Public Libraries in the United States IMLS Report

The federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) released its report on Public Library Services in the United States for FY 2010.  Similar to most statistics, the report runs a year or two behind the current fiscal year.

In the press release issued January 22, IMLS reported that the public libraries in this nation served 297.6 million people throughout the United States, a number that is equivalent to 96.4 percent of the total U.S. population. Nationally, public libraries have seen reductions in operating revenue, service hours, and staffing. Numbers for circulation, program attendance, and computer use continue to trend upward.

This is the first federal statistical report on public libraries to go beyond a national level analysis to report on trends at the local, regional, and state levels. The report identifies indicators in three areas: services and operations, resources, and workforce. To provide a more complete picture of library service in the U.S., the report provides a snapshot for each state, describing characteristics of library service.

Among the highlights in the Fast Facts sheet:

• Public libraries held more programs than ever before.
• Circulation figures are the highest ever.
• Revenue has gone down.
• Number of staff has gone down. 

The supplementary tables rank South Carolina #41 (out of 50) in library visits per capita (4.24) and #10 (out of 50) in reference transactions per capita.  (I guess this means that SC residents are an inquisitive bunch unafraid to ask questions).  

The report is online.  Read it at http://www.imls.gov/research/public_libraries_in_the_us_fy_2010_report.aspx or download a copy.  (It's not light reading.)  

You can read what the Director of IMLS, Susan Hildreth, has to say about the report in her agency's UpNext blog.

Jubilee of Freedom

Beaufort County Historical Society, Coastal States Bank and the Mitchelville Preservation Project will present Jubilee of Freedom commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation at the University Performing Arts Center, 6 pm, Thursday, Jan. 31st. 

This historical document was read in Beaufort on Jan, 1, 1863, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was passed by the House of Representatives on Jan. 31, 1863.

Cast members for the event include, Dr. Stephen Wise, Dr. Lawrence Rowland, Anita Singleton-Prather (Aunt Pearlie of Gullah Kinfolk), Evelene Stevenson (Spirit of Old Beaufort), Mary Legree, Dave Smoot, Erika Pyle, Peter Ovens, Darryl Murphy  and Marcus Humphrey.

Tickets are $20 and $15 for Beaufort County Historical Society members/seniors/and students. Tickets are available by calling the USCB Performing Arts Center at 843-521-4145.

Gullah/Geechee Living Legacy Learning Series at STH

   
The Gullah/Geechee Living Legacy Learning Series at the new St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road, opens on Wednesday, January 30th  with "Reflections of Emancipation on St. Helena, SC." Queen Quet, Chieftess for the Gullah/Geechee Nation, will host this free program intended for all audiences.  The program begins at 6 pm.

Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation will do a histo-musical presentation incorporating historical documents that are part of what took place on St. Helena Island, SC as the Reconstruction Era began in the United States. Victoria Smalls, Director of History & Cultural Programs of Penn Center, Inc. will do a reading from the “Diary of Charlotte Forten” who was the first African American instructor at Penn School, the first trade, agricultural, and normal school for freedmen.Natasha D. Robinson who is also a native performing artist from St. Helena Island will present an original piece reflecting the island.  For more info, call (843) 838-1171 or e-mail GullGeeCo@aol.com.

When you attend the program, be sure to go into the Community Room and see the Lincoln Exhibit before it closes on Saturday, Feb. 2nd!
 

Contact the St. Helena Branch Library at (843) 255-6486 for details about the program or the Lincoln Exhibit.

Thank You!

The mission of the Beaufort District Collection is to acquire, preserve, maintain and make accessible a research collection of permanent value which records the history, culture and environment of the area of lowcountry South Carolina once known as the old historic Beaufort District. In these stringently close economic times, donations of appropriate research materials, giving freely of one’s time as a program presenter or assisting inside the BDC Research Room are particularly helpful.

We are very grateful to all the generous individuals and organizations who helped us meet our mission in 2012:

Dennis Adams

Amanda Brewer

American Association of University Women Mrs. Elizabeth Caldwell

William Wheeler Corbin, Jr.

Dr. Robert E. Cuttino

Francesca Denton

George Fino

Roy Flannagan

Molly Gray

Ben Ham

Fran Hays

Friends of the Beaufort Library Historic Beaufort Foundation Ian Hill

Kenneth Latham

Laura Lewis

Patti Bostick Major Arthur Marscher

Page Putnam Miller

Kathy Mitchell Penelope Holme Parker

Priscilla Pomazal Sally Pringle Ruth Ragland Harriett Rahm Bill Rauch Carolyn Poling Schriber Fred Smith LaRose Smith Jim Spirek Aunt Pearlie Sue Norman Vincent Turner Wlodek Zaryczny

A heartfelt "Thank You" for your support of and donations to the unique Beaufort District Collection. The BDC serves our community much better because of these donors, presenters, organizations and docents!

Programs on Emancipation

The topic of Emancipation and its impact in our community is explored in two programs North of the Broad River this week:

On Wednesday, January 30^th, attend "Reflections of Emancipation on St. Helena, SC" with Queen Quet, in the new St. Helena Branch Library.  The program begins at 6 pm. Free.

Thursday evening, January 31st, the Beaufort County Historical Society, Coastal States Bank, and the Mitchelville Preservation Project present “Jubilee of Freedom," USC-B Performing Arts Theater, Treats 5:30pm; Program starts at 6pm. Fee.

Read our entries earlier this month on the Emancipation Proclamation before you go! 

Flannagan on Church History

Join us this Saturday, Jan. 26th, for our first BDC@ The BDC program of 2013.  

Beloved former USC-B professor Roy Flannagan will share his experiences as part of the research and writing team preparing the tricentennial history of the Parish Church of St. Helena.  Learn why the team really needed some divine intervention and amazing grace.  Program starts at 2:00pm. 

We hope to see you there!

Maugham is "Sandwiched In"

The Books Sandwiched In series continues January 28 with Kathy Kilgore's review of  The Painted Veil by Somerset Maugham.  All Books Sandwiched In programs begin at Noon in the USCB Center for Performing Arts, 801 Carteret Street. Please help our Friends of the Beaufort Library help us and attend the program on Monday.

Read about Somerset Maugham's time in Beaufort County in an article written by Dennis Adams posted on our Local History and Nature pages at http://www.beaufortcountylibrary.org/htdocs-sirsi/maugham.htm.

BDC Program This Saturday

We're Closed Monday

This includes the BDC Research Room.  However, you can still get to the "Virtual BDC" through the Local History tab on our library homepage:  www.beaufortcountylibrary.org.  Regular hours resume Tuesday, January 22nd.

Book Break 2013 Series at Hilton Head Branch Library

Beaufort County Library has three very active Friends of the Library groups.  The Friends of the Hilton Head Branch Library begin their "Book Break 2013" series, January 23rd. The free book review events are held Wednesdays at noon in the HHI Branch Community Room.   On the schedule are:

• January 23rd - Savannah Grey: A Tale of Antebellum Georgia by Jim Jordan (2007) reviewed by Bill Bodoh
• January 30th - It Worked For Me: In Life & Leadership by Colin Powell (2012) reviewed by J. Franklin Long
• February 6th - The Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin (2005) reviewed by Janet Smith
• February 13th - Hiding in the Spotlight: A Musical Prodigy's Story of Survival by Greg Dawson (2009) reviewed by Tim Reynolds
• February 20th - Can't Is Not An Option: My American Story by Nikki Haley reviewed by Mary Amonitti
• February 27th - Crescent by Diana Abu-Jaber (2003) reviewed by Jack Shaheen

Please help them help support us!