The library’s winter weather policy: We will remain open if at all possible, however if winter weather and poor road conditions require us to close, it will be announced on KREL, 1420 AM.

For the Kids

Homework Help: In 2003, the learning center located upstairs at the library added an after-school study help service, that provides students with help from tutors on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 5. Registration forms for this service are available at the library or from the California Elementary and Middle School Principals' offices. In January of 2004 the library added a homework help center. Currently the center provides computers with homework help websites conveniently book-marked and a large assortment of written resources to help with homework. It is currently located downstairs at the library near the study tables. A scanner was added to the homework help center along with several new non-fiction books in 2005. Plans are underway to add extra word processing computers to the center and the library is committed to enlarging and keeping this center current.

Children's Storytime for children of all ages is held the 2nd and 4th Tuesday each month at 10:30 AM. Activities vary and often include stories, crafts, and music. An adult should accompany children. A storytime for pre-school age children is provided by the library's foster grandmother every Wednesday at 1:00 PM.

Summer Reading Program is for kids up to age 17. The sign up is held each May. Kids receive fun prizes for reading books in June and July.

About the Library

The 1954 endowment from Elia Wood Paegelow provided the funds for the first California public lending library. The hard work and generosity of many others since then have helped the library to grow. The library is now located at 501 S. Oak Street where for a minimal membership fee area residents may enjoy a spacious modern library. The library has over 14,000 books and provides a complete children's collection, adult fiction and non-fiction books, and subscriptions to newspapers and magazines. Selected works are available in large print books and audio books. Patrons may also use the library's computers, printer and color printer, copier, and fax machine. Private meeting rooms are available upstairs and a variety of adult education classes are offered upstairs and through our distance learning center.

Services Available at the Library

Computers: The library currently has six computers that are available for members who have signed a computer usage agreement. Internet access is available and many patrons use the internet for e-mail and for research. The computers have word processing and spreadsheet programs (Microsoft Word and Excel). Both a black and white and color printer are available for the patron’s use. There is another computer for the kids that only has children’s games installed in the children’s area. The library plans to provide more computers when funds become available.

Burger Foundation Distance Learning Center: A grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development along with matching funds from the Burger Foundation and other local donors have made the construction of this center possible. An interactive television system allows the library to offer college credit classes as well as other adult education classes.

Meeting Rooms: Rent the spacious rooms of the California Community Learning Center for your next business meeting or special event. Heyssel Hall, a large meeting room that accommodates up to 250 people, features tables, chairs, a television/videocassette recorder, kitchenette and restrooms. Bolinger Conference Room is is set up classroom style for 20 to 35 people. The board room is set up conference style and seats 10 to 20 people comfortably. Rentals for non-profit groups are: half day, $10; full-day, $20. For-profit organizations rates are: half day, $25; full-day, $50. For rental information, call (573) 796-4791.

Copier: A copier is available for public use and to copy reference materials that don’t leave the library.

Fax Machine: Library staff will be happy to send your fax for $1 a page.

Magazines and Newspapers: Over twenty magazine subscriptions are available to patrons to read at the library or check out. Patrons may read at the library the latest issues of the California Democrat, the Jefferson City News Tribune and the Kansas City Star.

Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction

Adult Fiction Collection: Our growing collection of adult fiction includes best sellers and popular authors. The hard back collection is supplemented by a sizeable paperback collection. Between the two, you should be able to find something you like. Feel free to ask the librarian for assistance.

Reference and Non-Fiction: For research or entertainment, our non-fiction section includes everything from the "Chicken Soup" series to gardening and other "how to" books. Whether your interest lies in Parenting help books, Great Artists, history, medical information or something else – here’s a good place to look.

Children's Area

Children’s Collections: Our Children’s books are divided into three categories to help you find what you’re looking for. Easy reading is for children up to third grade. The junior adult collection is aimed at middle school children and young adult is for the teenagers. However, you’ll find the popular Harry Potter series and the Little House series in the junior adult collection and the classic Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy’s books are in the young adult collection; so don’t let the age categories prevent you from finding the book you will enjoy.

Large Print and Audio Collections: Selected works are available in large print books and audio books.

Spanish/English Collection: This special collection includes instructional material for English speakers wanting to learn Spanish and for Spanish speakers learning English. There are books written in Spanish for adults and children and many children’s books that are in both English and Spanish.

Video Collection: This is the newest special collection at the library. It currently has mostly travel and educational videos. We'll continue to build up this collection if patrons let us know they are interested.

Award Winning Book Collection: This is a new project funded by the Latham family. It will include books from the following awards: Aventis, Caldecott, Edgars, National, Newberry, Nobel & Pulitzer. So, it will have some books for young children and older kids as well as many books for adults - quality fiction, poetry, books about science, history and more! We’ll be giving you more information about this exciting new collection soon. For now, we’ve pulled the books we already had, ordered the award winners that we didn’t have for the past four years, marked the books with a “1st prize blue ribbon sticker” and temporarily shelved them on one of the wire-rack shelving units you’ll see when you first enter the library.

2006 Board of Directors

Collette Jones, President
Gwen Fletcher, Vice President
Carol Ann Baker, Secretary
Nathen Patterson, Treasurer
Sharon Smith
Kristin Imhoff
Tim Kertz

Library Membership Application
Membership Renewal Form
Volunteer Application
Meeting Room Policy and Reservation Form
Library Use Agreement Form
Complaint Form
Library Material Complaint Form
Librarian Evaluation

Policy and Procedure Manual