The “Build A Better World” summer reading program will come to an end on Saturday. We hope all participants will turn in their completed reading logs to collect their rewards.
The library has been energized this summer with tons of readers of all ages and fun programs. Thank you to everyone who has participated in summer reading. I would especially like to thank Leah Tietje-Davis, Lisa Bowden and Lauren Piszczor who have spent months developing the summer program and have traveled all over the county to celebrate reading with our patrons. For them, summer reading begins in the winter months, and all of the wonderful programs couldn’t have happened without their hard work.
As we wind down the summer, the Hector MacLean Public Library in Fairmont is gearing up to better serve the children in their community. Starting Aug. 7, the Fairmont library will offer evening hours twice a week to allow children a better opportunity to visit after school. The new schedule for the Fairmont library is 1 to 7 p.m. on Mondays; 1 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays; and 1 to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays through Fridays.
Also in August, the library will host a solar eclipse party in Lumberton. On Aug. 21, join us at the Osterneck Auditorium. We will be watching a live stream of the eclipse as it crosses the United States. At 2:30 p.m., we will watch the eclipse in the garden. Solar glasses are required to view the eclipse safely. We will have solar glasses available at the viewing. We were fortunate to receive a limited supply of glasses through a grant. We will distribute them for free beginning Aug. 7 at the Lumberton library. Because supplies are limited, only one pair of glasses will be given to each person present at the Lumberton library. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime event.
The Friends of the Robeson County Public Library met on Tuesday and set dates for the fall book sale. Mark your calendars for Oct. 12 to 14. The fall book sale will be held in the Osterneck Auditorium and feature thousands of books to browse and buy. Money raised at the book sale support the purchase of new books for our library system. As soon as the time for each day is set, I will share the information with the community. There also will be an event page created on Facebook that can be joined for more book sale updates. Last year’s sale definitely needed more children’s books in good condition. If you have gently used children’s books that your children have outgrown, please consider donating them for the book sale. It is a great way to give new life to a beloved story.
If you would like to join the Friends of the Library, this is the perfect time of year to get involved. Membership applications are available on our website at www.robesoncountylibrary.org and any library staff member can print a blank application for you. I would be happy to talk with anyone interested in joining the Friends of the Library and share all of the wonderful ways they support the library.
Another exciting event coming up is the Robeson County Partnership for Children’s “Hollywood’s Roaring Twenties” benefit auction. The event is slated for Sept. 16 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Southeastern North Carolina Agricultural Events Center. There will be a lively auctioneer, silent auction opportunities, a delicious dinner, a dessert dash, and lots of other entertainment. I have the privilege of serving as the the library’s board chair and I’m so proud of how hard the staff work on this event to provide better opportunities for the children of Robeson County. The proceeds of this event go directly to fund the expansion and improvement of Exploration Station, our county’s only children’s museum. Tickets are available online by visiting http://www.robesonpartnership.org/ or through any library board or staff member. Sponsorship packages are also available.
