JULY 1, 2021--Change offers extra security measures

You might notice a small difference next time you visit the computer lab. We met with a local technology company and asked what we could do to ensure patron privacy and protect public computers. We followed their advice, and now all public computers are on their own private network. So what does this behind-the-scenes change mean for you?

ENHANCED PRIVACY: We upgraded to a browser that offers more protection over your private information. When you close out the browser, all information is immediately erased. The browser won’t save passwords, documents, or browsing history.

NETWORK PROTECTION: Because public computers are now on their own network, all the library’s computers are better protected against malware and viruses.

FASTER INTERNET: Each morning when we log into the lab computers, a script runs that clears any lingering temporary files that might be slowing down the Internet connection, so you should get the most out of our Zochnet fiber Internet connection.

PS: Did you know that Zochnet provides Internet to the library for free? Reach out and thank them for this generous service to the community.

During our two-month Winter Read-Olympic competition, readers of all ages competed to see who could read the greatest number of books in January and February. Competitors read a total of 2,329 books for the competition. Let's congratulate our Olympians and our Junior Olympians on their dedication!

Olympians (chapter book readers)

GOLD--Laci Hodges with 65 books

SILVER--Nancy O' Toole with 58 books

BRONZE--Martha Cutler with 57 books

Junior Olympians (children's book readers)

GOLD--Farrhyn McGaffin with 552 books

SILVER--Kate Christian with 259 books

BRONZE--Hunter Starnes with 200 books

Places 4-10 also won appreciation prizes. Please visit the library to pick up your prizes today!

Olympians

4th place: Masakazu Henry

5th place: Jerry Knox

6th place: Rusty Hodges

7th place: Sherry Raiford

8th place: Sam Walch

9th place: Tie--Natalie Ramos, Rodeo Wilson

10th place: Kai Roberts

Junior Olympians

4th place: Maggie Walch

5th place: Kylie, Ayla, and Jude Wilson

6th place: Charlee Wischnewsky

7th place: Coral Miller

8th place: Phoenix and Scarlett Pahlow

9th place: Emery Roberts

10th place: Tie--Alaina and Emmalynn Hohlt

Meet your reading goals to win gifts from the library

Stretch those mental muscles… Get into position… On your mark, get set, READ!

Anyone can be an Olympic-class reader during the Giddings Public Library’s 2021 Winter Read-Olympics competition starting January 1.

To accept the challenge, pick up a Read-Olympics punch card from the library’s front desk and line up your starting books. To complete the challenge, Olympians (our adult/juvenile fiction and non-fiction readers) must finish ten titles of their choosing while Junior Olympians (our youngest readers) must finish 25 titles before the March 1 deadline.

Every book checked out is a punch on your card, and a full punch card earns a trip to the Winners’ Circle and a special prize.

But will you go for the gold? Those who read above and beyond may compete for the gold, silver, and bronze medals with grand prizes awarded to the top three readers in the Olympian and Junior Olympian categories.

Visit the library often, track everyone’s progress on the scoreboard, and read your way to victory. Let the Games begin!

Celebrate reading with a book buddy

Children love to curl up and read with a stuffed-animal friend who makes them feel comfortable and safe. Even babies and toddlers can develop pre-reading skills by sitting down with a book and looking at the pictures.

Our annual Book Buddies Day encourages children to have special quiet time with books. Children 12 and younger who visit the library and check out a book February 12-13, 2021, just before Valentine’s Day, will take home a stuffed-animal book buddy to join in their reading adventures.

We’re currently accepting donations of new or gently used stuffed animals to give to children as Book Buddies. All donated items will be cleaned and sanitized, and then presented to children in our community to encourage them to take the time to read.

Children become readers on the lap of someone they love. Read with a child every day!

December 1-21, 2020

The first four adult members to check out, read, and return 10 books between Dec. 1-21 will win a gas card from the Giddings Public Library.

Dust off that reading list and get started!

November 1-21 & December 1-19, 2020

Pay off your existing library fines with food during our Food for Fines campaign. Just bring in non-perishable food items to the library during regular business hours and leave the library with a cleared account for up to $100 in fines!

To participate, simply bring in all overdue library materials along with unexpired, non-perishable food items. We accept all unexpired non-perishable store-sealed food. Every food item you donate will result in $3 of fines forgiven.*

All food will be donated to the local food pantry and distributed to local families in need during the holiday season.

No fines, no problem.

Even if you owe nothing in fines, you can still bring in food to donate to the food pantry.

Whether you plan to go out or stay in this Halloween, these safe and affordable Halloween activities from the library will make your celebration extra spooky.

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel for spooky storytime all week long

• Tag us in your Halloween costume photos on facebook or Instagram to compete for prizes in our virtual costume contest

• Answer trick-or-treat trivia questions on facebook for special trick-or-treat prizes

• Check Instagram to guess Miss Taylor's literary costume

• Check-out Halloween books and movies

• Pick up a complimentary Halloween treat bag

Happy Halloween!

97 young people between 18 months-18 years old enrolled in this year's program

Participants logged more than 71,000 minutes of reading time during the program--that's more than 1,100 hours of reading!

26 sponsors gave of their time, services, and merchandise

Ms. Taylor created 21 online story times and 13 activities over a period of 7 weeks

The total running time of program videos was 14,239 seconds, which is 237.3167 minutes, or 3.9553 hours

Please continue to enjoy the 2020 summer reading videos here, or on our YouTube channel. We'll also keep the website links* posted so you can quickly find the resources you need to participate in the activities outlined in the videos.

We reopened to the public Monday, May 4, 2020! Our business hours are M-F 10A-6P and SAT 10A-1P. For the health and safety of our community, library programs and services will reopen in stages.

Beginning Monday, May 4

Patrons may come in and can check out materials. The computer lab is open on a limited basis. Printing, faxing, copying, and notarizing services are available. The book drop is open.

We'll follow the 25% occupancy guidelines outlined by the governor and maintain 6 feet of safe distancing. Hand sanitizer is on-site for staff and community use.

Beginning later--date to be determined

When it's determined safe to do so, we'll reopen the children's play area of the library.

We will continue to follow the governor's advice and closely monitor the situation to decide when we can resume our classes and programs. Likewise, we will later decide when to begin renting out the meeting room and when we can make all computers in the lab available.

Parents: It may be hard for your children to understand why their favorite librarians can't hug or high-five them right now. Encourage them to greet us with a friendly wave! Please explain how much we miss connecting with them, and let them know we're looking forward to the time we can safely reconnect.