December 2023 Overview

December Overview: Things usually quiet down for the BDC between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day - and I tend to take off some personal leave to spend with family over the course of the period. This year seems to be no exception. Accordingly, you will see less social media posts later this month.

The only program on our agenda is about a local man who was killed at Pearl Harbor - to be held, appropriately I think, Thursday, December 7th. In the fog of war sometimes mistakes are made. Shortly after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on the "day that will live in infamy" 82 years ago, the Beaufort Gazette reported that two of Beaufort County's own died in the attack. Read more about these sailors, World War II materials, and how the BDC can help you uncover an ancestor’s military history.

Beaufort's American Legion Post 207 is named for a local man who was killed aboard the USS California when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. But who was he - and what happened to his brother, Leon, who was also reported in the local area press as killed in action on that date? Mary Dorsey, a member and officer of Post 207 was determined to find out. Come hear about her quest that uncovered surprising facts, a story of brotherly love, irony, unexpected emotions, a parallel in her personal life, and a friendship with the Bush family.  We hope to have you join us for "The Bush Brothers at Pearl Harbor ... and Beyond" on Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 2 PM in the Beaufort Branch meeting room. 

"The Bush Brothers at Pearl Harbor and Beyond" with Mary Dorsey | Thursday, December 7, 2023 | Beaufort Branch Library, 311 Scott Street | 2 PM | No registration: First Come; First Seated | Note: Seating begins at 1:30 PM 

* Note: We then take a break with local history programs until after the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. 

We have worked hard to try to find the BDC's Library Specialist to help with at least some of the many behind-the-scenes tasks and activities necessary to serve our special collections and archives customers. We have recommended someone to Human Resources for hire. We're waiting on the County's employment process to play out before we make a formal announcement of who will be joining Jalen and me here in the Research Room. I assure all that once the person arrives for work in the BDC, I shall proclaim who it is and what were some of the reasons why s/he was determined to be the "best person" for the position at this time. 

There's a lot of behind-the-scenes work that the (unfortunate?) Library Specialist must help me get done - and the list grows longer each day. In fact, I've just rediscovered that there's a serial cataloging challenge and space allocation puzzle to ponder - as an unexpected result of a rather simple customer request. That, though, is why I still like this job: the thrill of the twists and turns. Just when I think that I have everything more or less under control, a new situation unfolds to give me food for thought about how to make the BDC even better before I go away for good. Plus there's the Local History section selection process for the Port Royal Branch Library to do ... and the vertical file integration project to continue ... and potentially another welcome-but-long-in-coming-announcement to make before the New Year's Eve.

Please note: The Library's holiday schedule will impact Research Room appointment availability. Contact us for details. As a reminder: we are unable to take same-day or walk-in appointments at this time.

The Library system will be closed Friday, December 22 - Tuesday, December 26, 2023 for the Christmas holidays. County employees do not get paid leave for New Year's Eve - and this year, New Year's Eve happens to fall on a Sunday, so the Library will only be closed on Monday, January 1, 2024 for New Year's Day.