January 25, 2008
2008 Black History Month theme to honor founder
A biweekly publication of the Alabama Public Library Service
Feb. 1 begins the month-long annual celebration of Black History Month and this year, the celebration’s theme will honor the observance’s founder. The Association for the Study of African-American Life and History (ASALH) Woodson is sponsoring the national theme, “Carter G. Woodson and the Origins of Multiculturalism.” Woodson, the founder of ASALH, began the black history celebration in 1926 as Negro History Week. It was held in February to correspond with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. The celebration was expanded to a month-long event 50 years later. Woodson, known as the “father of black history,” was the son of former slaves. He was the
IMLS ‘Coming Up Taller’ nominations to be due
second black man to earn a PhD from Harvard University, after W.E.B. Dubois. Librarians and teachers wishing to pass on his legacy through the ASALH’s program can visit the group’s Web site at www.asalh.org. Black History Month kits are available on the Web site for $50.
Thursday is the deadline to submit nominations for the 2008 Coming Up Taller Awards. The awards, sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, recognize outstanding after-school, out-ofschool and summer arts and humanities programs for underserved children and youth. Winners receive $10,000, a plaque and an expense-paid invitation to the program’s Leadership Enhancement Conference. For more info or to submit a last-minute nomination, visit www.cominguptaller.org.
Jan. 31 - Executive board meeting, APLS February - Black History Month Feb. 5 - Happy Mardi Gras! Feb. 13 - AVL council meeting, APLS Feb. 18 - George Washington/ Thomas Jefferson birthday holiday
APLS is also proud to announce that the Facts On File African American History Online database is up and running. To search the database, simply go to the APLS Web site, www.statelibrary.alabama.gov, and click on the Facts On File database to sign in.
Database up and running in time for observance
Children’s services event to highlight art of storytelling
The Jefferson County Public Library Association is gearing up for its 4th Annual Children’s Services MiniConference. The event is slated for Aug. 26 at the Emmet O’Neal Public Library in Mountain Brook. Registration forms can be found on the APLS’ Web site, www.statelibrary.alabama.gov, under Services and Programs. The cost of the event is $40 for JCPLA members and $45 for non-members. Lunch is included. The keynote speaker at the mini-conference is storyteller Margaret Read MacDonald. She is the author of more than 45 books/audios on storytelling and folklore.
Dozens of children celebrated the birthday of “Winnie the Pooh” author A.A. Milne earlier this month at the Albert L. Scott Library in Alabaster. The children dressed in Poohinspired clothing and brought their favorite stuffed toys of Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and the gang as storyteller “Miss Jennie” Bunton read them stories from the collection. A highlight of the party was when the children got up and spoke about their favorite characters. Milne’s early life gave no indication that he’d become one of the most popular children’s authors in history. Born on Jan. 18, 1882, in London, Milne started out as a playwright, writing his first play during training to serve in World War I. It was after the 1920 birth of his only son, Christopher Robin Milne, however, that Milne would alter the history of children’s literature. Milne’s most famous work, stories about a boy named Chris-
Alabaster celebrates birthday of Winnie the Pooh creator
Children gather around “Miss Jennie” Bunton during the Winnie the Pooh Party at the Albert L. Scott Library in Alabaster Jan. 17. topher Robin and his animal friends, were based on his son and the boy’s various stuffed toys. After Milne’s death in 1956, his wife sold the rights to the Winnie the Pooh characters to the Walt Disney Company. Pooh and his friends have since become some of Disney’s most beloved characters.
Wetumpka library to host ‘Murder on the Menu’ event
Tickets are on sale for the Wetumpka Public Library’s annual fundraiser, which may also prove to be a hair-raising experience. The theme of the fundraiser, “Murder on the Menu,” promises mystery lovers a thrill. Susan Hayes, director of the library, explained that guests will have the chance to meet more than 20 published mystery writers, including Tasha Alexander and J.T. Ellison. Tickets are $35 per person and include a meal. Guests will eat alongside the authors, who will move from table to table. For more information, visit www.wetumpkalibrary.com.
There are just 81 days left until APLS completes its switch over to the state e-mail system. All APLS staff members can now be reached at their new addresses, firstname.lastname@apls.alabama. gov.