The 12 Days of Christmas … Day 7: Holiday offerings at the Augusta County Library

Churchville Branch of the Augusta County Library.

There’s Kindles and laptops and video games and smart phones and every other device available out there but the wonderful thing is that libraries are still as popular as ever. With a wide selection of seasonal reading selections, a trip to the library provides hours of entertainment for kids and parents during school vacation over the holidays. (continue reading here)

National Library Week and thanking Augusta County Library folks

Newest Augusta County Library board trustee Dr. Kurt Michael with library director Diantha McCauley at the Fishersville main branch. Read more about Dr. Michael here.

 

 Goodies for staff and volunteers to celebrate National Library Week.

 Lucy, the resident dinosaur, dressed in her Easter bonnet as she oversees the children's section.

Check out the Augusta County Library ... there's so much to see and do!

Update: Thanks for the shout-out from the library crew: http://aclstaff.wordpress.com/2014/04/16/april-16-2014/

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
April 15, 2014

Augusta County Library: More special events during Nationial Library Week

 Children's Department in the Augusta County Library in Fishersville, Virginia.

This week Augusta County Library joins libraries across the country in celebrating National Library Week. Special events include a book signing with author Billy Coffey, a Wizard of Oz performance for children, a book sale and a fine removal event.
 

Started in 1958, National Library Week is sponsored by the American Library Association to highlight the value of libraries and library workers.  Libraries today are more than repositories for books and other resources. Often the heart of their communities, libraries are deeply committed to the places where their patrons live, work and study.  

“Service to the community has always been the focus of the library,” says Diantha McCauley, ACL Director. “As a result, our library system has grown and evolved to provide for the needs of every member of our community.” 

The National Library Week events at the Fishersville Library illustrate the range of free services offered by the library. This week's activities include:


·         Using the Internet for Beginners, Wednesday, April 16 at 3 p.m.
·         Wizard of Oz Performance for Children, Wednesday, April 16 at 6:30 p.m.
·         Accessing Free EBooks for Kindles, Thursday, April 17 at 3 p.m.
·         Author Billy Coffey Book Talk and Signing, Thursday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m. 
·         Who Done It Crime Scene Investigation for Teens, all week long

In addition, the Friends of the Augusta County Library will be hosting a special book sale where gently used books may be purchased individually or by the bagful in a Friends book tote. 

The library is also waiving overdue fines on request at all five of its locations.

For additional information, contact the library at 540-885-3961 or visit www.augustacountylibrary.org.  

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

April 15, 2014

Thank a librarian! Celebrate National Library Week 2014

Thank a librarian! During National Library Week that runs now through April 19, stop by your local library to celebrate all they have to offer. Lots of activities and events are planned for this annual event -- plus it's a great time to thank those workers and volunteers who man the desk, shelve the books, answer questions, lead programs, and make the library an extension of everyone's home.

Best-selling author Judy Blume is the national honorary chairman. Since 1970, this prolific author has written books loved by children and young adults, selling over 80 million books that have been translated into 31 languages.

If you haven't been to the library in a while, check out the list of fun activities available with the Augusta County Library:

• All week at all Augusta County Library locations: Tell us what you geek & we’ll waive your overdue fines!


• Wednesday, April 16 at 6:30 pm in Fishersville: Children of all ages will have the chance to travel down the Yellow Brick Road with some of the cast members of the Wizard of Oz.  Come watch as these beloved characters bring us a sneak preview of this classic show and then meet them afterwards. Waynesboro Players in partnership with Imagine That! Theater will be presenting The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum on May 8 through the 10th at 7:30 p.m. and May 11th at 2:00 p.m. at Waynesboro High School Louis Spillman Auditorium.


• Thursday, April 17 at 6:30 pm in Fishersville: We’re excited to offer an evening with local writer Billy Coffey, author of four books that combine rural Southern charm with a vision far beyond ordinary. Mr. Coffey will discuss his writing and sign books. Light refreshments provided. Sponsored by the Friends of the Augusta County Library.


• Saturday, April 19 at 6:30  in Churchville (Time TBD): Children of all ages will have the chance to travel down the Yellow Brick Road with some of the cast members of the Wizard of Oz.  Come watch as these beloved characters bring us a sneak preview of this classic show and then meet them afterwards.

Augusta County Library Locations

• Fishersville Main Library
• Churchville Branch
• Craigsville Station
• Deerfield Station
• Middlebrook Station
• Verona Book Drop

 

National Library Week 2014 - Proclamation  

WHEREAS, libraries help lives change in their communities, campuses and schools;

WHEREAS; librarians work to meet the changing needs of their communities, including providing resources for everyone and bringing services outside of library walls;

WHEREAS, libraries and librarians bring together community members to enrich and shape the community and address local issues;

WHEREAS, librarians are trained, tech-savvy professionals, providing technology training and access to downloadable content like e-books;

WHEREAS, libraries offer programs to meet community needs, providing residents with resume writing classes, 24/7 homework help and financial planning services to teens applying for student loans to older adults planning their retirement;

WHEREAS, libraries continuously grow and evolve in how they provide for the needs of every member of their communities;

WHEREAS, libraries, librarians, library workers and supporters across America are celebrating National Library Week.

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that I proclaim National Library Week, April 13-19, 2014. I encourage all residents to visit the library this week to take advantage of the wonderful library resources available @ your library.  Lives change @ your library.

Genealogical Society to host Open House at Augusta Library

Mark your calendars....

You're Invited to Our Open House!

The Augusta County Library and the 

Augusta County Genealogical Society 

Invite You to Join Us 

at an Open House

Celebrating the new ACGS Library

Monday, April 14th, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Augusta County Library

1759 Jefferson Highway

Fishersville, VA 

Join Us to Celebrate ACGS's New Location!

Poking into the past: Genealogy Basics series at Augusta County Library

The Augusta County Library has more than just books. Beginning Saturday, March 1, the library will host Genealogy Basics:

The Augusta County Library will host a three-part series on Genealogy Basics at 10 a.m. March 1, 8 and 15. Each week will focus on a different aspect of researching family history with presenters from the Augusta County Genealogical Society.

The 12 Days of Christmas ... Day 7: Holiday offerings at the library

Augusta County Library's Churchville Branch

There's Kindles and laptops and video games and smart phones and every other device available out there but the wonderful thing is that libraries are still as popular as ever. With lots of seasonal reading selections, a trip to the library provides hours of entertainment for kids and parents during school vacation.

These two dedicated folks run two of the three western Augusta County Library branches. Ginny works at the Deerfield library branch and Jack at Churchville.

The library also provides internet access, in-house computers, DVDs, children's programs, craft time, genealogy research, workshops, job help, meeting rooms, and much more.

This ever-popular, colorful baby dinosaur -- decked out for the holiday season -- was made by Augusta County resident Kurt Michael and his son five or six years ago, as a "son" to "Lucy," the larger-than-the-kids dinosaur that has resided in the main Fishersville branch of the library for 20 years. This little fella likes to visit the various library branches and spread joy to the kids who shower love on both dinosaurs.

The main library and branches will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, December 24 and 25, so stop by soon and find your holiday entertainment to enjoy during vacation.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

- Day 1: Olde Richmond's Christmas of yesteryear ... Miller & Rhoads' holiday windows and Legendary Santa
- Day 2: Afton's Bethlehem Village and the greatest story ever told
- Day 3: Experience Colonial Virginia with Monticello $5 admission
- Day 4: Lantern Tours at Staunton's Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia
- Day 5: Celebration of Holiday Lights in Staunton's Gypsy Hill Park
- Day 6: Goodies for library & FCMV staff, volunteers

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
December 18, 2013

One day in the life of Virginia's libraries

Libraries go out of style? You must not have been to one recently. The Virginia Library Association lets us know that in just one day ...

- 412,969 items were borrowed
- 3,726 new library customers enrolled
- 10,764 attended free classes
- 82,565 customers used computers and Internet access
- 14,527 people held meetings
- 8,861 people in the community were visited by the library
- 19,239 customers asked questions about business, jobs, health, government, and school work.

Libraries provide public education for all. A major component of Virginia's strong education system, libraries, deliver an exceptional three-pronged curriculum:
- Self-directed education
- Research assistance and instruction
- Instructive and enlightening experiences.

What's the number one citizen request in Virginia's public libraries? Digital information resources.

Technology: Today's new libraries stand poised to meet the information needs of the 21st century with:
 - Ebooks
 - Downloadable audiobooks
 - Online research tools
 - WiFi.

Interested? Check out any of the branches of the Augusta County Public Library system: Fishersville Main Branch, Churchville, Deerfield, Craigsville, Middlebrook.

Augusta County Library offers Geocaching class

Looking to find out more about Geocaching? Stop by the Augusta County Library in Fishersville Thursday evening and hear all about it:

Do you know that there are tiny treasures hidden all around your community? There are, and you can only find them using the high-tech scavenger hunt called Geocaching.

Geocaching.com describes this hobby as a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.

Sound fun, but don’t know how to get started? Then join us on Thursday, September 12 at 6:00 pm at the Fishersville Main Library. We’ll be hosting Bobbi Simonsen, a local geocaching enthusiast who will share her passion for this outdoor hobby. She’ll teach you the basics, so you’re out logging caches in no time. All ages welcome. For more info, call the Fishersville Main Library at (540)885-3961.

Augusta Library Board elects new president

Craigsville branch of the Augusta County Library.

A seasoned member of the Augusta County Library Board has been elected as president to lead the organization through the 2013-14 year.

Mr. Terry Sumey, who represents the South River District and has 22 years of experience on the board, was elected president at the bi-monthly meeting held Thursday night at Pasture District's Craigsville branch. Frank Deckert, Riverheads representative, was re-elected vice president.

Board members welcomed a new colleague, Betsy Curry, appointed by Supervisor Marshall Pattie to replace Marsha Elliott, who moved out of the county, as representative of the North River District.

Craigsville's library branch is an example of how the community comes together to help with projects that have seen cuts to budgets the past few years. Wood for shelves was donated by Blue Ridge Lumber in Fishersville, and the craftsmanship was by Frank Jolly at the nearby Augusta Correctional Center.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
July 18, 2013