November comes from the Latin word novem, “nine,” because this had been the ninth month in the early Roman calendar. Although it is our eleventh month, the name has never changed. November’s birthstone is the yellow topaz, and the flower is the chrysanthemum. Some observances in November are: Adopt A Senior Pet Month, American Indian Heritage Month, Banana Pudding Lovers Month, National Diabetes Month, National Family Literacy Month, and World Vegan Month just to name a few.
With the current circumstances across the country, the Library is asking patrons to “Think Beyond the Can.” The Library is asking patrons to consider putting together Dollar Tree Pantry Meals, and provide shelf-stable items like milk, bags of beans and rice, boxed meals, potato and rice mixes, peanut butter, jelly, just add water mixes, canned and pouch meats, birthday cake boxes, and other creative ideas to ensure that local families in need are taken care of during these economically challenging times. We will be listing resources, creative ideas, website links, and other information in the upcoming weeks on our own website, and other social media accounts. You can visit 211 Virginia at: https://211virginia.org/ to get connected for extra help. Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is at https://foodfinder.brafb.org/ to seek more help. Dollar Tree Pantry Meals are at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26y9Jyy2xQc for some creative ways to cook or donate at the Library. The Library will be printing recipes from the Dollar Tree Pantry Meals for patrons to pick up so that they can shop, pack, add the recipe card, and donate directly to us for redistribution.
It was BIGFOOT week at the Library! Patrons had the opportunity to get their photo taken at the Bigfoot photo booth and pick up craft projects and activity sheets. Bigfoot’s footprints were found throughout the Library, including the large print section.
Craig York, voice actor and Library employee, presented a reading of the classic tale “The Cask of Amontillado,” a short story by Edgar Allen Poe on Tuesday, October 21st. This was the last of a three-part series to introduce haunting tales by this famous American writer, poet, editor and literary critic.
Getting into the spirit of Halloween! For Wednesday, October 22nd’s Family Story & Craft Time an employee read the book “My Monsterpiece” by Amalia Hoffman. What’s the SCARIEST, MEANEST, most TERRIBLE monster you can imagine? The kids enjoyed making their own artistic interpretation of a monster using precut monster parts, googly eyes, glue, glitter and other embellishments while enjoying snacks. Everyone family who showed up received a hardback copy of the book to take home! Our next Story & Craft Time will be on Wednesday, October 29th, starting at 11:00 am and 12:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend with the understanding that this program is intended for preschool patrons.
Also, on Wednesday, the Library hosted their Cookbook Book Club featuring the theme almost homemade. Library employee Katharine Bloodworth introduced her copy of the book “Almost Homemade” by Gooseberry Patch. Her recipes including green bean salad and crescent chive rolls. Patrons were given the opportunity to talk about their own cookbooks, sample each other’s dishes, and exchange recipes. Due to holiday observances and closings, the staff will be taking a break from Cookbook Book Club until next spring. If you are interested in being emailed reminders about upcoming Cookbook Book Club meetings please email Katharine at jmladultprograms@jrjml.org .
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and on Thursday, October 23rd, a witness advocate from the County office was at the Jamerson Library to offer information and resources on domestic violence and advocacy information.
On Thursday, Library Fairy MaKayla traded in her fairy wings for bat wings for the After School Crafts with MaKayla. This month’s Bad Art theme was “Haunted House,” the kids enjoyed snacks while creating spooky houses using a variety of craft supplies.
Again, on Thursday, ACLA (Appomattox County Library Association) held their first meeting, this was a casual gathering to see if there was any interest in re-establishing volunteers and fundraising on behalf of the Library. ACLA was established in 1999 as a 501(c)(3) friends of the library style group with a mission statement of fundraising, providing volunteers, applying for grants and making special purchases for this Library. ACLA is a separate entity from Library Board. ACLA is its own organization, with its own board, for the purpose of supporting the Library under their own mission statement. If you are interested in joining ACLA please email Jenny at acla@jrjml.org .
On Saturday, October 25th the Library Director and an employee were guest vendors at the American Museum of the Civil War’s Fall Festival. They had fun passing out free books, bubbles, coloring sheets, craft projects, the latest Library newsletter, and other library-related information.
Don’t fear the reader raffle, or the Library staff! For the past several weeks you may have noticed Library staff walking around with “Don’t Fear The Reader” t-shirts. We love these t-shirts so much that we are hosting a free raffle to win one of these shirts. We will announce the winners on Thursday, October 30th. It is one chance per patron, per visit.
In observation of Election Day, the Library will be closed on Tuesday, November 4th. We will reopen for normal business hours on Wednesday, November 5th, starting at 9:30 am. The book drop, located at the back of the building, will remain open.
In observation of Veterans Day, the Library will be closed on Tuesday, November 11th. We will reopen for normal business hours on Wednesday, November 12th, starting at 9:30 am. The book drop, located at the back of the building, will remain open.
In observation of the Thanksgiving Holiday the Library will be closed from Wednesday, November 26th, through Friday, November 28th. We will reopen normal business hours on Saturday, November 29th, starting at 9:30 am. The book drop, 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.