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A PAGE IN DUE TIME WITH JEFF WATSON, HEAD LIBRARIAN
ROANOKE RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY
As I write today, it is the end of a very successful week at Roanoke Rapids Public Library. The week of April 8-13 was National Library Week when we recall the importance of libraries in our lives. Our Library celebrated that week by offering seven programs for a variety of ages including a Family Reading Event on Thursday, April 11 with Mayor Pro Tem Carl Ferebee who read the Dr. Seuss classic “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” Following the story, the children completed an activity sheet and enjoyed lemonade and refreshments. I plan to have another Family Reading Event in August. In addition, April 11 was Patron Appreciation Day. Between Noon and 5:30 pm, the Library Staff and I had the privilege of talking with many of our patrons in the conference room over refreshments. I consider it a privilege to serve the citizens of Roanoke Rapids and the Roanoke Valley. Furthermore, the Library held drawings last week for gift cards donated by the Friends of the Library for those who visited the Library during this week. I was delighted to meet new people at our library along with seeing many of our current patrons during National Library Week.
Our recent couponing program on Saturday, March 23 with the Smart Shopper, Faye Prosser, from WRAL was a great success. Thirty people attended this program, which gave useful tips and resources on how to save money at the grocery store and for other shopping. Ruby Mason, from the Library Staff, attended and said, “The coupon class was very interesting and informative. I would like to attend another one.” I am hoping to schedule Ms. Prosser to return and do another program in either the fall or spring of 2020.
Concerning our resources, the use of e-books and other digital materials continues to grow. In March, we had 124 checkouts in our OverDrive collection and 45 in the NC KIDS Digital collection for a total of 169. This is the highest number of checkouts since we began participating with our consortium in February 2017. I am glad to see patrons becoming aware of these collections and using them. If you want more information about our electronic collections, call the Library at (252) 533-2890 and select prompt four or come by and stop at the service desk.
In addition, for those that like to read e-books, you may not know of another collection to which our patrons have access. This is the HomeGrown Collection through NC LIVE. These e-books, which include novels, young adult titles, short stories, poetry, and nonfiction works, are freely available to all residents of North Carolina via www.nclive.org or our library website www.youseemore.com/RoanokeRapids and click NC LIVE.
Roanoke Rapids Public Library has an extensive large print collection for a public library our size. You may borrow from over 2,200 volumes with a Roanoke Rapids Public Library card. This collection is on the wall opposite the service desk and past the bank of computers to the left as you enter our facility beyond the foyer and into the main part of the library. Also, over the past five years, the Lions Club of Roanoke Rapids have provided funds to increase the numbers of our large print titles. The Lions Club Large Print Collection contains many current selections and is located in the first aisle on the right opposite the Library Administration offices. The Lions Club raises funds for this collection through their annual plate sale and contributes a portion of these proceeds to build this collection. Their next plate sale is May 18 and I encourage your support to benefit the Library and other community projects.
In closing, Roanoke Rapids Public Library is pleased to offer collections, connections, and community all for you.
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