We’re in the middle of National Library Week. This week, the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library joins libraries in schools, campuses and communities nationwide in celebrating National Library Week, by highlighting the changing role of libraries, librarians and library workers.

Libraries today are more than just warehouses for books. Instead, libraries and librarians are working within their communities to transform lives through innovative educational resources and programming. Libraries across the country, including the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library, are doing their part to close the digital divide and level the playing field by providing free access to information and technologies that many in their communities would be hard pressed to find elsewhere. Sue Crites-Szostak, the director of the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library, explained that the library was recently awarded funds through the Racing to Read Early Literacy Grant. “Because of the grant, we’ve been able to add more early literacy books to the library, give free books to the public, expand our story time offerings and strengthen our partnerships with community agencies.” The library also offers you the opportunity to schedule an appointment with one of the library technology specialists to help you learn about your new smartphone, laptop or tablet.

One of the ways the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library serves the City and Butler County is by providing an extensive summer reading program and other events for children. Erin Rigby, the children’s librarian, shared with us that the theme for this year’s Children’s Summer Reading Program (June 1st- July 31st) is “Every Hero Has a Story!” Signup for the program begins June 1, 2015. Statistics tell us that “children who read over the summer consistently do better in school when they return after summer break. The Summer Reading program also has lots of fun, events, and prizes for the children,” Erin explained. Additional events at the library this summer include:

Marty Hahne, Reading Magician, will perform on June 17th at 11am, 2pm and 5:30pm and June 18th at 11 am at the Poplar Bluff Library and June 18 at 2pm in Qulin.

Poplar Bluff Police Department (11am), Poplar Bluff Fire Department (2pm) and Butler County EMS (5:30pm) representatives will be at the library on July 15 to talk to the kids and read them stories

Comic book artist Nathan Rice will have a comic book drawing workshop at the Poplar Bluff Library July 11, 18, and 25 at 2pm

The University of Missouri Extension Family Education Nutrition Program will be teaching kids about healthy foods on Fridays at 2pm (the library will be closed July 3)

Theater Thursday is every Thursday at 4:30pm year round!

Story Time is on Tuesday and Saturdays at 10:30am, and during Summer Reading, Story Time will also occur on Thursdays at 10:30am

For more information, visit the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library at 318 North Main Street, call 573.686.8639 or see the library’s Web site.

It’s great to see what happens when people focus on helping their communities through the provision of needed utilities or other innovative and imaginative services like the library. We’ve enjoyed working with the library to meet their legal needs as they meet the needs of Poplar Bluff and Butler County. If we can help you with your legal matter, please contact us today.