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- North Florida Herald may close its doors this week
- Fort White Library Announcements
- Fort White Library offers more than books
- Electronic Books
Three Rivers'
ICHETUCKNEE VIEWS
About Fort White and County
Posted: Thursday, September 29, 2011 The North Florida Herald

Fort White Library offers more than books
By Michael S. Davidson North Florida Herald

FORT WHITE -- When the Fort White Branch Library moved to its
new location last January, the outside of the building resembled a
desert wasteland.

"It was just dirt and sand," Branch Manager Patti Street said.

But where others saw only a barren lot, Street recognized a
blossoming opportunity to educate.

As the Columbia County Landscaping Department prepared to cover
the property with sod, Street stepped in and asked that the rear of
the library remain untouched. A plan had taken root inside her head.

Now, the 150-foot-by-50-foot back lawn of the building is growing into
a teaching and display garden for Fort White residents. The Friends
of the Library group donated the original seed money to start the
garden, and the Fort White community has continued to support the
project.

"All the labor and almost all the plants were donated by the Columbia
County Master Gardeners and local volunteers," Street said.

The Columbia County Master Gardeners, volunteers from the
University of Florida's Institute of Food Agriculture and Science, will
use the library and its garden as a resource to help educate local
residents about gardening.

"It's just another way for the library to be involved in the community,"
Street said.

Street, also a Master Gardener, hopes the project's close proximity to
Fort White residents will encourage them to take advantage of the
services provided by a demonstration garden. The closest teaching
and display garden is currently located in Lake City, Street said.

A free plant clinic is held every Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in
the Fort White Branch Library's conference room. Master Gardeners
are present to answer gardening questions and perform free pH tests
on soil samples.

There are also free workshops once a month. In the future, Street
plans for hands-on demonstrations to be held in the library's garden.

Topics will range from hydroponics gardening to turning the average
lawn into a certified habitat. The garden will eventually feature five
different learning areas, each with a specific floral theme.

A habitat certification garden, raised bed garden and native plants
garden are already complete. A conservation corner will be planted
next, and finally a butterfly garden.

There is no estimated completion date for the entire garden at this
time, Street said. A volunteer workday is being planned for October.

Street hopes that eventually the library will also be home to a "seed
library." People could check out seeds to plant in their own gardens
and replace them at a later date.

Street believes that the teaching and display garden is a step in the
right direction for the library. The classic functions of the library are
being utilized less and less.

"I a broadening the role of the library in the community," she said.
North Florida Herald may close its doors this week
11-30-1111

As the publisher of The North Florida Herald, this is something I never
thought I would write. Unless a financial angel comes through our doors in
the next two days, The Herald will close. No issue will be published this
week, and without a financial angel, no issue will be published again. We
need $120,000 to survive until December of 2012. If we could survive to
then, we would have published through the very profitable months of
election advertising. Even better, maybe the economy will have started
changing by then and we would be back on our feet. That is my hope.

Written by the editor of the North Florida Herald
Electronic Books

Currently, Alachua Library has electronic books available.  If you own a
Kindle or other type of reader, all you have to do is sign up at the High
Springs Library, receive a Library Card (FREE) and you are ready to receive
your Library Books via the internet.  It's free, easy and a blast to have them
loaded down in a matter of minutes.

It works just like a lending library.  You may be put on a waiting list for some
books.  When the book is available, the library will email you, and you have 3
days to authorize the download.  You can schedule the book for 7, 14 or 21
days.  At the end of your schedule, the book will electronically be deleted
from your reader.

I am told that by the end of 2012, Columbia County Libraries will have
Electronic Book capabilities.