Notary public services available now at library

Voter registrations. Passport applications. Now add notary public to the types of services Rolling Hills Library offers to the public besides helping people find something to read or watch. 

Several staff members at the Belt and Savannah branches have completed training to be notary publics and can witness and authenticate the signing of certain types of documents, administer oaths and take some affidavits. They also will can notarize mail-in ballots for the November elections. 

The notaries are available during library hours on a walk-in basis. No appointments are needed, so it’s best to call ahead to see if a notary is available before coming to the library. No fees will be charged for notary service. 

“Our mission is to serve the residents of Andrew and Buchanan counties, and we believe notary public services is something we can easily offer,” said library Director Michelle Mears. “A lot of people think of banks first when they need a notary. But with bank lobbies being closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, people may be having trouble finding a notary. We can help them now.”

Registration is open for Summer Reading Program

Sign-up is now open at for the 2020 Summer Reading Program, and while the annual effort to promote reading promises plenty of books and prizes, it will have a different look than past years.

There will be no in-library events including the featured weekly performers, but there will be virtual Storytimes for young kids, book discussion groups for adults and crafts and activities for all ages from June 1 through July 31. This year’s theme of “Imagine Your Story” highlights fairy tales, fables and make-believe stories.

The coronavirus pandemic may have shortened the summer agenda, but it hasn’t diminished the importance of reading for youths and adults. Libraries use summer reading programs to help stave off the “summer slide” in students’ reading capabilities, library Director Michelle Mears said. And with many local students being out of school since March, the library is making it as easy as possible to register.

Youths from babies to teens and adults can sign up online at rhcl.org/summer or by calling the Belt Branch at 816-232-5479, the Savannah Branch at 816-324-4569 or the Bookmobile at 816-205-7100 to speak to a staff member. In-person registrations will be taken when the library reopens to the public on Tuesday, May 26.

Everyone who registers will be entered into prize drawings for gift baskets and three $100 Walmart gift cards. Participants who reach their reading goals will earn a second entry for the drawings as well as other prizes. Youths will receive a cloth book bag full of activities to do at home when they register.

While youths and families look forward to the many summer events at the library, Mears said, the library opted to cancel all in-person programs to keep everyone safe from possibly spreading the coronavirus in crowds.

“We are very disappointed that we can’t bring the performers to our communities this year,” Mears said. “We want kids to be safe, and we know there could be many parents who might not bring their kids to these events to keep them safe, so we had to weigh those factors and cancel the programs.”

The library will announce online programs on its online calendar at rhcl.org and on Facebook. Some events are already posted while others will be added throughout the summer.

2020 Library Fundraiser Bee is a spelling bee for all ages

--EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO LIBRARY CLOSURE--

Registration is now open for the third Annual Library Fundraising Bee, and this year’s event will test participants’ spelling prowess – and pit all ages against one another.

Scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Saturday, March 28, in the Belt Branch Upper Story, the bee is a spelling contest open to all ages. Participants are encouraged to put together teams of friends and family members. Teams can register and pay their fees at Books Revisited, the Friends of the Library bookstore.

The contest is limited to 10 teams of four to eight spellers. The entry fee is $15 per person, and spectators can purchase $5 tickets at the bookstore or at the bee. Sponsored by the Friends and the Rolling Hills Library Foundation, the event will benefit the library’s endowment fund.

Teams will face eight rounds of spelling. Words spelled correctly are worth four points, while words spelled with the help of mulligans are worth three points. MIsspelled words earn one point. The team with the most points will be the winner.

A variety of mulligans will be available for spellers or their fans to purchase and use in case they run into trouble spelling. The mulligans include a “team huddle” to consult with team members and “15 seconds with a dictionary” to look up a word but then spell it correctly without looking at the dictionary.

Because minors could be participating or attending the bee, non-alcoholic beverages along with snacks will be offered for sale at the concession stand. A 50-50 drawing will be the event’s other money-making effort.

Feed Your Mind with Adult Winter Reading Program

For many people when the weather turns cold, the first impulses are to curl up with a good book and to eat to stay warm. That’s what makes food the perfect theme for the 2020 Adult Winter Reading Program.

“We try to pick a broad theme every year, something that we can find with a lot of books that are tied to that theme and something we can do some programming with,” Belt Branch manager Kelly Morris said in describing the “Feed Your Mind” theme.

And food is something most people can relate to, Savannah Branch manager Saundra Keiffer pointed out: “If they don’t like to cook, they like to eat.”

The annual reading initiative for adults ages 18 and older opens Jan. 2 and ends Feb. 29. Adults can sign up at any time during the two months and must read four books. Logs will be available on Jan. 2.

When they sign up, participants will receive a reading log and a starting gift of lip balm. The log will provide different food-related categories to choose from, and library staff will be able to recommend authors to read in the categories. Some of the categories are Cookbook, Appetizer (short stories), Comfort Food (re-read an old favorite), Spaghetti Western, Taste of Home (local author or setting) and Tickle Your Taste Buds (humor).

If they don’t want to read food-themed books, Morris said, participants can read any four books of their liking, but the fun of the program comes from reading genres or authors that might not be familiar.

The reading log also has a section for participants to write in a recipe that will be turned in when they complete the program. The recipes will be made into a library cookbook.

Participants who read four or more books will receive prizes of a limited-edition library oven mitt, a free book or a Books Revisited coupon for a book, entry into the grand prize drawing and an invite to an end-of-program party. The grand prizes are $50 Walmart gift cards for the Belt Branch and Savannah Branch and a gift basket of similar value for Bookmobile and Service to Adult Reader patrons.

Several food-themed events have been planned as part of the program, including:

Appetizers and Finger Foods – Try some new and delicious dishes. Bring the recipe and samples to share with others. 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, Savannah.

Recipe Cards with Word – Learn how to use Microsoft Word to make printable recipe cards on your computer. Register in advance at events.rhcl.org/events. 3:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, Savannah.

Saltshaker Snowpeople – Clear glass or plastic saltshakers will be turned into cute crafts. All supplies provided, but you can bring your own shaker. Register in advance at events.rhcl.org/events. 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at Belt.

Recipe Cards with Word – Learn how to use Microsoft Word to make printable recipe cards on your computer. Register in advance at events.rhcl.org/events. 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, Belt.

Backyard Bird Feeding – Exchange wild bird stories while making a cute feeder for the winter and a bird bath for spring. Bring two saucers and two teacups or one teacup and a wide mug. All other materials furnished. Register in advance at events.rhcl.org/events. 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, Savannah.

Cup of Tea – Amanda Paden, owner of the Simply Tea shop, will discuss types of tea, the processes for preparing them and the health benefits of different kinds of teas. 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, Belt.

DIY Recipe Books – Learn how to use Microsoft Publisher to create your own recipe book. Remember to bring recipes to use in your new book. Register in advance at events.rhcl.org/events. 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, Belt.

Take Home Dog Treats – All ages and families will mix up some dough and use cookie cutters to make dog treats that you bake at home. You’ll also learn how to make dog bone wreaths. Register in advance at events.rhcl.org/events. Tuesday, Feb. 4, Savannah.

Heart Healthy Living – Gina Lucas, a health education specialist with University of Missouri Extension, will present information about having a healthy heart. Feel free to bring your lunch. Noon Thursday, Feb. 6, Belt.

Insta Pot Luck – Bring your favorite dish made with an Insta Pot along with the recipe to share after we discuss how to use this new kitchen appliance. 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, Savannah.

Literary Potluck – How does food or cooking play a role in a book you’ve enjoyed? Tell the group and bring a book-related dish to share. Please include a card that lists a dish’s ingredients. 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, Belt.