
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, May 13, 1990                   TAG: 9005090262
SECTION: DISCOVER THE NEW RIVER VALLEY                    PAGE: 49   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MELISSA CALE NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

NEW PROGRAMS MAKING LIBRARIES FUN

Not that many years ago, young and old alike cringed at the idea of spending long hours in the library working on a project. There were too many rules, many said, and not enough fun to be had in a dusty old building full of books.

Today, libraries are changing to meet the growing competition of computers, videotapes, home video games, sports and other pastimes.

In the New River Valley, libraries are rapidly developing new programs to make libraries fun.

Anyone who lives in, owns property, or attends school in Montgomery and Floyd counties is entitled to a free borrower's card that can be used to check out any number of a variety of materials available.

Children must be in first grade to receive a library card, and parents must sign for children under 16.

The Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library consists of several branches. All branches offer large print books, art prints and original paintings, inter-library loans, magazines, newspapers, paperbacks, reference service, records and cassettes (although most libraries in the area are slowly phasing out records in favor of cassettes), preschool story times and summer reading programs, book renewal by phone, and meeting rooms for community groups.

In Radford, a new computerized check-out system recently has been installed. Current card holders may come in and have a magnetic strip attached to the back of their cards to have them "computerized."

The same requirements exist in Radford for obtaining a card, and patrons holding cards at the Montgomery-Floyd Regional and Pulaski County libraries may also check out books.

Unique to the Radford Public Library are videotapes that provide an alternative to reading for many patrons. The tapes may be checked out for two weeks, and consist primarily of educational tapes. There are no "modern" offerings that would be popular in a local video store, but there are several good classics.

The videotapes have been highly popular with the library, and plans are being made to expand the current selection.

In Floyd County, the Jessie Pearman Memorial Branch library is part of the Montgomery-Floyd Regional library system. This library also offers an extensive genealogy section.

An interesting addition to Pearman's regular offerings is "The Floyd Press" newspaper on microfiche, which was added to the library's collections last year. Newspapers are available dating back to 1944.

Special activities for children are offered at each library. These range from a birthday party for Hans Christian Andersen, to story times, puppet shows, and other special performances. The state library board also sponsors a summer reading program for children at each library. The summer programs usually begin in early June.

For more information, call your local branch library: Blacksburg 552-8246; Christiansburg 382-6965; Pulaski 980-8888; Pearisburg 921-2556; Floyd 745-2947.

by CNB