Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Juneteenth!!

In 1863, during the American Civil War, Pres. Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared more than three million slaves living in the Confederate states to be free. More than two years would pass, however, before the news reached African Americans living in Texas. It was not until Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, that the state’s residents finally learned that slavery had been abolished. The former slaves immediately began to celebrate with prayer, feasting, song, and dance.

The following year, on June 19, the first official Juneteenth celebrations took place in Texas. The original observances included prayer meetings and the singing of spirituals, and celebrants wore new clothes as a way of representing their new-found freedom. Within a few years, African Americans in other states were celebrating the day as well, making it an annual tradition. Celebrations have continued across the United States into the 21st century and typically include prayer and religious services, speeches, educational events, family gatherings and picnics, and festivals with music, food, and dancing.

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Hurricane Preparedness


Area Emergency Resources

Saffir-Simpson Scale

Category 1 - 74-95 mph winds
Category 2 - 95-110 mph winds
Category 3 - 111-130 mph winds
Category 4 - 131-155 mph winds
Category 5 - 155+ mph winds

Disaster Hotlines

Atmore: 368-9371 Brewton: 867-0593

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

Friday, April 29, 2011

Disaster Relief for Alabama


Gorgas Library UA

If you are unsure where to start in terms of helping the victims of the recent storms, please visit the Disaster Relief for Alabama page created by Brandee J. Idleman as part of her graduate coursework in the library science program at the University of Alabama.

Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Annual Library Survey

Please take a few moments to complete our Annual Survery of Library Services. We will utilize the results of the survey to assist with future planning efforts.

  • 2011 Library Survey for Employees

  • 2011 Library Survey for Students
  • Thursday, March 31, 2011

    Poem in Your Pocket Day

    Celebrate Poem In Your Pocket Day on Thu., Apr. 14, 2011! The idea is simple: select a poem you love during National Poetry Month then carry it with you to share with co-workers, family, and friends. In this age of mechanical and digital reproduction, it's easy to carry and share a poem. Poems from pockets will be unfolded throughout the day with events in parks, libraries, schools, workplaces, and bookstores.

    How can you you get involved?
    • Post pocket-sized verses in public places
    • Hand write some lines on the back of your business cards
    • Distribute bookmarks with your favorite immortal lines
    • Add a poem to your email footer
    • Post a poem on your blog or social networking page
    • Project a poem on a wall, inside or out
    • Text a poem to friends

    Need a Poem for Your Pocket?


    Browse the selection of poems at Poets.org.
    Subscribe to the Poem a Day e-mail program.
    Download pocket-sized Poem PDFs to print and share.
    Visit the library's Poetry Resources page.

    Tuesday, March 08, 2011

    March is Women's History Month

    March 8th, 2011 is the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. Few causes promoted by the United Nations have generated more intense and widespread support than the campaign to promote and protect the equal rights of women. The Charter of the United Nations, signed in San Francisco in 1945, was the first international agreement to proclaim gender equality as a fundamental human right. Since then, the U.N. has helped create a historic legacy of internationally agreed strategies, standards, programs and goals to advance the status of women worldwide. For more information see the library's Women's History page.