The Georgetown County Library (GCL) is gearing up for a summer of fun for all ages, and attendees will once again be able to gather in auditoriums and meeting rooms to share the experience. Although the libraries have been open for book lending, computer access, faxing, copying, and research, this is the first time since COVID-19 appeared that group gatherings are back on track.
Beginning on June 2, children ages birth to five years are invited to attend Mother Goose Story Time on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. at the Georgetown Library, located at 405 Cleland Street in Georgetown. Waccamaw Storytime will take place on Wednesdays at 10:30 am, at the Waccamaw Library, located at 41 St. Paul Place, Pawleys Island.
All five libraries will feature the “Tails and Tales Summer Program,” an assortment of entertainment and learning activities, from books (graphix, large print, braille, wonderbooks, bookpacks, award winners, popular series, etc.) to Legos, crafts, board games, and book club activities. The program is free and open to the public. To sign up, please call the library closest to you: Georgetown (843) 545-3311, Waccamaw (843) 545-3623, Andrews (843) 545-3621, Carvers Bay (843) 545-3515, or Southern Georgetown (843) 545-3389.
The library system also plans an exciting online lineup for all ages. All online programs will be free and openly available on the Georgetown County Facebook page. You need not join Facebook to view the videos. The online programs will also be available on the Georgetown County YouTube channel.
For older children and adults, author Cindy Hedrick will read tales from her children’s book, Tails from SC CARES (Class Publishing, 2021) during weekly video storytimes. The storytimes will be on Fridays at 10 am, from June 11 – September 3. The book is based on Hedrick’s experience running SC CARES (SC Coastal Animal Rescue & Educational Sanctuary) for thirteen years, caring for exotic animals, farm animals, and non-releasable wildlife. SC CARES typically provided sanctuary to nearly 200 animals at a given time, and Hedrick recounts the most compelling and heartwarming of these wonderful rescues. For animal lovers of all ages, this video series is a must-see.
On Tuesday, June 8, 15, and 22, at 10:00 a.m., the library presents “BluePrint Summer Academy,” an entertaining and eye-opening series to help you achieve your fullest potential. Local legend and national sports figure Ervin “Blue Print” Parker will share lessons learned as the founder of the Blue Print Leadership Academy, which inspires young people to reach exciting life goals. A native of Georgetown County who was a two-time All American football star at South Carolina State University and who played nine seasons in the National Football League with the Buffalo Bills, San Diego Chargers, and Seattle Seahawks, Parker translates lessons of success from the gridiron to other arenas of life. The first segment offers a look into Parker’s fascinating background; growing up in Choppee, he was one of nine children on a farm with no running water who cropped tobacco before starring on the football field. In the second and third segments, Parker explains his ten principles for success, illustrating each one with anecdotes from his life. Equally entertaining and inspiring, Blue Print Parker humbly offers a wealth of wisdom for folks of all ages.
The final installment in this spring’s 1st Thursday Speaker Series will be online on Thursday, June 3 at 10:00 a.m. Amy Trice, who serves as Director of Ocean Planning at the Ocean Conservancy in Washington, D.C., will discuss an issue vital on the South Carolina coast: how best to address pollution, sea-level rise, and coastal flooding. Trice will explain how a coordinated approach can balance the ocean economy with its diverse marine ecosystems. She has advocated for comprehensive ocean policies over three U.S. administrations, and Nature, Science, National Geographic, and NPR have interviewed her or featured her work. 1st Thursdays are sponsored by the Friends of the Waccamaw Library (FOWL) and will be held in-person again in the Fall, beginning on Thursday, September 2 at 10:00 a.m. with food expert Dr. Robert F. Moss’s “The ABCs of BBQ: The History of a Lowcountry Tradition.”