour of Homes Preview: Maples House

2011-11-28T10:35:00.001-06:00

The Friends of the Library annual Christmas Tour of Homes is Sunday, December 4, 2 - 5 pm. Admission is $15 for one ticket or $25 for two tickets. Tickets may be purchased at the Armstrong Library, Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, or at any of the homes the day of the event. You can tour four beautiful homes in any order and have refreshments at Stratton Chapel. This is the third preview of one of the homes. The first two homes were previewed last week, and the fourth will be previewed later this week.

Maples House
506 Orleans Street
Home of Lisa & Ken Maples

This property has links to several families with long histories in Natchez, including the Pattersons, Reeds, and Brandons. In 1882, James William Henry Patterson and his wife Sarah Love Reed bought the property on Orleans Street from Rachael O’Conley. He borrowed money on the property in July 1885 to build the house. James was owner of Chamberlain & Patterson Dry Goods Company on Main Street with his partner James Chamberlain.

Ken and Lisa Maples acquired the house in 2008. They have updated the swimming pool and added a spa and landscaping to the backyard. They recently restored the front porch to its original period style and are in the process of adding an outdoor kitchen and living space to the rear of the house.

Tour of Homes Preview: Doyle House

2011-11-25T14:38:00.010-06:00

The Friends of the Library annual Christmas Tour of Homes is Sunday, December 4, 2 - 5 pm. Admission is $15 for one ticket or $25 for two tickets. Tickets may be purchased at the Armstrong Library, Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, or at any of the homes the day of the event. You can tour four beautiful homes in any order and have refreshments at Stratton Chapel. This is the second preview of one of the homes. The first home was previewed earlier this week, and the last two will be previewed next week.

Doyle House
704 State Street
Home of Chesney & Marc Doyle

One of three, almost identical, two story houses built by J Foggo Dixon in 1880, 704 retains its original front porch and Victorian gingerbread. In 2007, Marc and Chesney Blankenstein Doyle undertook a complete renovation. In Spring 2011, they finally moved in with their twins.

Keeping the original footprint of the house, the Doyles created a three bedroom/three bath home with all modern amenities. Seven roofs were removed to install new architectural shingle. Central air and heat were added for the first time.

The family has been in the home since 1939. Her mother (Kathie Boatner) lived there until she married Rawdon Blankenstein in 1957. Their four children knew 704 as “Gram and Biggie’s house.” Their grandmother and great aunt had always run a tight ship, evidenced by the typewritten “Privileges and Rules of this Playroom” from 1942 that Gram created for Kathie and her playmates, including “P.S. When grown-ups want to use the front gallery please vacate!”

Wednesday was Gram and Biggie Day. Sliding down the banisters was allowed with adult assistance. Wooden blocks tied to socked feet with string were ice skates for sliding across the wool rugs. Gram even convinced the children that wire brushing the mildew off patio bricks was fun!

The dining table, a favorite gathering spot, was on the steamboat Springer when it sank near Rodney. The table was rescued and sold to Chesney’s greatgrandfather, Alfred Vidal Davis of Tacony Plantation in Vidalia.

Tour hostesses include Kathie Boatner Blankenstein’s childhood friends, all of whom were subject to the 1942 Rules.

Tour of Homes Preview: Callon House

2011-11-23T14:29:00.001-06:00

The Friends of the Library annual Christmas Tour of Homes is Sunday, December 4, 2 - 5 pm. Admission is $15 for one ticket or $25 for two tickets. Tickets may be purchased at the Armstrong Library, Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, or at any of the homes the day of the event. You can tour four beautiful homes in any order and have refreshments at Stratton Chapel. This is a preview of one of the homes. Others homes will be previewed in later posts.

Callon House
400 South Pearl Street
Home of Katherine & Lindsey Callon

This Greek Revival cottage was built for Thomas and Elizabeth Mackin. The construction and cost are documented in an 1852 lawsuit. A deposition filed by the Mackins states they built a "Dwelling House" valued at $3,000 and "Fencing & Out Houses" valued at $1,000, after buying the property at a sheriff's sale in 1841. Andrew Brown Sawmill Papers record sales of building materials, including a large amount of interior plastering lath, indicating that the house was completed in 1843.

The 1850 census shows both Thomas and Elizabeth were born in Ireland. The quality of Mackin's house indicates that he was probably a levee contractor who boarded his levee workers on the property. Levee building was a common profession for Irish immigrants in river towns.

In 1858, the Mackin’s sold their residence to Ansel H Kendrick for $3,200 who sold to Cade L Holden in 1877, and it remained in the family until 1901. It was last the property of Eulalie Holden Reed and husband Richard F Reed, who published the pamphlet, The Natchez country; from the settlement by the French to the admission of Mississippi as a state.

The house sold frequently until Lindsey and Katherine Callon bought the house in 2009 and created the attractive historic cottage. Its restrained Grecian simplicity features a simple portico sheltering the doorway set within sidelights and transom. Well detailed dormers light the upper half story. An original two room dependency was later relocated to the rear of Pleasant Hill.

Why should you be a Friend (of the Library, that is!)?

2011-11-18T14:14:00.000-06:00

What do the Friends of the Library do? Well, for one thing, they raise money for the Library! Each year the Friends of the Library hosts an Annual Christmas Tour of Homes. Homes on this tour are not open to the public during Pilgrimage. These are private homes, whose owners agree to decorate for Christmas (early) and open their doors to the public for one reason only – they recognize the importance of the Library. They are Library users and are happy to help in a way that benefits the Library! This year’s Tour information may be found here on the Library's website.

The goal for this year is to raise enough funding to get the (much needed) exterior repairs – let’s just say, SHUTTERS – and painting of the Library completed. In addition, the Friends of the Library also pay for our subscription to Ancestry Library Edition, a much-used database genealogy advocates just love! They also help provide funding for programs, such as our Summer Library Program for Children, Teens, and Adults. They help with book purchases, as well as lots of other extras!

The Friends is a wonderful support group, without whom we would not be able to provide many of the services people just take for granted. So, if you are NOT a Friend, please be a Friend (of the Library)! And join us for this year’s Library Tour of Homes, Sunday, December 4, from 2-5 pm. And, if you ARE a Friend, thanks!

It's Thanksgiving! (almost)

2011-11-10T12:51:00.000-06:00

When the Pilgrims
first gathered to share
with their Indian friends
in the mild autumn air,
they lifted their voices
in jubilant praise
for the bread on the table,
the berries and maize,
for field and for forest,
for turkey and deer,
for the bountiful crops
they were blessed with that year.
They were thankful for these
as they feasted away,
and as they were thankful,
we're thankful today
-Jack Prelutsky, Children's Poet Laureate

Ho-Ho-Ho MERRY ...um, Thanksgiving?? Wait, that can't be right! That's for Christmas! I always seem to be one step ahead!

We all know that Thanksgiving is about giving back, spending time with family and friends, food, and overall just giving thanks for the many things that we have been blessed with! But, how do we explain things like this to litte children in a way that they will remember - in a fun, simple way that lets them know that there is a reason that we stuff them like little pigs in a blanket, and all the family gathers together when it's not even anyone's birthday, on that one special day? How do you simplify the meaning of "Turkey Day"? Here is a list of books to help you bring the magic of Thanksgiving to life while teaching young minds and entertaining a crowd of rowdy little ones on that big day.

Books for learning about Thanksgiving
(click on the link to go to our online catalog and reserve the book)

It's Thanksgiving! by Jack Prelutsky, Children's Poet Laureate

Thanksgiving by Brenda Haugen

Pilgrims in America by Melinda Lilly

Why We Have Thanksgiving by Margaret Hillert

There are also a lot of books about Thanksgiving for pure entertainment! Books for those times when you volunteer to help out at your child's, grandchild's, or niece's/nephew's school, or when the church is having a children's program. Enjoy these titles.

Books for enjoying Thanksgiving
(click on the link to go to our online catalog and reserve the book)

One Is a Feast for Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale by Judy Cox

I Am The Turkey by Michele Sobel Spirn

Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano

One Tough Turkey: A Thanksgiving Tale by Steven Kroll

Happy Thanksgiving by Margaret McNamara

All of these (plus many more) are great books for the upcoming holiday and great books for teaching or entertaining a younger crowd! And they're all in the Library for you to enjoy with your children for free. Enjoy!

Get into the Spirit of the Holidays

2011-11-04T11:46:00.000-05:00

Halloween is over, Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and if you blink too fast, Christmas will soon be knocking at the door. I am always just slightly behind in my quest to create that "perfect" holiday celebration so this year I'm starting early. Here is a list of books and websites to help you create your own perfect holiday season for you and your family.

A few good books to put you in the turkey mood:

A Ghost at the Table by Suzanne Berne

A Fatal Feast: A Murder She Wrote Mystery by Donald Bain

Undead and Unfinished by Mary Jane Davidson

A Catered Thanksgiving by Iris Crawford

New Books for Christmas have just arrived:

The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson

A Christmas Homecoming by Anne Perry

The Snow Angel by Thomas Kinkade

Lost December by Richard Paul Evans

What do you do when the kids are under your feet, the turkey is half stuffed, and your family is about to ring the doorbell? Check out these helpful websites:

www.holidays.kaboose.com - A great site for whole family fun. Activities and games for kids as well as tips and recipes for the cook in the kitchen.
www.vickiblackwell.com - A terrific site for teachers, homeschoolers, librarians, and parents looking for lesson plans, stories, and activities.

If you're looking for holiday decorating guides and cooking tips, try these web sites:

www.wholefoodsmarket.com Whole Foods Market has some great ideas for food.
www.butterball.com The Butterball turkey people have recipies, cooking ideas, tips, and how tos, including video instructions.
www.foodnetwork.com The Food Network is a favorite of foodies everywhere.
www.bbqu.net - The Barbeque University is for the die hard grillers out there!
ww.eatturkey.com - National Turkey Federation provides valuable information about poultry and instructions for deep frying your bird.

So there you have it, all types of ways to get you into the upcoming holiday season!

New Books for October:

2011-10-28T12:55:00.000-05:00

FICTION

The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks. Twenty-five years after their high school romance ended, a man and woman who have gone their separate ways return to their North Carolina town for the funeral of a friend.

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides. Three Brown graduates in the early 1980s wrestle with love, religion, and coming of age.

Snuff by Terry Pratchett. In this Discworld fantasy, the commander of Ankh Morpork’s City Watch solves a crime while on vacation in the country.

The Affair by Lee Child. For Jack Reacher, an elite military police officer, it all started in 1997. A lonely railroad track. A crime scene. A cover up.

Shock Wave by John Sandford. Virgil Flowers investigates several bombings of a superstore chain that seeks to open a store in a Minnesota river town.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Two young rivals at a magical circus become collaborators as they fall in love.

A Dance with Dragons by George Martin. After a colossal battle, the Seven Kingdoms face new threats; Book 5 of A Song of Ice and Fire.

Lethal by Sandra Brown. A woman, her daughter, and a man accused of murder evade the authorities as they search for her dead husband’s secrets.

The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman. The lives of four women intersect during the siege of Masada in 70 AD.

1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber. Puppies and an ex husband loom large in the last installment of the Cedar Cove series.

Heat Rises by Richard Castle. An NYPD homicide detective uncovers a conspiracy that reaches the department’s highest levels.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadley, narrates this novel set in Paris.

Neverwinter by R A Salvatore. The second book in a fantasy series featuring Drizzt Du‘Orden.

Nightwoods by Charles Frazier. When a young woman inherits her murdered sister’s troubled twins, her solitary life becomes filled with mystery and action.

NONFICTION

Boomerang by Michael Lewis. A look at some of the places — Greece, Ireland, Iceland — hardest hit by the financial collapse of 2008, and at how it happened.

That Used to be Us by Thomas L. Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum. How America fell behind in the world it invented, and how it can come back.

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson. William Dodd, the US Ambassador to Germany, and his daughter, Martha, in 1930s Berlin.

Confidence Men by Ron Suskind. President Obama and his advisers, often at odds with one another, respond to the economic crisis.

TEENS

Destined by P C Cast. Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet - which would be a whole lot easier if the High Counsel saw the ex High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on rephaim, and through Nyx's gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together - if he can trully walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow...But there are new forces at work at the House of Night.

Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devasting storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand and control the impact of Lena's claiming, which is even causing her family members' abilities to dangerously misfire.

CHILDREN

Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not So Fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell. Fourteen year old Nikki Maxwell writes in her diary of her struggle to be popluar at her exclusive new private school, then of finding her place after she gives up on being part of the elite group.

Kid vs Squid by Greg Van Eekhout. Spending the summer after sixth grade at his great uncle's oceanside museum, Thatcher and local girl Trudy team up to help Shoal, one of the people of Atlantis cursed by a witch whose head still survives and who has an army of monstrous creatures helping her.

Picnic at Camp Shalom by Jaqueline Jules. At summer camp, Carly and Sara quickly bond over a love of singing and other shared interests, but Sara mistakes Carly's excitement over her surname as teasing, not knowing that it gives them something else in common.

I Want a Party! by Tony Ross. Little Princess discovers that she can have a lovely party with just one guest.

Mudkin by Stephen Gammell. While playing outside on a rainy day, a little girl peers into a puddle and sees Mudkin, who invites her to become the queen.

Fall into Learning

2011-09-30T13:06:00.000-05:00

School is in! School's been in! Have you fallen into the spirit yet?

Fall is finally here. School buses are roaring down the highway, cars are whizzing to and from schools, and leaves are changing colors! All the while, students are at school learning a load of exciting new things, the Children's Services Assistant is here at Armstrong library and in the community interacting and reading about new, exciting things!

We hold story time here at the Library every Wednsday beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 10:30 a.m. We are available for special story time on most any day. Many teachers take advantage of this opportunity, using it as a learning experience for children who don't know much about a library and the neat things it has to offer.

We are also available for events offered in the community where one might need to read a selection of books, teach about the library, or encourage parents to sign their children up for library cards. The Pumpkin Patch this October 27th at the First Church (Penicostal) located on Highway 61 South is somewhere you can catch us in action doing three things that come naturally to us: serving the public, encouraging children to read, and demonstrating our love for books!

If information is needed, please contact the Children's Services Assistant at your local Library. Hope to see you there!

Teen Read Week Is October 16 - 22

2011-09-23T11:08:00.000-05:00

What is Teen Read Week? It is the initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Teen Read Week started in 1998. This year's theme is Picture It @ Your Library, which encourages teens to read graphic novels and other illustrated materials. During this week librarians are encouraging teens to seek out creative books, or imagine the world through literature, just for the fun of it. Libraries across the world celebrate Teen Read Week with a variety of events and programs aimed at encouraging teens to read for pleasure and to visit their libraries for free reading materials.

Why is it important to celebrate Teen Read week? There are many reasons! Teens have so many options for entertainment that it's important to remind them of the simple pleasures of falling into a good book and spend some time just reading for the pure pleasure of it; it's free, fun, and can be done anywhere. Research has shown that teens with strong reading skills have better test scores in school and are more likely to suceed in the workforce. Teen Read Week also provides opportunities for both the school and public libraries to get the local community involved and see the importance of teen services. It also allows teens to see the possibilities that exist within the library as well as in the pages of our books.

The teen librarian has been busy working on program ideas for the week long celebration. Check out the Armstrong Library Teen Zone Facebook page or the Teen page on our website for upcoming details about our plans for Teen Read Week!

New Books for September

2011-09-16T11:09:00.000-05:00

FICTION

Kill Me If You Can by James Patterson & Marshall Karp. When a young man finds a bag of diamonds, he gets the attention of the major assassin, the Ghost, and a rival assassin who wants the Ghost gone forever.

Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs. A turbocharged case unfolds for the forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan in the series behind the show Bones.

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer. The first volume of the Clifton Chronicles tells the story of one family across generations and oceans.

The Omen Machine by Terry Goodkind. A return to the lives of Richard Rahl and Kahlan Amnell, in a tale of a new threat to their world.

Cold Vengeance by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child. Devastated by the murder of his wife, Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast seeks retribution.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. A woman's gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles with her own past.

NONFICTION

In My Time by Dick Cheney & Liz Cheney. The former vice president opens up about his life and nearly four decades at the core of American politics.

1493 by Charles C. Mann. Picking up where 1491 left off, the author says that ecological encounters since Columbus have affected much of subsequent human history.

TEENS

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. When Clay Jenkins receives a box containing thirteen cassette tapes recorded by his classmate Hannah, who committed suicide, he spends the night crisscrossing their town, listening to Hannah's voice recounting the events leading up to her death.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne Valente. Twelve year old September’s ordinary life in Omaha turns to adventure when a Green Wind takes her to Fairyland to retrieve a talisman, the new and fickle Marguess from the enchanted woods.

Penalty by Mal Peet. Paul Faustino, known as the best soccer journalist in the business, reluctantly investigates the disappearance of eighteen year old Ricardo, a soccer prodigy known as El Brujito, while in alternate chapters a slave in old San Juan becomes a powerful voodoo priest.

CHILDREN

The Ugly Duckling Dinosaur by Cheryl Bardoe. In this take on The Ugly Duckling, a tyrannosaurus rex is hatched in a nest of ducklings. Includes facts about dinosaurs.

Madeline at the White House by John Bemelmans Marciano. Madeline and the other orphans of the vine covered house in Paris spend Easter at the White House visiting with the President's daughter.

Judy Moody, Girl Detective by Megan McDonald. When a puppy, who is being trained as a police dog, goes missing, third grader Judy forms a detective agency to solve the mystery, imitating her literary heroine, Nancy Drew.

Meet Marie Grace by Sarah Masters Buckey. Marie Grace Gardner, a doctor's daughter who has just returned to her native New Orleans in 1853, makes friends with Cécile Rey, whose prosperous family are free people of color, and is persuaded to change places with her at separate Mardi Gras balls.

Out with the old, in with the new...Well, not literally!

2011-09-09T15:11:00.000-05:00

I'm sure all of us remember classics like Ms Nelson is Missing, Green Eggs and Ham, The Foot Book, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and even the American Girl series. I, for a fact, grew up on these selections, I LIVED for these! But then again, everyone has their own taste.

The Children's department, located on the second floor of the Armstrong library, is a great place to bring your kids for books of all kinds! We are forever expanding our book selections to fit the needs of every patron. Each month we add new easy readers, juvenile fiction, and juvenile nonfiction books to our collection. These books, similar to the set up located downstairs for the new Adult Fiction books, have their own designated place in the library. They are swapped out each month to make way for newer, fresher reads.

You can also catch new books on the display shelves located on either side on the double doors leading into the children's department, and on the glass display right inside the doors. New books will not have a new sticker on them.

Another thing that the books here at our library offer is the AR level and points for each book. This bit of information is located on the inside of the book, most of the time in the right hand corner. This information is good for both the parent, who wants to insure that their child is fact reading on their level, and the child, who will want to read something fun and rack up those points! Remember, not all books are AR books!

I look forward to seeing you and your children in the Library soon!

A Gathering of Friends

2011-09-02T12:37:00.000-05:00

You really ought to join the Friends of the Armstrong Library. It is a private nonprofit 501(c)3 organization of enthusiastic library supporters who believe in the importance of libraries and are dedicated to the support of the Armstrong Library through fundraising and advocacy. Not only would you be helping your Library, but you'd meet some great people and have a lot of fun.

You can see what I mean by coming to the annual Gathering of Friends. This serves as their annual meeting, but it's not a meeting at all - it's a party with good food and drink - always held at the home of one of their members. This year it's being held on Tuesday, September 12, 5 - 7 pm at the home of Bradley, Genny, and Christi Harrison at 708 Orleans Street. Please join us - and bring your friends.

And mark your calendars. The annual Christmas Tour of Homes is always on the first Sunday of December, which is December 4 this year.

Community Support in Action

2011-08-22T10:52:00.001-05:00

Natchez Little Theatre's 64th season kickoff production of the musical Hairspray has been the talk of the theatre for months now. The huge cast and dance filled musical numbers make Hairspray a high energy show that will fill theatre seats during its run from Thursday through Sunday, August 24-28.

But you can get a sneak peek and at the same time support the Armstrong Library by reserving your discounted $10 ticket to the Preview Performance on Wednesday, August 24 at 7 pm. The Friends of the Library has been designated by the Natchez Little Theatre as the recipient of all ticket sales.

For anyone not familiar with the show, Hairspray debuted on Broadway on August 15, 2002 at the Neil Simon Theatre. It won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It ran for 2,500 performances closing on January 4, 2009. With music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, and book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, Hairspray is currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity with many community theatre groups nationwide.

The story is reminiscent of the early days of American Bandstand but is set in Baltimore and instead of Dick Clark, we have Corny Collins (Eric Barbato.) To be a featured dancer on the Corny Collins Show is the dream of every high school girl in Baltimore. Plus size teen Tracy Turnblad (Emily Ham) is the lovable heroine who surprises everyone by winning a spot on the show. The prized role of Edna Turnblad, Tracy's mother, traditionally played by a man, is being played by NLT favorite Bo Allen. The outrageous story and characters are based on the 1988 John Waters film. The story provides gentle lessons in inclusion and tolerance.

The cast of approximately 50, under the direction of Layne Taylor, has been in rehearsal for many weeks and are very excited about performing the show for Natchez audiences. To see a full cast list, check the NLT website (www.natchezlittletheatre.org.)

We are very grateful to Layne and the Natchez Little Theatre Board for once again designating the Library the recipient of Preview ticket sales. This a great example of community support at its best: worthy causes helped by other community members - and everyone gets entertained!

To reserve your ticket for Wednesday's performance, call 601 442 2233 and leave a message. You can pick up and pay for your ticket the evening of the show. The Box Office opens at 6 pm, and the performance is at 7 pm. Friends of the Library will be providing refreshments, and Library staff will be ushering. Come out and enjoy this great home grown entertainment - it's a fun way to love your Library!

Back to School Tools

2011-08-11T12:46:00.000-05:00

It's that time again, summer is coming to a close and students are headed back to school. WalMart and KMart have been swamped with parents and kids buying school supplies. I walked past a cart filled with pencils, pens, folders, notebooks, and other school supplies. I heard the mother say that they were finally done shopping, and they should have all the tools they need to do well in school this year. I walked by, smiled, and began to think about tools for school and what other tools the kids will need to help them succeed.

The Armstrong Library believes in partnering with our school system, and we are always looking for better ways to provide educational resources to help both teachers and students - whether they are in kindergarden or college. Here are some of the tools we have in our library toolbox. All are available for free and from home on your computer, although you might have to come into the Library for a username and password.

MAGNOLIA is an extensive online research tool provided by the Mississippi State Legislature. It is filled with nearly one hundred different databases that can be searched for reliable information. The key point to remember is this is NOT information you could find with Google. The magazines, newspapers, television, and radio transcripts are all in pdf format giving them the look of the actual article. This tool is provided to us free from the state, and if we don't use it we could lose it. Cuts to library funding makes this tool even more valuable as we try to provide the best for our students.

Learning Express Library is an online learning site with over 800 online courses, tests, and ebooks to help you improve your reading, writing and math skills - for all ages. It can also help you with job search and workplace skills improvement, career certification and licensing exam preparation, college entrance and graduate school admissions exam preparation, GED exam preparation, and more. You'll get immediate scoring, complete answer explanations, and an individualized analysis of your results.

World Book Online is a premiere online reference source, with thousands of articles, state of the art multimedia, editor reviewed websites, periodical content, and more. Plus, there are more than 1.3 million pages of primary source documents – books, documents, selections – fully integrated with the encyclopedia content. Research and teaching tools include timelines, citation builder, and saved research. Thanks to the D A Biglane Foundation, we are able to provide this tool for another year.

New Resources in Print and Online.We purchased five new printed reference materials from Salem Press that also come with online access. Some subjects include, Encyclopedia of American Immigration, Great Events from History from Middle Ages to 1600, Psychology and Mental Health, and the Solar System.

Get more details on the Online Research Tools page of our website. While you're there, check out our In House Research Tools as well.

New Best Sellers for August

2011-08-04T15:43:00.000-05:00

FICTION

A Dance with Dragons by George Martin. After a colossal battle, the Seven Kingdoms face new threats. Book 5 of A Song of Ice and Fire.

Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva. To stop a network of death, an international operative must reach into his violent past.

Happy Birthday by Danielle Steel. A woman, her daughter, and a former football player arrive at their own crucial turning points on the same day.

Split Second by Catherine Coulter. A serial killer is on the loose, and it's up to the FBI agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock to bring him down.

Now You See Her by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. Nina Bloom is forced to confront the past and the killer she thought she had escaped.

Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich. A killer is after the bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, who faces further complications as she tries to choose a boyfriend.

Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner. This timely tale delves into women's lives, with themes of class and entitlement, surrogacy, and donorship.

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. In the Amazon basin, a medical researcher seeks her former mentor, a despotic scientist who is developing a miracle fertility drug.

The Bourne Dominion by Eric Van Lustbader. Robert Ludlum's character, Jason Bourne, is searching for an elusive cadre of terrorists planning to destroy America's most strategic natural resources.

Against All Enemies by Tom Clancy with Peter Telep. Maxwell Moore pursues the terrorists who killed his CIA colleagues in a bomb attack in Pakistan.

One Summer by David Baldacci. After the death of his devoted wife, a father struggles to keep his family together and in the process, learns to love again.

Burnt Mountain by Anne Rivers Siddons. A Southern woman is forever changed by the betrayals of her mother and the man she loves.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson. The third volume of the Millennium Trilogy is about a Swedish hacker and journalist.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. Ernest Hemingway's first wife narrates this novel set in Paris.

Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson. A woman's life is complicated by the fact that her memories disappear every time she falls asleep.

NONFICTION

Lost in Shangri La by Mitchell Zuckoff. How three World War II soldier sightseers survived a crash in remote New Guinea.

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson. This portrait of Berlin during the rise of the Nazi Party concentrates on William Dodd, who became the US ambassador to Germany in 1933, and his daughter, Martha.

Demonic by Ann Coulter. The columnist compares the Democratic Party to a mob.

CHILDREN:

Ballet Kitty by Bernette Ford and Sam Williams. Ballet Kitty can't find her ballet slippers, and her best friend, Princess Pussycat, is coming to play. How will she perform her perfect plies, pirouettes, and cutest curtsies? A delightful and charming tale that all young ballet lovers will adore.

Bella, the Fairy Ball by Mandy Stanley. Bella Rabbit lived on a hill. Every day she nibbled and hopped, except for the day she made a daisy chain. Fairies had taken part of her chain away. Bella followed them to an old oak tree. Suddenly she was surrounded by fairies. Their queen was in need of Bella's daisy chain for the fairy ball. Bella was invited, and she was dressed in a beautiful fairy dress trimmed with thistledown. Bella enjoyed a feast and danced around the fairy ball.

Bring on the Birds by Susan Stockdale. This is a gorgeously illustrated children's book of fantastic birds for children ages 2-6. Delicately detailed and textured illustrations of acrylic on paper display 19 separate species of birds, with accompanying poetic, descriptive text. It is a fantastic work of art; a celebration of feathers.

Fancy Nancy - Ooh, La La, It's a Beauty Day by Jane O'Connor. What better way to fancy Mom up for her birthday than to treat her to a super deluxe beauty day created by Fancy Nancy herself? It's a pampering paradise, and right in the backyard! With relaxing music, fragrant lotions, colorful nail polish, and foamy mousse, Nancy gives her mom a total makeover. She even treats her to sumptuous refreshments and special entertainment. But when the pampering suddenly goes too far, has Nancy ruined her mom's big day?

TEENS

Mayhem by Artist Arthur. He thought surviving high school would be his toughest battle...A lot can change in a few months. Jake Palmer is living proof of that. In a short time, the once shy loner has discovered his incredible supernatural abilities and forged a tight bond with his fellow Mystyx.

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen. Another town? Another new schoool? Mclean really doesn't mind. In fact, she welcomes the chance to try on a new persona. Ever since her parent's bitter divorce, she and her father have been on the move, leaving the unhappy past behind them.

Please Get Our Best Side

2011-07-29T14:44:00.000-05:00

Recently I was at my regular spot by the front door when Robert Dawson appeared at my desk, looking for all the world like a distinguished safari guide. "Hello," he said, "I am traveling around the country taking pictures of libraries, and I wonder if we might take a picture of the outside of your library." Inwardly, I gasped. The outside of our Library is the object of much commentary, almost all of it disparaging. I was simultaneously fascinated and mortified. I tried not to stammer. "Well," I said, "Our building is not very presentable, but-" He quickly assured me that he would take it from far enough away that the crumbling shutters and peeling paint would not show. (I couldn't help but wonder how far away that would have to be.) What did end up on his website is a picture of our front door and steps. You can see the picture and read what they wrote here. There are many fascinating pictures of every size and shape of library across the country.

I discovered that Robert Dawson is a very well known photographer, that he is from Stanford University and has published books based on various photographic projects he has undertaken. Some of them are: The New Deal Legacy Project, The Water in the West Project, the Global Water Project, and the Farewell, Promised Land Project.

When I responded to his request by apologizing for the state of our building, I am sure he must have been remembering many other similar encounters at other libraries which are struggling to maintain the condition of their buildings. This man felt that libraries are important enough to photograph and honor in a collection and book; to travel across the country documenting the diversity of communities and how they honor and preserve their libraries. What does it say about us?

He also took some pictures inside, and I was amazed to see him set up a tripod and drape his jacket over his head as a cowl to shoot the pictures with his 4X4 plate camera. Turns out Robert Dawson is famous for his photographic method, and it makes his photographs rich and timeless.

I did not know any of that as he stood before me, requesting to preserve forever the state of our library's exterior. It showed me so clearly that we never know when or how we might unexpectedly be called upon to account for our condition. How a community treats its public buildings, especially its libraries, speaks volumes about that community.

Are Libraries Obsolete?

2011-07-21T12:10:00.000-05:00

Who needs libraries if you have Google and ebooks? A lot of people! Let me tell you why I think we will always need libraries. (Yes, I know I'm biased, but I'm also right.)

If a library was nothing but a building full of printed material, it might be obsolete - but it's not. As a matter of fact, our attendance figures are higher than they've ever been. Why? Look at the tag line on our website: your community center for information, technology, and culture. That explains it all.

Your Library is part of your community. It has people in it - both staff and patrons. Computers are not shared experiences - libraries are. While browsing the new books, you could ask your neighbor standing next to you what she has read lately - or ask a librarian for recommendations. You could participate in a program. You can hold a meeting of your organization. You can have books read to your children - or they can learn how to draw from an artist. You can ask for help with any kind of project. Let's face it, computers are nice, but people are much more important.

You can get information at your Library that is simply not available anywhere else. Look at a copy of the Natchez Democrat from the 1800's - or an old Natchez High annual - or a Natchez phone directory from the early days. When you look something up on Google, you frequently have no idea of its authenticity. But your Reference Librarian can show you how to use our collection of many databases that are not available via the internet - or cost mucho money to use elsewhere. Also, you may not even know how to get started looking for something, but your librarian does.

And if you want technology, your Library has it. We may have the largest and most up to date collection of computers in our area, and they're all available FREE. We even have special computers with programs just for children - and they are almost always being used. Because Mississippi is the poorest state in the country, many of our citizens cannot afford the latest in technology. But everyone has access to the Library. Libraries have always been the great equalizers in society by making knowledge available to everyone regardless of economic status.

No community is complete without its culture, and the Library is its repository. You might be surprised at some of the programs that have been offered at your Library. (Follow us on facebook or twitter and find out.) We carry books by local and state authors. Some people think the New York Times (especially Sunday's) is the place to go for the latest in the national cultural scene. However, it's no longer available free online, but it is available free at your Library. By the way, there are those who think more and more of online information will be fee based - making Libraries even more important.

In summary, don't cut up your Library card just yet. You're going to be needing it for a long time to come.

Librarians Head to New Orleans

2011-07-08T12:07:00.000-05:00

On Saturrday June 25th, eight library employees headed for New Orleans to attend the American Library Assosiation annual conference. I'm new to the Library, and this was my first ALA conference. It was pretty overwhelming. There were over twenty thousand attendees, wide eyed and eager to see the latest - including over five thousand venders displaying their wares.

We spent five hours trudging through exhibits with bags upon bags full of free samples of books, posters, gadgets, and many, many catalogs. We returned to Natchez tired but full of new ideas to help our patrons have a pleasant library experience. Be on the look out for new books and fun, interesting programs for everyone from kids to adults.

New Best Sellers

2011-06-22T13:32:00.000-05:00

FICTION

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris. The telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse seeks the culprit in a firebombing.

10th Anniversary by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. Detective Lindsay Boxer and the Women's Murder Club race to find a missing baby.

Conviction by Aaron Allston. The Jedi Order has taken control of the Galactic Alliance. Meanwhile, Luke and Ben Skywalker are pursuing the evil entity Abeloth. A Star Wars novel.

Buried Prey by John Sandford. The Minneapolis detective Lucas Davenport investigates the murders of two girls who were kidnapped in 1985 and whose bodies have just been found.

The Jefferson Key by Steve Berry. The former government operative Cotton Malone foils an assassination attempt on the president and finds himself at dangerous odds with a secret society.

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo. The Oslo detective Harry Hole searches for a serial killer who builds snowmen outside the homes of his victims.

The Final Storm by Jeff Shaara. The three month struggle for Okinawa in 1945, from the perspectives of combatants on both sides.

Sixkill by Robert Parker. In the final Spenser novel, a woman dies in an actor's hotel room.

Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks. A Puritan missionary's daughter forms a bond with a scholarly Indian.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadley, narrates this novel set in Paris.

NONFICTION

The Greater Journey by David McCullough. The historian explores the intellectual legacy that France settled on its 19th century visitors.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. An Olympic runner's story of survival as a prisoner of the Japanese in World War II.

Seal Team Six by Howard Wasdin and Stephen Templin. An expert sniper and former member of the Navy Seals recounts his training and missions.

On China by Henry Kissinger. China and America are mutually dependent economic giants, Kissinger writes, but they need a design of partnership.

CHILDREN

A Picture Book of Amelia Earhart by David A. Adler and illustrated by Jeff Fisher. Readers glean a sense of Earhart's courage and determination.

A Picture Book of Eleanor Roosevelt by David A. Adler and illustrated by Robert Casilla. Key events are highlighted, from Roosevelt's early childhood to her role as representative to the United Nations.

A Picture Book of Thomas Alva Edison by Daivd A. Adler and illustrated by John and Alexandra Wallner. Provides interesting glimpses of an inquisitive youth who grew into a hard-working visionary.

TEENS

Jerk California by Jonathan Friesen. A compelling story about Sam, a high-school student with Tourette syndrome, who embarks on a cross country road trip to discover his roots and identity.

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia. The much anticipated part two of the three part series Beautiful Creatures.

Grown Up Fun at Your Library

2011-06-17T13:13:00.000-05:00

It's an encouraging trend that more and more libraries across the country are offering summer programs for adult readers. It's about time! Kids have had all the fun for years during the summer.

Here at Armstrong Library, we are in our second summer of adult programming. The theme this year is Novel Destinations, so our events are predominately travel related. On Thursdays through July 21 from 4-5:30 pm, we are presenting travel dvd's, individual accounts of interesting trips, and tips on taking better digital pictures. We'll also be watching and discussing the movie Eat, Pray, Love.

Once again we are having weekly drawings for recent hardback titles and theme related prizes. This activitiy was very popular with patrons last year, and there are plenty of entries again this year. Just fill out one entry form for each book read. Drawings are each Wednesday. Patrons willing to write a short book review to post on our bulletin board will receive a Novel Destinations book bag (while supplies last!) Click here for copies of both forms and details about the program.

If anyone has taken an especially exotic or beautiful trip and would like to share pictures and experiences with our group, please let us know.

Next month we will start a brown bag book discussion group. We will be reading Brad Watson's Aliens in the Prime of their Lives, a collection of short stories which recently won the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters 2011 Fiction prize. Participants will bring their lunches, and the Library will provide beverages. Please contact us to sign up.

We are always open to ideas for programs! If you have a skill or interest you'd like to share, or have a collection we might display in our front foyer display case, please let us know.

If you're on Facebook, be sure to friend Judge George Armstrong to receive updates on events. Also, National Public Radio has a wonderful book page on Facebook which has excellent interactive book lovers' information. It's NPR books. Who says the book is dead?!

Have a great summer and keep on reading!

"No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks!"

2011-05-25T14:38:00.000-05:00

"No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks!" I remember singing this Alice Cooper song when I was a kid.

Yes, school was out for summer. No more homework, no more getting up early to catch the bus. All the way home I fantasized about playing outside all day with my friends - staying up late at night watching movies rather than doing homework.

Yes, my summer was planned, and I thought I would never get bored. However, that idea was short lived. By mid June, several of my friends were away at camp or on family vacation. I had nothing to do, and nowhere to go. All I had left was to stand on my head and spit wooden nickles, as my mother suggested.

That was until I went to my local public library and found out they were running a summer program for middle schoolers. The library was going to put on a puppet show, and we got to make the puppets and the stage. I signed up immediately and went to the first meeting and had a great time. I made some new friends. I learned all about puppets and made one of my own. We read Pinocchio as a group read.

The last day we had a big party, and we performed our puppet play for the smaller children and our parents. That summer made a difference in my life. Ms Patty was the library assistant, who was a college student working at the library for the summer. She was cool, and she was fun, so she made the library cool and fun, too. I was always a reader, but this experience made me a library user for life. That was back in the days of tie dye and bell bottom jeans, back in a time when we thought summer lasted forever.

Now this may be the 21st century, and kids today may have so much more to occupy their time, but I still hear kids telling their moms they are bored, that they have nothing to do. So my suggestion is to get them down to your Library and sign up for the free Summer Library Program. Let us help make your kids library users for life.

PreK - Grade 5

We are offering something for everybody in the family. One World, Many Stories is for children from preK through grade 5, You Are Here is for tweens and teens from grade 6 through 12, and Novel Destinations is our Adult program. We will have special guests and speakers to read stories and share interesting facts about different cultures. There will be games, crafts, and prizes. Most importantly, the kids will keep up their reading skills and make new friends while having fun learning.

So don't get stuck standing in the corner spitting wooden nickels all summer come see whats happening at your local library.

New Best Sellers

2011-05-19T13:32:00.001-05:00

FICTION

The Sixth Man by David Baldacci. The lawyer for an alleged serial killer is murdered, and two former Secret Service agents are on the case.

The Land of the Painted Caves by Jean M Auel. The latest volume in a series that began with The Clan of the Cave Bear, set during the ice age.

Bel Air Dead by Stuart Woods. In this Stone Barrington novel, the New York lawyer makes enemies when he represents a widow in the sale of a movie studio.

A Turn in the Road by Debbie Macomber. A middle age woman takes a cross country road trip with her daughter and former mother in law.

The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly. The lawyer Mickey Haller represents a woman facing home foreclosure and who is accused of killing a banker.

Born of Shadows by Sherrilyn Kenyon. In the Ichidian universe, a smuggler and a woman warrior must fight together to survive - a League novel.

I'll Walk Alone by Mary Higgins Clark. A woman haunted by the disappearance of her young son discovers that someone has stolen her identity.

Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts. A smoke jumper faces a new season of firefighting in Montana after the loss of her partner.

Save Me by Lisa Scottoline. A mother’s action during a school emergency causes an uproar in a Philadelphia suburb.

44 Charles Street by Danielle Steel. The owner of a Greenwich Village town house takes in boarders and bonds with her tenants.

Eve by Iris Johansen. The forensic sculptor Eve Duncan searches for answers to the mystery of her daughter’s disappearance.

The Lost Fleet. Beyond the Frontier: Dreadnaught by Jack Campbell. Captain Black Jack Geary and his fleet search for aliens in Syndic space.

NONFICTION

Bossypants by Tina Fey. A memoir from the creator of 30 Rock.

I'm Over All That by Shirley MacLaine. The actress offers observations on what remains important to her.

CHILDREN

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Christian Stead. Zookeeper Amos McGee always makes time to visit his friends who live at the zoo until the day he stays home because he is sick.

Gooney Bird Is So Absurd by Lois Lowry and illustrated by Middy Thomas. Mrs Pidgeon’s second grade class studies poetry and her students write haiku, couplets, free verse, and finally, a tribute to Mrs. Pidgeon’s mother that was organized by the irrepressible Gooney Bird Greene.

Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by R Gregory Christie. Spunky third grader Dyamonde Daniel misses her old neighborhood, but when she befriends a boy named Free, another new student at school, she finally starts to feel at home.

Top Secret, Personal Beeswax: A Journal by Junie B and Me by Barbara Park. Junie B Jones shares her thoughts and personal pictures in this journal that allows the user to include information about themselves.

The Prince Is Coming to Natchez

2011-05-05T12:23:00.001-05:00

Earlier I posted an article about the Prince from Natchez, and the film about him. Now the film is coming to Natchez.

Film & Conversation

Prince Among Slaves is an award winning PBS documentary about the fascinating life of Abdul Rahman, a West African prince enslaved in Natchez, Mississippi for 40 years, who through improbable circumstances won his freedom and became one of the most famous men of his day.

Sunday, June 5, 2:30 — 5:30 pm
City Auditorium
FREE and open to the public

Special guest Terry Alford, author of the book upon which the film is based, will introduce the film, describing how he came to write this story and how it became a film.

Following the film, the audience will break into small groups to talk about the film. Leading the conversation will be special guest Amad Shakur, founder of the Center for the African Diaspora, a research institute in Charlotte, North Carolina.

All attendees will receive a free DVD of the film and are invited to attend a reception with refreshments following the event to honor the guest speakers at the NAPAC Museum.

Event Partners:

Alcorn State University
Antioch Missionary Baptist Association
Bluff City Post
City of Natchez
Copiah Lincoln Community College
Friends of the Armstrong Library
Historic Natchez Foundation
Judge George Armstrong Library
NAACP
Natchez Association for the Preservation of Afro American Culture
Natchez Convention & Visitors Bureau
Natchez Historical Society
National Endowment for the Humanities
National Park Service
Unity Productions Foundation

DVDs @ Your Library

2011-04-29T10:21:00.000-05:00

Among the many items that may be checked out at your Library, DVDs have proven to be among the most popular. We began adding donated DVDs about a year and a half ago, but last year we received a grant to build our collection.* Where possible, we have acquired Blue-ray versions, but most are regular DVDs.

In creating our collection, we started from the ground up. We first obtained some of the most popular titles from the video format, such as the Roots television series and the Ken Burns The Civil War series. Next, we added movies that were filmed in Natchez and the surrounding area, like Horse Soldiers, Huckleberry Finn, and Cross Roads. We also acquired the complete set of the popular local Angels on the Bluff performance series, filmed in our own historic City Cemetery. From there, we started building a classic movie section, including titles such as North by Northwest, The Thin Man, and Breakfast at Tiffany's.

For children, we have math and science shows, such as The Magic School Bus. Fire safety and "stranger danger" DVDs are popular. Of course, we couldn't leave out the Disney animated classics, like Snow White, Bambi, Beauty and the Beast, Pinocchio, and Fantasia.

Among the educational selections is the Visions of Europe travel series, including Italy, France, Austria, and Greece. This series provides stunningly beautiful aerial photography shot from helicopters with terrific musical backgrounds. Another standout is the Blue Planet series with spectacular nature scenes.

Of course, we do have a general assortment of family entertainment movies and always welcome suggestions for future purchases, as funds allow.

We continue to gratefully accept donations of DVDs in good condition, so look through your collection to see if you have any you would like to share.

Stop in and see our growing collection of DVDs which we have tailored for our Natchez patrons. DVDs and VHS tapes can only be checked out by adults. They check out for two days, with a limit of two per card.

*Grant funding for the DVD collection was provided as a competitive Focused Development Grant under the Federal Library Services and Technology Act administered by the Mississippi Library Commission for the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Children's Book Festival

2011-04-05T14:55:00.000-05:00

Today I am heading to Hattiesburg to attend the much anticipated 44th Annual Fay B Kaigler Children's Book Festival. The Festival was founded in 1968 and is sponsored by the University of Southern Mississippi. What started out as a conference for those interested in writing, illustrating, and publishing of children's books grew to include talks by award winning authors and illustrators, as well as seminars for library science students and professional librarians from both schools and public libraries.

Although I have been working here at the Armstrong Library for nearly eight years, I was always under the impression the Book Festival was strictly for children's librarians and didn't think there would be much for a teen services librarian. However, I went last year, and boy, was I wrong! I had the most wonderful time meeting other librarians, listening to inspirational keynote speakers, and most importantly, meeting the actual authors and illustrators of BOTH children and teen books! And of course, there is nothing more fun than shopping for new books for the Library collection.

I waited in long lines for several hours just to get my books signed and a picture with the author. I was so excited to meet Richard Peck, who happened to be an author I loved from my days as a teenager, that afterwards I had to go back to my hotel room and rest.

Sharon Draper, an African American author whose books are always flying off my shelves, delivered an inspiring message about putting the right book into the hands of children and watching them bloom into lifetime readers.

My bags are packed, hotel reservations made, and I am armed with my schedule and comfy shoes ready to endure the long lines to meet this years Southern Medallion winner T A Barron, author of The Last Years of Merlin Trilogy. I'll give you a report when I get back.

New Bestsellers for April

2011-03-29T15:04:00.000-05:00

FICTION

Toys by James Patterson and Neil McMahon. Hays Baker, a top operative for the Agency of Change and a national hero, suddenly finds himself a hunted fugitive who must fight to save humans from extinction.

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult. Picoult takes on the issue of gay rights in this novel about a music therapist who desperately wants a child.

The Jungle by Clive Cussler with Jack Du Brul. Juan Cabrillo and the crew of the Oregon undertake rescue operations from Afghanistan to Myanmar.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. Ernest Hemingway’s first wife, Hadley, narrates this novel set in Paris.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. The recovery of a lost ancient manuscript in a library at Oxford sets a fantastical underworld stirring.

Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy. A motherless girl is cared for by a Dublin community, but a social worker believes a foster home is a better solution.

Love You More by Lisa Gardner. Detective D D Warren must solve the case of a dead husband, a battered wife, and a missing child.

River Marked by Patricia Briggs. The shapeshifter Mercy Thompson and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, confront evil lurking in the Columbia River.

Treachery in Death by J. D. Robb. Eve Dallas and her partner, Peabody, investigate a grocer’s murder.

NONFICTION

Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff. A biography of the last queen of ancient Egypt.

Decision Points by George W Bush. The former President’s memoir discusses his Christianity, the end of his drinking, and his decisions on 9/11, Iraq, and Katrina.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. An Olympic runner’s story of survival as a prisoner of the Japanese in World War II.

CHILDREN

Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures: The Japanese Ninja Surprise by Jeff Brown. Flat Stanley mails himself to Japan to visit his hero, martial arts movie star Oda Nobu, and becomes his personal ninja.

Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures: The Mount Rushmore Calamity by Jeff Brown. Hoping to escape the attention brought on by the accident that flattened Stanley, the Lambchop family drives to South Dakota, where they become involved in a Wild West adventure at Mount Rushmore.

Summer of the Sea Serpent by Mary Pope Osborne. Jack and Annie travel in their magic tree house to the land of the mystical selkies to seek a magical sword for Merlin.

TEENS

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins. Three teens, who meet at Reno, Nevada’s Aspen Springs Mental Hospital after each has attempted suicide, connect with each other in a way they never have with their parents or anyone else in their lives.

Ship Breaker by Paola Bacigalupi. In a futuristic world, teenaged Nailer scavenges copper wiring from grounded oil tankers for a living, but when he finds a beached clipper ship with a girl in the wreckage, he has to decide if he should strip the ship for its wealth or rescue the girl.

Virgin Territory by James Lecesne. When an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary appears on a tree at the Jupiter, Florida golf course where fifteen year old Dylan Flack is caddying for the summer, he encounters a group of “pilgrims” who dare him to take a risk and find out what he really wants out of life.

Your Library is the Face of Natchez

2011-03-25T14:06:00.000-05:00

One of the things I like best about being Assistant Director of the Library is welcoming visitors during Spring Pilgrimage. This year has been very active so far, and it’s great to see people so upbeat, enjoying the spectacular weather. But every year there are little stories about visitors showing their appreciation for help checking their email, advice on where to eat lunch, or directions to the next house on their tour.

People naturally gravitate to the Library as a starting point for their searches; whether it is for general area information or specific services. The Library is the heart of the community, and seasoned travelers know this better than most. Just this morning, we had a couple who had to time the printout of their boarding passes exactly or they’d miss the first seating. They stood by as the time ticked toward the magic moment when they could print out. As they left, the lady called out to us “We can always count on the library.” True story.

Sometimes visitors are participating in a scavenger hunt, looking for places and items peculiar to Natchez. Smart visitors know the best place to get information is a public library. Sometimes we have had the entire staff involved in looking for answers - and our visitors always win.

As described in our last blog post, the producers of the Prince Among Slaves have scheduled one of their events here in Natchez. And guess who they contacted first? That’s right. The Library. We are so happy to be able to provide whatever information we can to all visitors. It is just part of being the heart of the community.

The Prince from Natchez

2011-03-17T12:43:00.000-05:00

Did you know that Natchez once had a Prince? Right around the beginning of our country, a remarkable man came to Natchez.

Abdul Rahman was trilingual, a successful military general, and the heir to Futa Jalon, the West African Empire, which was the size of Great Britain. However, during a war with another African country, he was captured and sold into slavery.

He was bought by Thomas Foster of Natchez and brought to his small, struggling plantation. Abdul Rahman told everyone that he was a Prince and his father would be happy to pay a ransom for his return. Of course, no one paid any attention, but they did start calling him Prince. He was a valuable slave and helped Foster develop the planation into a successful, profitable venture. He also married and had 9 children.

Through improbable circumstances, twenty years into his enslavement he was reunited with a marooned sailor that his father had rescued decades earlier. This event brought the first public attention to the Prince and over the next several years led him to become the most famous African in America. He regained his freedom, spoke to paid audiences across the country, dined in the White House, became a national celebrity, and eventually returned to Africa.

His story of courage and forbearance under the meanest of circumstances is a powerful drama that not only speaks directly to the African American experience, but also to the human experience. His incredible story was first told in 1977 in the book Prince Among Slaves by Terry Alford, which was republished in 2007 as a 30th Anniversary Edition. The book was made into a film by Unity Productions Foundations (UPF) and was shown on PBS in 2008. The book and the film are in our Library available for checkout.

Through a grant from the National Endowment for Humanities, UPF is sponsoring a series of events all over the country, showing the film along with lectures and discussions on the issues raised in the film. As the home of the Prince, Natchez has been chosen as one of the sites. Our event will be held on Sunday, June 5 in the City Auditorium. We are very fortunate to have the author of the book, Terry Alford, as one of our speakers. The event is free, and attendees will receive a free copy of the DVD. We'll have more details later, but put it in your calendar.

Just think. People all across America will be talking about a famous person from Natchez. Who knows what kind of interest in or visits to our City this may cause! You'd better learn the story, in case tourists ask you abut the Prince.

Librarians Take on Legislators!

2011-03-01T12:53:00.000-06:00

Teen Librarian Marianne Raley &
Director Susan Cassagne

Last Wednesday a group of Mississippi librarians spent the day at the State Capitol building in Jackson to show our legislators the importance of public libraries to their communities and the need to keep our funding so as to continue to provide services that are much needed and used .

Arriving at 8 am armed with banners, book marks, brochures and eye catching displays, we settled in the rotunda and waited for our local representatives to arrive. It was interesting to walk about and see what other libraries are doing in their community. There was a little of everything - from computer 101 classes to partnerships with local agencies such as WIN Job Service for those communities that are out in rural areas and cannot get to the center. One library provides a video phone for the hearing impaired so they can better communicate with distant family members.

Ms Magnolia

Ms Magnolia (AKA the Director of the First Regional Library System) strolled about the rotunda in a beautiful green gown and crown of magnolias while telling our state leaders about the great databases MAGNOLIA provides for our students, teachers and parents. The Mississippi Library Commission touted the Learn a Test online learning center.

Stress Books

The Armstrong Library displayed our newest pride and joy, the Teen Zone. We were a big hit as most legislators were pleased to see services being provided for our neighborhood youth. When trying to get a lawmaker to remember an organization they usually receive a pencil or pen with the name and or logo on it. Well, we went one step further and passed out a stress ball shaped like books with the Teen Zone and website imprinted on them. I don't doubt a few of those stress books were flying across the tables during committee meetings.

Capitol Rotunda

By the way, if you have not seen the State Capital building before, I suggest you do. It was my first time visiting and I was so impressed with the achitecture, woodwork, marble flooring, and beautiful stained glass windows. It was inspiring to be in the same place were laws are created or defeated.

New Bestsellers Available

2011-02-17T11:52:00.000-06:00

FICTION

Tick Tock by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. The New York detective Michael Bennett enlists the help of a former colleague to solve a rash of horrifying crimes that are throwing the city into chaos.

The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer. An archivist discovers a book that once belonged to George Washington and conceals a deadly secret.

Fatal Error by J A Jance. After the murder of a cyber socialpath, Ali Reynolds is drawn into a web of online intrigue.

Strategic Moves by Stuart Woods. In the 19th Stone Barrington novel, the New York lawyer works with the CIA to transport a fugitive.

The Confession by John Grisham. A criminal wants to save an innocent man on death row, but he must convince the authorities he's telling the truth.

The Sentry by Robert Crais. The former cop Joe Pike finds that a pair of Katrina refugees he helps aren't all they seem.

What the Night Knows by Dean Koontz. Someone is murdering entire families, recreating in detail a crime spree that took place two decades earlier.

The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman. A mysterious garden offers the key to understanding a small Massachusetts town through 300 years of passionate history.

The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown. Three sisters from a highbrow family return home, each with a secret she's unwilling to share.

Though Not Dead by Dana Stabenow. The Alaskan investigator Kate Shugak becomes embroiled in a deadly treasure hunt involving her own family's secrets.

NONFICTION

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. An Olympic runner's story of survival as a prisoner of the Japenese in World War II.

Love your library - at the Natchez Little Theatre!

2011-02-07T14:34:00.000-06:00

This Wednesday, February 9, at 7 pm is the preview performance of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Buying a ticket to this performance for the bargain price of $10 will benefit your Library!

The Natchez Little Theater designates the preview performance (the night before the official opening) of each show as a benefit for a worthy cause in Natchez. This time, your Library has been selected! We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Executive Director Layne Taylor for choosing us. All funds raised from ticket sales to this performance will be used to offset budget cuts made by the City for books, materials, and programming.

The Friends of the Library will be providing delicious refreshments at intermission. Library staff will be taking tickets and greeting you at the door. This is a great chance to show your support for your Library and see a classic of American theatre performed by talented local actors.

Events like this one are a great example of community involvement and support. The Library wins, Natchez Little Theater wins, and the community wins. When you purchase tickets, you are voting with your feet and pocketbook for your favorite community causes.

The benefit performance is this Wednesday, February 9th at 7 pm. (Please note the starting time is earlier than regular performances.) You can purchase your tickets at the door or reserve them by calling 601.442.2233 or emailing theatre@bellsouth.net. Be sure to specify that you want tickets reserved for Wednesday's benefit.

Let's have a full house for our Library! See you there!

EITC Awareness Day and Tax Forms @ Your Library

2011-01-28T12:56:00.001-06:00

The Armstrong Library is celebrating Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day on January 28, 2011, with a grant provided through Entergy. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) may be available to anyone who earned $48,362 or less from wages, self-employment, or farming in 2010. You could be eligible for a special tax credit this year and not know it. As a result, you may overlook claiming the EITC, which can put anywhere from $2 to more than $5,600 into your pockets.

People move into and out of EITC eligibility based on changes in their earnings, their parental status or their marital status. Many people will qualify for the first time this year due to economic changes in their incomes. We encourage people to see if they qualify. Eligible workers can get their EITC only if they file federal income tax returns – even if they are not otherwise required to file – and specifically claim the credit.

Taxpayers can get information and forms at the Armstrong Library from Friday, January 28 through Monday, April 18. Tax day is Monday, April 18 (this year only), in observance of Emancipation Day in the District of Columbia on April 15.

With the grant from Entergy, the Library will be of even more help to those needing tax forms and who wish to e-file. Grant funds will provide a computer dedicated to downloading tax forms and e-filing. People may come to the Library and download tax forms at a reduced price of 10¢ (ten cents) per printed page. The State of Mississippi, as a cost savings factor, is no longer mailing tax forms to individuals; therefore, the Department of Revenue has partnered with public libraries. All State tax forms are available at the Armstrong Library. People who wish to e-file may use the grant-provided computer to complete their tax filing. But, please don’t ask Library Staff for advice! We are not tax experts! Library staff can provide assistance in locating online forms, only!

The Armstrong Library also partners with the AARP in their Tax Aide program. Participation in this program is available on Wednesdays, from 9-4, beginning February 2 and ending on April 13. Persons assisted through the AARP Tax Aide program are served on a first come, first served, basis. Information on what is needed to participate in the Tax Aide program is available on Wednesdays only, during this time.

Come see what your Library can do for you!

Tax information and forms, available @ Your Library
A specific computer for downloading tax forms and for e-filing, available @ Your Library
AARP Tax Aide program, available @ Your Library

What to Read Next

2011-01-13T12:54:00.000-06:00

Looking for a good fiction book? Whether you want a list of all the titles by your favorite author or want to know the next title in a good series, your Library has a really cool way to get these answers - and more. It's called NoveList. NoveList is a fiction database with information on more than 135,000 titles, searchable in a variety of ways - and it's incredibly useful.

First, let me show you how to find this great resource, so you can follow along as I tell you how to use it. Go to the Library website. In the menu on the left, click on Resources, then click on Online Research Tools. Scroll down until you find MAGNOLIA and click on it. MAGNOLIA is an extensive online research tool provided by the Mississippi State Legislature through the state's public libraries.

MAGNOLIA is close to a hundred different databases that can be searched for reliable information, but today we're just going to focus on one - NoveList. To reach it, click on the letter N under the Database A-Z List. Click on the title NovelList. Now you are in NoveList.

You can search for information by author, title, series, or even find a forgotten title by just entering a description of the book in the Search Box. If you look to the left, you'll see you can look at age range or by different genres, like Mysteries or Science Fiction. If you look to the right, you'll see other interesting things you can do - like looking for Book Discussion Guides or Award Winners.

One of the coolest features is the Author Read Alikes. If you find an author you like, you can find other similar authors. For example, let's say I like John Grisham books and I want to find more like them. Click on Author Read Alikes, then find the author's name, either by entering the Grisham, John in the search box or just clicking on the G. Once you see his name, click on it. Scoll down the page, and you will see a description of his writing style, and a description of similar authors. Isn't that cool?

Takes some time to play around in NoveList, and you will see everything you need to find that perfect book. It's also useful for all sorts of other projects like book reports and discussion guides. If ever you need help, just click on the purple button How to Use NoveList in the upper right hand corner for a series of tutorials. And of course, you can always call or come in the Library.

January New Books

2011-01-07T11:23:00.000-06:00

There is a section in the Library called New Books, where we put new books when they arrive. They usually stay there for a few months before being shelved in their appropriate place. This section is a favorite place for many of our patrons. But in case you haven't been here in a while, here are some of the new arrivals.

FICTION

Dead or Alive by Tom Clancy with Grant Blackwood. Many characters from Clancy's previous novels make an appearance as an intelligence group tracks a vicious terrorist called the Emir.
Cross Fire by James Patterson. Alex Cross investigates a professional assassination in Washington and receives a chilling call from his deadliest adversary.
The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson. The third volume of a trilogy about a Swedish hacker and a journalist.
Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King. Four long stories which are light on the supernatural and deal mostly with grisly human behavior.
Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell. In the 18th Kay Scarpetta novel, the forensic pathologist masters a sophisticated autopsy technology at an Air Force base.
Fall of Giants by Ken Follett. Five interrelated families from five countries are caught in the upheavals of World War I and the Russian Revolution.
Hell's Corner by David Baldacci. Recalled to duty, Oliver Stone hunts for those responsible for a bomb detonated near the White House.
An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin. A young, beautiful and amitious woman ruthlessly ascends the heights of the Manhattan art world.
Crescent Dawn by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler. Dirk Pitt seeks to discover the connection between a trove of ancient Roman artifacts and a series of mosque explosions.

NONFICTION

Decision Points by George W Bush. The former President's memoir discusses his Christianity and the end of his drinking; his relationship with members of his family; and his decisions on 9/11, Iraq, and Katrina.
Autobiography of Mark Twain by Mark Twain. The first of three volumes collected by the Mark Twain Project on the centenary of the author's death.
Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff. A biography of the last queen of ancient Eqypt.
America by Heart, by Sarah Palin. The former Vice Presidential candidate reflects on family, faith, and patriotism.
I Remember Nothing by Nora Ephron. Reflections on age and memory, from the author of I Feel Bad About My Neck.
Colonel Roosevelt by Edmund Morris. The third and concluding volume of Morris's monumental biography of Theodore Roosevelt.

Come check out our other new books.

New Year's Traditions from Around the World

2010-12-28T12:03:00.000-06:00

If we were celebrating New Years in England, it would be very important to be sure a good first footer entered your home before anyone else in the New Year. The most desirable first footer would be a young, good looking, healthy male, carrying a small piece of coal, money, bread, and salt, symbolizing wealth. The least desirable first footer would be a woman, and those people with blonde or red hair - I guess those would be considered trouble makers! I can't help but wonder if this is the source of the expression "put your best foot forward." The ancient first footer tradition is practiced to this day in England.

In Ireland, the direction of the wind at New Year is traditionally an indication of the trend in politics for the coming year. If it blew from the west, it would be a good year for Ireland; if from the east, England would gain the upper hand. I thought this interpretation of signs to be very typically Irish. Of course, after the year we've had politically, there's no telling which way the wind will blow after New Year's.

Many countries have traditions that involve large, even massive, amounts of food being served, invoking coming prosperity and surplus. The French feast customarily includes special dishes like foie gras, seafood such as oysters, and drinks like champagne. It can be a simple intimate dinner with friends and family, or a much fancier ball. I'm leaning towards the French approach!

I'm not so sure I'd want to celebrate in Denmark, where friends and family show their good wishes by throwing dishes at your front door. If you have heaps of broken dishes at your door, you can consider yourself blessed with many friends. Really?

Well, Happy New Year to everyone! I guess I'll be sticking with the Southern tradition of good old black eye peas and cabbage to ensure good fortune. Does cole slaw count?

Merry Christmas from Your Library!

2010-12-20T14:25:00.000-06:00

We have had a busy Christmas this year. It started on Saturday, December 4, when the Library Drill Team made its debut in the Christmas Parade. Let me be kind and say we're not quite ready for prime time yet. But we had a really fun time, and we plan to do it again next year - but we're going to practice first. (Click on the link to see pictures and video.)

On Sunday, December 5, the Friends of the Library held their annual Christmas Tour of Homes, which was a huge success. We had the most attendees ever, and the Friends made a record profit. This is very timely, since your Library is suffering financially due to budget cuts. (Click on the link to see pictures.)

On Monday, December 6, we were closed for staff development, and we held our annual Christmas luncheon for the Board of Trustees and the Friends Board to thank them for all they do to help us. We also used that day to decorate for the holiday. Come by and see!

I was looking on the web for what other Libraries were doing for Christmas. Some had a Christmas tree made of books. One library in Memphis had a flash mob singing carols. Do you know what a flash mob is? I think they're so cool! It's a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform a brief act, and then disperse. The first one I heard of, and maybe the first in Mississippi, occured in the Student Union of Ole Miss right before spring break.

Remember that your library can help you celebrate Christmas. We have some new Christmas movies on DVD that you might want to borrow and share with your family: Babes in Toyland, The Christmas Blessing, Miracle on 34th Street, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and Disney's A Christmas Carol. We also have lots of Christmas books on decorating, cooking, crafting, gardening - or just great stories.

HOLIDAY HOURS

CHRISTMAS

Close on Friday, December 24 & reopen on Tuesday, December 28

NEW YEARS

Close on Friday, December 31 & reopen on Tuesday, January 4

Library Staff in Christmas Parade

2010-12-02T12:44:00.000-06:00

Book Cart Drill Team from a
public library in Indiana

This year the Armstrong Library makes its debut in the annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 4 at 6 pm. However, we were not sure what we could do, so we decided to follow the example of other libraries across the country and pimp our book carts and do a book cart drill.

WHAT??

Pimp My Bookcart is a parody of MTV's Pimp My Ride and is an annual contest run by Unshelved, a hilarious webcomic by Gene Ambaum and Bill Barnes that is about a public library and is read by public library staff across the country. The purpose of the contest is to see who can best pimp, trick out, or otherwise improve a standard library book cart. The entries range from outrageous to clever. Check them out here.

But it gets worse. There is also a Book Cart Drill Team competition sponsored by Demco, a library supply company, that is held at the annual American Library Association conference. Your Library staff is going to try (and I do mean try!) to do a book cart drill.

The theme of this year's Christmas Parade is Broadway. So how many librarians are characters in Broadway plays? What a challenge! Then our Director remembered - Marian the Librarian from The Music Man. And what better music to drill to than 76 Trombones!

We may (will) make total fools of ourselves, but we will have fun. You don't want to miss this!

Pimping book carts and doing book cart drills are only the tip of the iceburg when it comes to putting a new face on libraries and their staff. Libraries are no longer as quiet as they used to be, and I can't remember the last time I wore my hair in a bun! We invite you to come downtown and get into the spirit of the season and see your local librarians in a whole new way!

November's New Books

2010-11-24T11:17:00.058-06:00

THE CONFESSION by John Grisham. A man who committed a despicable crime but allowed another to be sent to death row in his place now wants to admit his guilt, but he must convince the authorities he’s telling the truth.
TOWERS OF MIDNIGHT by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson. Book 13 of the Wheel of Time fantasy series.
INDULGENCE IN DEATH by J D Robb (Nora Roberts, writing pseudonymously). Lt Eve Dallas tangles with what she fears is a thrill killer.
AMERICAN ASSASSIN by Vince Flynn. In the wake of the Lockerbie bombing, Mitch Rapp takes on his first antiterrorist assignment.
WORTH DYING FOR by Lee Child. Jack Reacher can’t let go of a decades-old case of a missing child.
FALL OF GIANTS by Ken Follett. Five interrelated families from five countries are caught in the upheavals of World War I and the Russian Revolution.
IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS by Jan Karon. In Ireland, the Episcopal priest Tim Kavanagh finds an old journal that could solve a crime.
SQUIRREL SEEKS CHIPMUNK by David Sedaris. The humorist looks at human nature through stories with animals as characters.
SAFE HAVEN by Nicholas Sparks. The arrival of a mysterious young woman in a small North Carolina town raises questions about her past.
SIDE JOBS by Jim Butcher. A collection of stories about the Chicago wizard Harry Dresden.
EDGE by Jeffery Deaver. When a Washington DC police detective and his family become the target of a professional torturer, a federal agent is sent to protect them.
FREEDOM by Jonathan Franzen. Examines every major theme of American life - politics, class, work, culture and sex - through the lens of one stubborn, fascinating, wholly believable family.

NONFICTION

EARTH (THE BOOK) by Jon Stewart & others. A visitor’s guide to the human race presented by "The Daily Show."
THE LAST BOY by Jane Leavy. A biography of the Yankees star Mickey Mantle, who grappled with a wrenching childhood and physical injuries.
PINHEADS AND PATRIOTS by Bill O'Reilly. The Fox News commentator scrutinizes the meaning of change in the era of Obama.
AT HOME by Bill Bryson. The evolution of private life as exemplified by the houses we live in.

Come check out our other new books.

Christmas Tour of Homes 2010

2010-11-18T13:29:00.001-06:00

Christmas in Natchez is becoming a very special time, with so many activities, so many events competing for our time. The Friends of the Library Annual Christmas Home Tour on Sunday, December 5, 2-5 pm is special among these community events. Not only is it an opportunity to celebrate the great homes of Natchez, but it is a chance to show your support for your Library. It is particularly meaningful this year since so many people have inquired as to how they can support the Library during our budget crunch. Well, this is one great way - participating in the Friends' largest fundraising event of the year. The homes selected are not on other tours and present a special opportunity to see real Natchez homes all decorated for the holidays. The four homes featured this year are each outstanding in their own way:

PERKINS ADAMS HOUSE
(The Stockton House)
307 North Wall Street
Home of Margaret Perkins and Rene Adams

This Greek Revival home on the corner of Wall and Jefferson Streets was once the home of the widow Ann Stockton and may have been built by Nathaniel Carpenter, the patriarch of the Carpenter family.

CAVIN HOUSE
(formerly King's Daughter's Home)
32 Cemetery Road
Home of Renee and Kenny Cavin

This spacious home provides a magnificent view of the river from the bluffs at 32 Cemetery Road. Built in 1911, it was originally used as a home for unwed mothers. The extensive renovation was completed in 2008.

STAHLMAN CONDOMINIUM
205 North Commerce Street
Home of Cappy and Judy Stahlman

This antebellum building on Franklin Street suffered extensive damage in the storm of 1998 but has been rehabilitated into apartments, commercial space, and a luxurious condominium with an entrance on Commerce.

WILBOURN HOUSE
411 North Commerce Street
Home of Dr Linda Wilbourn

This 1880's home exhibits typical Italianate features. It has been totally renovated, including restoration of the full width gallery, and expanded. It is also this year's refreshment center.

TICKETS for this year's Friends of the Library Christmas Tour of Homes are currently on sale at the Library and Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, and may also be purchased at any of the homes on the day of the event.. Tour all four homes for only $15, or purchase two tickets for $25.

For over ten years, the Friends of the Armstrong Library have worked tirelessly to provide a unique experience for those touring these fascinating homes. We appreciate those opening their homes, the Friends members and Board, and all who purchase tickets and participate.

Hope to see you on Sunday, December 5, 2 - 5 pm!

Funding a Library

2010-11-12T15:55:00.000-06:00

The Natchez Adams Wilkinson Library Service manages three libraries: one in Natchez, one in Centreville, and one in Woodville. We receive regular state money that helps to pay salaries and health insurance, provided we obey their rules. We also receive federal money for telephone and internet service that also comes with strings attached. Other than that, our funding comes from two sources.

35%: Funds we collect from fines, donations, and charges for certain services like printing, copying faxes. Public libraries are not allowed to make a profit, so we have to limit what we can charge.
65%: Funding from local governments: City of Natchez for the Natchez library and Wilkinson County for the Centreville and Woodville libraries.

We are an independent agency and not part of the City government, and yet it provides 65% of our funding. This leads to some strange happenings. As a little stepchild of the City government, we were required to go every year to beg for money - along with all the other nonprofits. This is no way to run a library! So one of our Library Director's top priorities was to get us on dedicated millage, as most other libraries in the state are.

A dedicated tax is when a certain tax (or a set percentage of a tax) is allocated to a specific purpose. For example, the tax you pay on gasoline is dedicated to the transportation system. Some states dedicate the proceeds of their lotteries to education. In Mississippi, it is common for counties to allocate a certain amount of millage for libraries. That was what our Director had been trying to do since she arrived.

In 2005, she was finally successful! The Library was given a dedicated millage of 2.575, which was equal to the amount that had been allocated the year before. With dedicated millage, the Library receives a certain percentage of the tax revenues. It will go up and down each year, depending on the amount of taxes collected, and the Library budgets accordingly. In lean years, we tighten our belts, but in good years, we can purchase extra equipment or books. Giving the Library a dedicated millage was a tax increase because it is above and beyond what is collected for the City, so a public hearing was held and there was no objection.

According to the City's Annual Audit, these were the amounts received in the years since the dedicated millage was passed.

2006: $251,236.00, $3,764.00 decrease
2007: $238,079.00, $16,921.00 decrease
2008: $263,018.00, $8,018.00 increase
2009: $271,936.00, $16,936.00 increase

In 2010, we were scheduled to receive another increase, because properties were reassessed and a mill was worth more. The County lowered their millage to keep taxes about the same, but the City chose not to do that, thus increasing everyones taxes. Not only that, but the City decided to decrease the Library's millage. Changes in millage and the City budget are supposed to have public hearings. There was a public hearing on the budget and millage, but the public was never told that the tax increase they supported for the Library was going to be taken away. It was not discussed at the hearing, it was not in any of the information distributed, nor was it in the newspaper. Several aldermen were not even aware that's what was done. In fact, the City never even told the Library! Is this legal? Probably not. But there's not much the Library can do. We can't very well sue our major funding source.

We've learned something from this experience. Our Director now attends all meetings of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, just to be sure they don't do anything to the Library and neglect to tell us - certainly not the best use of her time. Plus,when budget time comes up next time, we will be ready!

Library Brings Big Bucks to Natchez

2010-11-05T10:56:00.001-05:00

It's true that the City taxpayors partially fund our Library. However, the Library also brings money into the City. How? Here's the story.

Our beautiful Convention Center opened very shortly after I became the Director here in 2002, When another library director called me to congratulate me on the job and offer assistance, if I should need it, I immediately mentioned the new Convention Center to her, as she was the person responsible for planning the next year’s Mississippi Library Association (MLA) conference. The 2003 conference was already planned, but the following year’s was not!

Representatives from our Convention Center attended the 2003 Conference and sold Natchez to MLA - and plans were begun for the 2004 MLA Conference to be held in Natchez.

MLA membership numbers over 500, and generally 300 or so people (members, exhibitors, speakers, etc.) attend their conferences. The conferences generally run Wednesday through Friday. In 2004, we planned an event for Tuesday evening. This meant people were in town an extra day – eating in our restaurants and sleeping in our hotels. What an economic impact!

That year we hosted an excellent, well-attended, successful conference. People love coming to Natchez!

We were able to bring MLA to Natchez again in 2008. Again, we provided an event on Tuesday evening, and conference goers had a wonderful time.

This year’s conference was held two weeks ago in Vicksburg. Next year we are committed to holding the conference in Jackson. But – guess what? MLA will be back in Natchez in 2012! We'll be here the week following Balloon Races.

Nancy McLemore, director of the Library at CoLin, and I have worked together the past two conferences to make the events the wonderful successes they have been – and plan to do so again. As we get closer to the planning stages, we may call on local businesses to provide assistance. We are looking for a new, entertaining event to hold on Tuesday evening again.

If the economic impact of one conference is about $350,000, think of the money the Armstrong Library brought to the City of Natchez in 2004 and 2008! And looking to bring again in 2012! The Library is responsible for bringing over a million dollars to Natchez!

We always enjoy showing off our City, and the work involved in bringing a conference to Natchez is rewarding - especially when people appreciate the efforts made and everyone benefits. We hope we are able to continue bringing MLA conferences to Natchez.

Why and How to Read Aloud to Your Baby and Young Child

2010-10-28T13:34:00.007-05:00

Studies show that one of the most important things adults can do to prepare children for success in school and life is to READ ALOUD with them. Doctors even think that children need reading aloud to be fully healthy. And start from the day they come home from the hospital.

Why? Some of the benefits are:

builds self esteem
increases communication skills
introduces new concepts like colors, shapes, numbers, letters
builds listening skills, memory, vocabulary, language skills
develops imagination and creativity
increases information about the world
develops individual interests
builds positive behaviors and attitudes

How in the world do you read to a baby?

It's easy and fun. Sit them in your lap or by your side so that they will feel close to you and comfortable. This makes reading even more enjoyable. Pick books that have simple pictures and bright or high contrast colors. Books with photographs of real things are great to start with. Make sure that the books are sturdy and can even handle being eaten! Start with short books for a short attention span - and never force reading. If they get restless before the end, let them go. Encourage them to pick the books to read as soon as they're ready. Keep books where they can reach them and play with them on their own. Read in front of your baby to set an example that you love reading. With small things like recipes, signs, instructions, read them them out loud to your baby. Whenever you're reading out loud, make it fun with different voices and facial expressions - your baby will love it.

As your children grow, keep reading aloud - and let them read to you. Older siblings should be encouraged to read to their baby sister or brother. Involve the whole family in reading out loud regularly - that is really fun!

Bring your baby to our Babies & Toddler Storytime (birth to age 3) every Tuesday at 10 am. When they get older, they can come to Children's Storytime (ages 3 to 5) every Wednesday at 10 am.

Children can go through a lot of books, as they have different interests and abilities as they grow. The best way to keep up is to come to the Library, where we can help you select books appropriate to their age. You can check out up to 15 books, which may last them for the two week checkout period.

REMEMBER
Reading aloud is the best present
you can give your baby and young child.

Natchez Teens Have a New Hangout!

2010-10-21T12:35:00.003-05:00

Calling all Natchez Teens ages 13 to 18.

Do we have a place for you!

The new Teen Zone is awesome. We want to provide a really fun, safe place for teens to hang out, meet new friends, and learn new things - while being around positive role models who want them to succeed.

The new room will be painted in bright, eye catching colors. We have soft, comfortable chairs, a new colorful carpet, stackable chairs for events, and stools for quiet conversation or for reading your favorite books. A 46 inch tv, a Wii console with games, a popcorn machine, and a Kareoke machine will be used for special programming throughout the year. A large storage locker is filled with board games and craft supplies that can be accessed anytime by asking a librarian for assistance. Check out the new teen magazines: Teen Vogue, GamePro, Spin, Mad Magazine, something for everyone! There will also be two new computers with internet access that will be exclusively for the teens. NO ADULTS ALLOWED!!

Come check it out! Join us Thursday, October 28 at 3:30 pm for our Open House. Bring your parents, invite your teachers and school librarians - this may be their one and only chance to step into the Teen Zone and see what the Armstrong Library has to offer. And be sure to bring all your friends.

The Teen Zone was made possible by funding under the Federal Library Services & Technology Act administered by the Mississippi Library Commission. Matching funds were provided by the Friends of the Library. At a time when libraries are struggling with cuts in funding, it would seem we always find a way to provide services to the public.

Click to see photo gallery of Teen Room Renovations.

It's Deja Vu All Over Again

2010-10-13T14:52:00.001-05:00

The Mayor and Board of Aldermen voted to cut the Library funding by $55,000. After all, the Library has those trust funds they can use. The Library Director told the Board that if they did that, it would jeapordize the Library's state funding, since state law requires local jurisdictions to maintain their level of funding in order to receive state funding. Also, only the interest of trust funds can be used for operating the Library - and they do not count as part of the local funding. Sound familiar? But this news wasn't from this year - it was from 2001. However, in 2001 there was a happier ending. The Board voted to reinstate the funds.

The Mayor and Board of Aldermen voted to increase taxes and part of the increase was for a dedicated millage for the Library. Of course, people came out in droves against a tax increase, but no one seemed to object to giving the Library more money. Faced with all this pressure, the Board votes to cut the tax increase. Guess what got cut? The Library, of course. This didn't happen this year either. It happened in 2000.

The Mayor and Board of Aldermen voted to increase taxes and part of the increase was for a dedicated millage for the Library. I know I'm repeating myself, but this time (2005) it actually happened! 2.575 mills was dedicated to the Library. This did not represent an increase in funds, but it meant the Library could predict its income based on the value of a mill and didn't have to beg the Board every year to fund it out of the General Fund. In good years, it would go up, and in bad years it would go down. This was a major goal for the new Library Director when she arrived in 2002.

As we all know, the City claims it reduced the millage last year (2009) when the value of a mill happened to go up and thus taxes would increase. They certainly didn't want the Library getting more money! However, there is nary a mention of this in the newspaper. In fact, in several articles, it references the last time taxes went up was when they dedicated millage to the Library. Plus, they just happened not to inform the Library. Interesting, don't you think?

PS While I was going through back issues of the Democrat searching for "library", I kept noticing all the positive things happening across the river. Of course, Concordia Parish Library got $875,944 in ad valorem taxes for a population of 19,060, whereas we got $255,000 for a population of 31,307 (2008 figures). What's wrong with this picture?

Concordia Parish: $45.96 per person for the library

Natchez/Adams County: $8.15 per person for the library

Borrow Practically Any Book You Want FREE

2010-10-07T12:59:00.000-05:00

Books Just Fly to You!

Have you ever gone to your Library looking for a certain book and found we don't have it? Do you belong to a book club and need extra copies of a title for your group? What about looking for that old favorite book that you haven't read in years? Thanks to the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service offered at your Library, your chances of getting the book you want is greatly increased.

How do you get a book through ILL? The easiest way is to come in your Library and ask. But if you want to know if something is available or if you have other questions, then email our Reference Librarian - or you can always call your Library at 601.445.8862.

How does it work? The Reference Librarian takes your request and begins her search through other public libraries within the state of Mississippi. If the book cannot be found there, then she will go to what is called the World Cat, which offers more search options and generally searches academic libraries and public libraries from all over the country. Chances are very good that she'll find your book.

And now it's a free service! We used to charge $2 to partially cover postage. Thanks to a grant received through the Mississippi Library Commission we can now offer the service free of charge!

You can go to our website to read our ILL policies, but here are a few important points:

You must have no fines on your library record.
We cannot borrow NEW books published within 6 months of the time of the request. Just like the us, most libraries prefer to save their new books for their own patrons.
We cannot get college text books and most genealogy materials.
Generally the loan period for ILL's is thirty days but not always, lending periods are up to the lending library.

So the next time you can't find the book you're looking for, stop in at your Library and let us help you.

Summary of Changes Due to Budget Cuts

2010-09-28T14:51:00.003-05:00

"Cutting libraries in a recession is like cutting hospitals in a plague."

Effective October 1, 2010 (the beginning of our fiscal year) the cuts imposed by the City go into effect. If you want to complain, contact the Mayor or your alderman. Click here for their names and contact information.

Less Staff. One staff member was let go. We were short staffed to begin with, so this means you may have to wait longer to get help. Please be patient with us.
Reduced Hours. Rather than closing on Saturday, we're opening later on Saturday and closing earlier on three days. New hours are listed here.
Increased fees. Overdue fines for books was raised from 10¢ to 15¢ a day. Copying and printing went from 15¢ to 25¢ a page.
Magazines Cancelled. About half our magazines will not be renewed, including American History, Antiques & Collecting, Create & Decorate, Education Digest, Essence, Familyfun, Fitness, Forbes, Jet, Kiplinger, Martha Stewart Living, Natural History, New Yorker, O: Oprah, Oxford American, People, Popular Mechanics, Prevention, Psychology Today, Real Simple, Road and Track, Saturday Evening Post, Southern Lady, Victoria, Woman's Day, Workbench/My Home My Style. If you want to help, a very nice affordable gesture would be to donate a year's subscription to one of these magazines. Email if you're interested.
No Online Databases. Ancestry Library Edition and World Book will not be renewed. The databases provided by the State through MAGNOLIA will still be available. Heritage Quest is provided by the Friends of the Library and will still be available.
Newspapers Cancelled. New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal will not be renewed. Fortunately, we received a grant (for one year only) to receive these online.
No New Equipment. Our public computers are eight years old and heavily used. If any need to be replaced, there will simply be one less computer.
No New DVDs. We were just beginning to transition from videos to DVDs. Fortunately, we just received a $3000 grant to buy new ones.
Charge for Using Meeting Rooms. Use of our meeting rooms used to be free. Now there is a charge of $15 for half day and $25 for all day.

Library Budget Cut by City of Natchez

2010-09-20T14:25:00.000-05:00

“Cutting Libraries in a recession is like cutting hospitals in a plague.” Well, the budget approved by our City leaders did just that. In 2005, the City placed the Library on a dedicated millage of 2.575 mills. When property reassessments in 2009 would have resulted in the Library – finally – after 11 years – receiving an increase in funding, the City leaders decided they Library should not have any increase in funding. Apparently, they believe the Library can operate in 2011 (and in 2010, as well – but I will address that later) with the same amount of funding as it did in 1998. THIRTEEN YEARS AGO! In 1998, we did not have any computers and the minimum wage was $5.15!

Unfortunately, we cannot operate the Library on the same level of funding as we did in 1998. This knowledge, and the realization that our City leaders think so little of the importance of your public library, have forced us to make some significant changes in the services we offer.

To begin with, we have had to let one library employee go. Being short staffed to begin with, this means you may have to wait in line a little longer to be assisted. Overdue fines for books (which have not been raised in about 15 years) will increase from 10¢ to 15¢ a day. Charges for printing and copying with increase from 15¢ to 25¢ per page. The charge for color printing will remain the same.

The biggest effect is a reduction in hours. Rather than eliminate the four hours we are open on Saturday, we chose to close one hour earlier on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. We will still be open on Thursday until 6. On Saturday, we will open an hour later, at 10:00 am. Therefore, beginning October 1, our hours are 9-5 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 9-6 Thursday and 10-1 Saturday.

So, we are cancelling about half of the magazine subscriptions (that were just renewed this summer!). Among the titles cancelled are: American History, Antiques & Collecting, Create & Decorate, Education Digest, Essence, Familyfun, Fitness, Forbes, Jet, Kiplinger, Martha Stewart Living, Natural History, New Yorker, O: Oprah, Oxford American, People, Popular Mechanics, Prevention, Psychology Today, Real Simple, Road & Track, Saturday Evening Post, Southern Lady, Victoria, Woman's Day, Workbench/My Home My Style. Additionally we will NOT renew in 2011 two very important and heavily used online databases, World Book and Ancestry Library Edition. World Book provided online access to a vast array of research titles for school children of all ages. Ancestry Library Edition is a genealogy database for use by researchers using the Library’s computers.

We have cancelled three newspapers, each very heavily read: USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times. Fortunately, we had written a grant to provide access to these newspapers online, but the grant is for one year only, so if funding is not restored, these will disappear completely next year.

Being fiscally responsible has apparently resulted in our budget cut. Not one time has the Library overspent its budget and had to go to the City to ask for more money. How many other City departments make that claim? This is truly a sad day for us all. Our eight-year old computers are used so heavily that I wonder what we will do when they finally give out. Replacement of dead computers is simply not an option with this budget. Our City leaders are not Library users and obviously do not feel adequately funding the Library is important. That message is up to us to convey to them. Here's a link to their information.

Library Funding

2010-09-17T15:56:00.000-05:00

As you may be aware, the City has slashed the Library's budget. We have not finalized how we will be coping with this unforeseen tragedy, but we will let you know as soon as it is determined. This process led us to look into the history of Library funding, and we found some interesting information. This may help you to understand why what the City did to our budget was so devastating.

Is the Library a part of the City government? Not really. In Mississippi, public libraries are independent government agencies that get most of their funding from local governments. We receive funds from the City of Natchez and Wilkinson County.

Why doesn't Adams County contribute to Library funding? There are several agencies that serve both City and County residents and are funded by both. However, as you may have noticed, the City and the County don't always get along. So in 1990, they decided to divide up funding responsibilities. In this agreement, the County agreed to be responsible for funding the Airport, and the City agreed to be responsible for funding the Library.

Doesn't the State provide funding? Several years ago, the State decided to require all public libraries to be run by professional librarians. However, many local governments (especially the smaller ones) complained that they couldn't afford to do that. So the State offered assistance. First, smaller counties were merged with larger ones, which is why we also manage the Wilkinson County libraries. Secondly, the State provides a grant to reimburse the cost of personnel salaries. However, in order to qualify for the grant, the local government must agree not to lower their funding level.

What is millage? Each year the City (and other local governments) determine the amount of property taxes taxpayers will pay, and they express that amount in millage. Millage is the amount per thousand that is used to calculate property tax. It's used instead of percentages, which is the amount per hundred. So, for example, a millage of 40 is the same as 4%. If your house is worth $100,000, you would pay $4,000 in taxes, unless you have a homestead exemption. Some states use percentages, but Mississippi uses millage - maybe because it confuses voters more.

What is dedicated millage? This is when a certain amount of a tax is "dedicated" to a certain purpose. For example, a local government might increase taxes by 3 mills and dedicate that amount of money solely for the purpose of funding their library. This is done because taxpayers usually object to their taxes being raised, but they may not if they know where the money is going. It also means that the beneficiary can depend on a stable source of income without having to always fight for their money.

In future articles, we'll discuss what happened to the Library's funding, and you'll find this information helpful in understanding why we are in such a crisis.

The Importance of Reading

2010-09-09T14:31:00.000-05:00

It is a well-known fact that when there were no televisions or computers, reading was a primary leisure activity. People would spend hours reading books. The tragedy is that, with time, people have lost their skill and passion to read, because there are many other exciting and thrilling options available, aside from books. And that is a shame because reading offers a productive approach to improving vocabulary and word power. It is advisable to indulge in at least half an hour of reading a day to keep abreast of the various styles of writing and new vocabulary.

It is observed that children and teenagers who love reading have comparatively higher IQs. They are more creative and do better in school and college. It is recommended that parents introduce the importance of reading to their children in the early years. Reading is said to significantly help in developing vocabulary, and reading aloud helps to build a strong emotional bond between parents and children. The children who start reading from an early age are observed to have good language skills, and they grasp the variances in phonics much better.

Reading helps in mental development and is known to stimulate the muscles of the eyes. Reading is an activity that involves greater levels of concentration and adds to the conversational skills of the reader. It is an indulgence that enhances one's knowledge consistently. The habit of reading also helps readers to decipher new words and phrases that they come across in everyday conversations. The habit can become a healthy addiction and adds to the information available on various topics. It helps us to stay in-touch with contemporary writers as well as those from the days of old and makes us sensitive to global issues.

Reading is a great stress reducer. You can't multitask when you read. So you are relaxed physically and mentally while reading - and it takes your mind off of everything else that may be bothering you.

So if you want to be brilliant, creative, verbally proficient, knowledgable, and relaxed - all you have to do is read - and it's free at your Library.

Recipe for a Great School Year

2010-08-26T13:45:00.000-05:00

The other morning, I was enjoying watching Chris (our cataloger) put up her new display in our foyer, and I thought it was worth sharing with our blog readers.

Recipe for a Great School Year:

Ingredients:
     4 cups hard work
     1 cup creativity
     2 cups fun and friendship
     1 cup communication
     1 cup enthusiasm
     1 cup cooperation

Directions:
Combine all ingredients. Enjoy!

Chris's displays are always so creative and original, and this one is no exception. Colorful and appealing, it looks like a handwritten recipe card.

The only thing I can add is: stir in large amounts of reading material from your Library. We can help you with the hard work, providing sources for research papers. The fun and all the rest we can help with by providing a wide selection of leisure reading.

A successful school year is the result of the whole family's participation. The family that reads together, succeeds together! Stir it up!

We invite you to come in and see our new display and enjoy all the services your Library provides.

Are Libraries Really Neccessary?

2010-08-19T13:04:00.000-05:00

If you pay any attention to the news, you know that state and local governments are suffering from serious budget problems. Many desperate politicians are drastically cutting funds for public libraries, causing cutbacks in hours and services. Some communities are losing their libraries altogether. Mississippi is no different. There was an article in many state newspapers this week discussing the cuts to state funding of libraries. Local governments are being asked to make up the difference, but most simply cannot afford it. All across the state and country, people are asking "Are libraries really necessary?"

After all, with the internet, do we really need books and libraries? First of all, not everyone has access to the internet, especially in poor, rural areas. Secondly, libraries are so much more than just books. Communities that cut their library budgets are only making matters worse. Libraries remain one of the best economic engines available and probably do more than any other government service to help people and communities survive hard times.

There is overwhelming data showing the value of libraries in a bad economy - library usage increases significantly during these times. Why? Because libraries provide needed services. When budgets are tight, people frequently quit buying books and subscribing to newspapers and magazines. So they come to the library to read them for free. (We even offer coffee for only $1 while reading that magazine.) Instead of paying for movies, people check them out for free at the library. When people lose their jobs, they come to the library for help with resumes and job searches - or to start a new business. Children can be entertained for free with books, storytime, and special children's computers. Free use of computers at libraries is very popular. Come into the library any time, and you'll see people using the computers.

There is no better place for research than a public library - which helps people with all manner of problems related to a poor economy. Learn how to do things yourself rather than hiring someone to do it for you. Find out how to avoid foreclosure or increase your credit score. Look for scholarships for school or training. Whatever you need to know, you can probably find the answer at your library.

So are libraries really necessary? You bet! Investing taxpayer money in a public library in a no brainer.

We Feel Like We Won the Lottery

2010-08-12T11:59:00.001-05:00

WOW! What a week! We found out that we have been awarded FIVE grants totaling $156,000. We are always applying for grants since we operate on a very tight budget, especially during these hard economic times. This week, we really lucked out.

HVAC Repairs - $136,000. If you use the Library, you know all the problems we have had with our antiquated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC). We knew there was federal stimulus money available for energy conservation, administered through the Mississippi Development Authority. The City of Natchez owns our building, but it could not apply for this particular grant because they had already applied (and received) one. Fortunately, Adams County agreed to apply for the grant on our behalf. We haven't even been officially notified yet, so we don’t know when the work will begin or how long it will take, but we will keep you updated. We are just thrilled to know we will soon be able to offer a comfortable environment to our patrons - not to mention our staff, computers, and books. (See the article in the Natchez Democrat.)

New Teen Room - $11,000. We are soon going to have the best Teen Room imaginable that may become the most popular place in town for local teenagers. Since more and more reference materials are becoming available online, we decided that we no longer need a room dedicated to reference materials. So that room will be transformed into the Teen Room, with new paint and cool furnishings. Books and other materials appropriate to teenagers will be shelved there, of course. There will also a TV that can be used to play WII games or watch movies, a computer, a craft area, and other enticements. For teens in our community, the Library will soon be equal to Fun! We hope for a grand opening in October.

Breaking News - $3,000 Right now the library subscribes to several print newspapers. Some popular out of town newspapers are either unavailable or arrive late. Most newspapers are also available online in a format that looks just like a regular newspaper. We are purchasing two special touch screen computers for the Dr Clifford Tillman Memorial Reading Room that will be for newspapers only. It may take some getting used to, but staff will be available to help and there are added benefits, such as accessing older issues and searching for certain topics. We will continue to subscribe to all print newspapers except the New York Times, which arrives a week late by mail and is costly. We will also be able to provide the Baton Rouge Advocate online, which was not available for delivery in our area.

New DVDs - $3,000 Video cassettes are outmoded now, so we have started ordering movies on DVD/Blue Ray. But it is expensive to build up a collection, and this grant will help us to get a jump start.

Time and Print Management Software - $3,000 We installed this software in the Armstrong Library, and it allows us to efficiently manage use and printing on our public computers. This grant will allow us to also provide this software to our branch libraries in Wilkinson County.

The last four grants are funded through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and administered by the Mississippi Library Commission.

More to Come We are currently seeking proposals to complete the exterior repairs and painting our building so desperately needs. So soon your Library will look pretty again!

Back to School

2010-08-05T11:35:00.000-05:00

Summer Library Perogram is over. We had fun with Andy the Ambulance, Shoney Bear, storytellers, and reading books - and more books.

Now it is time for school to begin. Students and teachers, do not forget your public library as your partner this school year.

Please contact us early so we can have materials ready and available.

Come join us for a successful school year and adventures with books at your public library.

Help with School Work Online

2010-07-30T09:39:00.000-05:00

It's that time again. Everybody is busy with back to school shopping, retraining the alarm clock to wake you up at 6 am, and dreading all the research papers that will be due all too soon.

Never fear! The Armstrong Library has been working all summer on building up our collection, so we can better help this year's students with their homework and research. Here are some helpful online resources for all students from elementary to college level.

Learning Express Library is an interactive online learning platform featuring over 770 practice tests, tutorials, and ebooks related to job search and workplace skills improvement, career certification and licensing exam preparation, college entrance and graduate school admissions exam preparation, GED exam preparation, and basic skills improvement in reading, writing, and math, for all ages. You'll get immediate scoring, complete answer explanations, and an individualized analysis of your results.

World Book Online is the premier online reference source, with thousands of articles, state of the art multimedia, editor reviewed Web sites, periodical content, and more. Plus, there are more than 1.3 million pages of primary source documents – books, documents, selections – fully integrated with the encyclopedia content. Research and teaching tools include timelines, citation builder, and saved research.

MAGNOLIA, provided courtesy of the Mississippi State Legislature, is the most extensive online research tool. Close to a hundred different databases can be searched for reliable information. It includes searches in magazines, newspapers, journals, business information, biographies, literary criticism, and much more.

New Online Reference Resources.This past summer we purchased new printed reference materials from Salem Press, which includes online access. So you have a choice of print or online.

All these online resources are currently available to our patrons and can be accessed using Library computers or on your home computer. (You need to call the Library first regarding how to do this from home.) Let us help you or your student make this a successful school year! We will be presenting an informational talk and demonstration on how to use our online resources this fall. Details coming soon.

New York Times Best Sellers

2010-07-20T12:00:00.000-05:00

Here's this week's best selling books, according to the New York Times, that we have available in your Library. We print this list every week - look for it next to the New Books Section.

FICTION

THE SEARCH, by Nora Roberts. The only survivor of a serial killer has found peace in the Pacific Northwest, but her life is shaken by the appearance of a new man and a copycat murderer.

THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST, by Stieg Larsson. The third volume of a trilogy about a Swedish hacker and a journalist. Excerpt

PRIVATE, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. The head of an investigation company pursues the murderer of his best friend’s wife.

SIZZLING SIXTEEN, by Janet Evanovich. The bounty hunter Stephanie Plum comes to the aid of a cousin with gambling debts.

THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. A young white woman and two black maids in 1960s ¬Mississippi.

THE PASSAGE, by Justin Cronin. More than a hundred years in the future, a small group resists the vampires who have taken over North America. Excerpt

FOREIGN INFLUENCE, by Brad Thor. The covert operative Scott Harvath joins a new spy agency and investigates a bombing in Rome that killed American students.

THE LION, by Nelson DeMille. John Corey, now a federal agent, pursues a Libyan terrorist.

THE ISLAND, by Elin Hilderbrand. A woman, her daughters and her sister take refuge from life’s complications on a tiny island near Nantucket, but their time there is far from quiet.

THE THOUSAND AUTUMNS OF JACOB DE ZOET, by David Mitchell. Forbidden love in Edo-era Japan. Excerpt

ICE COLD, by Tess Gerritsen. A group of friends are murdered when they take refuge in a remote abandoned village in Wyoming.

FAMILY TIES, by Danielle Steel. A woman who raised her deceased sister’s three children must juggle their needs, her business and the new man in her life.

DEAD IN THE FAMILY, by Charlaine Harris. Sookie Stackhouse is exhausted in the aftermath of a Fae war.

UNDEAD AND UNFINISHED, by MaryJanice Davidson. Betsy Taylor, a suburban vampire queen, makes a deal with the Devil that involves traveling to hell with her kid sister.

NONFICTION

OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell. Why some people succeed, from the author of “Blink.” Excerpt

SPOKEN FROM THE HEART, by Laura Bush. A memoir from the former first lady.
THE LAST STAND, by Nathaniel Philbrick. Custer, Sitting Bull and the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Excerpt

FIFTH AVENUE, 5 A.M., by Sam Wasson. The making of the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s" and its cultural influence.

THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS, by Rebecca Skloot. The the story of the woman whose cancer cells were cultured without her permission in 1951. Excerpt

BORN TO RUN, by Christopher McDougall. Secrets of distance running from a Mexican Indian tribe.

FREE Practice Tests and More

2010-07-14T14:17:00.002-05:00

You might have noticed public service announcements recently on Mississippi Public Television and Radio about Learn A Test from Learning Express Library. Learn A Test is a valuable service which has grown more comprehensive in scope, offering skill development at every academic level and beyond. Here are just a few of the services offered absolutely FREE, thanks to the Mississippi Library Commission.

Elementary and Middle School Level

Math Skills Improvement
Reading Skills Improvement
High School entrance exams preparation

High School Level

Math skills improvement
Reading comprehension skills improvement
Vocabulary and spelling skills improvement
Writing and grammar skills improvement
AP preparation (Advance Placement)
GED study guides and practice exams

College Level:

CLEP testing preparation
Graduate school entrance exams preparation
Math and reasoning skills improvement
Reading comprehension skills improvement
Vocabulary and spelling skills improvement
Writing and grammar skills improvement
Technical and career college skills

Careers:

Practice tests for careers in Electrical, Plumbing, Air Traffic Control, Military Aviation, and more
Job search and resume writing skills
Business writing

Skill Building for Adults:

Math and reasoning skills
Reading skills improvement
Writing and grammar skills improvement

Computer Skills

Adobe Flash and Illustrator courses
Adobe Photoshop courses
Corel WordPerfect courses
Microsoft Access, Excel, Outlook, and Powerpoint courses

All of this PLUS study guides and practice tests for virtually every standardized test out there. Many of the study guides are also available in Spanish. Recently, 24 eBooks have been added including titles to help prepare for careers in Civil Service, Education, Allied Healthcare, and more.

Learn A Test is a free service. To begin your journey, go to Learning Express Library and register. (There is also a link on our website - go to Practice Tests under Resources.) Your user name can be your library card number OR our library code (090) plus your phone number without the "1" or dashes. Then you will create your password. Once you are registered, you can choose what areas you would like to work on, and your work may be saved and returned to when you log in again. You work at your own pace, and correction and guidance is offered all along the way. If you encounter any difficulty logging in, call the Library for assistance (601.445.8862.)

Learn A Test can open up an unlimited world of learning and achievement!

Water Your Mind - Grownup Summer Fun

2010-06-02T12:29:00.001-05:00

Why should kids have all the fun making a splash at the Library this summer? We have some things in mind that should give grownups that great feeling of summer vacation reading.

Scrapbooking Group

If you've been curious about scrapbooking or even are a long time scrapbooker, join us on Saturday mornings from 10 am -12 noon for our summer scrapbooking group. If you're working on a project, bring it along. The Library also has some helpful books on scrapbooking and card making.

Book give-away

We're giving away some nice hardback new releases this summer as a reward for grownups reading. For each book read, enter a slip into a weekly drawing. We'll give away two books each week through July 15.

Book Review bulletin board

If you've recently read something you thought was particularly wonderful, we'd love to have you write a short review to post on our Water Your Mind bulletin board. Take a few minutes and read some of the reviews - you might discover a new author to love.

Have suggestions for other fun activities? Would you like to form a discussion group for mystery lovers? How about a rose growers group? Questions? Call your Library at 601 445 8862.

Teen Summer Library Program

2010-05-28T12:07:00.001-05:00

This year the Teen Summer Library program theme is Make Waves @ Your Library. This summer we are doing more than making waves and reading books. During the month of June teens who sign up for the program will have an opportunity to particpate in the designing of the new Teen Zone space. We will be meeting every Wednesday from June 9-30 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm. We will discuss paint colors, furniture choices, wii games , board games, books, and magazines. If you're a local teen in grades 7-12, you're invited to sign up and participate, and if you bring a friend you get an extra chance for the raffle.

If you're not into room design, have no fear. We will still be doing crafts, playing games, discussing the latest books, and raffling off prizes. On June 16, we will have a special guest from the County Extension Service to talk about healthy eating through hands on activities and of course, there will be FOOD!

So if this sounds like fun and you haven't signed up yet, call the library for more information.

New Teen Room

2010-05-17T13:13:00.003-05:00

It’s that time of year again – registration for the Summer Library Program is underway. The theme for this year’s program for children is Make a Splash – Read!

The Teen theme is Make Waves @ Your Library.

We are looking for a few good surfers to ride a really BIG wave – our new Teen Room! We have written a grant, which if funded, will furnish our room with all kinds of stuff: a Wii, games, a big-screen TV, comfy furniture, craft supplies, storage …. (the list goes on!). We hope to know by the end of this month if our grant (a Library Services and Technology Act grant administered through the Mississippi Library Commission) request is approved.

If our grant is funded, we'll need your help to design the new Teen room and to develop a new Teen program to go with it. We want this room to be a hangout for the teens of our community – for them to have a safe place to come, have fun, interact with other teens, study, and read – to find out that the Library is much more than a place to come when they have a school project to research or complete. We want this room to reflect the needs and wishes of our teens. What better way than to just ask? We have some ideas, but we want to know what the teens and the community think. Please email our Teen Librarian or call her at 601.445.8862 and let her know your ideas.

Check out the Teen section of our website for more information on the Teen Room and the Teen Summer Library Program.

Make a Splash-READ!

2010-05-13T09:56:00.001-05:00

Parents, are you looking for things for your children to do during the summer? Hurry on down to your Library and sign up for the FREE Summer Library Program. Our theme this year is Make a Splash –READ! . The children will explore the world of water through presentations, stories, songs, and other activities about oceans, rivers, lakes, pools, and the creatures that live there.

At the Armstrong Library in Natchez, children in grades 1 through 6 have their program on Tuesdays, June 8 through 29. There are two programs each day - one is 10 - 11:30 am, and the other is from 2 - 3:30 pm. PreK and Kindergarten children have their program on Wednesdays from 10 - 10:30.

In Wilkinson County, the program is on Tuesdays at the Centerville Library and Wednesdays at the Woodville Library - both from 2 - 3:30 pm.

Children who participate will maintain or improve their reading skills and enjoy a fun filled series of programs, which will help them develop the library habit. The goals of our program are to encourage our children to keep reading during the summer and to introduce them to the public library as a place for lifelong learning.

We want the children to be summer readers. The ability to read and enjoy reading is an important factor in the success of our children.

You can go to our website for more details and to download a registration form and agenda.

How Libraries Stack Up

2010-05-06T10:10:00.000-05:00

In the United States, we go to libraries to find jobs, create new careers and help grow our small businesses. We borrow books, magazines, music, and movies. We learn to use the latest technology. We get tools and information needed to reenter the workforce. We get our questions answered, engage in civic activities, meet with friends and co-workers, and improve our skills at one of the 16,600 U.S. public libraries. Every day our public libraries deliver millions of dollars in resources and support that meet the critical needs of our communities.

Here are a few ways that our public libraries stack up:

Every day 300,000 Americans get job seeking help at their public library.

Most public libraries provide free wireless Internet access for their users. Nearly 12,000 now offer free Wi-Fi. That's more than Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, or Borders.

2.8 million times every month business owners and employees use resources at public libraries to support their small businesses.

Library cards are about as prevalent as credit cards. Two-thirds of American's have a library card. For many young people, the first card in their wallet is a library card.

More libraries - 5,400 - offer technology training classes than there are computer training businesses in the U.S. Every day, 14,700 people attend free library computer classes, a retail value of $2.2 million. That's $629 million worth of computer classes annually (based on 286 business days per year).

Every day, Americans borrow 2.1 million DVDs from libraries, and we spend over $22 million for DVD rentals at outlets like Netflix and RedBox vending machines.

Americans turn to libraries when searching for new jobs. Both public libraries and One Stop Career Centers provide career counseling resources, resume assistance, and help in filling out online applications.

More public libraries offer free meeting rooms than there are conference centers, convention facilities, and auditoriums combined.

Every year, Americans visit the library more often then we go to the movies and six times more often than we attend live sporting events (includes professional and NACA football, baseball, basketball, and hockey).

U.S. public libraries circulate as many materials every day as FedEx ships packages worldwide.

Libraries are at the heart of our communities, a resource for people of any age to find what we need to help improve our quality of life.

Save some money - visit your Library!

Amazing Animal Facts

2010-04-28T16:01:00.001-05:00

A cat can run about 20 kilometers per hour (12 miles per hour) when it grows up. This one is going nowhere today - it is too lazy !.

Bears whose brown fur is tipped with lighter colored hairs are called grizzly bears . The smallest species of bears is called sun or Malayan bears. Male bears are called boars. Bears are native to the continents of North America, Asia, Europe, and South America. Alaskan brown bears, world's largest meat eating animals that live on land, can weigh as much as 1,700 pounds (771 kilograms)

No two zebras have stripes that are exactly alike. Zebras' enemies include hyenas, wild dogs, and lions. Male zebras are called stallions. Zebras usually travel in herds.

There are more than 50 different kinds of kangaroos. Kangaroos are native of Australia. A group of kangaroos is called a mob. Young kangaroos are called joeys.

How do reindeers survive in the extreme cold? Most animals don’t eat moss. It’s hard to digest, and it has little nutritional value. But reindeer fill up with lots of moss. Why? The moss contains a special chemical that helps reindeer keep their body fluids warm. When the reindeer make their yearly journey across the icy Arctic region, the chemical keeps them from freezing—much as antifreeze keeps a car from freezing up in winter.

A cheetah can run 76 kilometres per hour (46 miles per hour) - that's really fast! The fastest human beings runs only about 30 kilometres per hour (18 miles per hour). A cheetah does not roar like a lion - it purrs like a cat (meow).

The largest frog in the world is called Goliath frog. Frogs start their lives as eggs often laid in or near fresh water. Frogs live on all continents except Antarctica. Frogs belong to a group of animals called amphibians.

Up and running!

2010-04-22T12:00:00.001-05:00

Since the Library reopened March 29th, we have been thrilled with the response from patrons. Everyone who has walked in has just marveled at the openness and lightness of the space. Many have asked, "What did you do? This is amazing!" Really, the only new thing in the library is the carpeting - the open effect is simply a result of better use of the space. There are little seating areas that were created by spacing the bookshelves so that the windows are visible as one looks down the rows.

Removing the curtains has also opened up the space wonderfully. There will be some type of clear UV protection on the windows, but no curtains. Our surrounding views are stunning - and having them visually available has been a huge improvement.

Of course, we are far from finished. The Nonfiction Section is finally open, and our Geneaology Section is up and running again, although not totally complete yet. It also has a much improved layout which makes it easier to use. When the former reference room is finally cleared out, the new Teen Zone will take shape. We are planning new furnishings for the space with the help of a grant applied for through the Mississippi Library Commission. New furnishings are on order for the former periodicals room, the new Dr Clifford Tillman Memorial Reading Room, thanks to the many donations given in his name. The dedication is scheduled for 2 pm on Tuesday, May 11 during our Open House. We hope you'll stop by and see how nice your library is looking.
Here are the most recent pictures. Click on the arrow to replay the slide show, or click on any picture to go to the online album with captions. (If you're reading this on Facebook, you'll have to go to the original blog to see the pictures.)

Fun with Words and Letters

2010-04-15T14:26:00.002-05:00

1. The letters of the alphabet in order of their frequency of use in English are: ETAISONHRDLUCMFWYPGVBKJQXZ. This is useful knowledge for games like Wheel of Fortune, Hangman, etc.
2. Onomatopoeia is making words based on how the named thing sounds. The word for a dog's bark in Japanese is wan-wan. Spanish cats go guau.
An anagram (same letters rearranged differently) of the name Michael Jordan is Lo! Nice, hard jam!
You've probably been disgruntled at one time or another, but have you ever been gruntled? There are some words that either never had a positive form or their positive form faded from use. Here are some more: debunk, defenestrate, dejected, disconsolate, disheveled, dismayed, feckless, gormless, impetuous, impromptu, inane, incessant, inchoate, incognito, incommunicado, indomitable, ineffable, inept, inert, infernal, inhibited, insidious, insipid, insouciant, intact, invert, misgivings, misnomer, nonchalant, noncommittal, nondescript, nonpareil, nonplussed, unbeknownst, ungainly, unnerved, unswerving, untold, untoward. Some words that do have positive forms, though they are rarely encountered: disarray, disconcerting, immaculate, impeccable, inadvertent, incapacitated, incorrigible, inevitable, innocent, inscrutable, insensate, insufferable, interminable, reckless, unbridled, unflappable, unfurl, unkempt, unmitigated, unrequited, unruly, unthinkable, unwieldy.
What do the words cookie, cosmos, cuckoo, message, museum, quack, sausage, sequoia, squeaky, and wages have in common? They are all comprised of only the odd-numbered letters of the alphabet: a, c, e, g, and so on.
The full name of the city of Los Angeles is El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora La Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula.
In 1740, Justice of the Peace Henry Fielding, under the nom de plume Captain Hercules Vinegar, summoned poet laureate Colley Cibber to court for the murder of the English language.
The first letters of the months July through November, in order, spell the name Jason.
The word galaxy comes from the Greek word for milk.
Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.
The female name Vanessa is Greek for butterfly.
Aibohphobia is the term for the fear of palindromes - a word that is spelled the same way forward and backward. Go ahead, spell it backwards.
To foreign audiences, the title of the movie There's Something About Mary proved mystifying. So, country by country, the movie was renamed. In Poland, where blonde jokes are popular, the title became For the Love of a Blonde. In France, it was Mary at all Costs. In Thailand, it was My True Love Will Outstand all Outrageous Events.

Spring Cleaning at the Library

2010-04-08T11:07:00.004-05:00

Lots of people have stopped me to ask if we are finished, yet. The short answer is “No!” – but what they generally mean is, “Are you open, yet?” That answer is “Yes!” – but, again, with a clarification. Not all of our collections are ready and available. We still have some spring cleaning to do.

Nonfiction is one area we are giving special attention to. Our circulation statistics (check outs!) show we check out nearly four times the number of adult fiction titles than nonfiction. This, obviously, is an indication that the majority of our patrons prefer fiction. So, we are evaluating many of the items in the nonfiction area to see if we still need them. In library-lingo that means we are weeding our collection. Merriam-Webster defines weed(ing) as

“to clear of weeds, to free from something hurtful or offensive, to remove the less desirable portions of, to get rid of (something harmful or superfluous).”

When we weed, we are removing the less desirable portions of a collection. The criteria we use are standards. We check our database and find (1) the subject, (2) the publication date, (3) the last time the item was checked out, (4) the number of times an item was checked out, and (5) the condition of the item. Different subjects have differnt standards. For example, a title related to history would be considered very differently from a book with medical or scientific information.

Other collections that still need spring cleaning are Reference, Teen, and Genealogy. The Reference collection is currently being evaluated in the same manner as Nonfiction. The Teen area will be the last to be addressed as it will move into the former Reference Room, which is still full of books. An interesting aside to that room is that a friend of mine, who is a retired librarian, was in town last week. She came by to see how the library looked and was delighted to find that the Reference Room is going to be our new Teen Room. She had started her library career here under Miss Gralow and was here when the Armstrong Library was built. Apparently, that room was originally intended to be a Teen Room, but was, instead, designated for use as a Reference Room. How’s that for some trivia?

The Genealogy area is currently being used for storage of unused shelving. However, we hope to have that area cleaned up and that collection available for use by the end of next week. The Jersey Settlers are scheduled to meet here on April 24, so we have to have that area ready by then!

This project has been HUGE, but worth it. Our sore muscles have sore muscles, but we are very satisfied with the results. The building has a definite airiness and is welcoming now. All the comments we have received have been positive. We certainly appreciate all the patience our patrons have allowed with this project. It is never a good thing to be closed – not even for one week, much less two – but all aspects of the project conspired against us being able to reopen in a more timely manner. Thank you.

BTW – next week is the “official” National Library Week. We will have some activities, but we are waiting to hold OUR National Library Week and Open House when we have all the interior work completed. That includes all the collections in place and the furniture ordered for the Dr. Clifford Tillman Memorial Reading Room delivered. We expect our Open House will be held during the first or second week in May. Come by and see the changes – we hope you like what we’ve done!

A library in Indiana was undergoing renovations, which of course took longer than expected. To keep everyone in good spirits during the wait, they made this video. Check it out - it's hilarious.

Opening Day at the Library

2010-03-29T14:27:00.000-05:00

As promised, your Library is finally open again - after two hellacious weeks. Unfortunately, not all the sections are ready to be used.

Upstairs, the Meeting Room, hallway, and foyer are ready, so AARP can do taxes here this week. The US Census Bureau is also using the room to give tests to potential employees. The Children's Section is also ready for the little ones, and we'll have our regular storytimes this week. However, our very popular Genealogy Section is not ready yet and neither is the microfilm.

Downstairs, the Check In/Out and Information desk are set up. Most of the books in Fiction and Large Print are reshelved and ready for you to browse. Audios and Videos are also ready. The New Books are reshelved. And most importantly, all our downstairs Computers are set up and ready for patrons. The Dr T Memorial Reading Room is usable but the renovations are not complete. Reference and Biographies have not been reshelved, and the Teens Room is still full of books and unavailable.

It may seem like a lot is not ready yet, but we worked seven days a week for the two weeks we were closed and did the best we could. We will try to make the other sections available as soon as possible, but remember that we are working on it while we're open, so it may take a while. Please be patient - we want our Library back to normal as much as you do.

Everybody who has come in today says the Library looks beautiful - and we agree.

Here are the most recent pictures. Click on the arrow to replay the slide show, or click on any picture to go to the online album with captions. (If you're reading this on Facebook, you'll have to go to the original blog to see the pictures.)

We WILL Reopen on Monday

2010-03-26T16:11:00.000-05:00

We will reopen on Monday, March 29. However, not all the sections of the Library will be ready. We will be working over the weekend and will try to get as much done as possible. Look at the pictures at the end of this post. They were taken at 3:30 pm Friday. When you come in Monday, you can see how far we've come.

We're going to have new signage all over the Library. You can see some examples in the pictures. We ordered the frames, and I am making the inserts. Unfortunately, not all the frames have arrived yet, but we did put up the ones we had. That was my job today - sure beats reshelving books! The design comes from the catalog where we ordered the frames. The pictures are mostly of Library Staff. I had a really good time chasing down reluctant Staff and taking their pictures. They all felt they looked sweaty and grubby. However, I thought I made them all look pretty good. You can check them out yourself and see what you think.

This is the last post on Renovations before reopening, but I will be updating you on how the unfinished sections look as they are completed.

Here are the most recent pictures. Click on the arrow to replay the slide show, or click on any picture to go to the online album with captions. (If you're reading this on Facebook, you'll have to go to the original blog to see the pictures.)

Making Progress

2010-03-24T14:22:00.001-05:00

We are happy to announce that the workers are finished and gone! The only people here now are Library Staff and a few volunteers. We are busy cleaning, reshelving, putting bookcases together, and rearranging furniture, equipment, and collections.

We're feeling more confident that we'll really open on Monday, March 29 at 9 am. We really appreciate the patience of our patrons and apologize for the convenience. We're also grateful for the support of the Natchez Democrat for helping us to get the news out. If you missed them, here are the articles: March 5, March 16, March 21, March 22, and March 24. We also appreciate the help of the City Department of Public Works, which provided us with a trailor for storage and sent over every day a member of their staff accompanied by trustees to help us with the heavy lifting.

Here are the most recent pictures. Click on the arrow to replay the slide show, or click on any picture to go to the online album with captions. (If you're reading this on Facebook, you'll have to go to the original blog to see the pictures.)

Oh No! We Won't Be Open Til Monday

2010-03-23T15:54:00.000-05:00

I know this sounds like a broken record, but we have to postpone opening again! This time our scheduled opening is Monday, March 29. But you can depend on this one - I think.

Except for a few touch ups, the carpeting is finished - yeah! The baseboards are now installed, which means we can put all the bookcases in place. On the side of the Library that houses Fiction and Nonfiction, the bookcases are now all situated correctly - as they are in the back part of the Children's Section. Progress!

I work in the Business Office of the Library and am usually not allowed out of my glass cage to deal with books. (See pictures) But today I was helping to shelve the books in the Children's Section and developed a real appreciation for how time consuming that is. However, because of (or maybe in spite of) my help, Children's Fiction is completely reshelved. We also finished audio visual, but there aren't that many. It is very rewarding to finally finish one collection.

I have to feel sorry for those working downstairs. They started with Adult Fiction, which is far and away the largest collection - so they haven't had the experience of completing a collection. But once Fiction is complete, it will be downhill from there.

Wait, I take that back. Large Print is complete. It has been moved. It is now in between Fiction and Non Fiction. While waiting for the rest of the shelves in that area to be put in place, the Staff was able to reshelve Large Print.

If you had a book due at some point while we were closed, don't worry about it. There will be NO fines charged all next week - no matter when the book was due.

You may have noticed that our book drop has not been open. That is because we have no way to process any books, since none of the computers are available. Plus, we were afraid books in the book drop would get mixed up with other books or get lost altogether. So just hang onto your books and bring them in any time next week.

Here are the most recent pictures. Click on the arrow to replay the slide show, or click on any picture to go to the online album with captions. (If you're reading this on Facebook, you'll have to go to the original blog to see the pictures.)

It's Monday and We're Still Closed

2010-03-22T11:10:00.001-05:00

Today was the day we originally planned on opening. Ha! If you look at the pictures, you'll see why that wasn't possible. But we are bound and determined to be open Wednesday, although we definitely won't be anywhere near to being finished. What a project this has been!

I was the lucky one and got to stay home for the weekend, but everybody else was here on Saturday and Sunday. It is going to take a long time to get all the books back where they belong, because after tomorrow, the work will have to go on while we're open to the public.

We are taking this opportunity to do some serious "weeding". That is Libraryspeak for removing outdated and unused books. Usually, weeding is a very methodical process. But there is no time for the methodology in this chaos. So once this is over, you might find some very good deals in the Friends of the Library twice monthly Book Sales.

The day we are opening is a Wednesday - and that's the day AARP is here doing taxes. We are hoping their room will be available. If you were planning on coming, check back here tomorrow for our final decision. It will definitely be held - but it might be moved.

Wednesday is also Children's Storytime, but that is definitely being canceled. In fact, all our Children's Librarians will be in Jackson that day in a workshop preparing for the Summer Library Program. When it rains, it pours!

We invite you all to come by on Wednesday, so you can see how pretty your Library is going to look - even if it is not quite finished yet.

Here are the most recent pictures. Click on the arrow to replay the slide show, or click on any picture to go to the online album with captions. (If you're reading this on Facebook, you'll have to go to the original blog to see the pictures.)

Thank Goodness It's Friday

2010-03-19T12:19:00.002-05:00

Of course, work will continue over the weekend in our frantic effort to get open again. Still, it's nice to have the week over.

Library Staff is back at work again. This morning they cleaned and arranged the shelves in the Fiction and Nonfiction Sections. The carpeting is laid, but the baseboards still need to be put up. For reasons that totally escape us, the work crew will not put up the baseboards until they finish all the carpeting. That means we can't put bookcases against the wall. Our Staff will start replacing books, but it's very difficult when you don't have all the shelves in place. Just typical of this whole experience.

The whole idea was to carpet one section at a time. We would pack up and clean out a section, and the work crew would move in and complete it. Then we could go to the completed section and put it back together. Of course, we completed packing up the entire Library before the crew even finished carpeting the first section. Now that we've found out the baseboards won't be in until the end, it sort of messes up the whole system even further.

There is one part of this project that has been great. The Mississippi Library Commission has sent three consultants on Library design and layout to work with us during this process, and they have been great. Not only did they do our layout, but they have helped us with all the dirty work as well. Plus, they're just a lot of fun to be around.

And the Library Staff have been real troopers. Although they enjoyed the unexpected two days off, it also means they'll be working over the weekend. When we finally open again, you may find the Staff is a little bleary eyed and suffering from multiple muscle aches and pains.

Here is a slideshow of the pictures from today. Click on any picture to go to the online album with captions. (If you're reading this on Facebook, you'll have to go to the original blog to see the pictures.)

Trials and Tribulations

2010-03-18T11:41:00.000-05:00

As many of you know. AARP is at the Library all day every Wednesday doing taxes. Originally we planned on letting them come even though we were closed, since they cannot afford to miss a day. Then we decided it was just too crazy here - and we needed the Meeting Room to store books. Fortunately, we have some very nice neighbors. The Presbyterian Church Child Care Center is right next door, and it had a spare room and a wireless internet connection. So we were able to send everyone over there.

That was the good news - and it was downhill from there. The Fiction and Nonfiction Sections were supposed to be complete by the end of the day Tuesday, so Library staff could start first thing Wednesday replacing books on the shelves. However, it was not close to being finished. So most of the Library staff got the day off on Wednesday, since there was nothing they could do. They deserved it - since they'd been doing constant phyical labor for days.

Most of the Library staff were told to stay home again today, since that section still wasn't finished. That was good news for the staff, but bad news for the Library. It will be Friday before books can even begin to be replaced - and it will take several days to complete the reshelving. What that means is that there is no way we'll be able to open on Monday, as planned.

Our new target date for opening in Wednesday, March 24. However, we will not have full services. We will be open for AARP tax services, and we hope to have internet service. After that, we'll provide whatever we can - but expect limited service at least through the end of the week.

A word of warning: the Library is filthy - the dust that was under the old carpeting is all over the place. It will probably take a while to finally clean it all up.

Once this is all over, I know we're all going to enjoy our renovated Library - so hang in there.

The latest set of pictures are below. Click on any picture to go to the online photos with captions. (If you're reading this on Facebook, you'll have to go to the original blog post to see the pictures.)

Our Library is a Mess

2010-03-16T14:11:00.002-05:00

What were we thinking? This is such an undertaking - and nothing goes smoothly, not even lunch. We sent out for pizza. When it hadn't arrived in an hour, we called back. They lost our order, so we tried again. After another hour, it finally arrived. When Susan finally arrived in the lunch area, there was only one piece left. The workers were really starving! However, the pizza guy forgot his phone, and when he came to get it, he brought Susan another pizza - for free.

The most interesting thing to me was watching the bookshelves get moved. Those things are gigantic - check the pictures below. The workers attached wheels to a bunch of short 2X4s. Next they tilted and lifted the bookcase back and slid the wheels underneath. Then the 2X4s had to be centered under the bookcase. Finally, they screwed long 2x4s along each side of the bookcase to hold it steady and keep the bookcase from falling off. Then they rolled the bookcases to the other side of the Library. This all took at least 30 minutes. Then they moved on to the next book case. They'll have to go through the same process when they move them back.

Meanwhile, Library staff was working a few shelves ahead of the movers - packing and organizing all the books. The books had to be stored in rooms that weren't being carpeted - or in the trailer behind the library.

At some point, it was discovered that the area we thought was being carpeted was not what the city ordered. Panic! The area where all the fiction and nonfiction books were shelved - the area where the workers were busily moving shelves - had tiles, not carpeting. We thought the carpeting would extend into that area. But the City only bid out to replace existing carpeting. We had to carpet that area now that it was all torn up. Who knows how it will be paid for. We'll worry about that tomorrow.

We took this opportunity to put a fresh coat of paint on most walls, clean all the windows, and launder the curtains. It's going to look really nice - if we survive.

As I'm writing this, Library staff have packed everything downstairs. All the furniture has been moved to one side, and the carpeting has begun. There is an army of people up here on the second floor, starting the whole process again. The good news is that the bookcases are not as tall up here.

Did you see the nice article in the Democrat? Check it out - there were some good pictures.

Here's our new set of pictures. Click on any picture to go to the online album with captions, If you're reading this on Facebook, you'll have to go to the original blog to see them.

The Renovations Begin

2010-03-15T11:43:00.002-05:00

If you came to the Library Saturday, you might have wondered what was going on. Staff was already hard at work packing up. In order to remove the old Gustav damaged carpeting and replace it with new carpeting, everything has to be packed up and moved out of the way. This is a major undertaking, to say the least.

We have 50,000 books to pack and move - and they must be kept in order and labeled, so we can put them back in the right place. Then those very heavy bookcases must be moved. Plus we have tons of electronic equipment to be disconnected and put away - and bunches of desks, tables, and chairs. It's quite overwhelming!

The work began in earnest the minute the Library closed at 1 pm on Saturday and continued all day Sunday. The pictures below show the progress made so far. I'll try to update the blog each day so you can keep up. (I get to stay in my office and do office work, while the others slave away. Aren't I lucky?)

Click on any picture to go to the online album with captions.

We're Closing for Our New Look

2010-03-10T14:08:00.000-06:00

Word certainly has gotten around that we will be closed next week for installation of new carpeting throughout the Library. I've had many people ask me about what we will be doing. Here are a few of the typical questions I've heard:

Will you have the week off? Well, the short answer to that is, no. We will all be participating in the packing, moving and replacing of all the books, furniture and shelving! We will have help, however. Fortunately we do not have to do it all.

What will you be doing? We will take this opportunity to rearrange and spruce up much of the Library. Following the carpet installation, we will make good use of the generous donations received in memory of Dr. Clifford Tillman. These donations will be matched with money from the Friends and will be used to refurbish our Periodicals room. We are looking to make the room a relaxing, well-appointed space for patrons and visitors to sit comfortably, read newspapers and magazines, use their laptops or just relax in quiet surroundings.

Many changes have occurred in reference collections in recent years. So many more online resources are available that Reference Departments have become smaller. On the other hand, our Young Adult (teen) section has grown tremendously in the last few years. So, what had been our Reference Room will now be our Teen Zone, and a reduced reference collection will be available in the old Large Print area. Some of the reference items will be moved to the non-fiction area and will be available for checking out.

We have had many requests for movies on DVD, and have received donations of DVD's. These donations will be added to our video collection. We will be happy to accept donations of DVD's after we reopen to expand this section.

Upstairs, you will find changes, as well. Our Children's department will be rearranged to be more welcoming and fun for our young readers. The Genealogy department will also undergo a “face-lift.” Come “check” us out!

Can I return my books? Yes, but… We would prefer if you would wait until we reopen to return your materials. Nothing will be due during the week we are closed. Eligible items may be renewed online, and you may leave a voice mail to request a renewal. Please leave a telephone number where you may be reached in case the items cannot be renewed. Materials may be returned in our drop box, if necessary. However, we will be boxing up and moving over 50,000 items, so unless you absolutely have to get your items in, please wait until we reopen to return them!

Thanks! We appreciate all the support and enthusiasm of our patrons who have expressed interest in these improvements and even offered to volunteer their time. We hope you will all be pleased with our new look and visit us often. Our intention is always to provide the best service possible. We think these changes will help us do just that! Thank you.

Luck of the Irish

2010-03-03T13:29:00.001-06:00

March 17 is highlighted on my calender with a big green marker to remind myself it will be St Patrick's Day. It's my day to show off my heritage, to wear green, go to the parade in town, and search out a lucky shamrock - or even better catch a leprechaun and make him hand over that pot o' gold.

Did you know St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was not actually Irish? He was born on this day around the year 385 somewhere near Dumbarton, Scotland. When he was sixteen Patrick was captured by Irish raiders looking for slaves to work their farms. Six years later, he ran away, boarded a ship, and headed to Europe where he finished his education and had a vision from God telling him to return to Ireland and convert the pagans to Christianity. St Patrick is best known for ordering all the snakes to leave Ireland, an event that, according to legend occured on the mountain known as Croagh Patrick. On the last day in July every year, hundreds of pilgrims gather there to commemorate their patron saint. Here are some other interesting facts about the holiday:

Each year thousands of Irish Americans gather with their loved ones on St Patrick's Day to share a traditional meal of corned beef and cabbage. Though cabbage has long been an Irish food, corned beef only began to be associated with St Patrick's Day at the turn of the century. Irish immigrants living in New York City's Lower East Side substituted corned beef for their traditional dish of Irish bacon to save money.
Irish soda bread gets its name and distinctive character from the use of baking soda rather than yeast as a leavening agent.
Lime green chrysanthemums are often requested for St Patrick's Day parades and celebrations.
The first St Patrick's Day parade took place in the United States on March 17, 1762, when Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City.
More than 100 St Patrick's Day parades are held across the nation. New York City and Boston are home to the largest celebrations.
At the annual New York City parade, participants march up Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 86th Street. More than 150,000 people take part in the event which does not allow cars or floats.
The shamrock, which is also called the "seamroy" by the Celts, was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland, because it symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the seventeenth century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish nationalism. As the English began to seize Irish land and make laws against the use of Irish language and the practice of Catholicism, many Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage and their displeasure with English rule.
It has long been told that during his time in Ireland, St. Patrick once stood on a hilltop with a wooden staff by his side and banished all the snakes from Ireland. In fact, the island nation was never home to any snakes. The "banishing of snakes" was really a metaphor for the eradication of pagan ideology from Ireland and the triumph of Christianity. Within 200 years of Patrick's arrival, Ireland was completely Christianized.
Belief in leprechauns probably stems from Celtic belief in fairies, tiny men and women who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil. In Celtic folktales, leprechauns were cranky souls responsible for mending the shoes of the other fairies. Though only minor figures in Celtic folklore the leprechauns were known for their trickery which they often used to protect their fabled "pot of gold".
Leprecauns had nothing to do with St Patrick or the celebration of St Patrick's Day. In 1959 Walt Disney released a film called Darby O'Gill and the Little People which introduced America to a very different sort of leprecaun. This cheerful, friendly leprechaun is a purely American invention, but quickly evolved into an easily recognizable symbol of both St Patrick's Day and Ireland in general.

St Patrick's Day is the one holiday where everybody can be Irish for the day. Folks run around with "Kiss Me I'm Irish" buttons, and I know a few of my friends who dye their beards green. Big cities celebrate by turning their rivers and harbors green (see the picture of Chicago). Local pubs serve green beer and hold Oh Danny Boy singing contests. All in all, it is a day of fun, and a day to reflect on one man's commitment to his faith.

St Patrick's Day is only two weeks away. For some fun activities for the family check out this website.

Black History Month

2010-02-18T09:34:00.001-06:00

Historian Carter Woodson is given credit for starting Black History Month in 1926. He decided that black people needed to be honored for their contributions to the United States. He came up with Black History Week, which was the second week in February. Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln's birthdays were in February, and he believed both of these men had a major impact on the black population. Black History Week eventually evolved into what is now Black History Month, celebrated in February each year.

We celebrate the many contributions of African Americans and remember the legacy of great Americans like Dr Martin Luther King Jr, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Benjamin Banneker, Mary McLeod Bethune, Sojourner Truth, and many more. We also honor Barack Obama, the first black President of the United States of America.

Are you working on a report or a biography for Black History Month? Do you need to get information and pictures? Come to your Library today! We have books and information to help you with your report. We will be happy to assist you. In the meantime, here are some sites to visit.

The Black Collegian Online The career site for students of color

Biography A&E Television's Biography site

The History Channel

WHO DAT? NO ONE! Part II

2010-02-09T14:54:00.000-06:00

Continuing our questions that Reference Librarians might have to answer about the Super Bowl in the future.

How many people watched the Super Bowl:
106.5 million people, which broke the previous record for a televised event in the US, held by the last episode of MASH.

How much were the commercials than ran on the Super Bowl?
$2.5 - $3 million per 30 seconds. There were 47 minutes 50 seconds of commercials during the event, so CBS earned a big chunk of change.

Which was the most popular commercial?
Winners will be posted on February 17. In the meantime, you can go there and see them all and vote for your favorites. This blogger's favorite was Google's - the first time Google advertised on TV.

What were some of the most searched for Superbowl items?
Team: Saints
Player: Peyton Manning, followed closely by Drew Brees
Coach: Sean Payton
Recipes: buffalo chicken dip, guacamole, 7 layer dip, and pigs in a blanket
Advertisers: Dockers and Dennys - they used free in their ads

WHO DAT? NO ONE! Part I

2010-02-08T13:14:00.001-06:00

Years from now Reference Librarians will be answering 7 February 2010 to questions about when the Who Dat Nation became the most powerful nation in the world. Which got us to thinking about what other questions might arise regarding yesterday's awesome Super Bowl victory by the New Orleans Saints. Here are a few we came up with. Which ones would you add?

How many extra copies of the New Orleans Times Picayune were printed on Monday, February 8, 2010?
193,000

Where was the Super Bowl played?
Officially, it's South Florida, but the stadium (Sun Life Stadium) was in Miami. The press headquarters were in nearby Fort Lauderdale.

What did it cost South Florida taxpayers to host the Superbowl?
About $6 million.

How many representatives of the media had credentials?
More than 4,500 members fromm 22 different countries.

Who was the half time entertainment?
The Who - should have been The Who Dat. Younger fans said The What?

What two Saints players had Indiana roots.
Saints quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees play college foorball at Purdue, which is in Indiana. Saints cornerback Tracy Porter - who made the game clinching interception and ran back 74 yards for a touchdown - played at the University of Indiana. Ouch!

What did losing quarterback Peyton Manning say to winning quarterback Drew Brees during the midfield handshake after the game?
Nothing. Manning went straight to the locker room without congratulating Brees.

Which Super Bowl records were broken?
Highest completion percentage, career: 82.1 - Drew Brees, Saints
Most completions in a game, both teams: 63 - Saints (32) and Colts (31)
Most field goals 40 and over: 3 - Garrett Hartley, Saints

Which Super Bowl records were tied?
Largest deficit overcome by a winning team: 0 - 10 Saints
Most completions in a game: 32 - Drew Brees, Saints
Most two point conversions in a game: 1 - Lance Moore,
Most first downs passing, game: 32 - Saints and Colts (16 each)
Fewest rushing attempts, game, both teams: 37 - Saints (18) and Colts (19)
Most yards, touchdown drives: 96, Colts
Most completions, game, team: 32 - Saints
Fewest times sacked, game, team: 0 - Colts
Fewest times sacked, game, both teams: 1 - Saints (1) and Colts (o)
Fewest fumbles, game, both teams: 0 Saints vs Colts
Fewest turnovers, game, team: 0 - Saints

What was the most surprising/pivotal/memorable play of the game?
Coach Sean Payton called an onsides kick by punter Thomas Morstead to start the second half - and it succeeded when safety Chris Reis recovered it.

How much were the tickets to the Super Bowl?
That depended on who was selling them, but the cheapest tickets were $1800 and went up to around $5000 for the good seats.

What was the best column prior to the game - according to your blogger?
Dear Miami: Get Ready for the Who Dat Nation coming for the Superbowl

This will be a work in progress. After all, I have to do some real work today.

Interesting People & Strange Facts

2010-02-03T10:04:00.000-06:00

There are so many web sites with interesting facts and trivia. The following facts and trivia came from this site. I find trivia like this very fascinating.

Interesting facts about Mark Twain

His real name is Samuel Langhorne Clemens. Twain adopted his pen name in 1863 in Nevada. While he was a teenager, Mark Twain worked as an amateur printer. Mark Twain published more than 30 books throughout his career. Twain was a steamboat pilot apprentice on the Mississippi River and eventually earned his pilot’s license. Twain was very interested in parapsychology. He often made bad investments, which resulted in serious financial problems. Twain served during the American Civil War. Mark Twain is famous for his novels Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. William Faulkner called him “the father of American literature” . Twain had four children: Jean, Susy, Langdon and Clara Clemens.

Interesting facts about Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison was partially deaf. He developed this problem in his childhood days. He built his own science laboratory at the age of 10. This was built in the basement of his home. Edison’s First Patented Invention was a flop. In 1910 he invented the Edison battery, which used an alkaline electrolyte. Edison was considered one of the most prolific inventors of his time, holding a record 1,093 patents in his name. Besides the light bulb, he invented these things to go along with it: the parallel circuit, a durable light bulb, an improved dynamo, the underground conductor network, the devices for maintaining constant voltage, safety fuses and insulating materials, and light sockets with on off switches. Edison had five dots tattooed on his left forearm. No one knew what the dots meant. The inventor of the electric light was not Thomas Edison. In 1802, 77 years before Edison perfected a filament for the incandescent lamp, Davy caused a platinum wire to glow by passing an electric current through it.

Interesting facts about Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud was born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1856. Sigmund Freud is the founder of the science of psychology . His book The Interpretation of Dreams began the complex theory of Psychoanalysis. Sigmund Freud had a morbid fear of ferns. Sigmund Freud was deathly afraid of the number 62 and would not book a room in any hotel with more than 62 rooms in case he was allotted that particular room! Diagnosed with cancer in 1923 due to frequent cigar smoking, Freud underwent over 30 surgeries over the next 16 years. Freud had a penchant for rejecting people who did not totally agree with him. In 1930, Freud received the Goethe Prize in appreciation of his contribution to psychology and to German literary culture. He was 83 years old when he asked his doctor to end his life, and died of a physician-assisted morphine overdose in London on September 23, 1939.

Interesting facts about birthdays

Your birthday is a very special day. Only eighteen million other people share it (unless you were born on February 29, in which case you really are special since only 4.5 million people have your birthday). The custom of lighting candles originated with people believing that the gods lived in the sky and by lighting candles and torches they were sending a signal or prayer to the gods so they they could be answered. When you blow out the candles and make a wish this is another way of sending a signal and a message. The earliest birthday parties in history were held because it was feared that evil spirits were attracted to people on their birthdays.

Interesting facts about the Barbie Doll

Barbie is named after the daughter of the original inventor, Barbara. The first Barbie dolls were made in Japan. On the bottom of the right foot they are marked Made In Japan. The Barbie doll was introduced in Europe in 1961. Every second, two Barbie dolls are sold somewhere in the world. The first Black, and Hispanic Barbie dolls were introduced in 1980. Barbie has appeared in over 40 various nationalities. The first Barbie doll sold for $3. Barbie has had over 80 careers. The first was as a teenage fashion model. Only stamp collecting is more popular in the U.S. than doll collecting. Barbie has over 40 pets. Among them are cats, dogs, horses, a panda, a lion cub, and a zebra. Barbie is eleven and one half inches tall.

Other uses for toothpaste

Toothpaste contains calcium, antimicrobial agents that inhibits growth of bacteria and sodium fluoride.That is why it cleans the teeth and gets rid of toothache, filing teeth, leaving the teeth white, cleaned and disinfected. But few know that toothpaste, because its composition, can be used for other purposes. In case of burns, herpes, or scratches, you can apply a little toothpaste on the affected area at regular intervals and you will quickly get rid of troubles. Toothpaste can remove onion smell. If you spent a full day in the kitchen to cook and the smell of onions has not disappeared even after several washes with soap, try to wash your hands with toothpaste and you get rid of odor. Spots on the clothes have a fearsome enemy in toothpaste too. Rub the affected area of the coat a few minutes and rinse with water. Silver jewels which are blackened by time can be cleaned with a toothbrush and paste.