Reaching out beyond Appomattox. Did you know that Library’s play a huge role in tourism? “Library Tourism” is the hot buzz word that has gone viral around the world. The J Robert Jamerson Memorial Library embraces library tourism with our own unique spin. What is Library Tourism? It describes when people travel to a tourist destination and visit the library while there. Libraries are active and vibrant participants in cultural tourism, promoting the development and utilization of spaces, activities and information services within libraries. Public Libraries often store local historical and cultural information and manuscripts for the area in which they reside along with offering exhibitions and events, providing online services (for finding out more information about the area and printing boarding passes or tickets) and have reading areas that are free and open to the public. This Library uses donations and deletions to help fill these Little Free Libraries at a cost of near zero. Sharing and caring is a part of our community and civic duties as a public Library.
On Tuesday, July 8th Library Fairy MaKayla introduced the book “This Book is Perfect”! by Ron Keres as a part of the Summer Reading Story, Craft & Activity program. Finn is not like most frogs. Finn likes things clean―perfectly clean. His book is immaculate. It’s amazing. It’s PERFECT, well, according to him. But one day, an oopy, goopy mess begins to sneak its way onto Finn’s pristine pages, threatening to disrupt his perfect world. Determined to restore order, Finn embarks on a mission to fix the mess. But he soon learns that not all messes can be fixed. And not all messes should be fixed. The kids created their own comic book style journals to record their own adventures while enjoying snacks. The activity included becoming their own authors and illustrators by creating stories in a round table style collaboration of free form storytelling. If you are interested in the book it is available for checkout.
As a part of the 2025 Summer Reading Program “Color Our World”, the Library hosted a Family Story & Craft Time on July 9th. We introduced the book “This Art is for the Birds”, written and illustrated by Susan Bednarski. Alex the Crow is an artist, and his pigeon friends think his work belongs in the museum. But how will they get it there? With persistence and pigeonuity, the four friends hatch a plan to help their friend achieve his dream. The New York art world will never be the same! Each family received a copy of the book to take home! Kids enjoyed cupcakes while everyone made painted stained glass art ornaments accented with colorful beads. If this book sounds fun and you are interested in reading it, it is available for checkout at the Library. Also on Wednesday, the Library featured a movie about a magical journey of a famous nanny who helps a family remember the joy of being a child. Together with her friend a lamplighter fun is brought back to the streets of London in a celebration where everything is possible…even the impossible. Everyone who attended enjoyed refreshments.
On Thursday, July 10th the Library featured the book “When You Open a Book” written by Caroline Derlatka. *“Two children dine with mermaids, swashbuckle with pirates, and ride on the shoulders of a giant in this beautiful tale about the transportive power of reading. The dreamlike illustrations use a broad palette of bright colors and wispy textures to spark children’s imaginations, encouraging them to crack open a book and enter a world of winged dragons, musical sea creatures, and mice hanging stars on the moon.”―ForeWord Reviews. The kids used their imagination to “go to the beach” while enjoying snacks and making Beach Hut Pen Cup Holders using colored paper, crayons, colored pencils, and embellishments. If you are interested in this book, it is available for checkout.
On Saturday July 12th the Library Director held another Creative Outlet Class for adults. July’s project was to create the viral beaded plants using wire, terracotta pots, moss, and tons of beads! This program was created to allow patrons and guests who are 18+ a venue to explore their creative side through art. Our next Creative Outlet Class for Adults will be held on Saturday, August 9th starting at 11:00 am, using oil pastels for a Tree of Life. If you wish to attend you must be pre-registered online at: https://www.jrjml.org/adult-program-registration .
Calling all Hillcat Baseball fans, learn how to score free tickets at the Jamerson Memorial Library! The Hillcats are sponsoring a “Blast Off to Reading” Game on Sunday, August 17th, as they play against the Delmarva Shorebirds starting at 2:00 pm! If you are registered for the Jamerson Memorial Library’s Summer Reading Program, you can earn one of these tickets by reading for at least 30 minutes. It is one ticket per person, no exceptions, while supplies last. It is not too late to sign up online for our Summer Reading Program “Color Our World” at: https://jrjml.beanstack.com/reader365. Yes, adults are included in this promotion between the Jamerson Library and the Lynchburg Hillcats!