School starts next week, so I’ll share my long-ago story of when I started school — then you can share one with me when you come into the library!
When I started school in 1957, there was no kindergarten class at my school. Being an only child who hadn't attended preschool, I began school as a very shy first-grader. I was only 5 years old that first week of school, turning 6 the following week. I like to tell my grandkids that I was so smart I skipped kindergarten and went straight to first grade!
When my dad enrolled me, he used my legal name of Katherine, so that’s what my teacher, Mrs. Armstrong, called me. No one else in my world had ever called me Katherine. I wanted to be called Kathie, but I was too bashful to speak up. This continued through the entire year of first grade.
During the summer, I talked to my dad about not being able to speak up about my name. So, when I was enrolled for second grade, Dad talked to my teacher, Mrs. Williams, about the dilemma I had the previous year. She began the year calling me Kathie, and I was called by that name throughout school.
It might seem like a small problem to some, but it was a major hurdle for a little girl who couldn’t speak up. People who know me now know I no longer have that problem!
September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month! If you don’t have a card with your local library, this is the perfect time to get one. Texas County Library cards are free, yet priceless! You’ll need to bring both a current photo ID and proof of current address — such as canceled mail, a utility bill or a checkbook — when applying for a new card.
New books this week include "The Wanted,” fiction by Robert Crais; “The Finisher,” young adult fiction by David Baldacci; "The Journal of Otto Peltonen: A Finnish Immigrant, Hibbing, Minnesota, 1905,” juvenile Dear America book by William Durbin; and four Christian fiction novels: "A State of Grace,” and "A Distant Memory” mysteries by Traci DePree, "Portraits of the Past" by Rebecca Kelly and "Hidden History" by Melody Carlson.
It’s never too late to join our library’s Book Club! Our group reads the same book one month, discusses it the next month and picks up a new book for the following reading. There’s only one requirement to join: You must love to read!
Our next Book Club meeting is at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 12, and we’ll be discussing "The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared" by Jonas Jonasson. Plan to join us!
ONGOING ACTIVITIES
• Story Time & Craft: 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays.
• Chain Gang Crochet Club: 2 to 4 p.m. Thursdays.
• Lego Club: Any time during business hours!
• Friends of the Library: Meets at 1:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month. The next meeting will be Sept. 3.
Contact the library for more information on any activity or a suggestion for new ones!
The Summersville Friends of the Library group needs new members to continue the beneficial work our group does to help with activities for the children, adults and our community. New members are encouraged to join this active group in supporting and participating in the continuing growth of the Summersville Branch Library. “Like” the Friends’ Facebook page @SummersvilleFriendsOfTheLibrary.
Texas County Library now has e-books and audiobooks available to download for Texas County Library patrons. To view the catalog and download, go to our website: texascountylibrary.lib.mo.us, click on “e-books,” or come by the library for assistance. Texas County Library cards are required.
Summersville Library is a branch of Texas County Library and located at 480 First St., on the south side of the square, next door to Open Door in Summersville.
Business hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Summersville Branch librarians are Kathie Cox and Diana Richardson, and the Texas County library director is Louise Beasley.
Visit texascountylibrary.lib.mo.us or contact the library by phone, 417-932-5261; email, svlib@texascountylibrary.lib.mo.us; or fax, 417-932-5262. Be sure and LIKE our Texas County Library Facebook page!
