renewissue 2 • march 2014 florence-lauderdale public library magazine

Plus: spring gardening • families reading together • a love letter from the past

Celebrating History

on the cover: Trinity Missionary Baptist Church Praise Team performing at Poetry & Praise, part of our Black History Month programming, February 2014

contents issue 2 • march 2014

John SteinbeckWhat makes The Grapes of Wrath stand the test of time?

renew is a publication of the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library and is made possible by the Friends of the Library350 North Wood Avenue, Florence, AL 35630 • 256-764-6564 • flpl.orgEditor: Jennifer Butler Keeton • Designer: Falon YatesCover photographer: Christi Britten

Library Board of Directors: Peter Paine (chairperson), Dihanne Westfield, Simpson Russell, Beverly Cheney, Andy FrithExecutive Director: Nancy Sanford

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thomas mcknightHow the search for his family’s history led a world traveler back to his Alabama roots

Staff Spotlight: Hali BlackOne of our Reference Department staffers shares her love of gardening.

Gardening Book RecsGot the gardening bug? Dig into these titles hand-picked by the library staff.

Family ReadingBringing families together over books with the Prime Time Family Reading Program.

Friends of the LibraryA tribute to a longtime Friend and beloved volunteer, Mitch Burford.

Local History SnapshotA letter written in 1871 by a man missing his wife and son.

Spring 2014

Programs & Events

Friends Bookstore Half-Price Sale February 28–March 950% off books, movies, and music. (see the Friends section on page 12)

John Steinbeck program series AprilCelebrating 75 years of The Grapes of Wrath with an exhibit, lectures, and film screenings related to Steinbeck’s work and its place in history. (see article on page 4)

Get Dirty at the LibraryOur popular gardening series is back this spring! Chris Becker of the Alabama Cooperative Exten-sion Service will share tips on a variety of gardening topics in these monthly programs:

Raised Bed Gardening Friday, February 28, 11:30 am

Blueberries Friday, March 28, 11:30 am

Herbs Friday, April 25, 11:30 am

Tomatoes Friday, May 30, 11:30 am

Rain Barrels Friday, June 27, 11:30 am

Book ClubsDid you know that the library sponsors two book clubs that meet once a month? They’re open to anyone, so feel free to join us!

The Evening Book Club First Tuesday of every month, 5:30 pmThe Evening Book Club, led by FLPL staff member Melissa Dial, is a long-standing gen-eral interest book club that reads a wide variety of novels and nonfiction books. The book for March is The Target by Catherine Coulter, and the book for April is Picture Me Gone by Meg Rosoff. For more information, call 256-764-6564, ext. 12.

Beer and a Book Third Tuesday of every month, 7 pmThe library is excited to offer a book club focusing on food-themed memoir and litera-ture. This club meets at Rivertown Coffee Company, and the book for March is Comfort Me with Apples: More Adventures at the Table by Ruth Reichl. Enjoy beer, wine, or coffee while discussing some great books! Beer and a Book is led by Amy Collins, who writes “The Vine” wine column for No’Ala Magazine, and about food and wine on her blog Pig&Vine. Sign-up is not required for this book club, but RSVPs are appreciated. Call 256-764-6564, ext. 27 or email classes@flpl.org.

Coming Up...Words from the River: A Shoals Author Fair May 17, 10am–4pmBrowse for books and chat with your favorite authors from the Shoals area.

Summer Reading Program June and JulyRead books and earn chances to win great prizes! Registration begins May 27.

Connect with the library on Facebook for more event updatesfacebook.com/flplibrary

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calendar

Get Dirty at the Library

Beer and a Book

Words from the River: A Shoals Author Fair

Friends of the Library Bookstore

calendar (continued)

Pinspiration: Origami Hearts

Teen Tech Class

Harry Potter’s Birthday

Mockingjays: The Hunger Games Board Games

TeensFor more information on teen programs, contact Mrs. Jaimee at 256-764-6564, ext. 24

March4 Caffeine Cinema 5:30–7:30 pm

The Addams Family (PG-13)

6 Pinspiration 5:30–6:30 pm Duct tape party!

11 Dumbledore’s Army 5:30–6:30 pm Harry Potter Scene-It (Teens vs Library Staff)

13 Teens on Board 3:30–5:30 pm Play all your favorite board games

15 Minecraft 3–5 pm Hang out and play Minecraft. Bring your own device!

Video Game Club 5–8 pm Games chosen by you!

18 Mockingjays 5:30–6:30 pm Trivia covering all three books

25 Book vs. Movie 4:30–6:30 pm About a Boy (PG-13)

27 Camp Half-Blood 5:30–6:30 pm Mythology discussion

April Programming details TBA—check facebook.com/flplteens for updates

1 Caffeine Cinema 5:30–7:30 pm

3 Pinspiration 5:30–6:30 pm

8 Dumbledore’s Army 5:30–6:30 pm

10 Teens on Board 3:30–5:30 pm

15 Mockingjays 5:30–6:30 pm

19 Minecraft 3–5 pm

Video Game Club 5–8 pm

22 Book vs. Movie 5:30–6:30 pm

24 Camp Half-Blood 5:30–6:30 pm

Coming Up... Summer Reading June & July (registration begins May 27)

This year’s theme is “Spark a Reaction,” so get ready to do science!

Harry Potter’s Birthday July 31A day of activities for all ages celebrating the Boy Who Lived.

Connect with the Teen Program on Facebook!facebook.com/flplteens

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calendar (continued)

KidsFor more information on kids’ programs, contact Youth Services at 256-764-6564, ext. 14

Monthly ProgramsDates subject to change—call Youth Services to confirm program dates

Book Bunch 2nd–4th grade book discussion 1st Thursday, 5:30 pm

Family Movie Night 1st Friday, 5:30 pm

Major League Reading Sports book club 2nd Thursday, 5:30 pm

Lego Club 2nd Saturday, 2–3:30 pm

Pre-Sci Preschool science program (registration required) 3rd Monday, 1:30 pm

Family Night 3rd Thursday, 5:30 pm

Mother/Daughter Book Club 4th Thursday, 5:30 pm

Weekly ProgramsABCs Under the Trees Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 10:30 amThree and four-year-olds are invited to sing, dance, and have fun learning the alphabet with Mrs. Jessica and Mrs. Robin!

Terrific 2s Thursdays, 10:30 amTwo-year-olds and their caregivers will have a blast at our program just for them. Music, poems, stories, and crafts will be part of the fun!

Babies Love the Library Fridays, 10:30 amA program for infants through 24-month-olds and their caregivers. This program includes music and motion, finger plays, nursery rhymes, and book exploration.

Saturday Story Time Saturdays, 10:30 amOur volunteers will present a different story and craft for all ages every week.

we will take a break from regular weekly/monthly programs march 24–28 and during the month of may. summer reading programming starts in june!

Special EventsMeet the Author: Tedd Arnold Tuesday, April 15Meet Fly Guy author Tedd Arnold at this special library event! More details coming soon.

Family Picnic Thursday, April 24, 5:30 pmPack your picnic baskets and join us on the front lawn of the library!

Summer Reading Program Get ready to read books and earn prizes during the 2014 Summer Reading Program! This year’s theme is “Fizz, Boom, Read!” and we’ve got some fun science programs for all age groups!

Registration begins May 27Daily programs June 2–July 19Last day to visit the Prize Store July 31

Connect with Youth Services on Facebook!facebook.com/flplyouthservices

Lego Club

Babies Love the Library

Family Picnic

Summer Reading Program registration

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This project is supported by grants from the University of North Alabama and the Alabama Humanities Foundation, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

“I’ll be ever’where— wherever you look.Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever they’s a cop beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there. If Casy knowed, why, I’ll be in the way guys yell when they’re mad an’—I’ll be in the way kids laugh when they’re hungry an’ they know supper’s ready. An’ when our folks eat the stuff they raise an’ live in the houses they build—why, I’ll be there.

John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath—which celebrates its 75th anniversary this April—still commands the at-tention of readers and scholars across the country. Its story of migrant workers struggling to find a better life has continued to resonate through the decades.

FLPL, with the help of the University of North Alabama and the Alabama Humanities Foundation, will honor the novel’s anniversary with a programming series and exhibit. The featured speaker will be Dr. Susan Shillinglaw, one of the world’s most prominent Stein-beck scholars.

Dr. Shillinglaw, who is a Professor of English at San José State University, says that The Grapes of Wrath touches on ideas and conflicts that are always with us here in America.

“This novel is about so many issues that we grapple with today as we did 75 years ago: the environment; people dispossessed from their homes; migration and

What makes a novel stand the test of time? Is it universal themes, iconic characters, skilled writing?

Dr. Susan Shillinglaw will present on the continuing relevance of Steinbeck’s novel.Photo by Peter Caravalho, SJSU

”

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I’ll be ever’where— wherever you look.Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever they’s a cop beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there. If Casy knowed, why, I’ll be in the way guys yell when they’re mad an’—I’ll be in the way kids laugh when they’re hungry an’ they know supper’s ready. An’ when our folks eat the stuff they raise an’ live in the houses they build—why, I’ll be there.

—Tom Joad to Ma in The Grapes of Wrath

border tensions; workers on the margins; and Amer-icans working together to achieve goals. The book is (also) about gender—how women cope and adapt.”

In addition to these issues, Steinbeck’s writing style is another reason why the book continues to be power-ful. “The language of the book is sonorous and state-ly—a steady and insistent beat of change,” says Dr. Shillinglaw.

This “insistent beat of change” stems from Steinbeck’s desire for the novel to honestly portray the the lives of Depression-era farmers. He wanted the book to serve as a call to action or, at the very least, to empathy.

“Steinbeck asks readers to participate in the reality of lives not, perhaps, like our own. He asks readers to participate in the grim actualities of poverty and dis-possession and despair. He asks readers to empathize with the powerless,” says Shillinglaw. “That’s a lesson that is vital in any era.”

by Jennifer Butler Keeton Programming/Publicity Coordinator

The exhibit The Dust Bowl will be on display throughout the month of April. The Dust Bowl is an exhibition organized by the Nebraska Coun-cil for the Humanities in collaboration with Hu-manities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities

Dr. Susan Shillinglaw of San José State Uni-versity will discuss the continuing relevance of The Grapes of Wrath.

Dr. Kenneth Vickers of Martin Methodist Col-lege will provide the historical context for the novel by discussing the Dust Bowl and its effects.

Dr. Lynne Rieff of the University of North Al-abama will tie the novel to local history by ex-ploring what life was like in rural Alabama in the 1930s.

Students from the University of North Alabama will present their research from their course “Special Topics in Literature: John Stein-beck.” The presentations will cover a wide range of Steinbeck works.

Pillar of Fire will screen film adaptations of Steinbeck works.

the Grapes of Wrath at 75Check flpl.org/steinbeck for program dates

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patron spotlightYour spirit

finds the right

place where it’s

comfortable,

and you’ll find

yourself there.

“

”

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Thomas McKnight wasn’t always pas-sionate about his family history. Born and raised in New York, he says his older rel-atives weren’t eager to share information about his ancestors. They saw him as just a kid and would “cut their eyes” when he asked questions. McKnight accepted that those answers were out of his reach, and he moved on and lived his life.

And an exciting life he has lived. He started working with the United Nations in 1979, and as Management Consultant in the Humanitarian Sector, he has traveled the world to countries including Afghan-istan, Sudan, and Zimbabwe, to name a few.

But the passing of his mother in 2004 brought him back to his family’s roots—Northwest Alabama—and became the cat-alyst for a spiritual journey to unlock his past.

Who was Grandmother?McKnight quickly realized there would be plenty of roadblocks in his search.

“With African Americans and Native Americans, if you can go back more than a couple of generations, you’re lucky.” He explains that it’s difficult to research an-cestors who had been systematically op-pressed and separated from one another.

“You live your whole life not knowing who you are,” he says.

McKnight started asking his uncle, “Who was Grandmother?” Soon, he had driven nearly 15,000 miles over 86 days to search for answers about his family.

One of his most meaningful moments was finding the grave of his Grandmother Hattie. The discovery allowed him to hold a prayer service at her grave some 68 years after she had died. The service couldn’t provide full closure, but he says it made him feel he had “completed the circle.”

Nobody does it aloneHe attributes his move to Alabama and his success in his research to “divine interven-tion.”

“Your spirit finds the right place where it’s comfortable, and you’ll find yourself there,” he says. He added that once you get your hands on the right documents, other information starts falling into place.

Although his search was personal, he is quick to give credit to those who have helped him along the way. “Nobody does it or can do it alone,” he says. He credits the library’s Local History and Genealogy De-partment with aiding him with his research.

“The Local History Room has one of the finest collections of resources for African-

American history I’ve ever seen,” he says, and he credits the passionate staff and vol-unteers who have dedicated themselves to compiling research and resources for oth-ers.

“Now, you have a place where people can come and say ‘Who am I?’ And more importantly, they can walk back out the door and say, ‘Wow.’”

Looking forwardMcKnight’s journey has led him to realize that history is “a race against time.”

“The most important information on a tombstone is the dash between those dates—who these people are, how they lived their lives.” When a person dies, he says, the bulk of that information is lost.

That’s one reason why he believes it is the responsibility of older generations to teach young people to love history.

“With all the technology we have, there are so many ways to make history interest-ing,” he says.

McKnight plays his part in encourag-ing the love of history through his role as Vice President of the Tennessee Valley Historical Society, which is partnering with UNA’s Public History Program to en-gage students in local history.

Together, he believes we can explore the dashes between the dates and “resurrect the personalities of yesteryear.”

Thomas McKnight’slife and work has taken him

around the world, but the

search for his past led him

back to his Alabama roots.By Jennifer Butler KeetonAdditional reporting by Clint Alley • Photo by Christi Britten

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staff spotlight

From: Curry, Alabama

How long have you worked at the library?I have been with FLPL for exactly a year, though I’ve been working in libraries for much longer.

Tell us about your educational background and plans.Beginning this fall, I will be pursuing a Master’s degree in Library Science with the University of Alabama. I have earned a Bachelor’s of Science in English from the University of North Alabama.

What do you like best about working at the library?I enjoy participating in library events and helping patrons achieve their educational goals.

Tell us about some of your personal interests.I have a wide variety of interests ranging from paint-ing to video games, from soap making to comic books. I also love crafting and DIY projects. But my favorite and most time-consuming hobby has always been gardening.

When and how did you get interested in gardening?I think my love for gardening began at an early age, when I helped on my family’s small farm. I planted tomatoes, picked okra, shelled peas, and canned pears. I also had a bad habit of picking my Nana’s spotted tiger lily blooms, a habit she did not enjoy half as much as I did.

Tell us about the gardening accomplishment you’re most proud of.Growing and harvesting my own produce. There isn’t anything more satisfying than getting to eat the fruit of your labor! I’m also currently working towards my certification as a Master Gardener with our local extension office. I really enjoy blogging about my discoveries and the challenges I often face as an urban gardener. You can follow my gardening journey at www.diggingthyme.com.

What’s the best gardening tip you’ve ever received? A fellow gardener once told me, “Don’t just water your plants, talk to them.” I was skeptical at first, but now I swear by these words of wisdom. By checking in with your plants throughout the day, you can catch potential problems before they become major issues. Prevention and early detection are vital to garden success.

Hali works in the Reference Department.

Hali Black

Alabama & Mississippi Gardener’s Guide 635.9 RUSFelder Rushing & Jennifer Greer

The Salad Lover’s Garden 635 BITSam Bittman

Starter Vegetable Gardens 635 PLEBarbara Pleasant

Garden Folklore that Works 635 RYRCharlie Ryrie

Growing Roses Organically 635.9 WILBarbara Wilde

The Landscaping Revolution 635.9 WASAndy Wasowski

Rain Gardening in the South 635.9 KRAHelen Kraus and Anne Spaf ford

Check out Hali’s favorite gardening booksfrom the library collection!

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Sienna Koger and mom Stella read one of the new Prime Time books

STORYTIMESTORYTIMENOT YOUR USUALNOT YOUR USUAL

BY JESSICA FENN HILL, YOUTH SERVICES LIBRARIANBY JESSICA FENN HILL, YOUTH SERVICES LIBRARIAN

In the Youth Services Department, we’re always looking for programs that promote family literacy and create excitement about reading. This year, we hit the jackpot with the Prime Time Family Reading Time program, a pilot program of the Alabama Humanities Foundation.

First offered in the fall of 2013, this won-derful series for families includes books, storytelling, discussion, and sit-down meals.

Second grader Sienna Koger was thrilled when she learned that the library would be hosting a second series of Prime Time events in the spring.

“I wish I would have taken a picture so you could have seen her face! She was so excited!” said Stella Hester, Sienna’s mom. Stella and Sienna were one of the eight families from Weeden Elementary School who participated in our Prime Time pro-gram last fall.

Prime Time is much more than your usu-al story time. The core elements of Prime Time include humanities-focused content, quality children’s literature, open-ended questioning techniques, and collective learning.

Each week during the fall, families were given books to read together at home in preparation for the next week’s session. Then, during our 90-minute sessions, li-brary patron Amanda Green served as our discussion leader, and I was our storytell-er. Together, we modeled techniques of reading aloud and open-ended questioning.

What really makes Prime Time come to life are the themes of love, greed, fairness, honor, courage, and community that take place in our stories and discussions. The kids loved hearing their parents discuss these ideas and the kids jumped right into the discussion, too!

We discussed bravery, and if it was okay to be scared when you have to be brave. We discussed dealing with bad days and what our perfect days would include. We talked about our dreams, and how those dreams can change over the years.

But most importantly, parents and chil-dren talked and listened to each other while being guided through wonderful books!

Our discussions didn’t end when we left the Youth Services area. We also enjoyed a sit-down meal together thanks to dona-tions from local churches and businesses. We appreciate Christ Chapel, Greater St. Paul AME Church, Chick-fil-A, Lee Heights Baptist, Subway on Mall Road, Edgemont United Methodist, Jerry Damson Nissan, Jerry Damson Honda, and SunTrust Bank for their support of this program.

The Prime Time Family program was a great success for us, but the program did not start here at our library, or even in Al-abama. In fact, we were one of the first li-braries in Alabama, along with the Wood-lawn Branch of the Birmingham Public Library, to implement the program.

If you or your business is interested in volunteering or donating to the program, please contact Chris Ferguson, Prime Time Coordinator, at 256-764-6564, ext. 14.

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riendFA tribute to our

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Mitch BurfordMerriam-Webster defines a friend as “a person you like being with, a person who helps and supports something or someone, or one who is attached to another by affection or esteem.”

Dr. A. M. (Mitch) Burford is a true friend of the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library. He has been a member of the Friends for more than 20 years, serving on their Board of Directors and as President.

In recent years, he has volunteered three times a week and is a valuable asset to our efforts. Mitch is a mainstay in the Bookstore, keeping the National Geographic section shelved and in order, packing and handling the recycling, picking up litter in the parking lot, collecting and sorting recycling, and performing many “honey-do” jobs for the lady volunteers. And he has done it all with a smile and a quick joke or two to make the day a bit brighter.

Dr. Burford is the personification of hard work, dedication, loyalty, and love of community. Friends President Bryan Miller says, “He sets a high standard for all of us to emulate.” He will forever be a “friend” of the library.

Bookstore?What’s new at the

It won’t be long until the trees start budding, the weather starts warming, and it will be time to get our hands dirty in our gardens (or maybe in just a few pots on our porches)!

If you need help getting started or want to further improve your knowledge and skills, stop by the Bookstore to check out our display of gardening books at great prices.

Board of Directors of the Friends of the Library, 2013–14President: Bryan Miller • Vice President: Mary White • Secretary: Sandy Murray • Treasurer: David Curott

Board MembersDavid Curott • Kate Hicks • Cornelia McIntosh • Cellie Morgan • NeVille Stewart • Jane Williams

Bruce Dillard • Nancy Gautney • Jane Gullett • Bryan Miller • Nita Thornell • Mary WhiteMitch Burford • Pat Butler • Sandy Murray • Beth Roth • Helen Savage • Anne Smith

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friends of the library

President’s MessagePresident’s MessageDear Friends,

April is approaching! Did you know that the Friends is a 501(c)3 organization? Itemized contributions such as membership, memorials, honorariums, donations of books, etc. are tax deductible to an upper limit. Be sure to check with your tax accountant to see if you qualify.

We appreciate your continued support of the library through your Friends Membership, Bookstore patronage, and donations.

Please let us know if you have any ideas of how we can better serve you or our library.

Remember that when you visit the Bookstore, you are “among friends”!

At Your Service,Bryan Miller

Bookstore sales for the first quarter of the 2013–2014 fiscal year were $14,841.64.

Dues and income, other than book sales, totaled $7,122.37.

Expenses for postage, newsletter, and operation totaled $1,517.85.

For this fiscal quarter, $16,207.17 was donated by the Friends to the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library.

David Curott, Treasurer

Treasurer’s Report

Local Historian Lee Freeman, Friends Treasurer David Curott, and Friends board member Nancy Gautney in the Bookstore

Friends President Bryan Miller

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friends of the library

memorials & honorariums

Friends Bookstore

Friday, February 28–Sunday, March 9

Half-Price Sale50% of f items including books, music, and moviesDoes not include magazines, records, or bookmarks

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In memory of…Alfie Crosslin

AL Renaissance Faire Roundtable

Trey W. and Jay T. RobertsonBobby and Rose Robertson

Ward HullRoberta Dort

Nellie June McGeeMr. and Mrs. Billy Ray Warren

Jennifer Ellen KoonceVirginia, Elaine, Myra & George Perkins

Glenn JohnsonVirginia, Elaine, Myra & George Perkins

Carolyn GuthrieVirginia, Elaine, Myra & George Perkins

Buford J. and Mallie E. DailyPat Roberts and Jess & Rania Daily

Lola AyersSandi Rosellini

Hugh Riley and Margaret Plummer W. Carroll White

William Gough, Sr. andWilliam Gough, III

Jane Gough

Delores RookMr. and Mrs. Logan Trousdale

Christine SimmonsMr. and Mrs. Logan Trousdale

Marian Elizabeth Sharrett BramlettMr. and Mrs. Logan Trousdale

Roy E. Albright, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Logan Trousdale

Carolyn G. YeildingJoanna Wallace

In honor of…Dave deWolfe

Shoals Area Investment League

Florence Discussion ClubThomas and Diane Van Sandt

Richard and Barbara PeckJan Pflueger

Library StaffMr. and Mrs. Wilder Cheney

Peter L. PaineMr. and Mrs. Michael T. Paine

Billy WarrenLes and Kendy Behrends

Patrice and Pamela ButlerMr. and Mrs. MacArthur Butler

Carla Putman-MaplesLisa Putman

DonationsGeorge and Marguritte McGaha Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Bobo Shoals Environmental Alliance Jewish Federated Charities of the Shoals Debra Dombrowski Mary Hazel Jones Julia D. Buffler Alamance Chapter of DAR Dr. and Mrs. Foster Eich The Mended Hearts

Donations to the Friends

In memory of…Mary Nicely

Kathryn Rice

Oather W. Harmon, JrMrs. L.C. Morgan

Lou BatsonAnn & Lawrence McGregor

William S. Fesmire Mrs. L.C. Morgan

In honor of…Simpson Russell

Pierian Study Club

Memorials or honorariums may be made by sending a check to Friends of the Library, P.O. Box 1178, Florence, AL 35631or to Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, 350 N Wood Ave, Florence, AL 35630

Please include the name of the person(s) being remembered or honored, the name and address of the person you would like to be notified of the donation, and the name and address of the contributor.

Local History SnapshotThe Beckwith Collection includes the family papers of the Beckwith family, who were prominent wealthy planters in Lauderdale County in the 1800s. These papers are currently being scanned and transcribed to be added to the library’s Digital Archive.

On Aug 19th, 1871, Alexander Beckwith wrote this letter to his wife, Mary, pro-fessing his deepest love for her and his son. At the time of this letter, Alexan-der was in Trotter’s Landing, Mississippi while Mary (whom he calls “Mugg” in the letter) and their son, “Xander” were vis-

iting relatives in Athens, Alabama. Alex-ander was raised on a plantation in Lau-derdale County, Alabama. Af ter the Civil War, he moved to Mississippi and then in the mid-1870s he moved to Spring Hill, Tennessee where he lived until his death in 1906.

Trotters Ladg Aug 19th 1871

My darling wife

I wrote youday before yesterday, and if aunt

Nannie laughs at you for recieving[sic]so many letters I cant help it.

Tell her that I differ fromthe majority of husbands. Thelonger I [live], (if possible) the

better I love my family. When I look forward to twolong months before I can see

my darlings, it seems a lifetime! Mugg you think youknow how well I love you

but you cant imagine howdependent I am without your

presence and good council I am not at myself without

you. Home is nothing withoutmy darlings. The house is deso-lation without my angel, and

time is spent thinking of mylovely wife and little Boy.

Interested in local history? Find images, documents, and more in the FLPL Digital Archive at archive.flpl.org

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saturday, may 17 • 10am–4pm

Join us this May for our local author fair! Browse for books and chat with your favorite authors from the Shoals area.

And if you’re a local author who’d like to participate, contact us at events@flpl.org or call 256-764-6564, ext. 27 to register.

Hope to see you there!

Have you noticed that our library has become so much more than a place to pick out a book and get questions answered? At FLPL, we are discovering every day that we are about learning, connecting, sharing, and being a big part of our community. We still check out tons of books and materials—but we are becoming so much more. The film screenings, programming, classes, exhibits, and television premiere parties are showing us that our community is diverse, and we love celebrating that.

One of the assets of our library is Bookmarks, the library coffee shop. Walk in any day and you might see moms and children sharing a cookie, friends meeting for coffee or lunch, someone enjoying a sandwich and surfing the internet, and small groups meeting to discuss work or school projects. Come in and check us out! You never know what kind of surprise awaits... you just may get to try butterbeer for a Harry Potter celebration, scones for a Downton Abbey party, or some other fun and tasty treat.

Friends of the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library350 N

Wood Ave

Florence, AL 35630