Cane Bay Library Grand Opening

Free Jazz Concert at the Moncks Corner Library with Local Vocalist Alterea Baxter and Friends

Join vocalist Alterea Baxter and friends for a special performance with the Berkeley County Library System. They will be singing classical R&B, Jazz, and Soul.

Assembly Room of the Berkeley County Administration Building (next to the Moncks Corner Library)
Saturday, March 17th, 4 – 5 pm

About Alterea:

Vocalist Alterea Baxter, of Charleston, SC, has been capturing her audience for thirty-five years. Alterea’s appeared on Lowcountry Live as a guest performer with JBS R&B Duo. Alterea can be seen performing with various local bands such as True Concept Reggae Band where they participated in “Save More Kids” Annual Galla 2016. Alterea can be seen performing as “Vocalist & Friends” consisting of Sherylyn (Dee Dee) Johnson, Ernest Brown & Terrence Bryant.

Alterea has also been a guest performer for Fall Reggae Feast 2016 at Music Farm in Charleston, SC.

Alterea has performed from North Myrtle Beach, North Carolina, Savannah Georgia, Atlanta Georgia to Panama City Florida, opening for such guests as, Bobby Blue Bland, Roy C, Eddie Cornelius, and Drifters. Alterea comes from a musical background of local musicians within her family.

She enjoys singing Jazz, R&B, Reggae, and Blues as well as Country. Alterea has been groomed in her vocal abilities by the late Mrs. June Bonner of the Dock Street Theater in Charleston, SC. Alterea has put her vocal style to use with various musical leaders such as Joey Morant, Howard Brown, Oscar Rivers and various artist in the Low Country. You can see her at many local venues in Charleston as well as Little Italy Restaurant in Savannah Georgia, My place/Gulla Quezin, sharing her passion for music with others as well as promoting events with her manager. Terrence Bryant of TNT Entertainment.

See more about Alterea, follow her on Facebook. 

[bio provided by artist]

Teaching Tech and Touching Lives

Teaching Tech and Touching Lives

Hear how one customer has been impacted while attending Technology Classes with BCLS staff member, Aubrey.

“Even when stranded at home with my car in the shop, I feel very thankful to Ms. Aubrey Carson, the technology instructor at my Berkeley Public Library System, for teaching me how to watch a movie on the library site! She taught me how to use my cell phone, how to navigate the internet on it, and on my laptop especially pointing out their different specific usage!

Coming to Ms. Aubrey’s sessions has opened up a new world that was hidden by my inability to catch up with the quick and forever changing technology! I have learned so much that I am now not only referring others to Ms. Aubrey but teaching them what I’ve learned! Ms. Aubrey is very patient, passionate, and such a symbol of what my Library System stands for! Ms. Aubrey has such an ability to translate any question that I have quickly into what I meant to ask with such an amazing, calm manner! I take notes to practice at home!

I originally came to Ms. Aubrey when I failed a much-needed refresher course that would have helped me return to the workforce! Ms. Aubrey, calmly reminded me that I was able to learn, and the fact that I came to the library sessions for assistance was proof enough for her! She was very encouraging, and she researched educational sites for me to practice. She would sit next to me or kneel by my chair to make sure that I was navigating correctly!

Noticing how she allowed me to ask questions even when I used everyday words, I felt more at ease, especially seeing how she was able to decipher them and to brilliantly turn them into technological ones! I then began to keep notes in my trusted notebook so I could practice at home! I was horrified when I lost that notebook, but I quickly obtained another one and caught up! I passed the didactic portion but had not finished the course due to a setback, but when I informed her, she simply said: “I know you are going back to finish”…and I am!

I could go on and on praising Aubrey and her ability to teach the sessions, that it would take pages and pages to describe how every session spent with her went, whether I am the only person or others are present! At times I wished no one else had signed up just so that I could have her all to myself because for however long a session would last, she would still ask if someone had an unanswered question!

Ms. Aubrey is to be highly praised for her role in enriching the minds of our citizens through the Berkeley Library System, and I feel very privileged to have her teach me. Everyone thinks that I am so smart, and it’s because of her!”

~ Nicole L.

Holiday Happenings @Your BCLS Libraries for Christmas 2017

Berkeley County Library invites you to help us celebrate the season with us. We are hosting an array of programs and events for all ages this holiday season to help get you in the spirit. Check it out:

Pictures with Santa

Santa is almost ready for his travels around the world, but before he takes right a visit to the library is in store. Photos with Santa will be available for purchase at $5.00 a page. You can create your

Bring your own camera for free photos or you can purchase a sheet of photos for $5 from the Friends of the Library.

own package. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Berkeley County Library System.

Moncks Corner Library
Monday, Dec. 11th, 10:30 am – 12 noon

St. Stephen Library
Monday, Dec. 11th, 3 – 4:30 pm

Daniel Island Library
Thursday, Dec. 14th, 10:30 – 12 noon

Hanahan Library
Thursday, Dec. 14th, 2:30 – 4 pm

Goose Creek Library
Friday, Dec. 15th, 10:30 am – 12 noon

Sangaree Library
Friday, Dec. 15th, 3 – 4:30 pm

Crafts for the Family

Christmas Card Upcycle Drop-in Craft | Stop by the Goose Creek Library for a drop-in craft, and create a picture of a Christmas Tree by re-purposing Christmas cards! While supplies last.

Goose Creek LibraryMonday, Dec. 18th, 10 am – until

Christmas Cheer | Bring the whole family and come celebrate the holiday season at your library with crafts and snacks.

Sangaree Library
Monday, Dec. 18th, 3:30 – 4:30 pm

Christmas Craft: Stone Painting | Love finding rocks in your community? Come in and paint a stone to give to your loved one as a Christmas gift or to hide for someone to find for the holidays.

Moncks Corner Library
Wednesday, Dec. 20th, 2 – 4 pm

Holiday Movies

Holiday Movie Matinée | Bring the whole family and come get in the holiday spirit with a free Christmas movie at your library. We will be watching “Shrek the Halls” and be having fun with Christmas themed snacks.

Hanahan Library
Thursday, Dec. 21st, 1 – 3 pm

Movies on Main with the Town of Moncks Corner | Celebrate the Season with BCLS and the Town of Moncks Corner with an outdoor Christmas movie at the Moncks Corner Regional Recreation Complex on Main Street. Movies are free to attend. Bring a chair or blanket. Food truck concessions will be available (no coolers please).

The Polar Express – Saturday, Dec. 9th, 7 pm

Elf – Saturday, Dec. 16th, 7 pm

How the Grinch Stole Christmas – Saturday, Dec. 23rd, 7 pm

Friends of Berkeley County Library Celebrate #GivingTuesday

When you give to the Friends, it stays in your community!

Written by Kristen Lanier, Marketing and PR Coordinator for BCLS, Liason for Friends of Berkeley County Library System and Friends of BCLS

According to the website for the national movement, “#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. One of the best ways to get involved is in your own community.”

The Friends of BCLS is included online in the #GivingTuesday directory found on givingtuesday.org. This November 28th, join the movement and give – whether it’s some of your time, a donation, gift or the power of your voice in your local community, every little bit counts!

Donate Money | Donors who wish to give a monetary donation can visit givingtuesday.org and select the Friends of Berkeley County Library System in the directory or they can go straight to the Friends’ website and make a donation. (If you search for Moncks Corner, SC, you will also see the Friends in the nonprofits participating).

Donate Time | If you would like to give your time, the Friends have several upcoming events including a craft show with the Berkeley County Government, 3 outdoor movies with the Town of Moncks Corner on Saturdays this December, photos with Santa at all the 6 library branches, and serving as Santa’s elves at Santee Cooper’s Celebrate the Season festival. If you would like to know more about any of these events or other ways you can get involved and give your time, please email the Friend’s president, Sue Kelley, at folbcls@gmail.com.

Donate Your Voice | If you are not able to give time or money to the Friends, the power of your voice can still make an impact. Please LIKE the Friends on Facebook and share your story about how the library has impacted your life or share their message with your Friends.

Every Little Bit Helps!

The Friends of BCLS is an incorporated non-profit organization of volunteers. We promote, enhance, and support the Berkeley County Library System to bring all the exciting, involving, inspiring programs our county’s residents both need…and deserve.

Money is raised through membership fees, corporate incentives, Friends’ book sale shelves at each library and special fundraising events. Funds from the Friends help support programs and initiatives for children, teens, and adults including the Summer Reading Program and the Winter Reading Program.