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More Than Books

Library Offers Programs To Adults, Children

The Prendergast Library has a variety of resources for research, including public computers and ebooks. The library also uses an integrated library system for a variety of purposes like tracking orders, bills and patrons who have borrowed. P-J photo by Carly Gould

Drum roll please.

The 2019 “Most Borrowed Library Book” award goes to “Texas Ranger” by James Patterson.

Give him a round of applause.

The book, about a man looking for his ex-wife’s killer, was published Aug. 13, 2018, and has garnered a modest amount of praise. James Patterson has written a lot of best-seller books, and he teamed up with author Andrew Bourelle to write “Texas Ranger.”

Along with “Texas Ranger” being the most borrowed book, Library Manager Annie Greene said the bestselling book of 2019 is “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens.

Raspberry Pi is a credit card-sized computer that can be connected to a monitor and keyboard. Photo by Alex Nelson

“This book (“Crawdads”) is the most circulated book in the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System for 2019, and number nine for James Prendergast Library,” Greene said.

“Where the Crawdads Sing,” which was published a day after “Texas Ranger,” set in the late 1960s, is about a young woman dubbed the “Marsh Girl” and how she lived alone in the marsh for years until she was accused of murder.

However, books are not the only thing that people can come to the library for. The technology of the library has changed and expanded over the years. Along with barcode scanners to checkout materials, the library also has a computer lab for digital literacy classes, public computers for patron use, printers, copiers and three, 3-D printers.

“STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programming is available in our Makerspace for all ages,” Greene said. “That includes learning about robots, Raspberry Pi, video editing and much more.”

Raspberry Pi is a credit card-sized computer that can be connected to a monitor and keyboard. It has programs on it to teach children coding, and can also be used to create games on a computer. It’s mostly used for educational purposes, but children and adults can use it to create.

The library also uses an integrated library system to track items owned, orders made, bills paid, and patrons who have borrowed materials.

The library offers WiFi for people to use at the library, and offers ebooks for remote download from home. Patrons can download the Libby app, find the Prendergast Library system, input their library cards and pins and get access to ebooks and audiobooks from home.

Various databases are available to purchase for patrons, as well as Rosetta Stone, scanners, microfiche and microfilm computers to view old newspapers, and self-checkout.

“Come in and check everything out,” said Library Executive Director Tina Scott. “We have a lot of events each month, and we’re always happy to see new people.”

Some regular events that take place at the library are nutrition classes and Minecraft club on Mondays, bargain booksales, storytime for children and an adult coloring club. The library’s Makerspace is open from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

To learn more about the library or to find upcoming events, go to prendergastlibrary.org. The library opens at 10 a.m. everyday except Sunday, and closes 5 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

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