Swindle Excited About Leading Vardaman Library PDF Print E-mail
By JOEL McNEECE
Janet Swindle, new librarian at the J.S. Edmondson Memorial Library in Vardaman, is determined to convince everyone the joys of reading.
“It’s the teachers’ job to teach the kids how to read,” Swindle said. “It’s my job to show them how much fun reading can be.”
Swindle, whose first name is pronounced like Jeanette, was recently hired to lead the facility and is busy putting together a number of programs and informing the community of all the Vardaman Library has to offer.
“We have so much here for people to take advantage of,” Swindle said. “We have so much information here. This is the place to come to find the answers.”
janet_swindlesmallSwindle, a native of Louisiana who has lived in Mississippi the last 20 years, spent the past year at the Houston Library. One off the new features she’s initiated in Vardaman is an ongoing “Book Swap.”
“We’ll keep this going all the time,” she said. “Bring in however many books you want and we have a collection you can swap those out for others.”
Among the many other features at the Vardaman Library are magazines available for checkout, audio books on CD or cassette, large-print books, and lots of new DVD movies, some of which were acquired through a grant. Many others were doanted to the library.
“We love donations,” Swindle said.
The library has three computer stations available to the public, one of which will allow patrons to login in Spanish. The library also provides wifi (wireless internet).
“Just bring your laptop, come in and find a comfortable spot and get online,” Swindle said.
Several programs are on the calendar for the coming weeks and months. Swindle is planning a Christmas tree decorating party. After New year’s she plans to start hosting story times with school children.
She hopes to soon being “Movie Nights” where children can come in their pajamas and enjoy a movie in the library’s large, public meeting room.
Swindle has also begun a collection of Sweet Potato Festival memorabilia. She hopes to build it into a permanent display at the library and welcomes everyone with pertinent items to bring them by and let her make copies.
“One of the big things I’m trying to get right now is as much information as possible on all the former sweet potato queens,” Swindle said.
Swindle is also in the process of organizing a “Friends of the Library” organization.
“Everyone has been so nice and enthusiastic,” she said.
Swindle currently lives in Houston, but is in the process of searching for a ne home in the Vardaman area. She’s also in the process of earning her library degree.
“I never dreamed going back to school could be so much fun,” said the 56-year-old Swindle. “But I’m really enjoying it.”
For more information on the Vardaman Library, you may email Janet Swindle at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .