BDC@ The Branches Programs Starting in January

An informal poll of Branch Library programming staff and those Beloved Customers opting in to the BDC E-mail Distribution List indicated that everyone wants more: more genealogy classes; more classes on family treasures preservation; more archaeology programs; more local disasters history;  and more about Beaufort District's famous and infamous characters. It is very heartening - and disheartening - to learn that the community wants more.  It is heartening to know that there are a lot of people in Beaufort County who love local history and who enjoy learning more about Gullah culture and the natural environment.

"Why disheartening?" you may ask.  The answer is "Because the Beaufort District Collection is the smallest public service unit of the Library system with a staff of only 2."  It is very challenging to provide research assistance to our customers, juggle Research Room desk coverage for 35 hours a week, prepare and preserve materials for customers to use, and create and deliver BDC@ the Branches programs and classes at other Library locations. (The next smallest public service unit of the Library system has a staff of 3 to keep that location open 40 hours per week, just saying.) Nevertheless, we usually manage to arrange a few programs to instruct, edify, and sometimes even entertain you!   Here's what's on tap through the Winter into Spring 2014:

BDC@ The Branches Programs, January 2014 – May 3, 2014

Local History, Genealogy, and Preservation Programs sponsored by the Library’s Local History Special collection and archives unit, the Beaufort District Collection

 

   

FIND YOUR ROOTS WITH GRACE

Thursday, Jan 16 at 2pm |BDC@ Bluffton | Ages 12 - Adults

BDC Manager Grace Cordial shows you how to get your family research started at the Library with the Ancestry Library Edition database and other genealogical resources.(A similar program with an African-American focus will be held at St. Helena Branch Library on Feb. 6th)

 

LOCAL HISTORY AUTHOR/BOOK  TALK                                                                        

Tuesday, Jan 21 at 6 pm |BDC@ Beaufort | Ages 12 - Adults

St. Helena Island resident Sonny Bishop tells all about his recent book, A Place Called Home, about Beaufort and St. Helena Island, South Carolina in this BDC-sponsored program.

FIND YOUR ROOTS WITH GRACE

Thursday, Feb 6 at 2 pm | BDC@ St. Helena | Ages 12 - Adults

BDC Manager Grace Cordial shows you how to get your African- American family research started at the Library with the Ancestry Library Edition database and other genealogical resources.

WHAT IS THE BDC ANYWAY?

Wednesday, Mar 12 at 3 pm | BDC@ Hilton Head | Ages 12 - Adults

BDC Manager Grace Cordial gives an overview of services provided by the Library system’s local history special collections and archives.  Expect to see some nifty items from the collection on display after the presentation.

PRESERVING YOUR FAMILY TREASURES WITH GRACE

Wednesday, Apr 30 at 3pm | BDC@ Hilton Head | Ages 12 – Adults

Saturday, May 3 at 2pm | BDC@ Beaufort Branch | Ages 12 - Adults

 BDC Manager Grace Cordial offers tips and suggestions to empower you to protect paper-based family treasures such as letters, Family Bibles, certificates and diplomas, memorabilia, and photographs.  

DIGITAL PRESERVATION WITH GRACE

Thursday, May 1 at 2pm | BDC@ St. Helena | Ages 12 - Adults

BDC Manager Grace Cordial offers practical tips and suggestions to empower you to preserve your digital photographs for your children and grandchildren to treasure.

Charmaine and I hope to see you at one or more of these "Brought to you by the Beaufort District Collection, the Library's special local history collection and archives!"

PS: The Library's Strategic Plan requires that the BDC coordinates only 5 programs within the Library system per year.

Using this schedule as the guide, the score is:
   BDC@ Beaufort Branch - 1
   BDC@ Bluffton Branch - 2
   BDC@ Hilton Head Branch - 2
   BDC@ St. Helena Branch - 2  

Lobeco Branch's new manager, Belinda Blue, arrived Mon., Dec. 2nd so I'm sure that we'll be working on putting together something for lovely Lobeco Branch in the Summer or Fall.