Library to open stronger than ever before
KCaulder@CalhounTimes.com
The Calhoun-Gordon County Library partially reopened its doors on Tuesday, March 3, after closing in early December to undergo renovations and updates. An end date for that work has not yet been set, but Branch Manager Nyala Edwards said the end is in sight.
“There is still work to be done getting all of the books back in place, finding new homes for some of our old furniture pieces and cleaning up some of our public spaces,” Edwards said, noting that some of the more formal renovations are still underway as well. “I can’t tell you yet exactly when that sort of work will be finished.”
The library closed on Dec. 10 to update computer areas, add a new public seating space, private study rooms, additional shelving and a permanent Friends of the Library book sale shelf from which patrons will be able to purchase “Friends of” books regularly.
Calhoun-Gordon County Library Assistant Director Janet Eberhart also said a new history and special collections area will be a big change from what the library currently has.
“They will be taking existing space on the property and completely renovating it to focus on local history, special collections and genealogy,” Eberhart said. “A lot of things are being updated. If you’ve been in the library, you can already see some of the changes being made. It’s all very exciting.”
Until the library officially reopens, guests will only be able to access limited services. These, according to Edwards, include picking up items placed on hold, requesting information from the PINES catalog and registering for a library card. Entrance into the building will only be allowed as far as the circulation desk.
“Our regional library has been working diligently to reopen the library as soon as it is feasible. A delay of furnishings delivery along with the need to ensure our patrons’ safety necessitates the decision to wait for the library’s opening in its entirety,” Edwards said.
The furnishings currently being waited on include new shelving for books, some seating for public areas in the adult and teen sections of the library, and some new computers to be installed in the history room, which will be an entirely new addition to the library once it reopens in full.
Betsy Powell, who focuses much of her work at the library on IT and genealogy, said previously that the new history room is one of the things she is most looking forward to. The updated equipment and new material will make things significantly easier, she said, for those looking to learn about either local or family history.
“The collection will be larger, and there will be more microfilm available. The New Echota Historic Site museum is providing us with new microfilm that they have. We’re also adding to the collection from donations we’ve received in the past,” Powell said. “There will still be old obituaries that were cut up and put on cards, but we’ll also have access to three computers as well as a digital microfilm reader instead of just the old fashioned one. That helps because you will be able to read the entire page of a newspaper instead of just a single section at a time.”
DBell@CalhounTimes.com
Moses, a year-and-a-halfold Canary Mastiff, was a bit unsure of his surroundings during a recent visit to the county fire station on Public Safety Drive, but he enjoyed the head scratches and bully rubs even if he wasn’t fond of the smell of smoke from a lingering training exercise or the look of firefighters laden with gear.
“That’s why we are doing what we’re doing,” said Joe O’Neal, Moses’ owner.
Moses was recently certified as a Canine Good Citizen through the American Kennel Club, and the folks who trained him at Whispering Oaks in Murrayville told the O’Neals that Moses would make an excellent therapy dog, so now the gentle giant is in the process of earning that certification as well.
Melody O’Neal said they have been taking the dog to places like Home Depot, Tractor Supply, pet stores and local parks since he was a puppy, and people always respond with delight at the sight of the big, brindled animal. Moses has also accompanied Joe to his physical therapy sessions before, and the staff always love to take the dog around to visit other patients.
“Watching other people enjoy him is therapy for me,” said Joe, who noted that he has suffered from back and hip issues for some time and dealt with depression as a side effect of his injuries.
Moses has been such a big help to him, he said, that he wanted to share his furry friend with other people who could benefit from an interaction with the dog. Melody noted the improvement in her husband’s life has been important.
“Doing things with Moses is a huge distraction, so it helps him a lot,” she said.
She said Moses has a knack for reading body language, so when folks approach him excitedly he responds in kind. Similarly, those who are more cautious will notice Moses reflects that body language too.
“It’s almost like he can see into you,” Melody said.
She shared the story of one recent encounter during which an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his on own dog approached Moses and got into the floor with her big dog.
MOSES,
She said the man and dog spent a good deal of time just gently interacting, but she could tell the impact Moses reaction was having on the man.
“I almost cried because it was such an emotional moment for him,” said Melody.
The visit to the fire station was part of Moses’ training program, as his family works to expose him to different environments and takes him on different adventures. Eventually, once
he becomes a full fledged therapy dog, he will visit hospitals, senior care centers and other places where a little love from a dog can go a long way to brighten someone’s day.
A sick pup
When Moses was a younger pup, he had a bad reaction to some de-wormer medication. The O’Neals adopted Moses after their previous farm dog passed away, but soon after receiving the medication, they knew something was wrong.
Moses went on to spend four days in intensive care,
and veterinarians thought the outlook was pretty bleak, but the dog recovered.
“And he’s been my bud ever since,” said Joe.
Later though, as Moses started to get a bit older, the O’Neals noticed he wasn’t acting much like himself anymore. He began to seem unsure of himself, almost skittish, and his tail rarely wagged. No one could seem to figure out the cause, and the vet suggested it could be a side effect from Moses’ near-death experience earlier in life, but the O’Neals learned they could send Moses for training to help restore his confidence.
That training is what resulted
in his certification as a Canine Good Citizen through the American Kennel Club, and it was at his trainer’s suggestion that the O’Neals decided to begin training him to become a therapy dog.
“When he got back from training his tail was wagging so much he was knocking things of tables. He came back super confident,” Melody said.
Already working
The folks at Whispering Oaks, where Moses received his Good Citizen training, told the O’Neals that Moses
is a special dog with a unique personality.
“Moses’ personality is not typical. He has this unique ability to bring a smile to everyone. He truly is a gentle giant and simply a miracle of God,” one trainer and evaluator wrote.
The O’Neals say that description is on the nose. In addition to accompanying Joe to physical therapy sessions and visiting patients, Moses has also been a source of comfort for Joe’s own parents, who recently lost their home, three pets and most of their belongings in a house fire.
“Moses has been a source of comfort and joy for them
during this difficult time. Moses is full of love and ready to share it with anyone he meets,” Joe said.
The O’Neals have been working to expose Moses to the various environments to which he must become accustomed as part of his training, and they encourage people who see them out to approach and say hello to their four-legged family member.
“If you see him out and about, feel free to come up and interact with him. You will leave with a smile on your face,” said Joe.
To learn more about Moses, visit his “Moses’ Adventures” Facebook page.