February may be the shortest month of the year, but the Library has packed   it with lots of upcoming programs and events! February is derived from the Latin word “februs” meaning “to cleanse.” The month was named after the Roman Festival, Februalia, a month long festival of purification and atonement. February’s birthstone is the amethyst and the flower is the iris or violets. Some popular observances are: Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month, Bake for Family Fun Month, Library Lovers’ Month, National Bird Feeding Month, National Black History Month, Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, Jell-O Week (8th-14th), Groundhog Day (2nd), Library Lovers Day (14th), Valentines Day (14th), Mardi Gras (17th), Lunar New Year (17th), Ramadan (Feb. 17th – Mar 19th), and George Washington’s Birthday (22nd).

Since February is “Library Lovers’ Month”, we want you to fall in love with the Jamerson Library. Staff have set up an outdoor Valentine’s Photo Booth at our front door. We encourage you to share the “love” by stopping by and taking photos with friends and family. Please be sure to tag us on your social media accounts!

We are also hosting another free counting contest for Valentine’s Day! Whoever guesses the closest to the number of candies in the bottle will win 1 of 3 “Love Your Local Library” prizes! We will announce the winners on Thursday, February 12th. It is one guess per visit, per person, and one winner per family.

February’s newsletter is ready and now available online and at the circulation desk at the Library. Be sure to download or pick up a copy to keep up with all the upcoming events and programs going on at the Library.

Due to the weather, Miss American Star Achievement’s pet food drive at the Library has been extended to Friday, February 13th.  Penelope and Patrick (aka the double P’s), are teaming up with the ladies from Miss American Star Achievement for a pet food drive at the Library. This community service outreach will benefit a Virginia animal shelter. Miss American Star Achievement is an achievement-based group whose motto is “it’s less about the dress and more about the girl”, with a focus on volunteering, community outreach, and being goodwill ambassadors for much-needed causes. You can drop off pet food and other pet-related items in the donation box near the circulation desk.

On Tuesday, January 20th, the Library Board met to discuss the positive impact the Jamerson Library is having on our community, grants awarded, upcoming programs, policy updates and the growing future of the role that this Library will continue to excel at. The next Library Board meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 17th, starting at 4:00 pm, and is open to the public.

On Wednesday, January 21st, Ranger Chance from Holliday Lake State Park presented the bird book “Hello, I’m Here!” by Helen Frost and Rick Lieder. Peek in as a sandhill crane hatchling makes its first wobbly stand and takes its first steps alongside its brother. With their parents close by, they flap their wings and dance before enjoying a buggy treat. Someday they will fly with the majestic cranes overhead, but for now, Mama’s soft feathers beckon. The kids enjoyed snacks and juice while making pinecone bird feeders. It was messy fun smearing shortening over pine cones and coating them with birdseed to help our feathered friends find food this winter. This program was brought to you by the Flight Path Grant.

Due to the winter weather the Library was closed for several days last week, and open for limited hours on other days. Give us a like and a follow on our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/JamersonMemorialLibrary for the latest updates on closings and daily operational hours. We want our patrons to stay safe during inclement weather, and we encourage you to call the Library before coming out or to renew books. Just as a reminder we do have lots of online services at www.jrjml.org for our patrons to enjoy including Overdrive/Libby (ebooks), Kanopy (free streaming service), Magzter for Libraries (free digital magazines), and Access Video: Just for Kids (free tv shows, story books, and learning videos for kids), just to name a few.

In observation of Presidents’ Day, the Library will be closed on Monday, February 16th. We will reopen for normal business hours on Tuesday, February 17th, starting at 9:30 am. The book drop, located at the back of the building, will remain open.

The J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library is partnering with @NeighborhoodForest to give children in our community the opportunity to sign up for a free tree to plant at home during Earth Week! A parent/guardian can register each child to receive a free tree to be picked up at the Library. Sign up at: https://www.neighborhoodforest.org/registration-services/?school=75646. Sign-ups are open now through Sunday, March 15th, trees will arrive the week of Earth Day (April 22nd)! The Library will contact you when your tree(s) are ready for pick-up!

If you have any questions or concerns about this article or other library-related topics, please feel free to call us during normal business hours.

The Library receives a steady supply of new and donated items and we would like to highlight the following items:

DVDs