'Tis Better to Give than to Receive

Jewel Blackwell, Brooke Atchley, Jamie Rexrode

Library staff recently stopped by the Elk Garden School Community Ministry to make a donation to the food pantry. Staff selected Elk Garden because it serves Honaker and Lebanon communities; the libraries in those communities had donated the food during October.

October marks the establishment of the Russell County Public Library. The Honaker Community Library was also opened in October. This year we decided to mark our October founding and branch openings by celebrating Customer Appreciation Month. During the month customers, or patrons as we usually call them, could pay any fines with food. We wanted to encourage patrons to return to the library and not let fines get in their way! This way we could all give back to the community.

Pictured is Jewel Blackwell (RCPL Public Services Supervisor and Lebanon Branch Manager), Brooke Atchley (director of the Elk Garden School Ministry for the United Methodist Church), and Jamie Rexrode (RCPL Children's Services Programmer and Honaker Branch Manager.)

In the holiday season, remember that the greatest gifts we can give can't be wrapped and the warmth in our heart is greatest when we give.

Reading by Design

Reading by Design is the 2017 theme for our Summer Reading Program. There's more than reading to our Summer Reading Program...there's magic, music, puppets, tall ships & pirate tales!  Since it is "Reading by Design," we will start off the summer with a Scholastic Book Fair in Lebanon. And for children ages 5-12, we will have a special Reading by Design weekly program series that features a fun activity.

Preschool Story Time is back at the regular time at both libraries, while LEGO Club continues monthly at Lebanon. Honaker is featuring two family movies this summer, complete with popcorn. Lebanon has scheduled two gardening programs for school-age kids--Veggie Tie-Dye anyone?

Both libraries feature special programs for everyone; that's where the magic, puppets and tall ships & pirate tales come in. Most programs are during the day, but some are in the evening so the whole family can attend!

This year's Solar Eclipse is an opportunity we couldn't let pass us by, so we will have several programs for adults and kids leading up to the actual eclipse on August 21.

Of course the purpose of summer reading programs is to build better readers. There is still time to register your child to participate in the summer reader program. Simply follow our link here; it only takes a minute and then you and your child can earn badges and rewards for summer reading! Stop by, pick up a schedule of events, and join us for free entertainment and activities.

Choose Privacy Week

We share much about ourselves these day. Our email addresses may proclaim our hobbies or self image (buckhunter or sexygranny!) Some things we share friends might guess about us (buck hunter) while other things friends might not want to know about us (sexy granny.)

When does the sharing become too much information? And not just too much information (TMI) because it makes us squeamish. (You don't really want to know why your grandma thinks she's still sexy, do you?!) When are you sharing information that you might regret? When should you choose privacy over sharing?

You are correct that no one really cares about your Pinterest account. But thieves and scammers are happy to use the information you do share to access valuable accounts like your bank or credit card. Never share information that can be used to open or verify an account--a bank account or a Facebook or Pinterest account.

Perform this little task. May 1-7--Choose Privacy Week--set aside time to review the privacy settings on your social media accounts. Make sure that no setting is Public (unless you are a celebrity.) That is a great first step.

And stop by the Lebanon Library Tuesday, May 2;  staff are available to explain what some of those privacy settings mean.

National Library Week

This year, for National Library Week, we are polling the community. Indulge us by answering the following questions. Reply here or post it on our Facebook page.

What's you favorite childhood book?

What's your all-time favorite book?

What's your favorite song?

What's the most recent book of magazine you've read? 

The theme this year is 'Libraries Transform.' We think it's more likely that you have been transformed by a book or song. So share that with us. We've been asking around and will be posting responses on our Facebook page.

Virginia Women of Merit

Virginians of merit have been honored with a statue at Capitol Square in Richmond since 1858. In that year, an equestrian statue of George Washington, native son and first president of the nation, was unveiled. Other prominent Virginians honored include a doctor, a general, and a poet.

Since it's Women's History Month, do you know how many women are honored with a statue in Capitol Square? Well...there are women represented on the Civil Rights Monument. That's about it. But change is in the air.

Voices from the Garden, the Virginia Women's Monument, will have 12 statues cast in bronze of women representing over 400 years of Virginia history. These women were selected to represent various spheres of interest and geographic areas of the state.
The monument will have a glass panel on one side that is etched with the names of other noteworthy Virginia women.  A  bench, listing milestones in Virginia women’s history, will make up the other side.

Visit the Virginia Women’s Monument Commission to learn which two women from Southwest Virginia are honored with a statue. Nominations are being accepted for names of noteworthy Virginia women who's names will be etched in the glass wall. Who will you nominate?

You can also visit to the Virginia Capitol website to see pictures of the many statues and monuments in the square and even in the Capitol itself.

The monument is being paid for by private donations, so the Virginia Women's Monument Commission is happy to accept donations, too!