Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday with the Putnam County Library System by reading as many Dr. Seuss books as possible from March 1st through March 23rd. You can read at the library or at home (if you have your own copies of the books). You can read to yourself, to a sibling, or a friend. Adults can also read to the children in their lives! Be sure to pick up a Participants Reading Log at the Library with a list of Dr. Seuss books. After completing a book, just check it off on the log.

If you don’t see any Dr. Seuss books on the shelves, be sure to ask the librarian at the Front Desk. We’ll be keeping some behind the desk for patrons to read while they’re in the library.

For each book read, we’ll put your name into a drawing. You could win your own Dr. Seuss collection! The drawing will be held on Sat., March 24th at your local library branch. You do not have to be present to win. For more information, visit your local library branch.

ONE BOOK ONE PUTNAM

Nicole Stott the "Artistic" Astronaut

NASA Astronaut

coming to Palatka

One Book One Putnam’s 2018 Reading Season will wrap up on Wednesday, March 7th from 6-8pm at the GFWC Woman’s Club of Palatka with a Finale Event featuring retired NASA Astronaut and engineer Nicole P. Stott. She served as a Flight Engineer on ISS Expedition 20 and Expedition 21 and was a Mission Specialist on STS-128 and STS-133. She worked for NASA for 27 years.

Ms. Stott will be talking about her career and the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) in schools. This will be a family-friendly event. Parents are encouraged to bring their children. This year’s book, Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam, Jr. is the true story of a boy growing up in coal country West Virginia who dreamed of becoming a rocket scientist. He would go on to win the National Science Fair and eventually work for NASA.

"Celestial" Art Show and Contest

One Book One Putnam and Beck will hold a “Celestial” themed art show and contest in honor of “Artistic Astronaut” Nicole P. Stott. First, second, and third place prizes along with two honorable mentions will be awarded. First place will be a $100 gift card, second a $75 gift card, and third a $50 gift card. Honorable mentions receive a ribbon. Known as the “Artistic Astronaut,” Nicole P. Stott is the first astronaut to having painted in space while onboard the International Space Station. She worked for NASA for 27 years. Her eARTh from Space project aims to share the awe of her spaceflight experience through artwork.

The art show will be judged and the winners selected by the viewers who attend the finale event. Works must be delivered to the venue by 5:30pm, display-ready, with artist’s name and contact information. More information including official rules are available on the library’s website: www.FunInPutnam.com.

National Library Week coming in April

The Putnam County Library System joins libraries nationwide in celebrating the many ways libraries lead their communities through the transformative services, programs and expertise they offer. April 8-14 is National Library Week, an annual celebration of the life-changing work of libraries, librarians and library workers. Libraries aren’t just places to borrow books or study—they’re also creative and engaging community centers where people can collaborate using new technologies and develop their skills and passions.

Libraries of all types have long been evolving to meet the needs of the communities they serve. Diverse groups including elected officials, small business owners and students depend upon libraries and the resources they offer. Resources like e-books and other online resources like LearningExpress Library (free practice tests online), and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) workshops are just a few ways libraries and librarians are transforming to lead their communities.

The Putnam County Library System is celebrating National Library Week April 8-14 with customer appreciation days and special programs. More information will be available soon!

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April.

$10,000 Grant Awarded to the

Putnam County Library System

Every Story Matters

NEFLIN (Northeast Florida Library Information Network) has awarded the Putnam County Library System another Innovation Grant, which provides funding for an innovative, new project or service at the library. Putnam County was awarded the same grant back in 2015 to kickstart a Mobile Community Maker Space and bring more STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs to Putnam County. That grant was used to purchase 3D printers, robots, electronics kits, and more. This time around, the focus is on local authors, local history, and oral history projects. A small recording studio will open up soon at the Headquarters Palatka Library and small, mobile "storytelling kits" will be available at the branches to record oral history interviews. Local Author Collections will also be available at all five branches (debuting in April). There will also be writing competitions, a literary magazine, and more. Stay tuned for more information coming during National Library Week in April.

Project Overview:The Putnam County Library System seeks to gather, preserve, and promote the rich history and culture of Putnam County through a series of storytelling projects including local author and oral history events. We want to give our patrons the tools they need to make and promote their own work – to be creators, not just consumers of information. We will focus on encouraging local authorship (including self-publishing workshops), recording/archiving oral histories, and holding creative writing competitions. Every story matters. The library system will become a hub for storytellers and the center for collaboration and creation in Putnam County.

Summer Library Programs

Information about Summer Reading Program will be available at the end of March!

The theme this year will be MUSIC! Get ready to ROCK with "Beats of the World" themed story times for infants, toddlers, and school age children.

The benefits of summer reading programming for children:

Children are motivated to read.

Children develop positive attitudes about reading, books, and the library.

Children maintain their reading skills during summer vacation.

Children have access to experiences that further their sense of discovery.

Children have access to experiences through which they can learn to work cooperatively.

We'll also have some exciting programs for teens and adults including "How to be a YouTube Star," a LEGO builder competition, How-To Fests, open-mic storytelling, local author events, and more! Stay tuned and be sure to visit us for National Library Week April 8-14! We'll have summer reading program applications and handy brochure/guides with all the relevant dates and information for each age group.

Early Literacy Story Time

TODDLER AND PRESCHOOL STORY TIME RETURNS TO THE PALATKA LIBRARY MARCH 12 & 13 AT 10AM.

Our weekly story time will return to the Headquarters Palatka Library on Mondays and Tuesdays starting March 12th and 13th. Parents and their children (ages infant to five years old) are welcome at both story times which will also include fun songs, take home crafts, and practice with writing letters. Below are story times for all five branches:

Headquarters Palatka Library

Mondays and Tuesdays at 10am

Bostwick Public Library

Thursdays at 1pm and 1:30pm

Crescent City Public Library

Thursdays at 10:30am and 11am

Interlachen Public Library

Thursdays at 10am

Melrose Public Library

Tuesdays at 10am

Parents may also be interested in our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge. Reading logs are available.

How long does it take to reach 1,000 books?

1 Book a Day x 3 Years = 1,095 Books

4 Books a Week x 5 years = 1,040 Books

10 Books a Week x 2 years = 1,040 Books

3 Books a Day x 1 year = 1,095 Books

...or just take it 25 books at a time! There's no pressure.

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten!

Start the New Year off with a new challenge! 1,000 Books Reading Logs at the Front Desk or Children's Area of your library this week! Here's how to participate:

1. Pick up a 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Reading Log at the library. Each one lets you log the Title and Author of 25 books.

2. Challenge yourself and your family to complete at least one reading log during the month of January.

3. Write down all of the books that your child reads or that you read to your child. Remember to include library storytimes or those in preschool or daycare and stories of faith and religion, Any and all books and stories count and you may count the same story multiple times (because we know children often enjoy reading the same book over and over again... we love that, too!).

4. Keep reading throughout the year and keep logging those books! If you read just 4 books a week, your child will have read 1,000 books in five years!

Spotlight on: Local Authors

Local Author Collection

The Putnam County Library System wants your novel! Or work of non-fiction. Or poetry. Or children's book. We're in the process of starting a Local Author Collection so we're reaching out to local authors throughout the community. Let us know who you are and what you've written! Contact jeremy.yates@putnam-fl.com for more information or to talk about holding a Meet the Author event at one of our library branches. We're also looking to start writing groups.

Check out E-books at your library!

NEFLIN Overdrive

Check out up to five ebooks or audiobooks at a time - anywhere you have an Internet connection! These books return themselves automatically - so you never have to worry about late fees! Overdrive is available online, on your phone or tablet, on Kindle and other ereaders! To use Overdrive on a computer, you must first go to our library website. Visit us at FunInPutnam.com and click on "References and Resources" at the top to check out all of our online services!

Tuesday, March 13th from 11:30am-1pm join us for a Women's History Month special presentation with Carolyn Bennett! She is a town council member, retired educator, president of the Historical Society of Interlachen, and a community volunteer. She's been a resident of Interlachen for 23 years. Feel free to bring your own brown bag lunch. Drinks provided by the Friends of the Interlachen Library.

The library is located at 133 North CR 315 (across from Interlachen High School). Call Marilyn at 386-684-1600 for more info.

Al Burt Literary Festival Welcomes Local Author

Bob H. Lee

Author of Bad Guys, Bullets, and Boat Chases: True Stories of Florida Game Wardens, will speak on March 24 at 2p.m. at the Melrose Public Library. Mr. Lee is a former lieutenant and 30-year veteran of the Florida Fish and Wild Life Conservation Commission, where he caught hundreds of poachers throughout his career. As part of the author’s book talk, he will interview retired wildlife supervisor, Gray Leonhard. Refreshments will follow the discussion.

He is the key character in the story of Flight 401, the first chapter of Mr. Lee’s new book. On December 29, 1972, Leonhard was a two-month rookie, on solo night patrol, when he witnessed Flight 401 crash into the Everglades. At the time, it was the first wide body jet to crash and the worst aviation disaster in U.S. history.

Melrose Library

Book Discussion Group

Held the second Wednesday at 10:30 am

March 14th

Desert Queen: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell: Adventurer, Adviser to Kings, Ally of Lawrence of Arabia by Janet Wallach

April 11th

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

by Jamie Ford

May 9th

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

June 13th

Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir by One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII by Chester Nez

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers FREE tax help at the Melrose Library on Tuesdays from 9:30am-4:30pm to taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified taxpayers.

All West Putnam Locations:

(Please call to confirm times)

Tuesdays: 9:30 am—4:30 pm

Melrose Public Library

312 Wynnwood Avenue, Melrose, FL 32666

Wednesdays: 9 am—4 pm

Hawthorn City Hall

6700 SE 21st Street, Hawthorn, FL 32640

Thursdays: 9 am—4 pm

Interlachen Town Hall

311 Atlantic Avenue, Interlachen, FL 32148

For information or to schedule an appointment at one of the locations in West Putnam, please call 904-614-6688.

FREE TAX PREPARATION

CENTRAL & SOUTH PUTNAM

Free help for taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified taxpayers.

Central & South Putnam

(Please call to confirm times)

Mon.—Fri.: 9 am—6 pm

Heart of Putnam/Palatka Christian Service Center

2600 Peters St., Palatka, FL 32177

Call 386-328-0984. Walk-ins & appointments.

Fridays: 9 am—6 pm

Saturdays: 10 am—2 pm

Putnam Family Fitness Center

213 Perry St., Pomona Park 32181

Must call 386-328-0984 Mon.-Thurs. to schedule an appointment!

Mon.—Wed.: 9 am—2 pm

St. Mark’s Episcopal (Parish Hall)

310 North 2nd Street, Palatka, FL 32177

Call 386-530-9412 for appointment.

Talk to an Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Navigator

Talk to a Ronnie Lovler, a Certified Health Insurance Navigator at the Headquarters Palatka Library on Wednesday, March 7th from 2-5pm. Do you need help finding affordable health insurance options available on the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace? Learn more about your eligibility and health coverage options through the marketplace as well as potential enrollment windows (outside of open enrollment).

Contact Ronnie Lovler for unbiased help navigating the Health Insurance Marketplace at rlovler@srahec.org or 386-292-2947 to schedule an appointment. Ronnie is bilingual Spanish.

SHINE on Medicare

Help at the Library

Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (SHINE) is a local, free program designed to help people with Medicare and is offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and your local Area Agency on Aging.

Driver’s License or Photo I.D.; any letters from Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid which you may have received; Medicare and Social Security cards; a printout of medications from the pharmacy or the bottles; and proof of annual household income to determine if you qualify for extra help.

Palatka Library:

Mar. 21 (3rd Wed.): 10:30am-1:30pm

Melrose Library:

Mar. 21 (3rd Wed.): 1-3pm

Crescent City Library:

April 3 (1st Tues.): 10am-12pm

The Meeting Room is Available

Do you have a group that needs meeting space? Meeting Rooms are available for Book Discussion Groups, Reader's Roundtable, Writers' Groups, and more. Just ask for an application and a Meet Room Policy at the Front Desk. We'll work with you to find a time that works best. There is no charge to use the meeting room.

Visit us on the web!

For a complete list of programs on our website: FunInPutnam.com! Or check out our calendar of events - there's one for each library branch! You can also search our catalog or download e-books and audiobooks (just look under Reference and Resources for NEFLIN Overdrive). For more information about e-books or other online resources, email jeremy.yates@putnam-fl.com.

Thank you for reading and supporting your public library!

Be sure to check us out online!

Thank you for subscribing to our new email newsletter!

If you're receiving these emails, then you either gave the library your email address when you applied for a library card or you gave us your email address at one of our programs/events. If at any point you wish to unsubscribe, just click on the "Manage My Subscriptions" link at the very bottom of this email or email jeremy.yates@putnam-fl.com.