Columbia Public Library Newsletter – February 2019
Warm your heart and build your mind with a good book from the Columbia Public Library! Here are some titles releasing in February:
The Chef by James Patterson
Connections in Death by J. D. Robb
The Wedding Guest by Jonathan Kellerman
Never Tell by Lisa Gardner
I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella
California Girls by Susan Mallery
The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff
Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts
New DVDs releasing in February:
Ralph Breaks the Internet
The Grinch (Illuminations)
A Star is Born (2018)
Bohemian Rhapsody
Next to reading, many folks enjoy tackling a jigsaw puzzle during long winter evenings. It’s a great family activity as well. The Columbia Public Library is introducing a “Puzzle Swap” area. You will find this area in our downstairs Community Room. Feel free to come in, take a puzzle, leave a puzzle, or both! We ask that all puzzles have all the pieces. We are accepting puzzle donations for ALL ages – please bring no more than three at a time. Please make sure that puzzles are in good condition to allow solvers to easily fit them together. If this becomes popular enough, we are going to try to find space to have a puzzle assembly area here in the library.
The Columbia Public Library continues its very worthwhile and popular outreach for the first three months of the year. “Food For Fines” involves bringing in nonperishable food items for the Columbia Food Bank and winter shelters. Personal hygiene items will also be collected. This year, the campaign began January 2 and ends March 31. Each item donated will allow the donor to have $1.00 removed from their outstanding library fines. Maximum amount waived will be $10.00 per month. This program is good for fines on COLUMBIA items only – no other libraries’. Of course, people who have no fines are certainly welcome to donate as well! A reminder: the program is NOT to pay for LOST items – only late fees.
According to Pastor David Powers, items needed include any nonperishable foods – specifically, peanut butter, jelly (strawberry and grape), canned soups (any flavors) and canned stews – along with shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap, socks, and mouthwash for the winter shelter. Items will be collected until Thursday, March 31. The food bank and shelters will be collecting the items from the library periodically as they are needed
Family Film Night will be held on Wednesday, February 20, at 6 PM. Our film for February is “Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown” and will be shown in our conference room.
“PreSchool Pals” continues on Mondays at 10:30 AM. Dates for February are February 4, 11, and 25. No session February 18. Preschoolers aged two to five and their adult caregivers are invited for stories and a simple craft. There is no charge for the program and caregiver must stay.
Our Young Adult Book Clubs meet Wednesday February 6, at Columbia High School library. Middle School club meets at 1:50 PM and is reading “Angel” by James Patterson. High School meets at 2:45 and is reading “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” by Jenny Han.
About “Angel”: In this dystopian series titled “Maximum Ride”, Angel is the youngest of a group of children, aged 6 to 14, who are mostly human but part bird. They were genetically altered in a lab after being separated from their parents. Though they want nothing more to return home and live as normal children, they must battle dangerous hybrid creatures called “Erasers” who are out to destroy them. Can Angel and her friends survive and ever return to normal? The Maximum Ride series contains 9 novels, of which “Angel” is seventh.
About “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”: Author Jenny Han was inspired to write this book based on her own habit of writing long letters to boys she had crushes on as a teenager. When her secret love letters accidently get mailed to each of her five crushes, Lara Jean finds her life in high school turned upside down! The novel was followed by two sequels and was also a movie on Netflix.
Many people who were planning on joining the crochet and knitting classes after the holidays are in luck. The “Hooked On Crochet” class will be held on three Tuesdays this month: February 5, February 12, and February 19. Instructors are Kasey and Randi – the actual instruction begins at 7 PM. Those who know how to crochet and want to get in some extra time are welcome to come at 6:30!
Knitters, take note: classes for February will be held on February 7, 21, and 28. No class on Valentine’s Day. Start time is also at 7 PM and instructors are Gaile and Molly. You are welcome to come weekly, bi-weekly, or however often you can make it. No materials are needed for your first visit; Gaile and Molly will let you know what you need to bring.
Since we are now in February, there are times when the library will close or open late due to bad weather. Please check the library’s Facebook Page and WGAL. There is also a Facebook page just for the crochet class: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2194399507465447/.
Tax filing season begins on January 18 for online filers. Sam Edmond will once again offer one on one tax assistance beginning January 28. PLEASE CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT: 717-681-4401. You will need to bring your W2 forms and social security numbers of all family reported. Sam will also offer assistance for state and local taxes. If you have any other questions or want to know about bringing other materials, please call Sam at 717-681-4401. Please do not call the library.
The “Prime Timers” – our new monthly group for ages 50 and older – continues with something which is a part of many new year’s resolutions – exercise. “Chair Yoga and Pilates” will be led by Debbie Balzarini on Wednesday, February 27, at 1:30 PM in our Community Room.
Chair yoga and pilates modifies many basic moves of both disciplines to allow them to be done sitting in a chair. And it’s for all ages: people recovering from medical procedures or anyone who should not be putting weight on their legs or feet can benefit from exercise while they recuperate.
Yoga and pilates benefits the body in many ways: stretching and muscle tone, balance, breathing, stress release, better sleeping habits, and an improved sense of well-being. If you already do yoga, come out and join us! Or, if you’ve never tried yoga before, now is your perfect opportunity! The program is free.
And of course seniors are always welcome at our current events scheduled for adults of all ages:
- Community Bible Study – Mondays at 1:30 PM. ALL are welcome. Call Marilyn for more info: 717-341-5062
- Nifty Needles Knitting Classes – Thursday evenings at 7 PM. Call the library for more info.
- Hooked on Crochet Classes alternate Tuesday evenings at 7 PM. Call the library for more info.
Another important program for adults, sponsored by Career Link of Lancaster County, is a Job Fair to be held at Columbia High School from 5 to 8 PM on Thursday, February 28. A wide variety of industries and fields are included:
Industries Hiring: Position Types:
Mars Wrigley Confectionery Manufacturing and General Labor
Engle Printing and Publishing Skilled Labor / Trades
York County School of Technology Restaurant and Food Services
Excentia Human Services/Social Services
Abraxas Academy Child Care
Traffic Plan Transportation and Logistics
Penn Medicine/Lancaster General Health Health Care
Mount Hope Nazarene Retirement Community Health Care
The High Corporation Construction
Pennsylvania State Police Law Enforcement
Stauffers of Kissel Hill Retail
Community Services Group Government
Fulton Financial Hospitality
Cardinal Senior Management
If you have questions about the Job Fair, please contact Amber Mirza, Recruiter Supervisor, at
(717) 509-5613 x277 or amirza@jobs4lancaster.com
Our public computers are being upgraded to Windows 10. These computers will not be available on Monday, February 4 and Tuesday, February 5.
The Columbia Public Library is located on 24 S. 6th Street, next to Park Elementary School. (Cattycorner to CVS Pharmacy and across the street from St. John’s Lutheran Church) Phone number is 684-2255 and web address is www.columbiapubliclibrary.org. Find us on Facebook! Please visit and find out what new worlds await for you!