Author: Ron Eifert

Summer Reading presenters kick off the fun!

For Children

We are kicking off Summer Reading with a series of programs and presenters around our theme of “Libraries Rock!”

All three programs will be held at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on their respective performance dates in the Draughon Room (lower level of the library).

On Monday, June 11, Bobby Norfolk returns to the library with Rhythms, Rhymes, & Raps. Bobby turns traditional tales, such as “Little Red Riding Hood” or “The Three Billy’s Goat’s Gruff,” into finger-snapping, toe-tapping verse. He transforms selections from his favorite authors into comical and creative raps, and fills them all with zany vocal effects, lively animation, and tons of humor.

On Monday, June 25, Babaloo Music & Fun will be visiting the library. Babaloo will keep you on the edge (and out) of your seats with musical mayhem and lots of laughs! Not only does Babaloo play music with his guitar, but he asks the audience to make music along with him on bucket drums and other unconventional instruments.

On Monday, July 9, Mad Science returns to the library with “Sound Like Science.” This event gets children excited about science, with a particular focus on the science of sound. Kids will get tuned-in to learning with exciting demonstrations and experiments including the surprisingly loud Dinosaur-in-a-Can, the glowing Electric Pickle, and a kid-created Thunder Storm!

These programs are supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.

Library marks one year of passport acceptance

General News

During the month of April, the Sikeston Public Library marked its one-year anniversary as a passport acceptance facility.

 

“The response has been amazing,” said Ron Eifert, library director and one of the passport acceptance agents, “so much more than we ever expected.”

 

The initial idea to become a passport acceptance facility came from a neighboring library which had achieved great success with the service.  After three months of training and testing during the first three months of 2017, the library was certified as a passport acceptance facility and processed its first passport in late April 2017.

 

Since its certification, the library has processed almost 200 applications for passports over the past 12 months.

 

When the library first started processing passports, the staff saw it as a service for the Sikeston community. They quickly realized that the appeal was much wider. “We have processed passports for residents of five or six surrounding counties,” Eifert said.  “So many people from around the area work in Sikeston, or attend school here, and they find it easier to complete the application process here than anywhere else.”

 

“It’s been interesting, listening to the stories people tell about the travel plans,” Eifert said. “We have helped people prepare for mission trips and family trips. It’s been fun to help people apply for a passport so that they can go on a trip that was a gift or a prize.”

 

Libraries have begun the transition from books-only facilities, to facilities where programming and other services are available. “Passport acceptance is part of our efforts to keep the library vital to the people in our community,” Eifert said. “It has been satisfying for us to know that we have helped people with this service, and to hear them say that the process was a lot less difficult than they expected.”

 

There are two passport acceptance agents at the library, and the service is available for 33 hours each week. Acceptance times are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10 am-noon and 1-5 pm; Tuesday, 10 am-noon and 1-7:30 pm; and Friday, 10 am-noon and 1-5:30 pm. The library usually has one weekend a month where a passport acceptance agent is available. Additional hours are available by appointment.

 

For more information about the passport acceptance process, please call the library at 471-4140, or visit the library’s website at sikeston.lib.mo.us. For application forms, information on documentation required, fees, and a wealth of other passport and international travel information, visit the only official website for passport information at travel.state.gov.

Mother-Daughter Tea held May 6.

For Children

Our annual Mother-Daughter tea will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 6 in the Draughon Room (lower level) of the library. The event is for girls in grades 2-5 and will feature Luciana, the 2018 Girl of the Year. Come join us for tea and refreshments, reading about Luciana, making a tea light jar, and playing American Girl Bingo.

Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss!

For Children

First graders from Lee Hunter Elementary visited the library on March 2 to hear a story read by the Cat in the Hat (aka, children’s librarian Ann Thompson). Dr. Seuss-themed crafts and snacks, followed by a tour of the library, rounded out the afternoon.

Volunteers begin tax prep assistance on Feb. 1

General News

The library is pleased to announce that tax preparation assistance will be available again this year at the library.

Volunteers from the AARP Tax-Aide program will be in the McAmis Community Room (main level) at the library from 12:30-4 p.m. on Thursdays, beginning on Thursday, February 1. They will assist taxpayers by filling out and filing simple tax returns. They will be filing both federal and state forms, including the Missouri PTC forms.

All tax filing will be done on a first-come, first-served basis; appointments will not be taken. Please be sure to bring all tax-related paperwork that you have received, including W-2 and 1099 forms for work performed, receipts for rent paid, and proof of Social Security income.

The library is not trained to give tax advice; instead, we rely on this great group of volunteers who have the training and experience to make sure that your tax filing is done correctly and thoroughly.

Cozy up with an e-book!

General News

One of our best-kept secrets is our electronic offerings. Through MoLib2Go, a consortium of approximately 100 Missouri libraries, we offer e-books and downloadable audiobooks.

With your library card information from us, patrons can set up an account to download as many as 10 e-books and audiobooks at a time. Once your time with the item expires, it is automatically returned for the next patron to borrow. You can even renew items, if no other patrons are on a waiting list for the item.

What device can you use for MoLib2Go? Just about any device with internet access can be turned into an e-reader. Most smartphones — whether they run iOS, Android or Windows — can function as an e-reader.  Tablets ranging from iPads to Samsung to bargain basement tablets can also work. You can even read on your laptop or desktop computer.

If you’re interested in trying e-books, or you’re just done with spending money on downloadable materials, visit the circulation desk to receive all the information you need to get started with MoLib2Go.

Introducing LIBBY — a new way to manage your electronic items

General News

For our e-book readers…there’s a new and improved way to browse, check out, and read e-books through MoLib2Go. Libby is a more user-friendly app that has just been made available to the general public. We at the library have been testing the app in its beta stages for weeks; we really enjoy using it, and hope that you will too!

Libby is available in the app stores for Apple, Google and Microsoft. Try it for yourself, and let us know if we can help you with setup or any questions you might have.

Passport Acceptance Begins at the Sikeston Public Library

General News

The Sikeston Public Library is pleased to announce that it will be accepting passport applications on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, beginning on Monday, April 24. U.S. citizens planning international travel may apply for their passports without leaving Sikeston.

 

“We have had many inquiries over the years asking whether we process passports,” said Ron Eifert, library director.  “Other libraries in our area have had success with offering this service, and we are excited to bring passport processing to the Sikeston area.”

 

The library will not be taking passport photographs, so applicants will need to bring passport photographs with them.  Many area businesses provide passport photographs that meet U.S. Department of State guidelines.

 

Current passport holders will still have to renew their passports online or through the mail. “They are not allowing us to process passport renewals,” Eifert said. “We will have the appropriate renewal forms available for patrons, or the form can be downloaded from the State Department’s website.”

 

Passport processing hours will be from 10 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday; from 1-5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday; and from 1-7 p.m. on Tuesday.  Other hours, including weekend hours, will be available by appointment.

 

For application forms, information on documentation required, fees, and a wealth of other passport and international travel information, visit the only official website for passport information at travel.state.gov.

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