Director Rodger Charles said 2013 produced a lot of activity at the Peabody Township Library, and an even bigger year is planned for 2014.
In July, the Peabody Township secured a grant from the USDA to do work inside the library; the work was completed Dec. 9.
?As a part of the grant, we got to remodel the computer area, add a drinking fountain for the first time in library history, as well as a utility sink in the workroom that has hot and cold running water,? Rodgers said.
?We have hot water in the library for the first time, thanks to Sorosis Beta securing a grant from the community foundation.?
The library also received funds from the Peabody Community Foundation to do landscaping work outside of the building. A French drain was installed on the northwest downspout, which was previously mashed shut.
?Plans in 2014 include planting buffalo grass, which should make the library more attractive as it is a shorter cool-weather grass and will go dormant in the hot summer,? Rodgers said.
In December, the library received a $6,000 grant from the UFM-CRA to offer training classes in 2014.
?We will be having a four-week unit on computer basics, starting with how to turn a computer on,? Rodgers said. ?It is designed for the person who knows absolutely nothing about computers.?
The library will then offer four-week courses on the following Microsoft computer programs: word processing with Word, spreadsheets with Excel, desktop publishing with Publisher and presentations using PowerPoint.
The final four-week session on social media will cover setting up an email account, Facebook, Twitter and possibly Skype.
The grant also will provide the ability to offer two classes on e-readers.
?It will be a time for somebody to bring their own device and have somebody help with learning the basics,? Rodgers said. ?If you don?t have your own device, the library has some new Google Nexis Tablets, Nook Color and Nook Basics you can borrow for the classes.?
Meanwhile, the library?s first Teen Book Club wrapped up with a field trip Saturday, Dec. 14, to the Chisholm Trail 8 Movie Theatre in Newton to watch the second part of J.R.R. Tolkien?s ?The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.?
Six teens completed the program. Plans for the next Teen Book Club are already in process.
Rodgers said a highlight of the year was a visit from Curtis and Betty Aherns from Florence, Ala. They were brought by their daughter, Pamela Aherns, from Chapel Hill. N.C.
?Betty is a granddaughter of Jack Logan, who painted the World War I painting that is hanging in the library today,? Rodgers said. ?They were very blessed to see the painting still being taken care of and were excited about the plans we have for the painting in the future.?
For the year ahead, the library board voted to extend open hours in the library by four hours a month. Starting Jan. 2, the new library hours for Tuesday will be 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, then 2-8 p.m.. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday hours will be from 2-5 p.m. Saturday hours will be from 9 a.m. to noon. The library will continue to be closed on Sunday and Monday.
?The most important part of 2014 will be our ?Year of Celebration,?? Rodgers said.
The library will be 140 years old in 2014 and the Carnegie library building will be 100 years old.
To kick off the year of celebration, the library board is offering amnesty during January for all fines, as long as lost titles are paid for or replaced. Amnesty ends at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31.
Other opportunities to celebrate 2014 are being planned.
