EBOOKS

Have you tried Ebooks?  We have a brochure to help you get started OVERDRIVE has updated their instructions.  Unfortunately we're not able to download Ebooks inside of the library.  If you have questions, please call the Main Library Reference Department. (843) 805-6930. 

Visit our homepage and click on "Downloadable Media" on the left side of the screen.  Then click on OVERDRIVE and the question mark.

Guess What? OverDrive features redesigned help page

A brand new OverDrive Help website launched today with updated features, including: ·   Home/Quick links: New landing page with quick links to popular categories and a search bar; ·   Videos: Help videos accessible through the search feature and navigation menu; ·   Devices: A page profiling different devices to help users understand how OverDrive works with their preferred device and operating system; and ·   Updated Links: Previous links and bookmarks within OverDrive’s help menu will change, giving users an error message. If asked, let users know not to rely on old links.

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

 

Community meetings to explain library construction/renovation proposal

Charleston County voters will consider a proposal this November to fund the renovation of existing library branches and construction of new ones, a question last on the ballot 28 years ago. To help voters understand the proposal and what it means for their neighborhoods, Charleston County Public Library is holding a series of 10 community meetings throughout the county, starting March 31.   Community Meeting dates   Map of building proposal   Building cost estimates   Timeline estimate

The building plan is a result of two years of study that included community input, a detailed survey of the library’s existing 16 branches, research into library service and technology trends plus a review of population and demographic changes since the last library referendum in 1986. Approved by 76 percent of the voters at the time, that referendum included funds to construct four regional libraries – Mt. Pleasant, Dorchester Road, St. Andrews and Otranto Road – plus the expand or construct a new Main Library. The current proposal calls for constructing four new buildings, renovating 12 existing branches and moving library support services out of the Main Library to free up that space for public use. Estimated cost to construct, renovate and relocate the 17 buildings is $103.8 million, which would cost the owner of a $100,000 owner-occupied home a maximum of $12 annually. In January, Charleston County Council agreed to put the building referendum on this November’s ballot. The proposal came after the library completed a Strategic Plan that determined the library’s buildings and services fall far behind services provided in other areas and are below standards established by the S.C. State Library for public libraries in the state. As a result, county and library staff worked with architects and engineers to do a detailed analysis of all library facilities to determine what buildings can be renovated, where new buildings should be located, what technology updates are needed and develop estimated costs. Now that the analysis is complete, it is being presented to area residents during a series of community meetings to gather input. County Council hopes to finalize the proposal and the wording for the ballot in early summer. If approved by voters, officials estimate the four new libraries could open by late 2017 or early 2018. The renovation of existing branches would be staggered, with most of it completed in 2018-2019. Studies looking at library services and buildings determined shortcomings in several areas, including the need for updated buildings, technology and the ability to provide more modernized services. Since the 1986 referendum, the county’s population has grown 27 percent while the library’s circulation soared by 289 percent in the same period. Current circulation is nearly 3.4 million items annually. Additionally, the library offered nearly 6,000 free programs, classes, exhibits, concerts and similar programs last year, attracting more than 166,000 residents. In a comparison to public library standards adopted by the S.C. State Library, CCPL fell far below the standards in multiple categories. For instance, the standards say libraries should have 1.25 square feet of public space per capita. Locally, that would equal more than 450,000 square feet of libraries to serve local residents, but CCPL’s 16 branches have 155,458 square feet or about .43 square feet per resident. In the area of technology, the state says libraries should have three public computers per 1,000 residents or more than 1,000 locally. CCPL has .9 public computers or 349 public computers. Residents unable to attend one of the community meetings can send their comments to letusknow@ccpl.org.

·    Monday, March 31 at 6 p.m. – E.B. Ellington Elementary School, Ravenel

·    Tuesday, April 1 at 6 p.m. – Main Library

·    Wednesday, April 2 at 6 p.m. – Dorchester Road Regional

·    Thursday, April 3 at 6 p.m. – John’s Island Regional

·    Sunday, April 6 at 2 p.m. – West Ashley Branch

·    Sunday, April 6 at 4 p.m. – James Island Branch

·    Monday, April 7 at 6 p.m. – Otranto Road Regional

·    Wednesday, April 9 at 6 p.m. – St. Andrews Regional

·    Thursday, April 10 at 6 p.m. – Mt. Pleasant Regional

·    Monday, April 21 at 6 p.m. – Dunes West Golf Club, Mt. Pleasant


 Click here for information on the plans and estimates.

We hope you'll be able to attend one of the meetings. 
Thanks for reading.

WHAT IS "STAR"?

Have you noticed on our calendars the STAR Therapy dogs visit once a month?  What are Star Therapy Dogs and what do they do?
"STAR" stands for Southeastern Therapy Animal Resources.  This organization promotes the use of trained animals in a variety of settings.  They visit hospitals, nursing homes, schools and libraries.  They provide training for the handlers and the animals.  An animal must be friendly to be eligible.
At the Mt. Pleasant Regional Library the dogs are here to encourage reading.  Children read to the dogs and feel comfortable in that setting. 
If you're interested in learning more about STAR there will be a spring training.  Here is a link to their website for more information.
      

STAR’s 2014 Spring Workshop

As you know, there are many ways to become a therapy team. For more than ten years, STAR has offered an introductory workshop that many have found helpful. Here are the details of our upcoming spring workshop.

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Date: Saturday, May 3, 2014
Place: Franke Home at Seaside, Mount Pleasant.  (We will furnish driving directions.)
Time: 10:00   a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with an hour break for lunch.
Cost: $35.00 per team of handler and dog, or $15.00 per auditor (without dog).
Content -- we will try to answer many of the most commonly asked questions, such as:

• What exactly do therapy dogs do? (You will be surprised at the variety.)
• What kind of facility would best suit us? (We’ll show you what questions to ask.)

• What makes a good therapy team? (They’re not all alike, but there are key traits.)
• What registry should we join? (We’ll lay out the various options – you decide.) Interested? Ask us for more details.

For information, call Cynthia King (884-5385) or Barbara Dengler (849-8201), or send an e-mail to fluffydogtherapy@comcast.net (Barbara).

The STAR Therapy dogs will be at Mt. Pleasant Regional Library Saturday, April 19, 10:30-11:30.
Stop by and see them.

Thanks for reading.

 

APRIL CALENDAR

Here is the April Calendar for the Mt. Pleasant Regional Library.  Mark the events on your calendar.

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

LIBRARY BOARD MEETINGS

 

Did you know that the public is invited to attend Library Board meetings?  Below is the schedule for the remainder of the year.  Please contact the Main Library for further information.

(843) 805-6930

 

 

 

Upcoming Library Board Meetings

Library Board meetings are held for the purpose of conducting business necessary for the operations of the public library system in Charleston County. These meetings are scheduled for the 4th Tuesday at 5:15 pm, except where altered by public holiday or anticipated deadlines for action. The public is welcome to attend.   

Board Meeting Dates 2014:

The Library Board will meet at 5:15 p.m. on the following dates:  March 25  - Meeting at Main Library Auditorium April 22  - Meeting at Dorchester Regional Library May 27 - Meeting at Main Library Auditorium June 24  - Meeting at Otranto Road Regional Library August 26  - Meeting at St. Andrews Regional Library September 23  - Meeting at Main Library Auditorium October 28  - Meeting at Main Library Auditorium November 25 - Meeting at John’s Island Regional Library  Thanks for reading.

HELP YOUR LIBRARY

Help the library when you shop on Amazon

Ever wish your holiday dollars could go a little further? If you’re a frequent Amazon shopper, you now can do some special holiday shopping and make a donation to the Friends of the Charleston County Library.

Through the AmazonSmile web page, you get the same Amazon deals and the AmazonSmile Foundation donates .5 percent of the purchase price to your favorite charity. The Friends of the Charleston County Library is a registered charitable organization with Amazon, so it’s a great way to help the library without spending anything extra.   To take advantage of this option, you need to access Amazon through the web address – http://smile.amazon.com. You’ll be prompted to login and select a charity. There are more than one million charities registered with the site. After making a selection, you’re transferred to a page with the familiar-looking Amazon layout, and your shopping experience is the same. To make sure your charity continues to receive donations, you must use the special AmazonSmile web page each time, so don’t forget to bookmark the page.   It’s a great way to make your money go further and to make a difference in your community. For more information, check out these details about AmazonSmile.         Thanks for reading.

CHARLESTON TELLS

"To be a person is to have a story to tell." - Isak Dinesen

About Charleston Tells

What is Storytelling?Storytelling festivals bring communities together around the world. As one of the oldest forms of communication, the act of one person sharing a story is the simple truth behind enduring cultures, traditions, ideas, memories, beliefs and values.

"Storytelling is an art with a rich heritage as deep as Charleston's." - Charleston Major Joseph P. Riley Jr.

What is Charleston Tells? Charleston Tells is an annual storytelling festival that brings the best local, regional and national talent together to celebrate the art of storytelling, the human experience, and the Lowcountry's rich heritage. Charleston Tells Storytelling Festival is set for March 14-15, 2014, under the moss draped oaks of Wragg Square in historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Storytellers will captivate the audience as they offer stories that touch our souls, make us laugh, bring us to tears and fill us with wonder. Special events are also planned for families as a way to introduce children to this ancient and revered art form. Charleston Tells is much more than a once-a-year celebration. The Festival will last throughout the year with events held at local libraries and community locations to help introduce local residents to the art of storytelling and to showcase the talents of our best local and regional storytellers. Whether a storyteller is sharing a childhood memory, the history of the Gullah culture, a humorous slice of life or a spooky tale of a wandering ghost, Charleston Tells is sure to become an annual tradition for children of all ages. Charleston's blend of Southern charm, rich heritage and deep-rooted respect for oral history makes it the perfect venue to bring local residents and visitors together for this shared human experience. After all, Charleston's allure and historic charm prompted readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine to name this South Carolina coastal city as their 2013 Top U.S. City and 2012 Top Destination in the World, and Travel + Leisure Magazine to name it the World's Best City in the United States and Canada. Get your tickets now, and join us. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the art of storytelling, the bond from a shared human experience and the rich heritage of Charleston’s Lowcountry. Thanks for reading

OTRANTO BOOK SALE

CCPL'S Book Sales are a great place to find children's books, DVDs and cookbooks. A lot of the books look brand new and could certainly be used as gifts.  Find a special book for the book lover in your life! The location is 2261 Otranto RD, North Charleston.  The library is right off Rivers Avenue behind KMART.     Preview FOL’s Otranto Road Regional Library Book Sale this Thursday

CCPL staff are invited to the Charleston Friends of the Library’s pre-event book thisThursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Otranto Road Regional Library. The event, usually only for members, is a preview of the public book sale Friday and Saturday. The preview sale gives shoppers the first look at a fresh selection of fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, CDs, DVDs and more. Those interested in joining the Friends can sign up online or at the sale.

Public hours for the Otranto Road Regional Book Sale are:   ·   Friday, March 7 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. ·   Saturday, March 8 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Prices start at 50 cents, and the selection features fiction, non-fiction and more.  Cash, credit cards and checks are accepted, and proceeds benefit the Charleston County Public Library. Any unsold materials are donated to area non-profits at the end of the event. For more information, check out the Friends’ event page on Facebook, call Emily Everett at 805-6882 or email director@charlestonlibraryfriends.org. Thanks for reading.

HELP!

We need your help.  Our paperback cart is nearly empty and we need your donations.  Please bring paperbacks in good condition to the circulation desk.
People really enjoy the paperbacks because there are no due dates or overdue fines.
If you've never noticed the cart, it's located next to the photocopier. It is filled with all sorts of paperbacks from donations.


Thanks for reading.