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

New Kid’s Books by Authors of Color

Zombie Stories for Tweens

Readers are Leaders in the St. Stephen Summer Reading Program

Impacting the Community

Mark Anthony Holden, BS Degree with Honors – Biology Adjunct Faculty, Tutor at Florence Darlington Technical College & ER Scribe at McLeod Hospital in Florence, SC.

Written by: Tharin Nolte | Mobile Outreach Clerk

Mark-Anthony Holden and his mother, Lisa Holden-Smalls are familiar faces at the St. Stephen Library. Mrs. Holden-Smalls gave the library staff a flyer that states “Readers are leaders in the St. Stephen Summer Reading Program”. Mrs. Holden-Smalls credits participation in the Summer Reading Program as a key in her son’s success story. Mark-Anthony recently graduated from Francis Marion University with his Bachelors’ of Science Degree with Honors in Biology. He currently works as Adjunct Faculty, a tutor at Florence-Darlington Technical College. He is also an Emergency Room Scribe at McLeod Hospital in Florence, SC where he works in the Emergency Department of the hospital. His duties include 6 overseeing the documentation of each patient’s visit to the Emergency Department, and he acts as the physician’s personal

assistant. He is now applying to medical school, and he proudly displays every Summer Reading medal he has ever earned right next to his Bachelors’ Degree! Mark-Anthony is just one person who has been positively influenced by the library – imagine how many others are just like Mark-Anthony!

Smalls proudly displays his Summer Reading Metals on his framed college degree.

Library provides ‘toolbox’ for children with communication barriers

Library provides ‘toolbox’ for children with communication barriers

By Rickey Ciapha Dennis Jr. rdennis@berkeleyind.com  

While the library is typically a quiet place, Berkeley County is making an exception. Florence Lewis-Coker, the branch coordinator at the county’s main library in Moncks Corner, invited a group of

Tamiesha Jackson, an early intervention specialist at Berkeley Citizens, looks through sensory games at the library’s Young Learner’s Toolbox. The photo was taken by Rickey Dennis, Berkeley Ind.

early intervention professionals to the library to spread the word about a new learning epicenter called the Young Learner’s Toolbox. About two years ago, the library received a grant to create a place where children with learning, language or communication barriers can obtain out-of-school, hands-on learning experience. The center features stacks of multi-sensory toys, learning kits and IPads. It also has open space for young children to play freely with the novelties. “I have been thinking of how I can make a difference in the life of a child with autism,” Lewis-Coker said.

Children with autism typically have communication challenges and struggle with social interactions. They often have delays in areas of development, such as learning to talk, Lewis-Coker said. The Learner’s Toolbox will ensure that such children are given the tools they need to develop vital skills. Local behavioral specialists said the center would be beneficial for their patients. “We’re going to get some ideas and maybe have the families to come…bring their kids here and work with some of these things,” said Becky Pettgrew, an early intervention specialist with Berkeley Citizens. “We take some [tools] into their homes. But to have the kids come to the library to work on this is a difference…they can work with other kids.”

Elizabeth Harvey with ABC Therapies said the program could voice a larger message. Typically, Harvey said, parents are leery about bringing special needs children to public places like church or the library where they are supposed to be quiet. “Those families become isolated. They don’t know where they’re welcome because the behaviors [are] very unpredictable,” Harvey said. The Learner’s Toolbox could be a place where ‘everyone is welcome’ and children can express themselves freely. “[The library] wants to meet everybody’s unique learning needs,” Harvey said. According to Lewis-Coker, Berkeley County Library System is the only county in the state with such a program and could serve as a prototype for other counties.

Brittney Reynolds with Berkeley Citizens examines playful objects at the YLT. This photo was taken by Rickey Dennis from the Berkeley Ind.

 Content from the local newspaper, Berkeley Independent.

BlueChoice® HealthPlan Partnership with BCLS

Written by Catherine Turner, Marketing Intern

At the Berkeley County Library System (BCLS), we believe in enriching the lives of the people in our surrounding community. BlueChoice® HealthPlan of South Carolina has a similar mission: to provide affordable health care options to South Carolinians. In the end, both organizations arrive at a related purpose: improving the lives of our customers and meeting their needs with specialized services. That’s why we’re excited to partner with BlueChoice® HealthPlan for a family event, “Trunk or Treat with Love”, on Saturday, October 21st, from 4-6 pm.

BlueChoice® HealthPlan knows how to combine fun and education. Visitors to the event will receive free giveaways, healthy snacks, and health screenings. Literature in both English and Spanish will be available. Kids and adults can enjoy the Interactive Activity Zone, featuring an activity table and oversize games. And don’t forget the face painting, bead making, and storytelling!

This event will be held at the Moncks Corner Library, next to the Berkeley County Administration Building. Whether visitors are looking for health advice, medical information, or a fun family activity, they’ll find it at “Trunk or Treat with Love.”

 

Constitution Day @ Your Library

Gene and Mr Retz_constitution game

Berkeley County Library Director Gene Brunson with Mr. James Retz, Library Board Member who generously donated The Constitution Quest game for every library branch.

Written by Catherine Turner, Marketing Intern

During the summer of 1787, in a stuffy hall in Philadelphia, fifty-five men wrote, argued, discussed, and compiled the Constitution of the United States of America. On September 17th, 1787, thirty-nine delegates signed the document. One of these signers was Charleston’s own Charles Pinckney, one of the founding fathers. But why does a document from over two-hundred years ago matter to us today? It’s more important than knowing the answer to a Jeopardy question.

The Constitution defines the powers of each branch of the federal government – executive, judicial, and legislative. By designing a system of checks and balances for each, the founding fathers established a balance of power between the government and its citizens. By learning about the Constitution, Americans can know the laws that keep their personal freedoms in place.

 

So how can you learn about what’s in the Constitution? Mr. Jim Retz, a Berkeley County Library Board Member, donated several copies of the board game “The Constitution Quest” to the library system. This game is designed for teens and adults – perfect for preparing for the questions to that history test or simply learning for the sake of learning! You can stop by any Berkeley County Library System branch on Saturday, Sept. 16th, to try your hand at the trivia. These games may be available to check out and take home to play with friends and family, be sure to ask your library branch if their game is set up to “checkout.”

While you’re there, browse the stacks for resources for all ages about the founding of our country. If you’re on the go or can’t make into a branch, check out our great e-resources! Wherever you are, your library is available to help you make the most of Constitution Day 2017.