Banned Book Week

We are coming to the end of “Banned Book Week.” This year’s theme is “Books unite us. Censorship Divides Us.” Libraries love this week, not because they are glad that books are banned but because they like to advertise the books that are banned. There is nothing like promoting a banned product. Why? — people (especially children) ask themselves. Then they read the book to

Johns Island Library Renovations

The Johns Island Library has recently reopened after having been closed for renovations amid closures for Covid!! I went up there one day last week, and Lisa Williams, Circulation Manager, gave me a tour. Linda Stewart is the Branch Manager. The entire place has a new look–bright, modern, shiny and welcoming. Every good library has a special children’s section, and this one is HUGE. In

An ominous anniversary

An article in Palmetto Politics, a newsletter published by the Post and Courier and written by Thomas Novelly, notes that the year 2021 is the 150th anniversary of federal attempts to prosecute members of the Ku Klux Klan who were terrorizing freed Blacks in South Carolina. In April of 1871, President Grant sent federal troops to arrest those who sought to deprive former enslaved Africans

Women’s Equality Day–August 26

Did you know that August 26 is Women’s Equality Day? I just found out about it. It isn’t a Hallmark gimmick as perhaps Grandparents’ Day may be. One doesn’t need to send cards for this day. It could be a day, however, that you would like to find out more about women’s equality in the United States–the history and continuing struggles–by getting a special book

Summer Reading revisited

I have to say that the term ‘summer reading’ elicits mixed feelings for me. As a parent, I found myself, by August, exhausted in efforts to coax my girls to finish their summer reading assignments for school. Passive resistance was their strategy for making me crazy. As a former educator, I see the value of summer reading assignments but not if the only follow-up is

Don’t Miss It–Tuesday night!!

On Tuesday, July 27, from 7:00 – 8:00, Marie Benedict, author of The Personal Librarian, will interview Kristin Harmel about her new book The Forest of Vanishing Stars. Remember the book about Jews who hid in forests from the Nazis the entire duration of WWII? Remember the blog entry on Kristin Harmel? If you were interested in this author or her new book, the program

Louise Erdrich wins Pulitzer Prize

 taken from the Pulitzer Prizes website (pulitzer.org) PRIZE WINNERSThe 2021 Pulitzer Prize Winner in FictionFor distinguished fiction published in book form during the year by an American author, preferably dealing with American life, Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000). The Night Watchman By Louise Erdrich NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER WASHINGTON POST, AMAZON, NPR, CBS SUNDAY MORNING, KIRKUS, CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST BOOK OF 2020 Based on the extraordinary life