MCP Directory

24 | 2020 MCDONALD COUNTY DIRECTORY By Randy Rice McDonald County Directory For 35 years the McDonald County Library has been a resource for history and more to the residents of the region. "We've been a staple McDonald County for years," Amy Wallain, Director of the McDonald County Library said. "People in the area know they can trust us and come to us for the information they need." And from the start, the library set out to specifically be a resource for local history. One of the most unique ways the library services Southwestern Missouri is the vast archive in their Pineville branch that houses not only the history of the county but that of the local families. The effort was initiated with the help of former McDonald County librarian Zella May who got the idea to start collecting family histories from the region's colorful past. Over the decades local residents have continued to contribute to what is now an impressive collection of information. "Residents in the area have donated their genealogy and the research they have done on their own families," Wallain said. "We store their family tress and histories in our Pineville branch. We have also expanded to include the genealogy of most of the other states. Our collection is really quite unique in the country. Even larger libraries don't offer that kind of resource for folks looking to explore their roots." The library also works hand-in-hand with the McDonald County School District to make sure students have an opportunity to keep learning during the summer months. In the spring, the library starts promoting its summer reading program with the help of the school district. "We try to fill in the gap and let students know that when the school doors close for summer, our doors remain open to them," Wallain noted. "We have books and computers and lots of things for them to do during the summer." The summer reading program at the McDonald County Library even includes prizes and incentives for students who participate. All they have to do is fill out their reading log and fulfill the required number of books to read based on their age level. "Local business from all over McDonald County are very generous supplying gift cards and money we can use to award these studious boys and girls," Wallain said. The library is constantly thinking of ways to grow and provide a better experience for patrons, and the community continues to support their ambitions with funding. The Pineville location just completed a remodel that features new, energy-efficient lighting, new tiling and flooring and, for the children's area, new bookshelves. Last year the library was able to upgrade their technology, too, with a new microfilm machine. This was seen as an important addition to the library's efforts to be a good resource for local history. "We have an impressive collection of McDonald County newspapers dating back all the way to the 1800s," Wallain explained. "Our new microfilm machine allowed us to catalog every paper and make them easily accessible to researchers who now don't have to wade through the delicate original copies." McDonald County Library boasts three branches, with the main branch being in Pineville and the other two in Noel and Southwest City. The hours and days of operation vary from branch to branch. See branch locations below. "We wanted to adjust our availability to the specific needs of the communities," Wallain said. "This way, McDonald County Library can better serve the people in our region." "We have plans for the future to provide more space and updated technology to better serve our patrons," Wallain said. "We hope the residents remember to come in and take advantage of everything we have to offer." The main branch in Pineville is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Noel branch is open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Friday and they are closed on Saturday. The Southwest City branch is open 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and open 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. That branch is closed on Monday. McDonald County Libraries: keeping family histories alive Pineville Library Administrator — Branch Manager, Rosie Bertschy Location — 808 Bailey Road, three blocks north of new courthouse on Route W, Pineville, 417-223-4489; website, mcdonaldcountylibrary.org Hours — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through ursday; 1 to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Services offered — books, DVDs, genealogy section, community room, newspapers and periodicals, microfilm services and Internet access for the public, including wireless service; graphics computer available that enables patrons to scan items, print photos and manipulate images, copy pictures to CDs or DVDs; bring your camera memory cards to download and manipulate; black-and-white laser and full-color laser printers available for a fee; black-and-white and full-color copy machine available for a fee; laptop computer lab enables the library to offer ongoing free computer classes to the public; weekly story time for pre-schoolers and home-schoolers How to get library card — requires proof of county residence, or proof of ownership for those who live elsewhere but own McDonald County property, or cost is $10 per year per family for those outside of the county; juveniles can get cards with parental consent, if the parent has a card; cards issued for one-year periods Popular Service — OVERDRIVE (download audio books and e-books) Noel Library Administrator — Asst. Librarian, Wesley Ferguson Location — in Noel Public Housing Authority building, 626 Johnson Drive; 417-475-3223; Open Tuesday, Wednesday and ursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; same basic library services offered Southwest City (Anne Croxdale Memorial Library) Library Administrator — Branch Manager, Retha Mitchell Location — 102 N. Main St., Southwest City; 417-762-7323; open Tuesday, Wednesday and ursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 1 to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday; same basic library services offered Libraries

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