Celebrating being you at your local Library.

Your local library is a sanctuary where you are free to be yourself, and celebrate what makes you unique. Explore and expand your mind whether that means diving into a niche history book, discovering a graphic novel that speaks to your imagination, finding a new hobby to try, getting lost in the newest fiction book, tales of exploration, or simply sitting in the corner to read, think and breathe. Surrounded by shelves filled with countless voices and stories, you realize that your own identity is a story still being written, and this space welcomes every single chapter of who you are.

It is not too late to get your name in the drawing for our free raffle. In honor of Jimothy, the Library is hosting a free raffle with Jimothy-related items complete with his very own trash can! We are celebrating individuality and accepting our differences with this famous raccoon. Jimothy sprang to stardom after he was first filmed in Seattle in July of 2026, with his distinctive compact, round body shape likely due to short spine syndrome, a rare congenital condition. It is one entry per person, per visit. We will announce the winner on Thursday, October 29th. Good luck!

The Jamerson Library is excited to share a new collection, beginning chapter books, designed for the age and reading level between easy readers and juvenile fiction. These books are located next to the children’s Spanish collection next to the juvenile fiction collection, and carry a light blue circle on the spine label.

The Library is also expanding our Spanish language collection, located near adult graphic novels and large print fiction. As a public library, it is important that we recognize and embrace the traditions of our multicultural patrons who are calling Appomattox home.

Tuesday, October 13th, was another busy day for Library staff, we started off with a private movie time for a group of adults that needed a safe and welcoming place. If your own group needs the Library to host a creative class, movie or educational event please feel free to reach out to Director Cindy Scheu at 434.352.5340 or email her at director@jrjml.org.

Also, on Tuesday, Library Fairy MaKayla spread her wings to fly off to Pamplin for the Pamplin Depot Story & Craft Time. She featured the books “You Can Do It, Sam”, “Motor Mouse”, “The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake”, and “Make a Wish, Honey Bear!” followed by a birthday cake craft project and snacks. The next Pamplin Depot Story & Craft Time will be on Tuesday, October 20th, starting at 1:00 pm.

For the Wednesday, October 14th’s Jamerson Story & Craft Time MaKayla featured the book “We Found a Hat” by Jon Klassen. Two turtles have found a hat. The hat looks good on both of them. But there are two turtles. And there is only one hat. The kids created their own hats using crayons, stick on gems, and other embellishments while enjoying snacks.

This week was Spot the Book Bus’s final fall run at the Jamerson Library. We want to thank Spot, and A.L.I.P. for letting the Library be a part of their mission and help spread the joy of reading to everyone. Remember that you can return or donate books to the book bus program year-round at the Library, and an employee will make sure they get them.

On Thursday, October 15th, it was “chick flick” night for the Jamerson Library’s Movie Night. Featuring sisters born into a magical family, who have mostly avoided witchcraft themselves. But when a vicious boyfriend dies unexpectedly, the sisters give themselves a crash course in hard magic.

Sunday was all about growing minds, hearts and community service with Voices of Appomattox. We were honored to be chosen as a part of their first event, Trash Talk; a walk and trash pick-up around town and the assembly of the Library’s greenhouse. This greenhouse will be used for outdoor classes, gardening, outreach programs and more. The Voices of Appomattox are a collaborative youth-led CommUnity project to bring the community together, across social divides, to care for the Earth. Their vision to create a future were all flourish in a community where all are valued, accepted and celebrated. To find out more about this group please visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/voicesofappomattox.

In observance of Election Day, the Library will be closed on Tuesday, November 3rd. We will reopen for normal business hours on Wednesday, November 4th, starting at 9:30 am. The book depository located at the back of the building will remain open.

The Library will also be closed on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11th. We will reopen for normal business hours on Thursday, November 12th, starting at 9:30am. The book depository, located at the back of the building, will remain open.

The Library will be closing at 12:00pm on Wednesday, November 25th, and will be closed from Thursday, November 26th, through Saturday, November 28th, in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday. We will return to normal business hours on Monday, November 30th, starting at 9:30 am. The book depository located at the back of the building will remain open.

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.

Article/photo submitted by
Katharine G. Bloodworth
J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library

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

Picture Books

• Lighthouse Ladies: Shining a Spotlight on Hardy Heroines by Kris Coronado
• Pudding the Christmas Puppy by Emma Dodd
• Cat’s Halloween by Alison Murray
• Bluey’s Heelerween (Bluey)
• Turkeys in Disguise by Cynthia Platt
• Natasha Wing’s the Night Before the Day of the Dead (The Night Before) by Natasha Wing
• That You Are Here Is No Small Thing by Traci N. Todd
• Pete the Cat and the Bedtime Blues (Pete the Cat) by Kimberly and James Dean
• The Whale’s Tale and the Otter’s Side of the Story: a Book to Read from Front to Back and Back to Front by Kate Messner

Juvenile Graphic Novels

• Ruby the Red Fairy (Rainbow Magic: Rainbow Fairies Graphic Novel #1) by Daisy Meadows
• Amber the Orange Fairy (Rainbow Magic: Rainbow Fairies Graphic Novel #2) by Daisy Meadows
• Journey to Tomioka by Laurent Galandon

Nonfiction

• SAT Prep 2027 by the staff of the Princeton Review

Spanish Language Collection

• Carl el Mazmorrero (Carl el Mazmorrero #1) by Matt Dinniman
• El Juicio Final de Carl (Carl el Mazmorrero #2) by Matt Dinniman
• El Libro de Cocina del Anarquista de la Mazmorra (Carl el Mazmorrero #3) by Matt Dinniman

Fiction

• The Deal (Off-Campus #1) by Elle Kennedy

Juvenile Nonfiction Graphic Novels

• Destination Antarctica: the Frozen Continent Bursting with Life: a Graphic Novel by Guillame de Rémacle

Juvenile Nonfiction in Easy Readers

• Measles (Dangerous Diseases) by Rebecca Pettiford
• Whooping Cough (Dangerous Diseases) by Rebecca Pettiford

Juvenile Nonfiction

• Talking About Incarceration (21st Century Junior Library: Topics to Talk About) by Lacey Hilliard and AnneMarie McClain
• The Percussion Encyclopedia (Musical Instrument Encyclopedias) by Alexis Burling
• The Keyboard Encyclopedia (Musical InEAstrument Encyclopedias) by Brienna Rossiter

Beginning Chapter Books

• You’re a Winner, Gracie Wei (Gracie Wei #1) by Kristen Mei Chase
• You’re the Boss, Gracie Wei (Gracie Wei #2) by Kristen Mei Chase
• Venus Washington and the Birthday Blowout (Venus Washington #2) by Maisha Oso
• School for Woodland Creatures (Our Friend Hedgehog #3) by Lauren Castillo
• Bubble Town (Choose Your Own Adventure) by Tamara Ellis Smith
• Bluey: Taxi

Easy Readers

• Gus the Mushroom Dragon (Dragon Hill) by Tracey West