Holiday Spirit, Community Service, and Grinchy Vibes

Catch the Holiday Spirit and let your heart grow up to 3x as large at the Jamerson Library! We have lots of love and outreach to share with the community! You can be a part of it all by participating in or attending one of our many programs.

Grinch Kisses & Christmas Candy Counting Contest, get down with the green! Guess the number of candies, including the Grinch kisses, for a chance to win our Christmas Candy Counting Contest! The person who comes the closest without going over will win a t-shirt and the candy. There will be two runner-ups, who will win a t-shirt. We will announce the winners on Wednesday, December 17th, in the morning. In the event of a tie, we will draw for the winners. It is one guess per person, per visit.

There is box for the St. Anne’s Community Christmas Tree outreach near the circulation desk for patrons to bring in lightly used and new gifts for children from preschool through high school age. St. Anne’s works with other local churches to help provide Christmas gifts for families in need. If you have an extra toy, blanket, socks, coloring books, art supplies, books, clothes, or other such items you are encouraged to donate, and help spread the Christmas Spirit throughout Appomattox.

The Library is also accepting donations of Meal in a Bag Kits, which will be distributed to households throughout our community to help ensure that every family has access to a warm and nourishing meal during the holidays. Donations may be dropped off at the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library during regular business hours. If you would like to participate, the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library has a box of gallon-sized zipper bags with recipe cards in them, so all you have to do is fill the bag and return it to the library. For a list of suggested items and sample recipes, please visit our website at: https://www.jrjml.org/tbtc/ to view the Meal in a Bag recipe cards.

If know of, or are someone interested in receiving a selection of Meal in a Bag Kits you must register your family online at: https://www.jrjml.org/finr or call us. The Library will be in contact with you when the Meal in a Bag Kits are available for you to pick up. In addition we will be distributing totes of meal kits to some area food banks. For a list of local are area resources please visit: https://www.jrjml.org/tbtc.

Our gift to you! If you have a valid Library Card in good standing, from the Jamerson Memorial Library it gives you free access to kanopy! What is kanopy? kanopy is an online streaming venue that hosts thousands of films for free to our patrons! You can start streaming the moment you sign up using your card! kanopy has partnered with us to bring you ad-free films and series that can be enjoyed on your TV, mobile phone, tablet, and online. You can visit the Jamerson Library’s kanopy service at: https://www.kanopy.com/en/jamerson.

On Wednesday, December 3rd, it as “beavermania” as the Library welcomed Ranger Chance from Holliday Lake as our guest reader for our weekly Story & Craft Time. Ranger Chance read the book “Three Little Beavers” by Jean H. Diehl. Beatrix the beaver longs to be good at something. Her brother, Bevan, is an expert at repairing the lodge with mud and twigs. Her sister, Beverly, is a superb swimmer and underwater gymnast. What makes Beatrix stand out? The kids enjoyed making beaver paper bag puppets while enjoying snacks. Our next Story & Craft Time will on Wednesday, December 10th, 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.

On Thursday, December 4th, ACLA (Appomattox County Library Association) hosted the first of their “Wrapping for a Cause” fundraisers to support the Jamerson Memorial Library. ACLA members, volunteers and a Library staff member wrapped holiday gifts with beautiful bows in exchange for a monetary donation. All monetary donations will be used to help the Library fund special purchases, programs, guest speakers and more. If you would like to have your packages wrapped, their next Wrapping for a Cause will be on Saturday, December 13th, in the Library’s community room from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Support your local Library by supporting ACLA’s gift wrapping efforts.

On Saturday, December 6th Library Director Mrs. Cindy Scheu held a Christmas Creative Class for adults in the community room. Those that attended turned Christmas cards into ornaments by tracing out rounds, folding and gluing. Our next Creative Class for Adults will be on Saturday, January 10th, starting at 10:00 am. You may register online at: https://www.jrjml.org/adult-program-registration.

Library staff members participated in the Moose Lodge’s “Santa’s Crafty Pizza Party” on Saturday, December 6th. The kids got to make Christmas ornaments with us! Each child was giving two ornaments to embellish, one to leave on the tree, one to take home. The Library provided a bonus Christmas craft project for the kids. There was pizza, pictures with Santa, ID Kits and more! The Library loves being invited to be a part of community events!

For parents who registered their children for the Neighborhood Forest’s Fall Indoor Plant Program, the succulent kits have arrived at the Library. You may pick up your succulent kits at the Library until Friday, December 12th, during normal business hours. We will be reaching out by sending reminder emails and phone calls. Any succulent kits not picked up after this date will find new homes or be adopted out at the next plant swap.

In observation of the Christmas Holiday, the Library will be closed from Wednesday, December 24th, through Friday, December 26th. We will reopen for normal business hours on Saturday, December 27th, 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.

Article/Photo Submitted by
Katharine G. Bloodworth
J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library

The Library receives a steady supply of new and donated items, we would like to highlight the following DVDs:
Flow
Elio
Star Trek: Section 31
Thunderbolts* The New Avengers
The Fantastic 4: First Steps

Community Calendar

December 10th, Wednesday – Preschool Story & Craft Time at the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library starting at 11:00 am and 12:00 pm. The Library will feature an age-appropriate book followed by a simple craft project and snacks. Everyone is welcome to attend with the understanding that this program is intended for preschool patrons.

December 10th, Wednesday – Jamerson Library’s Teen Book Club starting at 3:30 pm in the community room. This month’s featured book is “The Enchanted Sonata”, written by Heather Dixon Wallwork. Clara Stahlbaum has her future perfectly planned: marry the handsome pianist, Johann Kahler (ah!), and settle down to a life full of music. But all that changes on Christmas Eve, when Clara receives a mysterious and magical nutcracker. Whisked away to his world–an enchanted empire of beautiful palaces, fickle fairies, enormous rats, and a prince–Clara must face a magician who uses music as spells…and the future she thought she wanted. “The Enchanted Sonata,” a retelling of The Nutcracker Ballet with a dash of The Pied Piper, it will captivate readers of all ages. There are multiple copies available at the circulation desk.

December 10th, Wednesday – Jamerson Library Christmas Movie starting at 5:30pm in the community room. After a villain kidnaps Santa from the North Pole, an E.L.F (Extremely Large and Formidable) operative must partner with the world’s most accomplished tracker to find Santa and save Christmas. This Movie is rated PG–13. Free refreshments will be provided.

December 11th, Thursday – Girls Who Code at the Jamerson Library starting at 4:00 pm in the community room. Girls Who Code is a club designed to help young women learn about science, technology, engineering, and math and how they integrate into their everyday lives. The Jamerson GWC club welcomes new members from 3rd grade to 12th grade. Please register at https://www.jrjml.org/girlswhocoderegistration/.

December 11th, Thursday – Jamerson Library’s Adult Book Club starting at 5:30 pm in the Library’s community room! This month’s book selection is “The Blind Contessa’s New Machine” by Carey Wallace. Carolina Fantoni, a young contessa in 19th-century Italy, is going blind, but nobody believes her: neither her parents nor her fiancé, the town’s most sought-after bachelor. Only her friend Turri, the eccentric local inventor, understands. But as darkness erases her world, Carolina discovers one place she can still see — in her dreams. In them, she can not only see, but fly, exploring new worlds in her own mind. Based on the true story of the blind woman who inspired the invention of the typewriter. We have multiple copies of this book to borrow and return on your honor. Please see a friendly staff member at the circulation desk to obtain a copy.

December 13th, Saturday – Wrapping for a Cause starting at 10:00 am in the Library’s community room. Support ACLA’s (Appomattox County Library Association) members, friends, family and volunteers as they wrap your holiday packages in exchange for a monetary donation. All funds raised will be used to support the Jamerson Memorial Library through this 501(c)(3) friends of the library-style organization.

December 15th, Monday – GED Outreach @ the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library. From 1:00pm–3:00pm. Doriane Mills from the Adult Learning Center will be at the Library to answer your questions and help you sign-up for classes to earn your GED.

December 16th, Tuesday – Wrapping for a Cause starting at 5:00 pm in the Library’s community room. Support ACLA’s (Appomattox County Library Association) members, friends, family and volunteers as they wrap your holiday packages in exchange for a monetary donation. All funds raised will be used to support the Jamerson Memorial Library through this 501(c)(3) friends of the library-style organization.

December 17th, Wednesday – Preschool Story & Craft Time at the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library starting at 11:00 am and 12:00 pm. The Library will feature an age-appropriate book followed by a simple craft project and snacks. Everyone is welcome to attend with the understanding that this program is intended for preschool patrons.

December 17th, Wednesday – Jamerson Library’s Cookies With Santa! Parents and guardians bring the kids out to meet Santa Claus! Enjoy cookies and juice or milk in the community room from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Don’t forget to bring a camera or your phone to capture some great family memories at the local Library!

December 18th, Thursday – Hot Chocolate and Legos at the Jamerson Library from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the community room. Due to an early-release school day, the Library will be providing hot chocolate, snacks and Lego fun for students of all ages.

December 18th, Thursday – Wrapping for a Cause starting at 5:00 pm in the Library’s community room. Support ACLA’s (Appomattox County Library Association) members, friends, family and volunteers as they wrap your holiday packages in exchange for a monetary donation. All funds raised will be used to support the Jamerson Memorial Library through this 501(c)(3) friends of the library-style organization.

December 19th, Friday – Hot Chocolate and Legos at the Jamerson Library from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the community room. Due to an early-release school day, the Library will be providing hot chocolate, snacks and Lego fun for students of all ages.

December 20th, Saturday – Wrapping for a Cause starting at 10:00 am in the Library’s community room. Support ACLA’s (Appomattox County Library Association) members, friends, family and volunteers as they wrap your holiday packages in exchange for a monetary donation. All funds raised will be used to support the Jamerson Memorial Library through this 501(c)(3) friends of the library-style organization.

December 24th, Wednesday – Library Closed, no Story & Craft Time.

December 25th, Thursday – Library Closed.

December 26th, Friday – Library Closed.

December 31, Wednesday – No Story & Craft Time.