A few weeks ago I received a reminder in the mail that my driver's license would expire this month! No, really??? It can't be four years since I had it renewed. So I put it away and it surfaced again around the first of the month. Doing anything with the DMV for me is like a root canal without Novocain! Friday, I put on make-up, summoned all my courage and headed to the nearest DMV office all the while trying to convince myself it would not be too bad. When I walked in I knew I had lied to myself again!
I didn't need a number -- if you are renewing your driver's license you just go stand against the wall and wait your turn. For everything else, you take a number. My friend was in the "everything else" category so she got number 49 -- they were currently helping someone with a low 20s number! My birthday is near the end of the month and I was sure I would be celebrating it while waiting in line. Over an hour and a half later, we were finally finished.
The last time I renewed, a clerk processed your paperwork and someone else took your photo. Now, one clerk does it all. I am no efficiency expert but it seems to me that the old system was more efficient -- one clerk doing paperwork, another taking photos and things moved along faster.
Anyone needing a photo taken must walk from one side of the building to the other. Some of us oldies but goodies have "issues" i.e. we require a cane or a walker and we just plain don't move as fast as we once did. Couldn't there be a special line for us? If you are there to get a Handicapped Sticker that should be an indication that you may not move with the speed of light anymore.
We may still be able to drive, but getting to and from the vehicle may pose a problem. And probably most of us "old geezers" drive without texting so that should give us bonus points! So if you if have business with the DMV, take a book, a bottle of water and perhaps a snack! And just for the record I would not want to do their job -- it can't be easy. On the plus side, their restrooms are very clean.
The Pea Ridge Historical Society has set up a beautiful display in the library paying homage to our local apple growing/production history. You really should come by and take a look. I'll try to get some photos posted soon on the library Facebook page.
Several children's and young adult books are on order and should be arriving soon. We have also pre-ordered books by some of your favorite authors to be shipped as soon as they are released.
We had several visitors this past week -- I never tire of showing people around and talking about our beautiful library. This time of year, there are large numbers of book companies calling in the hopes of garnering our business. We spend a lot of time comparing companies to get the most for our money.
Story Hour has begun again on Wednesday's at 10:30 a.m. Even if you don't have a little one who participates in this program you should just stop in to see all these sweet little children listening to Ms. Jackie read or watch them make a craft!
P. S. For a sizeable donation to the library building fund, I will show you my driver's license photo and even tell you my age!
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 the library at 451-8442 or by mail at P.O. Box 9, Pea Ridge, AR 72751. Library hours are 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday. The library web site is www.pearigecommunitylibrary.org.
Editorial on 09/10/2014