School is almost completed but that means activities at the Ragland Public Library are about to pick up.The Summer Reading Program starts in June and library officials are hoping for a record turnout of kids this summer.
The Ragland Library has the latest books for children, teens and adults. Also available are preschool learning software and games for use in the library. Family movies can be checked out for a week at a time and there are children’s audio books.
The library also offers printing, copier and fax services for a nominal fee and a meeting room is available.
“This year’s summer reading theme is ‘Catch the Bug,’” said Library Board of Trustees
President Connie Ford. “Several different activities are planned for each Friday in June.”
Registration will be held from June 2-5.
Ford said the library is also attempting to start its own chapter of ‘Friends of the Library’.
“That is traditionally an organization of women throughout the community who have a vested interest and want to promote the library,” Ford said. “Their main purpose would be to raise funds for the library. They would promote public awareness and programs going on at the library and work in conjunction with the board.”
Secretary Alachia Turner said they want teachers at daycares and schools to know they can come check out books that tie in with the curriculum they may be teaching at the school.
“We want citizens to know we do have a functioning library,” Turner said. “We have the same technology other libraries have that are in larger cities. We really want our library to grow and be the best we can offer.”
Librarian Patricia Poe said students in the St. Clair County School System are on an Accelerated Reading program.
“They can come to this library and get books according to their reading level,” Poe said. “They read the book then take a test about the book. They accumulate points over the course of the year. We are working in conjunction with Regina Boswell and Teresa Talley at Ragland Elementary to get books that are on the AR list.”
Library board member W.O. Wiggins said that as long as the Ragland Library is part of the St. Clair County Library System, then they have access to anything the county has.
“As long as we are affiliated with the Alabama Public Library Service, we can get anything someone needs,” Wiggins said. “It is obvious there are larger libraries than us in larger cities. However, they do not have anything we can’t get access to. We may not have it on the shelf when they walk in the door, but we can get it.”
Poe added that the preschool story time would resume in August.
Technology grants the library is looking to apply for will replace some of the older computers that are not functioning and will add two more computers to bring the total to eight that are available by the end of the year.
A book grant will enable the library to purchase more books for children.
The library is open Monday through Saturday and closed Sunday. For more information about the Ragland library, call Poe at 205-472-2007.
