Seasons Greetings from MGRL!

Seasons greetings!

Get out your cocoa mugs! Let's have a toast:

Bibb County has beaten the 40% average in the state. Look around! More than half of the people you see have our card in their wallet or phone.

We're also toasting Bibb, Twiggs, and Macon Counties public school systems joining the Pines Library Access for Youth (PLAY) Card program, with Bibb county public students' PLAY Cards currently active and Twiggs and Macon Counties going live in 2022! Through the PLAY card program, public school students' identification numbers are their library cards! Read more about the PLAY card.

Lastly, we are so excited to have the Twin Lakes Library System rejoin the MGRL system this year.

Thank you all so much for a wonderful year and for all the patience and support you all have shown throughout the year as we coped with ever-changing COVID-19 demands. It has been important to us during these challenging times to responsibly continue to provide the communities we serve with excellent library services by ensuring the well-being of all within our walls through social distancing and wearing face masks. We thank you for your cooperation.

We wish everyone a delightful holiday season. See you in the New Year!

Read on!
Director, Middle Georgia Regional Library
Jennifer Lautzenheiser

Thursday, December 23 - Sunday, December 26
and
Friday, December 31 - Saturday, January 1

We are partnering with Macon Black Tech for the 2022 MaconThon, a local accelerator program for entrepreneurs, social innovators, and creative technologists to develop solutions to local challenges affecting Macon-Bibb.

Build your product and develop your pitch with support from Macon Black Tech through a guided process with world-leading experts and industry disruptors. Develop connections with local organizations and become a Community Champion.

Find more information and the application on the MaconThon website.
Applications for the 2022 MaconThon are open now
and are due by Dec. 17, 2021, at 4 PM.

Good luck, Champions!

BIBB COUNTY

Washington Memorial Library

Mark your calendar for a special night under the stars!
Celebrating NASA's launch of the new James Webb space telescope with special guests Philip Groce and Beate Czogalla.
*weather permitting, indoor activities provided as well

Computer and BANC Classes

Open Access is perfect for our patrons that need a low-sensory library experience. Use your library card to gain access to the library and the self-service kiosks to check out your books. Learn more about Open Access here.

Riverside Library

Shurling Library

Bloomfield Library

Charles A. Lanford, M.D. Library

BALDWIN COUNTY
(Twin Lakes)

Hancock Branch

Lake Sinclair Library

Chess learning, conversation, and casual gameplay for all ages and all levels of chess players.
Handouts for personal development will be provided. Chess boards & pieces will be provided but participants are welcome to bring their own.
We are currently not playing with a chess clock but you are welcome to bring your own.

Mary Vinson Memorial Library

JONES COUNTY LIBRARY

WILKINSON COUNTY

Gordon Library

Book clubs are available at select MGRL libraries. Joining a book club is a great way to read more and meet new people!

Book Club FAQs:
How do I join a library book club?
No need to join, just show up at the appointed time!

How do I find what this month’s selection is?
Call your local branch to find out about upcoming book club selections.

Do I have to talk?
You can contribute to the discussion as much or as little as you’d like, just make sure to allow others to share their reflections as well.

Can I still come if I didn’t finish the book?
You can still attend the book club even if you haven’t finished the selection, just be prepared for spoilers!

Find Library WoW Sunday, Dec. 5 cruising through the Macon Merry Christmas Parade. The Parade begins at 4 Pm.

Join us for the "Sleigh Bell Ride" bike party ride through downtown Macon on December 10, 6 PM.

Established in March 2018 provided by the Knight Foundation the Middle Georgia Regional Library Business and Nonprofit Center (BANC) is your one-stop-shop for resources and training that support the success of your business or nonprofit. Call 478.744.0825 to reserve your spot for these courses on the second floor of Washington Memorial Library!

Upcoming Classes:
December 2, 11 AM: Intro to Finding Grants
Learn the 10 most important things you need to know about finding grants!
December 9, 11 AM: Introduction to Proposal Writing
An overview of how to write a standard project proposal to a foundation, including the "do's" and "don'ts" of writing and submitting a proposal and how to follow up whether accepted or rejected.
December 16, 11 AM: Introduction to Project Budgets
Preparing budgets when you're unsure of how much to ask for and the basic elements of how to draft a budget with confidence.

The Middle Georgia Regional Library (MGRL) invites you to apply to become a member of our diverse team. MGRL staff members are enthusiastic and committed to fulfilling the Library’s mission “to connect all people to the information necessary to improve their lives through excellent services and materials.”

Current Job Openings:
Head of Circulation, Washington Memorial Library
Accounting Assistant, Full-Time
Rural Community Engagement Coordinator

Middle Georgia Regional Library is proud to be recognized as a leader in literacy. Literacy in 21st century Macon reflects our community’s ability to make sense of and shape the world. In addition to our work with print-word literacy, we enhance technological literacy through classes and free public access to computers. Our Business and Nonprofit Center is building financial literacy to empower entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders. We also encourage life skills literacy. Whether we are teaching resume workshops or crochet classes, we are giving members of our community the tools to live informed, engaged lives.

The Macon-Bibb Libraries Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation of Central Georgia was created to endow the future of the Macon-Bibb County libraries and will help us continue our mission to connect all people to the information necessary to improve their lives through excellent services and materials.