Videos from the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

In case you missed it, we filmed the ribbon cutting ceremony. I uploaded the videos onto YouTube. You can access them on our YouTube page HERE. I will list the videos individually below. I apologize for the shaky camera in some parts, holding an iPhone for an hour filming isn't easy. ;)

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Welcome - Chairman Garry Meiggs

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Invocation - Honorable Bob Steinburg

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Acknowledgements - Mike Renshaw

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Acknowledgements - Linda Van Sistine-Yost

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Remarks - Honorable Congressman Walter Jones, U.S. House of  Representatives

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Remarks - Honorable Senator Bill Cook, North Carolina Senate

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Remarks - Honorable Representative Bob Steinburg

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Remarks - Letter from Senator Kay Hagan

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Special Remarks - Cal Shepard, State Librarian

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Children's Area Dedication - Dr. Anthony Chow and Dr. Clara Chu

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Cutting of the Ribbon

Letter from Senator Kay Hagan

The Daily Advance - Editorial Featuring the Library

Did you see the AWESOME editorial about the library in today's The Daily Advance? We are so happy for such a well written piece supporting our library!

http://www.dailyadvance.com/node/2101271

The issue:The new Camden County Public Library officially opened July 1 in the Camden Business Park in Belcross.

Our position:The new library marks a milestone for the county and its residents who will benefit from a variety of resources the facility offers for cultural, informational and educational advancement.




Congratulations all around for officials, educators, patrons and citizens who persevered in establishing a public library in Camden County.
Some may rightly focus on the achievement of ridding Camden the distinction of being the only county in North Carolina without its own public library, but hosting the facility has greater implications that enhance quality of life in any community. If they have not done so already, Camden residents will soon realize the intrinsic value of hosting their own library.
After much anticipation, the 5,000-book library opened July 1 at 104 Investor’s Way at the Camden Business Park in Belcross. The modern facility gives patrons access to both, a world of traditional literary treasure and informational resources accessed via the Internet and computers. In those pursuits Camden County Public Library, will play a fundamental role in the lives of local residents, current and future.
Even today, more Americans still go to school libraries and public and academic libraries than go to the movies. In many regions, public libraries serve as an economic anchor, and in hard times, they provide important resources to families and job seekers, according to the American Library Association.
Currently, public libraries are the number one point of online access for those without Internet connections at home, school or work. And libraries are cost-efficient. Americans on average check out more than seven books a year at libraries on which they spend about $33.56 in taxes to support — about the average cost of one hardcover book.
It was just last November when the Camden County Board of Commissioners voted to create a local library after partnering for 70 years with Pasquotank County in offering library services.
Camden County, which has been trying to attract economic growth and become less reliant on its neighbors for basic services, decided to finally end its partnership with Pasquotank County for use of the W.C. Witherspoon Memorial Library in Elizabeth City, which is a part of the East Albemarle Regional Library system.
Camden will now re-direct money that had been going to Pasquotank to its own library in the upcoming budget.
One advantage of that new direction, according to Camden County Attorney John Morrison, is that unlike before, Camden will now own the books and resources it buys rather than simply using them under the prior arrangement with Pasquotank.
Camden’s new library services occupy a spacious 6,800-square-foot foot facility manned by a five-person library staff.
“When you walk through the front door, it feels cheerful,” said Librarian Linda VanSistine-Yost at the recent grand opening. She left her job as librarian of the Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library in Edenton to head the new Camden library.
Besides VanSistine-Yost, there are two full-time and two part-time assistants who helped catalog all the new materials.
In addition to books there are DVD’s for loan, 10 computer stations with access to the Internet, a special section for children, a community meeting room, a “‘tween teen” reading section and the usual adult fiction and non-fiction sections.
Unfortunately, across the country many cash-strapped cities are opting to sell their libraries to plug budget holes. That’s a mistake on many levels in a nation guided by democratic principles and participatory government. Also, certain services and institutions — such as public education, police protection, etc. — need the guiding hand of the public’s interest and public accountability. Libraries, we believe, fit easily into the realm of what is in the public’s interest.
That sense of value and tradition have convinced many citizens to bequeath their collections and fortunes to public libraries, where access to information, history and man’s thoughts on it all is made available free to the public. Libraries are for the people — a living institution for enriching lives and opening doors.

We have new furniture!

This isn't all! We are expecting more chairs soon and a couch! Keep checking back with us to see how things are changing in our library!

Our new magazine reading area

The chairs have fold away desk tops on the arms for convenience

Our new kid's room furniture!

Opening Day: Photos!

 

Tomorrow is the day!

Well, the library is ready to open tomorrow! We are so excited! Here are the pictures from the end of our preparation weeks. :) See you tomorrow at 11am!! :D

The outside of our wonderful library!

Our drive up book drop

Seating area at the front of the library. (More soft furniture on the way!)

Another reading area near the non-fiction section

Reading area near the meeting room

Our teen/tween section

Our computers are ready to be used!

Linda and Jonathan working hard on last minute details

Megan straightening the books in the teen section

Our newly decorated kids room

Our kids computer

Parenting section right outside the kids room

Reading/study area outside children's room

Our new fiction section

Adult fiction

DVDs!

Featured reads!

Our teen section

Books for tweens

Adult non-fiction

Biographies!