A month-long observance of the Centennial Celebration will kick off in April when The Calhoun-Gordon Council for a Literate Community hosts an event that has been designated “Library Month: Checking Out the Century.”
A number of activities are planned for the month, beginning with a reception on Tuesday, April 5. Invited guests include city and county officials, including Mayor Jimmy Palmer who will present a proclamation declaring April as Library Month in Calhoun. Other notables expected to attend include Library Board members, Friends of the Library representatives and public school principals and officials.
The library was established in downtown Calhoun in 1911. Business was done then in a log cabin with fewer than 1,000 books. Today, 100 years later, the library can boast of more than 90,000 volumes in a building opened in 1968. It also includes a genealogy department, computers available for public usage, reference materials, videotapes DVDs and CDs available for check out and numerous other capabilities.
The kickoff reception is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at the downtown library. Also expected as a major program-celebration attraction are officials of the Calhoun Woman’s Club, the organization most responsible for establishment of the downtown library in 1911, a full century ago.
Northwest Regional Library System President Joe Foresee will appear at reception to share in the celebration and to give updates on current system-wide happenings. Foresee is expected to touch on the recent affiliation with PINES, a nearly statewide check-out system which allows patrons to request and attain books from other NRLS member libraries. The local library became a branch of NRLS in 1957.
“The literacy council sponsors Library Month for a number of reasons,” said Wayne Minshew, executive director of The Calhoun-Gordon Council for a Literate Community. “However, the primary reason is for public awareness, to remind public officials, patrons and other folks who have an interest in the library that it is in excellent hands with a capable staff of knowledgeable people and that it maintains an extensive number of volumes and other usages open free to the public.
“The public library serves a valuable need to the community, and this is our opportunity to observe that and to salute its staff for a job well done.”
Other events
Other events to mark “Library Month, Checking Out the Century,” include the annual essay contest among all levels of public and private high school students 1-12 and home-schooled students. Essays will utilize Great Books and Authors as their subject. Winning essayists will get books donated in their names to the library. Winners will be announced at the end of April
A side feature will be a survey of leading Calhoun and Gordon County citizens regarding favorite books and authors, with answers published in The Calhoun Times.
The month will also include promotions featuring the genealogy department and the usage of computers, including the ability to produce resumes, apply for jobs and conduct research projects, among other possibilities. The library building will observe the month with posters and banners and will have a Century Table on which books and other items from 1911 will set.
Friends of the Library will conduct its annual book sale during the month. That will take place, however, at the Court Street building near the depot, Thursday, Friday and Saturday April 14, 15 and 16, with sales hours as follows: Thursday, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday ($1 per bag day) 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Who’s reading what:
Mike Davis
Retired Calhoun City Schools Superintendant
Book I am now Reading:“Call Me Ted by Bill Burke
Comment: “Get to know the real story behind the man – Ted Turner.”
My Favorite Book and Author: “Manhunt” by James L. Swanson.
Comment: “Great history book that gives interesting details on the assassination of President Lincoln.”
David Smith
Superior Court Judge
Book I am now Reading: “Scorpions: The Battles and Triumphs of FDR’s Supreme Court Justices,” by Noah Feldman.
Comment: “A captivating book about my favorite era of American history.”
My Favorite Book and Author: “The Grapes of Wrath,” by John Steinbeck
Comment: “It shows that even the down-trodden can exhibit dignity . . . a timeless lesson.”
Pete Segar
CEO, Gordon Hospital
Book I am now Reading: “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Comment: “Should be read by everyone to be reminded that no human being should have absolute power over another.”
My Favorite Book and Author: “The Divine Conspiracy,” by Dallas Willard
Comment: “A beautiful description of how we can become true disciples of Christ by living our lives as Jesus taught us.”
Calhoun-Gordon County Library Chronology
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