Library is a good place for visiting, too

Last Wednesday 15 children from The Kid's Academy walked to the library to participate in our Story/Craft Hour. After Ms. Jackie read a story, the children went outside to the picnic tables and painted pumpkins with washable markers. It was a joy to just watch them as they drew on their pumpkins. As the painting was winding up, some ladies from the dentist office next door came over and gave each child a bag with a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. These cute, polite and well-behaved children then walked to McDonald's for lunch.

This Wednesday, we will be painting pumpkins with a group of 3-year-olds. My hope is that these children remember that the library is a fun place and will want to visit often and select a good book or two.

Library hours

1 p.m. until 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday

10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays

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While working at the library on Saturday, it occurred to me that our patrons exhibit different behavior on Saturday. Our Monday and Tuesday patrons are usually waiting for us to open at 1 p.m. and the first hour can be very busy. Some want to use the computers, others need copies made, others just want to choose a book. By 2 p.m. we have a bit of a slow down but between 3 and 4 o'clock we have another rush. From 5 to 8 p.m. it varies -- some times a big flurry and other times not so much. Wednesday's we have the Story Hour in the morning and those mornings can be very busy especially when we welcome new patrons and issue library cards. Thursdays are typically a little slower in the mornings and pick up as the day moves along. But back to our Saturday patrons -- they are not as rushed, they spend time perusing the shelves and looking at the free and for sale books. Most times they will spend some time chatting and I learn the most interesting things about them and about this community. There are many who have roots that date back to Civil War times and before. Some patrons have experienced hard times and weathered the storms and accepted the good and the bad as just a part of life. I love all their stories and am honored that they share their life stories with me.

When I first became the librarian, I knew most of the patrons on sight and could remember their names and library card numbers. Then we moved, became computerized and began scanning library cards. We have added so many new patrons that it is getting harder to remember everyone. We may remember that you prefer non-fiction or want James Patterson's latest book or want a good Western but your name may escape us at that moment. So if we ask you for your library card don't be offended, we are just growing.

Remember there will be a lot of Halloween activities going on at the end of the week so be alert for all the children who will be out and about.

See you at the library!

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Editor's note: Peggy Maddox is the librarian of the Pea Ridge Community Library.

Editorial on 10/28/2015