City and school librarians working together for children

Things have been even busier than usual at the library the past week or two. Kristi Towe, Library Board chair, and I attended a meeting on Jan. 30 with Sarah Stokes and the four Pea Ridge School librarians to discuss ways we could promote reading with the students at the school. It was agreed that the schools would send home fliers to the parents regarding the Summer Reading Program and also the Summer Story Hour. Information will also be sent home on how the parents can obtain a library card for the family. We are grateful to Mrs. Stokes and the librarians for their willingness to help.

It is very easy to obtain a library card. Just drop by the library and bring the following with you — a driver’s license or state-issued I.D. with photo and a piece of mail that has been sent to your current address (a utility bill, etc.). You must be 18 or older to get a library card. Parents must come by the library to obtain cards for children under the age of 18. Library cards are free for persons living in the community.

Donations are coming in by the bag, box and trailer load — literally. The library thanks Mr. Robert Kitterman for the 30 boxes of books that belonged to his aunt, Mrs. Ruth Talburt. We are pleased that the family made the library the recipient of her collection.

As many of you remember, the library conducted a survey to get your views on library hours, days of operation, etc. Those surveys have been complied and an analysis is available for viewing at the library. We thank all of you who completed a survey and we appreciate all the feedback. The information garnered from the survey will be used in determining hours of operation, etc. when we move to the new location.

The board is also reviewing a new computer program that will give us a better, faster way to track our book inventory, to check books out and in, and to track past due books. And it seems fairly simple to use.

I made a trip to Barnes and Noble, The Friendly Book Store and The Trolley Line Book Stop on Saturday. If you have not been by the Trolley Line, you are really missing a real treat. I could have been the afternoon there. There are wonderful used books at very reasonable prices.

I purchased some books for teens, some Western paperbacks, some Christian fiction, Nevada Barr’s latest Anna Pigeon mystery — “The Rope” and three books by Suzanne Collins — “The Hunger Games,” “Catching Fire” and “Mocking Jay.”

I plan to work hard to get all the books I purchased on the shelves this week. Thanks to the volunteers for their assistance. This library would not run nearly so well without them. We would love to have you join us.