Columbia County libraries report strong summer programs, free services at three branches

Columbia County’s three public library branches — Evans, Harlem and Grovetown — are offering daily programs for children and adults, and a summer reading series that drew large early attendance, Library Manager Keisha Evans said.

Evans said the branches are “open basically Sunday through Saturday” and provide free programs ranging from children’s summer reading events to adult classes in coding and Microsoft Office. The library system also offers public computers, an electronic library card app and interlibrary loan requests through gchrl.org, she said.

Keisha Evans, library manager, described high early turnout for this year’s summer reading kickoff: “For Harlem, we had over 100 children to participate. For Grovetown, we had over 150. And for out here in Evans, it was over 230 children,” she said, crediting programs such as live-animal presentations by the Savannah River Ecology Lab and visiting entertainers.

Evans said branches issue free entry tickets for popular events and recommended arriving early. She described a range of children’s programming — including reptile shows and magic/ventriloquism acts — and said many events do not require a library card. “Everything we do here at the library... everything we do is free,” she said, adding that attendees without a card can participate and that library cards require proof of address.

The libraries also run adult-focused offerings. Evans noted clubs and classes at all branches — book clubs, card games, chess, and guitar clubs — and named a staff instructor, Alex, who teaches coding and one-on-one electronics help. She said some classes require registration while others are open; participants should call individual branches for specific sign-up instructions.

Evans described collection services and borrowing options: physical books, audiobooks, DVDs and musical instruments such as guitars for check-out, as well as statewide card reciprocity that allows patrons to borrow at other Georgia libraries. She said public computers are available for children, teens and adults; guest passes are available for visitors, while printing costs are 25 cents per black-and-white page and $1 per color page.

On staffing, Evans estimated the system employs “over 30 something employees” across the three branches, saying roles include circulation, children’s and reference duties and that smaller branches share responsibilities among staff. She directed residents to gchrl.org, Columbia County’s website and branch Facebook pages for schedules and updates.

The information above is based on remarks in a Columbia County promotional interview in which Cassidy Harris, public relations manager, and Keisha Evans, library manager, discussed branch services and summer programming. Attendance figures and the staffing estimate were reported by Evans during that interview.