Shark Week, Dino Days & One Big Splashdown

Dun dun…… dun dun….. dun dun dun duuuuuun…… Shark week starts on Sunday, July 26th, and the Library is celebrating with a free Shark Week Raffle. We will have several winners of shark-related items, it is one entry, per visit, per patrons. The Library will announce the winners on Wednesday, July 29th.

July is going out with a BANG as prepare to say goodbye to the 2026 Summer Reading Program “Unearth A Story”, which ends on Friday, July 31st, with the “Final Splashdown”! Dressed to get wet and come to Abbitt Park between 10 am to 2:00 pm for a huge waterslide, reusable water balloons, vendors, games, glitter tattoos, bubbles, and more. Don’t forget to bring a t-shirt for tie dying! This program is free and open to everyone!

It was BAC (Book, Activity & Craft) to the Library on Tuesday, July 14th, with Library Fairy MaKayla! She read the book “The GIRL and the DINOSAUR” by Hollie Hughes, and the kids enjoyed making their own dinosaur bookmarks, and designed their own every popular Perler bead dinosaur trinket, while enjoying snacks.

The Library was a cool spot to hang out and enjoy snacks for our Wednesday, July 15th’s Family Movie about a roguish yet charming Captain’s idyllic pirate life capsizes after his nemesis steals his ship, and later attacks the town of Port Royal, kidnapping the governor’s beautiful daughter. Our next Family Movie Night will be on Thursday, August 27th, starting at 6:00 pm. In this animated comedy adventure, an animal lover seizes an opportunity to use a new technology to “hop” her consciousness into a lifelike robotic beaver and communicate directly with animals. As she makes amazing discoveries, she befriends a charismatic beaver and must rally the entire animal kingdom to face a major, imminent, human threat. This movie is rated PG. Free snacks will be served!

The kids from Methodist Day Care were at the Library on Thursday, July 16 for some Jurassic fun with dinosaur activity sheets, assembling 6-sided dice for a dinosaur game, and making dinosaur headbands. This is just one of the many groups that this Library caters to private programs. If your group, organization of club needs us to host a movie time, story and or craft time, or other educational or entertainment event please feel free to speak to Library Director Mrs. Cindy Scheu for more information or to book an event.

It was a wild afternoon at the BAC (Book, Activity & Craft) to the Library program on Thursday, July 16th. Library fairy MaKayla read the book “Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp” by Carol Diggory Shields. The kids enjoyed making their own dino dirt cups, and marshmallow dinosaurs, which were the snack, along with juice all while rolling the dinosaur dice and acting out scenes from “Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp”! To make your own Dino Dirt Cup you need pudding cups, crushed cookies, and dinosaur gummies, layered up for a Triassic treat!

On Friday, July 17, visitors to the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library enjoyed a magical experience with the Amazing Mr. B and his “Digging Up Wonder” magic show. The audience was beguiled by sleight of hand tricks, gasping and laughing as cards vanished and objects transformed right before their eyes, and were pulled into the fun as Mr. B invited volunteers up to participate in the tricks themselves. The afternoon offered a fun, free summer outing for families and reinforced the library’s role as a welcoming gathering place for the community.

If you are just hitting the job market, or need to refresh your resume, the Library will be hosting Tim Saunders from Virginia Career Works from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm for a Free Resume Help Desk. Tim will be on hand to help you with suggestions, and answer resume-related questions. If you have an existing resume you are encouraged to bring it with you. This free service is to help patrons prepare for the upcoming Job Fair at the Appomattox CVCC campus, on August 12th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and beyond as students, graduates, and others seek to explore hiring opportunities.

If you have any questions or concerns about this article or other library-related topics, please feel free to call us during normal business hours.

Article/photo submitted by
Katharine G. Bloodworth
J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library

The Library receives a steady supply of new and donated items and would like to highlight the following items:

DVDs

• Doctor Who – Jodie Whittaker
• Thomas and Friends: Mud Glorious Mud
• Paw Patrol: Marshall and Chase ON THE CASE!
• Infinity Train: Season Two

Community Calendar

July 2026

July 20th, Monday – Sun Bonnet Sue Stitchers to meet at the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library starting at 10:00 am. Anyone interested in sharing or learning a skill like crocheting, knitting, quilting, needlework, sewing, or other related hobbies are encouraged to attend. Enjoy good company while sharing patterns, exchanging ideas, learning new projects, or teaching others. This meeting is open to anyone willing to teach or learn, yes gentleman, this includes you too!

July 21st, Tuesday – Jamerson Library’s Book, Activity & Craft (BAC) Day from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm in the Library’s community room. The Library will feature a dinosaur-themed book, tangram dinosaurs, and dig for treasure. Join us for free snacks, and earn a brag tag for attending.

July 21st, Tuesday – Pamplin Depot Story & Craft Time by the Jamerson Memorial Library, starting at 1:00 pm. Meet Library Director Cindy Scheu for an adventure in reading and creativity. The Library will feature an age-appropriate book for children preschool through 6 years of age, followed by a simple craft project and snacks. Everyone is welcome to attend with the understanding that this program is intended for younger patrons.

July 22nd, Wednesday – Jamerson Library’s Summer Movie starting at 1:00 pm in the community room. A futuristic team of unlikely superheroes protect the galaxy from danger.

July 23rd, Thursday – Jamerson Library’s Book, Activity & Craft (BAC) Day from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm in the Library’s community room. The Library will feature a dinosaur-themed book, dinosaur dirt cups, and hot dinosaur egg. Join us for free snacks, and earn a brag tag for attending.

July 24th, Friday – Special Story Time starting at 11:00 am at the Jamerson Library. Join Virginia mother and daughter author duo Rachel and Jordan Arnette as they present their book “Jojo’s Journey: Let’s go to Kindergarten”. Join Jojo as she begins her exciting journey into kindergarten! Jojo is both nervous and curious as she steps onto the school bus for the very first time. With the help of her loving parents and her teacher, Mrs. Wish, Jojo learns that being brave opens the door to fun, friendship, and new adventures. From classroom games to making her very first best friend, Jojo discovers that kindergarten is a place where everyone belongs and every day is filled with something new to learn and love. Rachel and Jordan will be giving away free mini coloring books and offering copies of their book for sale.

July 28th, Tuesday – Jamerson Library presents Worm Farming and Composting Basics from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm. This event is open to patrons of all ages. A worm farm is a sustainable, low-maintenance way to manage organic waste, while creating premium, nutrient-rich fertilizer. By processing kitchen scraps, worms divert waste from landfills and generate organic castings and liquid fertilizer that naturally promote plant health, soil aeration, and disease resistance. This program is paid for by the Infinite Sums Grant.

July 28th, Tuesday – Pamplin Depot Story & Craft Time by the Jamerson Memorial Library, starting at 1:00 pm. Meet Library Director Cindy Scheu for an adventure in reading and creativity. The Library will feature an age-appropriate book for children preschool through 6 years of age, followed by a simple craft project and snacks. Everyone is welcome to attend with the understanding that this program is intended for younger patrons.

July 29th, Wednesday – Jamerson Library’s Infinity Monsters Crafts for all ages starting at 4:00 pm in the Library’s community room. Enjoy the endless options to create your own build-a-monster and snacks! This program is paid for by the Infinite Sums Grant.

July 29th, Wednesday – Jamerson Library’s Creative Class for Adults starting at 6:00 pm. Math matters including in nature and flowers! Join us in making an infinity flower art piece. You must be pre-registered to attend this event as supplies and space are limited. Please register online at: https://www.jrjml.org/adult-program-registration. This program is paid for by the Infinite Sums Grant.

July 30th, Thursday – Jamerson Library Infinity Kaleidoscope craft for patrons of all ages starting at 4:00 pm in the Library’s community room. Make and take your very own kaleidoscope, with free snacks! This program is paid for by the Infinite Sums Grant.

July 30th, Thursday – Jamerson Library’s Air Clay Bowls Creative Class for Adults (Part 1) from 6:00 – 7:30 pm in the Library’s community room. Use your fingers and your imagination to create clay bowls. You must be pre-registered to attend this event as supplies and space are limited. Please register online at: https://www.jrjml.org/adult-program-registration.

July 31st, Friday – Jamerson Library’s Final Splashdown in Abbitt Park! Join us as we say goodbye to the 2026 Summer Reading program with a splash! Dress to get wet and meet us in the park, next to the Library, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Don’t forget your towels and a change of clothes. There will be games, waterslides, bubbles and more. Bring a t-shirt for tie-dying!

AUGUST 2026

August 2nd, Sunday – Jamerson Library to join the Appomattox County Sheriff’s Department for National Night Out from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm in Courtland Festival Park. Look for us under the blue tent for Library-related information, bubbles, craft projects, and body glitter tattoos.

August 3rd, Monday – Sun Bonnet Sue Stitchers to meet at the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library starting at 10:00 am. Anyone interested in sharing or learning a skill like crocheting, knitting, quilting, needlework, sewing, or other related hobbies are encouraged to attend. Enjoy good company while sharing patterns, exchanging ideas, learning new projects, or teaching others. This meeting is open to anyone willing to teach or learn, yes gentleman, this includes you too!

August 4th, Tuesday – Free Resume Help Desk from Virginia Career Works at the Jamerson Memorial Library from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Tim is IN! Need help creating a resume or have questions about your existing resume? Come meet Tim Saunders for suggestions on wording, style, and other resume-related help. It is suggested that if you already have a resume that you bring a copy with you.

August 4th, Tuesday – All Aboard! Pamplin Depot Story & Craft Time presented by the Jamerson Memorial Library, starting at 1:00 pm. Meet Library Director Cindy Scheu for an adventure in reading and creativity. The Library will feature an age-appropriate book for patrons preschool through 6 years of age, followed by a simple craft project and snacks. Everyone is welcome to attend with the understanding that this program is intended for younger patrons.

August 4th, Tuesday – Pamplin Depot Creative Class for Adults starting at 3:00 pm. This month’s creative class will feature iris folding, which originated in the Netherlands. It gets its name because the finished design resembles the spiraling iris of a camera lens. Please register online at: https://www.jrjml.org/adult-program-registration.

August 5th, Wednesday – Jamerson Library and the Library of Virginia present “Like a Wave We Break: Overcoming Burnout to Lead with Resilience and Alignment” starting at 12:00 pm in the Library’s conference room. This live-streamed presentation is hosted by Jane Marie Chen, a national bestselling author, internationally acclaimed inventor, and leadership coach.

August 5th, Wednesday – Jamerson Library’s Infinity Dance in Abbitt Park starting 4:00 pm. Dance to infinity and beyond with Library Director Cindy Scheu! Learn the basic moves for fan, poi and dragon flow dancing. Go with the “flow” as you use your own creative movement and large free-flowing ribbons and poi balls to express your own interpretation of freeform performance art through dance. This program is paid for by the Infinite Sums Rural and Small Libraries Grant.

August 5th, Wednesday – “Let’s Dough This”! Jamerson Library’s Introduction to Sourdough starting at 6:00 pm in the Library’s community room. Learn how to make sourdough starter with Adrian Gilbert, and get hints and tips on baking up some of the best bread you have ever tried. This program is paid for by the Infinite Sums Rural and Small Libraries Grant.

August 6th, Thursday – Jamerson Library’s Fun with Infinity & Sound 4:00 pm in the Library’s community room. Get “tuned in” with tuning forks, sand, and sound. When you strike a tuning fork near sand, the fork’s vibrations push the air and create sound waves. These waves make the sand jump and bounce. This helps us see invisible sound energy in action. This program is paid for by the Infinite Sums Rural and Small Libraries Grant.

August 6th, Thursday – Jamerson Library’s Creative Class for Adults: Clay Bowls – Part II at 6:00 pm in the Library’s community room. It’s painting day for patrons who joined us for Part 1 of the Air Clay Bowls project. It is time to pick up your bowls! We will paint them with an option of different styles and techniques, and you can take your finished bowls home! This program is paid for by the Infinite Sums Rural and Small Libraries Grant. You must be pre-registered to attend this event as supplies and space are limited. Please register online at: https://www.jrjml.org/adult-program-registration.

Saturday, August 8th, is the last day to spend Summer Reading Tickets.

August 8th, Saturday – International Infinity Day at the Jamerson Library from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in the community room. It is all about the numbers! Come celebrate this day with crafts centered around numbers, infinity and fun. This program is paid for by the Infinite Sums Rural and Small Libraries Grant.

August 11th, Tuesday – All Aboard! Pamplin Depot Story & Craft Time presented by the Jamerson Memorial Library, starting at 1:00 pm. Meet Library Director Cindy Scheu for an adventure in reading and creativity. The Library will feature an age-appropriate book for patrons preschool through 6 years of age, followed by a simple craft project and snacks. Everyone is welcome to attend with the understanding that this program is intended for younger patrons.

August 11th, Tuesday – Jamerson Library’s Pamplin Depot Adult Book Club starting at 3:00 pm. Meet us at the Depot as the Library features the book “The Queen of Crimes” by Marie Benedict. London, 1930. The five greatest women crime writers have banded together to form a secret society with a single goal: to show they are no longer willing to be treated as second class citizens by their male counterparts in the legendary Detection Club. Led by the formidable Dorothy L. Sayers, the group includes Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. They call themselves the Queens of Crime. Their plan? Solve an actual murder, that of a young woman found strangled in a park in France who may have connections leading to the highest levels of the British establishment. There are copies of this book available at the Pamplin Town Office.

August 11th, Tuesday – Appomattox Court House Quilt Guild to meet at the Jamerson Memorial Library from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm.

August 12th, Wednesday – Jamerson Memorial Library’s Adult Book Club starting at 5:30 pm in the community room. Join us for the book “The Queen of Crimes” by Marie Benedict. London, 1930. The five greatest women crime writers have banded together to form a secret society with a single goal: to show they are no longer willing to be treated as second class citizens by their male counterparts in the legendary Detection Club. Led by the formidable Dorothy L. Sayers, the group includes Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. They call themselves the Queens of Crime. Their plan? Solve an actual murder, that of a young woman found strangled in a park in France who may have connections leading to the highest levels of the British establishment. There are copies of this book available at the circulation desk.

August 15th, Saturday – Jamerson Library’s Creative Class for Adults starting at 10:00 am. This month’s creative class will feature iris folding, which originated in the Netherlands. It gets its name because the finished design resembles the spiraling iris of a camera lens. Please register online at: https://www.jrjml.org/adult-program-registration.

August 17th, Monday – Sun Bonnet Sue Stitchers to meet at the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library starting at 10:00 am. Anyone interested in sharing or learning a skill like crocheting, knitting, quilting, needlework, sewing, or other related hobbies are encouraged to attend. Enjoy good company while sharing patterns, exchanging ideas, learning new projects, or teaching others. This meeting is open to anyone willing to teach or learn, yes gentleman, this includes you too!

August 18th, Tuesday – All Aboard! Pamplin Depot Story & Craft Time by the Jamerson Memorial Library, starting at 1:00 pm. Meet Library Director Cindy Scheu for an adventure in reading and creativity. The Library will feature an age-appropriate book from preschool through 6 years of age, followed by a simple craft project and snacks. Everyone is welcome to attend with the understanding that this program is intended for younger patrons.

August 19th, Wednesday – Jamerson Library’s Story & Craft Time starting at 11:00 am and 12:00 pm in the Library’s conference room. This week’s guest reader will be the Appomattox Court House National Historic Park. They will read an age-appropriate book, followed by crafts and snacks. Everyone is welcome to attend with the understanding that this program is intended for preschool patrons.

August 21st, Friday – Jamerson Memorial Library to host Rodney Stotts for a Book Signing and Meet & Greet starting at 2:00 pm in the Library’s community room. Come meet one of the few African-American master falconers, and his Harris Hawk, Agnes. You can purchase a personally signed copy of Rodney’s book “Bird Brother: A Falconer’s Journey and the Healing Power of Wildlife”, an inspiring true story of pursuing dreams, redemption and second chances.

August 22nd, Saturday – Jamerson Library to join Wolfbane’s Wolfswood Faire from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Lords and ladies, join us for a fun-filled day of medieval games, sword fights, live performances, music, delicious food, cold drinks, and dancing at 618 Country Club Road Appomattox, VA 24522. Find our tent for library-related information. This year we will be be participating in Trinket Trading (the exchange of small tokens among attendees), glitter tattoos, bubbles, and other giveaways. To learn more about the Wolfswood Faire visit their website at: https://www.wolfbane.org/wolfswood-faire.

August 25th, Tuesday – All Aboard! Pamplin Depot Story & Craft Time by the Jamerson Memorial Library, starting at 1:00 pm. Meet Library Director Cindy Scheu for an adventure in reading and creativity. The Library will feature an age-appropriate book for patrons preschool through 6 years of age, followed by a simple craft project and snacks. Everyone is welcome to attend with the understanding that this program is intended for younger patrons.

August 26th, Wednesday – Jamerson Library’s Story & Craft Time starting at 11:00 am and 12:00 pm in the Library’s conference room. This week’s guest reader will be the James River State Park. They will read an age-appropriate book, followed by crafts and snacks. Everyone is welcome to attend with the understanding that this program is intended for preschool patrons.

August 27th, Thursday – Jamerson Library’s Family Movie Night starting at 6:00 pm in the Library’s community room. In this animated comedy adventure, an animal lover seizes an opportunity to use a new technology to “hop” her consciousness into a lifelike robotic beaver and communicate directly with animals. As she makes amazing discoveries, she befriends a charismatic beaver and must rally the entire animal kingdom to face a major, imminent, human threat. This movie is rated PG.