Thursday, August 25, 2011

"What happens to the dream deferred?"


Glorious by Bernice McFadden.

Vivid details of Easter Bartlett’s personal journey through decades of history beginning with an intense and frightening South, taking you to the enriching and opportunistic period of the Harlem Renaissance. This book starts off with a horrifying intro that grabs the reader immediately. You are constantly moving from one terrifying experience to a moment of sharing happiness and laughter with Easter. Easter, determined to find happiness, is always moving to another experience in another town surrounded with exploding characters invading her life, sometimes in positive ways but most often leaving her to pack her bags and move on to the next intense experience. Autobiographical sketches of prominent black authors such as Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, are woven throughout the fictitious life of Easter and leaves the reader inquisitive about the real stories of these real people. McFadden introduces us to James Worley Johnson, the nation’s first black FBI agent, Ota Benga, a 4’11" African man who was put on display in the monkey house of the Bronx Zoo, and Mary Turner, the 2o year old pregnant girl who was viciously and brutally lynched. I don't recall many novels that have so richly and thoroughly dealt with the historical events of Harlem Renaissance period. Bernice McFadden, has done a fabulous job with this novel.

Constantly, I was emotionally drawn to Easter, laughing, crying, and cringing at the injustices. This is one passionate novel that demands discussion! I look forward to hearing from others that have read the book and learning from others that can enlighten me with additional real life connections in McFadden's novel.


Monday, August 22, 2011

National Library Card Sign-up Month at CCL

As Chesterfield County’s students head back to school this month, the Chesterfield County Library wants to make sure that all children have the most important school supply of all – a library card.

“Owning a library card provides students the resources they need to compete academically. Most public libraries (89.6 percent) provide students free access to databases of news articles, encyclopedias and test preparation materials, as well as homework help and resources. In addition, public libraries are the number one access point for free Internet access, an important resource for families without access at home when 96 percent of school districts require students to use the Internet to complete their homework.”

Getting a library card is easy. Just come by your local library and bring a picture id with proof of residence. If you work or attend school in our county, you are eligible for a free card with a school or work id. Library Card Sign-up Month is a time when the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all.

Chesterfield County Public Library is pleased to announce upcoming programs throughout the county. In Chesterfield, the main branch we will be starting a “Brown Bag Lunch N’ Lecture” series in September, featuring local writers during lunchtime. This is a free event, just bring your lunch and join us at 12:00 noon - tea and coffee will be provided.

September 7, Hal Duvall, author of The Vote and Juniper Road

October 7, Elizabeth Dutton, author of 1,033 Reasons to Smile

November 7, Julia Griffin, author of This and That, Bits and Pieces ...she will also be sharing books by her brother, John Robert Langdon

December 7, Tricia Thurmon – author of several local fiction titles and her newest title, Back To Me, digital novel. Discover how Tricia’s writing has emerged and blended with the new e-book concept.

On September 12, we will be offering Computer Classes For Seniors including Computers 101, Internet 101, Email 101, and Facebook 101. Classes will cover basic instruction on use and safety tips. Registration is required. Limit of 8 participants, unless you bring your own laptop. All classes are 1 ½ hours long, beginning at 9:30 and ending at 11:00. The series will be offered again in October. Please call 843-623-7489 to register or stop by the library.

“Lunch In the Stacks” is back! On September 29, in conjunction with the Chesterfield Carolina Fest, a luncheon will be held in the Chesterfield Library between 11:30 and 2:00. Tickets are $8.50 and can be purchased in the library. Please call to reserve your tickets at 843-623-7489.

Pageland Community Library will be offering a jewelry class in October and November so watch for the times and dates, which will be announced soon.

Have you always been fascinated by The Great Detective of Baker Street? Sherlockians come in many forms; generalists, specialists, cross-genre-ist, purists… and we’re looking to see what types of Sherlockians we have in our county. So, if you enjoy Sherlock Holmes, stop by the library or call to find out about our plans for Sherlockiana in Chesterfield County. Call Chesterfield County Public Library for more information 843-623-6720.

An effort to re-establish a “Friends of the Library,” which is a valuable asset to us, will be one of the major focuses during the next couple of months. The organization’s goal will be to build membership, hold fundraisers to help with the library's needs and provide volunteers to support programs. There is a great need for volunteers right now. Anyone that has typing skills, computer skills, physical strength, storytelling skills, or a simple willingness to help could donate just a few hours and make a great difference.

There is an outstanding staff at Chesterfield County Library and many of them have been here for many years. They are very supportive and very hard workers, pulling us through some difficult circumstances. They love this library and the community, and they do their best to meet the needs of the community.

In the Chesterfield Branch, Myrtis Burr is assistant to the director. Carol Gilmore is constantly busy cataloging and building the collection, and Jennifer Gulledge handles circulation and processing. Dorothy Hancock is the children's services librarian for all branches, as well as, floating staffer. In Pageland, Millie Bragg is the branch manager, assisted by Phyllis Mills. Lynn Walsh, manager for Matheson, is assisted by Beverly Allen and part-time assistant, Joyce Quick. The manager for Jefferson and McBee is currently vacant but that staff member holds down the fort in both of these branches. There are four staff members considered full -time and all others are part - time working 32 or 20 hours per week. This is a hard working group to keep five branches going, with three of them open six days a week, offering programs for the community, and keeping the collection updated and available.

Just a reminder that a library card is free and with it there is access to all member SCLends libraries including a courier service for 56 million materials at all of these libraries across South Carolina. For more information, visit the website at www.chesterfield.lib.sc.us.