FLORENCE-The Florence-Lauderdale Public Library has a little of everything and something for everyone this summer. Be sure to check out all that the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library has to offer.
Remembering the Great War: Alabama and World War I
Exhibit on display through July 21
This exhibit, commemorating the centennial anniversary of World War I, tells the story of the war from the perspectives of Alabamians whose lives were shaped by the conflict. It is on display on the 2nd floor of the library.
Mr. Brandon’s School Bus Book Cover
Book Talk/Signing
Mr. Brandon’s Bus: What I Heard on the Way to School by Tom Brandon
Thursday, July 13, 11:30 am
Come enjoy fun stories with Tom Brandon, a long-time bus driver who was named the 2013 Steve Harvey Bus Driver of the Year. Mr. Brandon will visit FLPL to talk about his book Mr Brandon’s Bus: What I Heard on the Way to School.
Mr. Brandon’s Bus reminds us of the wisdom of children and their uncanny ability to teach adults a thing or two. Mr. Brandon’s School Bus, published by NewSouth Books, collects in one volume the insightful and often humorous conversations children have had while riding on Brandon’s big yellow school bus over the years. You know the things your child hears at home that you don’t want repeated elsewhere? Tom Brandon says you can count on them to be told with gusto on the way to school. So climb on board and, as “Mr. Mucus” would say, “Sit back and enjoy the ride.” Hey, there are some things you just can’t make up.
Of author Tom Brandon, Larry Lee, Alabama’s foremost education blogger, says, “Each school bus is a little magic kingdom where fantasies come alive and the sweet innocence of childhood sometimes meets reality. With the keen eye and ear of a good storyteller, Tom Brandon has chronicled the great adventures of his riders with a talent that makes you see the smile and hear the giggles. Thanks to him for doing so.”
Not in That Onsie You’re Not: Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Thursday, July 13, 5:30 pm
Comic book and film fans have been clamoring for years for Spider-Man to officially become part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and they got their first glimpse of Tom Holland’s take on Peter Parker in Captain America: Civil War. Now that Spidey has gotten his first full MCU entry, come talk about Spider-Man: Homecoming at the library with other fans, with a discussion led by Stephen G. Melvin.
Stephen G. Melvin is a Visiting Instructor of English at UNA, where he also serves as an Organizer for the Lindsey UNA Film Fest. He has been a comic book enthusiast since 1984, is a member of the Whedon Studies Association, and is currently producing a documentary.
The Screening Room: To Kill a Mockingbird
Sunday, July 16, 2:00 pm
The free film series The Screening Room: Classics, Crowd-Pleasers, Cult Favorites and Neglected Gems continues its summer line-up with To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch, a lawyer in the Depression-era South, defends a black man against an undeserved rape charge, and his children against prejudice. The film series — sponsored by the library and Pillar of Fire — is hosted by film historian and Pillar of Fire founder Terry Pace and his wife, Anita.
Book Talk/Signing
Transforming the South: Federal Development in the TN Valley, 1915-196 by Dr. Matthew L. Downs
Thursday, July 20, 11:30 am
Dr. Matthew L. Downs will visit FLPL to talk about his book Transforming the South, Federal Development in the Tennessee Valley, 1915-1960. This event is in coordination with the exhibit Remembering the Great War: Alabama in World War I.
Dr. Downs will discuss the huge impact of World War I-era government programs in the Tennessee Valley: the government nitrate plants and hydroelectric dams at Muscle Shoals, Alabama, as well as the extensive work completed by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Transforming the South examines this transition from farm to factory and explores the dramatic reshaping of the region’s economy and how these projects drove social reform.
Generations: Basic Genealogy Seminar
Saturday, July 29, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Want to get started with genealogy? Here’s your chance! During this year’s annual seminar, we’ll have six sessions discussing how to locate, use and interpret basic genealogy records. Topics will include:
1. Getting started
2. Using census records
3. Using land records
4. Using vital records
5. Using courthouse probate records
6. Using military records
There will be breaks and an hour-and-a-half lunch. Basic computer skills are helpful but not essential.
Admission is free, but seating is limited, so call early to reserve a seat. To sign up call Lee Freeman 256-764-6564, ext. 30.
