LIBRARY NOTES

Read this April 12

April 12 is a special day for me because my oldest daughter, Amanda, was born on this day 44 years ago. April 12 is also a special day for reading. Every year on April 12 there is a national celebration named D.E.A.R., which stands for Drop Everything and Read. The celebration is designed to remind families to make reading a priority activity in their lives. This day is celebrated every year on April 12 for author Beverly Cleary’s birthday. D.E.A.R. time was a reading practice featured in Cleary’s ‘Ramona’ books. Amanda was a huge fan of the ‘Ramona’ books by Beverly Cleary and is to this day an avid reader. Coincidence?

April is National School Library Month. School Library Month is the American Association of School Librarians’ celebration of school librarians and school libraries who play an essential role in transforming learning. I have visited both the Spur ISD and Patton Springs ISD school libraries. They are both great resources for Dickens County’s youngest citizens to find the materials they need to read for school assignments and also reading for pleasure. I developed my love of reading at the Spur ISD school library. The Dickens County-Spur Public Library is not a school library, but we try to help the parents who homeschool in the area.

Last week I wrote about the ChiltonLibrary, one of the many resources offered by the TexShare database. I have spent some time navigating the website and have found many useful resources.

If genealogy is of interest to you they offer access to HeritageQuest online which combines digital, searchable images of U.S. federal census records with the digitalized version of the popular ProQuest Genealogy and Local History collection and other valuable content.

If you are interested in finding content on holistic medicine you can access Alt Health Watch for the latest information and materials related to holistic medicine. Under the DIY category they offer a hobby and crafts reference center, references to gardening and horticulture, home improvement, and small engine repair.

For those interested in exploring a new job or career they have Job and Career Accelerator, which is a job search and career exploration resource with more than 1,100 occupations, sample resumes and cover letters, current job and internship postings, and guidance on preparing for and getting a job.

Whatever resource you might be looking for you will probably find it in the TexShare Databases. The Dickens County-Spur Library has a membership, so if you have a library card you too can access this world of knowledge. If you

Donnice Carruth is director of the Dickens County-Spur Library, in Spur.