Winston County Journal

The Winston County Library is busy - it has an average circulation of 4,042 items per month, with an average attendance of 4,025 patrons per month.

These statistics were among the information librarian Beth Edwards presented to the Louisville Board of Alderman during the board's March 15 meeting.

The information covers the period between October 2004, the beginning of the library's fiscal year, and now. Since October, 20,012 itmes have been checked out of the Winston County Library, and 20,128 patrons have visited the facility.

The computers at the library, Edwards said, have had 2,258 users for a total of 3,088 hours, or 452 patrons per month for an average of 618 hours per month.

In addition, Edwards noted, the library has 111 new patrons.

March displays at the library included the Daughters of the American Revolution Winston County Heritage display, the Women's History Month display, the Girl Scout display and the Easter display. The Friends of the Library will begin its ann,ual membership drive in April, Edwards said. The Friends, in conjunction with local garden clubs, will sponsor the second annual Celebrate Spring Garden Tour from noon-4 p.m. April 9. Four yards will be featured on the tour - those of Billy and Peggy Baker at 9698 Baker's Acres Road, Jim and Teresa Ktsanes at 1221 North Columbus Avenue, Millard and Dot DePriest at 101 Leighton Drive, Melba Pearson at 986 Brooksville Road and Carolyn Hisaw at 1146 Bond Road.

Tickets for the tour cost $5 and may be purchased at the Winston County Library now or at any of the homes on the day of the tour.

The Friends of the Library book sale in February brought in more than $1,000, which will go toward the library's new circulation desk.

"We hope to have the desk finished by August of this year," Edwards added. She said the library hopes to have an automated checkout system coming in August, also.

Edwards said the library has several events planned for National Library Week, which runs April 11-16. They include a luncheon for city and county officials at noon on Monday, April 11; Children's Day on April 12; a presentation by Martha Swain, who will discuss WPA and Public Libraries (pack horses, flatboats, bookmobiles and shoe leather) and present a slide show on April 13; a visit from Mary Carol Miller, author of four books on Mississippi on April 14; and computer classes taught by Julie Joiner on April 15.

The library also has planning underway for the 2005 Summer Library Program, Funtastic Reading. The circus-themed program will go through the months of June and July, with programs each week.

The Junior Auxiliary of Louisville will assist the library with registration and the remaining programs, Edwards said. Scheduled programs include Inky the Clown, The Snakeman, Dr. Rhythm, children's book illustrator Chuck Galey and professional storyteller Diane Williams.

The board also set a public hearing for 6 p.m. March 19, during their regular meeting for that date, to discuss participation in a cap loan program through the Mississippi Development Authority to acquire a building for economic development purposes.

In other business, the board:

Approved the hiring of Jarrod Ball, Stan Smith, Keith Edwards and Jeremy Matzek as summer workers for the Recreation Department and Cemetery Department;

Recognized Sue Daniels' attendance at a municpal court clerk's seminar;

Approved the pay estimate of $9.375 to W.G. Yates Construction for the Louisville Utility public facilities project;

Adopted a resolution to have a hearing on April 19 on a property at 147 Eiland Avenue to determine if the property is a menace to the public health and safety of the community; and

Heard a report from Gerald Mills, executive director of the Winston County Economic Development District Partnership, on a recent trip to Washington, D.C.