Welcome to the Giddings Public Library and Cultural Center
Your library resources available anytime, anywhere:
Library Catalog
ADULT COMPUTER CLASSES
Get comfortable and confident with computers!
For only $25 you can join one of our new computer basics classes! Sign up for a 6 week long class starting January 15th. This class is considered an introductory course for beginners. The lesson plans will include the parts of the computer, how to turn a computer on and off, how to use the mouse, how to use the keyboard, files and folders, and basic internet safety. Classes will be held every Tuesday evening from 5:30 - 6:30 starting on January 15th. To join the class you must sign up by calling or coming in to the front desk. We must have your registration information complete and your $25 paid before the 15th. We have a 10 student minimum on the class, so if we do not get 10 students signed up we will have to cancel it, and any students who have already signed up will be automatically moved into the next available class.
The Winter Reading Challenge is back!
This year, the children of Giddings need to "Warm up to a Good Book!" in this marshmallow challenge! For every Easy or Jr. Fiction book checked out this winter (Dec.- Feb.) One "marshmallow" will be added to the giant cup of hot cocoa on display! The goal is to beat last year's record of 1,554 books!
Are you ready? Go!
Getting ready to travel for the holidays? We can help!
The Giddings Public Library is excited to re-introduce our December reading contest, "Fuel Up and Read". The first 5 adult patrons (age 18 and older) who check out and read 10 books from the Giddings Public Library from December 1st – December 21st, will win a $25.00 gas card from the Giddings Public Library!
Start your engines! Read!
It's November!
That means Food for Fines is back!
We host this event every year from November 1st - November 19th. Anyone with outstanding library fines can bring in canned goods to donate to the local food pantry in exchange for their fines. One can = $3 in fines! This offer is valid on accounts with up to $100 in fines. Court cases, non-returned items, and lost items are not eligible. Please donate your unopened packaged or canned food even if you don't have fines that need forgiving! Let's spread some cheer this holiday season.
*Sing it with me!*
"This is Halloween, this is Halloween, Pumpkins scream in the dead of night..."
Are you as excited for the holidays as we are right now? We are busy getting ready for all of the Halloween fun here at the library.
First is the Story Time Halloween Party from 10:30-11:30 on the morning of October 31st. We will read a story, do a craft, and enjoy party refreshments before trick-or-treating through the library! If you plan to attend, please call Miss Taylor at 979-542-2716 Ext. 202 and sign up to bring a refreshment to share. Don't forget to come in costume and bring a treat bucket.
Then, come back after school for our annual Family Halloween Festival from 3:30 - 6:30. Enjoy face painting, apple bobbing, crafts, coloring, contests, a kid-sized haunted house, and almost a dozen games with prizes completely free! Bring a little pocket money if you would like to buy a treat from one of our refreshment tents, or a pumpkin from the Lee County Christmas Tree Farm! If you choose to buy a pumpkin, you can paint it at the festival before you take it home!
Everyone who comes to the library in costume on October 31st, may also trick or treat the librarians, and spin the "Spooktacular Prize Wheel" for a chance to win great giveaways!
We take great pride in offering this festival almost completely free for our community every year, so that families of all abilities and income levels have a place to celebrate Halloween! Come and join us!
Do you help getting motivated to reach your health goals?
Join us every Thursday evening at 5:30 here at the library for a free group exercise class! Bring your own mat and water bottle and get ready to sweat. The course will run for six weeks from October 18th - November 29th, skipping a week for Thanksgiving Day. It is the perfect way to stay fit through the holidays! Meet you there!
The 13th annual Texas Word Wrangler Book festival was a raging success.
Our Fundraiser Gala on Thursday night, was filled with touching speeches, new friends, and wonderful food once again catered by Reba's in Giddings.
About 450 people came to enjoy our Friday event, held from 9-5 on the 14th. We had 28 authors arranged at booths all around the library. Festival goers had the freedom to tour the festival on their own to meet all of the authors and buy books, which the authors were happy to sign at no additional cost. Local schools brought bus loads of local school children for guided tours. Throughout the day, the authors participated in meet and greets, readings, and book signings for their fans.
Our Saturday event was a new addition to the festival this year. We had 25 authors here for Saturday to sell books, sign books, and do meet and greets. Free family entertainment was provided by the library such as a bouncy house, a train for kids to ride, and cotton candy and face painting by the GHS Buffalo Gals! You didn't even have to leave for lunch. Domino's pizza and Streetside Taco's set up tents to sell food to festival goers in the parking lot. Texas Ice Queens was able to give a free snow cone to every child at the festival courtesy of The Lee County Peanut Co. A total of 420 people came to the first day of our festival expansion. We are pleased to expect many more attendees next year.
A huge thank you once again to all of the library staff, our Director Pamela Hutchinson, the library board, the Word Wrangler Committee, and all of our authors and sponsors for continuing to serve the public through this festival. We hope to continue bringing new art and literature to Giddings for many years to come.
If you are interested in seeing more about The Texas Word Wrangler Book festival, check out these links below:
https://www.catheynickell.com/wrangling-words-and-authors/
wordwrangler.bookfestival.network
If you missed the festival this year, but don't want to miss it next year, click on the link below to follow us on Facebook to receive notifications of all of our free family events throughout the year.
https://www.facebook.com/gplacc/
If you are an author, and you wish to submit your book for review for The Texas Word Wrangler Book Festival 2019, please contact our Author Chairman Carolyn Dorsey at twwf2006@gmail.com.
Any other questions may be directed to the library staff at 979-542-2716.
SUMMER READING 2018
The Giddings Public Library’s annual Summer Reading Program kicks off with a registration event from Monday, May 21st—Tuesday, June 12th! Every child who registers will receive a book to record their reading. There are prizes given for each level of the program a child completes! We also have optional educational programs put on once a week, starting June 13th. These special programs will feature all types of exciting opportunities including: live animal encounters, take home crafts, hands on experiments, and competitive games.
This year’s 2018 Collaborative Summer Library Program, “Libraries Rock!” provides opportunities for children of all ages to find valuable rewards from reading. This free program is co-sponsored by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and includes weekly reading activities and events for children ages 3-12. Due to requests from our patrons, we will also be extending an opportunity for reading rewards to our new Early Literacy group ages 18 months – 2yrs., and to our new Teen Reads program for ages 13-18. There will be no additional programming for the EL readers this year, however, the Teen Readers can attend our monthly Teen Scene program every Third Thursday of the month.
"We registered exactly 250 children for last years’ Summer Reading program, exceeding the previous year’s number by almost 20%.” said Library Director Pamela Hutchinson. "This year, we expect to see the children of Giddings top that record again and meet more of their reading goals than ever before." Local businesses, Lee County citizens, school faculty, and officials praise the library continually for its efforts to help local school children maintain and improve their reading skills.
Summer Reading is a FREE program that can provide a whole summer’s worth of family fun! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to receive event reminders so you never miss out!
eShelf & Research - Work and research from the office or from home, anytime:
- TexShare Databases: books, articles, research databases, and more
- Selected Sites: what's good on the Web
- Community Organizations: local, nonprofit groups and services
- Good Reads: book reviews, top sellers, author interviews, and news headlines
Try these databases filled with magazine articles, encyclopedia entries, and other materials to help you discover more on any subject, from general interest to business, hobbies, and more. Please see your librarian for a username and password.