August is named after the very first Roman emperor (and grandnephew of Julius Caesar) Augustus Caesar. August’s birthstone is the peridot and the flower is the gladiolus. A few of the observances for August are American Adventures Month, Back to School Month, Clear The Shelters Month, National Read A Romance Novel Month, and Personalized Learning Month.
On Tuesday, July 22nd the Library introduced the book “Broadway Bird” by Alex Timbers as a part of Story, Craft & Activity Time. Louisa is a tiny parakeet with a HUGE dream: to be a Broadway star. But no matter what she does, everyone keeps telling her she’s too small to make it big! When a chance at her big break comes, Louisa learns that no matter how small you are, with a little talent and a lot of hard work, you can do anything – even be on Broadway! The kids enjoyed snacks while making masquerade masks using felt, glitter glue, sticky gems, and colored yarn. The activity was doing improve Broadway characters using their imagination. If you are interested in the book, it will be available for checkout soon.
On Wednesday, July 23rd the Library played a movie about a team of singing, dancing all-stars. The ever-optimistic koala, and his friends have big dreams of staging their most dazzling show yet in the glittering entertainment capital of the world!
On Thursday, July 24th Library Fairy MaKayla read the book “Olivia Acts Out” as a part of Story, Craft & Activity Time. The kids enjoyed snacks while showing their creative side by making their own puppet theaters using crayons, sticky gems and glitter glue. Afterwards they used their theaters to put on their own puppet show!
Friday, July 25th was a bittersweet day as we wrapped up our 2025 Summer Reading Program, “Color Or World” with the last event, a theater workshop hosted by Sara Conner from Longwood University. Sara read the book “B is for Broadway” by John Robert Allman. The kids listened and sang along to some famous Broadway tunes, created sock puppets and experimented with “white lights” by using skittles candy to learn how color effects lighting in productions. The kids also go to perform impromptu plays with their sock puppets.
Ding Ding Ding!! And the winners of the Summer Reading Art Show categories are as follows: Drawing – Marleigh Scruggs, Painting – Rochelle Hertzler, Fiber Art – Presley Wiley, Photography – Abi Perry, 3D – Kaylee Meadows, Artistic Interpretation – Finn Schaefer, and Overall – Marleigh Scruggs.
And the winners of the 2025 Summer Reading Program are as follows: Purple Group (2 – 5 years of age) – Evangeline Gallagher, Blue Group (6 – 10 years of age) Georgia Schaefer, Green Group (11 – 17 years of age) Amy Haugh, and the Yellow Group (18+) Tricia Bell. We would like to congratulate all our winners!
The Library staff is taking a deep breath and a much deserved break as the 2025 Summer Reading Program is now over. You have until Friday, August 1st to spend all your earned Summer Reading Tickets.
On Friday, August 8th the Jamerson Memorial Library will host the Hillcat’s mascot, SouthPaw in our community room from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Join SouthPaw for a Story & Craft Time at 2:00 pm, followed by a meet & greet. Parents, bring your cameras or phones, take photos and enjoy refreshments while meeting this famous green kitty! SouthPaw will be here to help celebrate the love of reading and the all-American game of baseball! If there are any available free tickets to the Sunday, August 17th Hillcats vs the Shorebirds game, we will be giving them away at this event!
Enjoy the Perseid Meteor shower by checking out the telescope at the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library! Did you know that the Library owns a Zhumell Z114 telescope that is available as one of our “special checkout”? These “special checkout” items may include, but are not limited to, equipment, books, tools, DVDs, devices, and other materials that can be checked out under one barcode. You are allowed one “special checkout” at any given time for 1 week with 1 renewal (if the item is not on hold) to patrons 18 years of age or older with a library account in good standing. Some “special checkout” items may come with a limited quantity of supplies for patrons to use, such as paper, yarn, thread, or other materials, as a courtesy, and only when supplies are available. To find out more about the Perseid meteor shower visit NASA at: https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/perseids/.