November is Native American Heritage Month!

Aboriginal Links

American Indian Code Talkers

American Indian Health
American Indian Museum

Effects of Removal on American Indian Tribes

Eiteljorg Fellowship for Native American Fine Art

Eitleljorg Museum of American Indians

Financial Aid for Native American Students

First Nations Peoples

First People of America & Canada

Indigenous Peoples Literature

Moundville Archaeological Museum

National Congress of American Indians

Native American Heritage Month

Native American Religious Texts
Native American Technology & Art

Native American Tribes of Alabama

Native Now

Poarch Band of Creek Indians

Poarch Creek Pow Wow

Transform Columbus Day Alliance

United Native America

Constitution Day

• Celebrate Constitution Day!
• Citizenship Test
• Constituting America
• Constitution Day
• Constitutional Amendments
• Naturalization Test
• Online Constitution
• We the People Contest

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.

Hurricane Preparedness

Area Emergency Resources Be Ready Escambia! (FL) Intellicast Weather My Fox Hurricane National Hurricane Center (NWS) Santa Rosa Emergency Management WEAR-ABC 3-Pensacola WKRG-CBS 5-Mobile/Pensacola WPMI-NBC 15-Covering the Coast

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

Annual Survey of Library Services

Please review the results from the Annual Survey of Library Services at the following links:

• 2011 Employee Responses
• 2011 Student Responses
  
  

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.

April 22nd is Earth Day!

To help create a greener future, please visit the following sites:

Earth Day Network
Earth Charter Initiative
Earth from Above
Earth Island Institute
Earth Site
Ebsco's GreenFile
The Nature Conservancy
The Rainforest Site
We Earth
Worldwatch Institute

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

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.

March is Women's History Month

March 8^th, 2011 is the 100^th 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.

African American History Month

February is African American History Month. This month’s library displays feature books, videos, and DVDs related to African American art, cinema, and civil rights. We are confident that you will find something of interest.

• African American Art
• African American Mosaic
• African American Writers
• African Americans at War
• Black Facts Online
• Black History Pages
• Black History Resources
• Ethnic News Watch
• Guide to Black History
• Museum of the African Diaspora
• Reflections in Black
• Speak to My Heart
• Underground Railroad
• Underground Railroad Experience

November is Native American Heritage Month

American Indian Code Talkers
American Indian Museum
Eiteljorg Fellowship for Native American Fine Art
Native American Heritage Month
Native Now
Poarch Band of Creek Indians
We Shall Remain

Banned Books Week

Banned Book Week at Amnesty International
Banned Book Week on Facebook
Banned Book Week on Google Books
Banned Book Week on MySpace
Banned Book Week at NPR
Banned Books Online

September 22nd is Hobbit Day! :O)

Hobbit Day commemorates the birthday of the hobbits Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, fictional characters in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit andThe Lord of the Rings. Bilbo was born on September 22^nd in the year 2890 and Frodo was born on September 22^nd in the year 2968. The week which includes Hobbit Day is known as Tolkien Week. Please visit the library if you are interested in learning more about J. R. R. Tolkien or reading any of his works.

September 17th is Constitution Day!

We, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our prosperity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Celebrate Constitution Day

Constituting America

Constitution Day

Constitutional Amendments

National Constitution Center

Naturalization Test

Online Constitution

We the People Contest

Library Reopens!

After an entire year of using a classroom as temporary quarters, the library has finally reopened its newly renovated facility. Spacious, inviting, and comfortable are just a few of the many ways to describe the new library space. There are more study carrels, expanded shelving, improved seating, numerous areas for group study, a state of the art classroom, etc. If you have not yet seen the finished product, please stop by the library. We are certain that you will be amazed!

Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15th, Independence Day for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, & Nicaragua, marks the beginning of the national celebration of HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. If one considers Hispanic contributions in the areas of literature, art, music, film, dance, language, cuisine, fashion, and so forth, it would be hard to overstate their tremendous cultural influence. For further exploration of this rich heritage, please visit the following links:

· Florida’s Hispanic Heritage

· Hispanic Heritage in the Americas

· Hispanic Heritage Month at the Smithsonian

· Hoy en la historia / Today in History

· Legislative History of Hispanic Heritage Month

· Library of Congress Hispanic Heritage Exhibit

· PBS Programming for Hispanic Heritage Month

· Smithsonian Latino Center

· Twenty Frequently Asked Questions about Hispanics

News from around the Globe!

• BBC (Great Britain)
• Deccan Herald (India)
• Der Spiegel (Germany)
• Hola (Spain)
• Jerusalem Post (Israel)
• Maclean's (Canada)
• Mail & Guardian (South Africa)
• El País (Spain)
• Paris Match (France)
• Pravda (Russia)
• Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)

Talk like Shakespeare Day!

Friday April 23rd is Talk Like Shakespeare Day, observed annually to honor the birth of the great bard. For great ideas on how to celebrate Talk Like Shakespeare Day, please visit http://www.talklikeshakespeare.org/.

Brewton Area Earth Day Observance

EARTH DAY: The Greater Brewton Area Chamber of Commerce along with the cities of Brewton and East Brewton would like to invite you to participate in our Earth Day Clean Up set for Saturday, April 24, 2010. The Jay Road Landfill will be open between 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., free of charge, for residents to dispose of electronics (please note that television and computer components will cost $7 per item) and trash only, no household garbage or chemicals. The City of East Brewton will have their trash truck available for East Brewton residents; call 867-7998 for pickup. Here is a list of how to dispose of certain items:

Automobile Batteries: Advance Auto Parts, Auto Zone, and O’Reilly Auto Parts all located on Douglas Avenue.

Automobile Oil: Advance Auto Parts, Auto Zone and O’Reilly Auto Parts

Old Appliances: You may take these to the Jay Road Landfill, free of charge, during Earth Day Cleanup, 7:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., including television and computer components, which will cost $7 per item to dispose of. RESIDENTS ONLY!

Dumpsters will be located in various locations: Burnt Corn Creek Park, College Drive in Alco, parking lot behind the old Wal-Mart building and the corner of Sowell Rd and Liles Blvd.

Tires: Put in dumpsters in various locations, RESIDENTS ONLY!

We appreciate the efforts of each individual that is dedicated to helping keep our environment clean. Thank you for your support. If you need additional information, call the Greater Brewton Area Chamber of Commerce, 867-3224 or East Brewton City Hall, 867-6092. Residents only, no businesses or commercial organizations please.

Sponsored by:
The Brewton City Council’s Earth Day Committee
The Greater Brewton Area Chamber of Commerce

April 22 is Earth Day!

To help create a greener future, please visit the following sites:

• Earth Day Network
• Earth from Above
• Earth Island Institute
• Earth Site
• Ebsco's GreenFile
• The Nature Conservancy
• The Rainforest Site
• We Earth
• Worldwatch Institute

Amnesty during National Library Week!

To help celebrate National Library Week, the library staff will waive all overdue fines between now and Friday, April 16. Please take advantage of this opportunity, especially if you have overdue DVDs.

April is National Poetry Month

Our National Poetry Month celebration this year will culminate with the observance of Poem in your Pocket Day on the 29th. 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 on the 29th of April. Poems from pockets will be unfolded throughout the day with events in parks, libraries, schools, workplaces, and bookstores.

• Subscribe to Poem a Day and receive a new poem each day during April: http://www.poets.org/


• Pocket-sized poems from the Academy of American Poets: http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/409


• New York City’s Poem in your Pocket page: http://www.nyc.gov/html/poem/

March is Women's History Month

This year’s NWHP theme is Writing Women back into History. To explore the many historical contributions of women, please visit the following links:

• National Women's History Project Blog
• Women’s History on the History Channel
• Women's History Quiz
• Women's History Timeline

We also recommend the following title: When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present by Gail Collins. (HQ 1421 .C64 2009)

Image from http://www.marciaweberartobjects.com/; used with permission.

Photographs by Robert Radin

“This Beautiful World,” a traveling art exhibition on display in the Fine Arts Center, features works by Los Angeles-based photographer Robert Radin. Thirty pieces of his photograph collection will be on display beginning February 11th with a premier showing at 6 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend. The exhibit will remain open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through February 19th. A special thanks to Susan Chapman and Jerry Simmons for securing and displaying the work.

African American History Month

African American Art
African American Mosaic
African American Writers
African Americans at War
Black Facts Online
Black History Hotlist
Black History Pages
Black History Resources
Ethnic News Watch
From Slavery to Freedom
Guide to Black History
Museum of the African Diaspora
National Geographic's Underground Railroad
Reflections in Black
Speak to My Heart
Underground Railroad Experience

Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

The third Monday in January is set aside to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., perhaps the most important figure in the history of Civil Rights in the United States. Strongly influenced by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. King advocated the use of nonviolent means to end racial segregation. He organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957 and led the 1963 March on Washington. He was also instrumental in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, effectively outlawing discrimination in public accommodations, facilities, and employment, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Dr. King was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1964 and died four years later at the hands of an assassin on April 4, 1968.

December is Universal Human Rights Month

Article I

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article II

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article III

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

The Birmingham Pledge

• I believe that every person has worth as an individual.


• I believe that every person is entitled to dignity and respect, regardless of race or color.


• I believe that every thought and every act of racial prejudice is harmful; if it is my thought or act, then it is harmful to me as well as to others.


• Therefore, from this day forward I will strive daily to eliminate racial prejudice from my thoughts and actions.


• I will discourage racial prejudice by others at every opportunity.


• I will treat all people with dignity and respect; and I will strive daily to honor this pledge, knowing that the world will be a better place because of my effort.

Sign the Pledge!

November is Native American Heritage Month

Please visit the following sites for information about the culture, history, traditions, and contributions of the indigenous peoples of North America.

Aboriginal Links
Eitleljorg Museum of American Indians
First Nations Peoples
First People of America & Canada
Indigenous Peoples Literature
Native American Code Talkers
Native American Heritage Month
Native American Lore
Native American Technology & Art
Native American Tribes of Alabama
Poarch Band of Creek Indians
Poarch Creek Pow Wow