Library Notes: Books and blessings abound at library

— Life just gets better and better at the library. With the help of volunteers, so much is getting done at both the current and future library.

The board and I want to welcome Cinda Wooldridge as the newest Library Board trustee and volunteer. Stop by any Wednesday afternoon and say hello. With all the new books arriving, Cinda and Dottie Adriano have made my life much easier. We are keeping busy getting the books ready to go on the shelves.

On Saturday, March 2, I stopped by Barnes and Noble not knowing there was a book signing. Lots of parents and children were waiting to get a book signed by Marianne Malone, author of the “Sixty-Eight Rooms Adventure” series. While I didn’t get a signed copy, I did buy “Stealing Magic,” which is the second book of her series.

Many new books weredonated and I am happy to say that some of them were Western paperbacks by William Johnstone, Ralph Cotton and Richard S. Wheeler.

Speaking of donations, members of the Library Board and I want to express our deep appreciation to the Wal-Mart Returns Center for their generous donations. We are overjoyed and almost speechless. Please know that all the donated items will be put to good use in our current and future locations. There are so many opportunities to put some of the donated items to use in the new location that we can hardly wait to move.

Since most of the demolition has been completed at the new building, weare almost ready to begin the new construction phase. The roof has been repaired and new gas and water lines installed. The Board will be meeting with the architect to firm up the last details i.e. new ceiling, electrical wiring, plumbing, etc.

The hundreds of donated books have allowed us to add some new titles to the library, as well as generating some money from the sales of the duplicates. We are now at the point where we are in need of cash donations.

Grant applications are being submitted, but there are more applicants than grant monies available. In April, the library will raffle a very pretty quilt donated by a friend and perhaps an e-reader or two. Please remember that donations made to the Pea Ridge Community Library are tax deductible.

Plans are under way for the Summer Reading Program and, hopefully,a Story Hour during the summer. We are in need of a volunteer to read to the children for one hour on Thursday mornings during the summer months.

We had a good turnout last summer and the kids had a great time listening to a story and making simple craft projects.

Watch this column for an exciting announcement about our plans for some really fun activities at our current location.

Last week a new printer, copier, scanner, fax machine were installed in the library. We are working out the kinks - translated that means the librarian is learning how to use all these things. Probably need a kindergarten student to help me out!

See you at the library!

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Editor’s note: Peggy Maddox is the librarian of the Pea Ridge Community Library. She can be reached at P.O. Box 9, Pea Ridge, AR 72751.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 03/14/2012