Drum Roll Please: Materials Monday on Facebook Theme for 2026

Way back in late 2019, I decided to turn my Facebook posts on Mondays into themed "Materials Monday" posts to give myself a framework and coherence to the content. I had goals: 1) I wanted a theme that would show the depth and scope of the BDC's holdings. 2) I wanted a theme that could cover a variety of topics and/or cover a number of historical periods. 3) I wanted a theme that I would offer me some research possibilities to expand upon (perhaps) in the BDC's blogs or serve as a basis for a future BDC program or event. In other words, I wanted a theme that could capture my interests as well as yours.

Here's a list of the yearly themes so far: 

• 2020 - "New" appears in the title or subtitle
• 2021 -- Letters
• 2022 -- "50 Shades of Beige"
• 2023 -- "Uniquely BDC" - titles, items or services that only the BDC has or does
• 2024 -- "Uniquely BDC' year 2
• 2025 -- "Uniquely BDC" year 3 

Even though there are more Uniquely BDC titles, items or services that I could highlight until retirement, I've decided that it is time for a switch of themes and to limit the time period to just one historical period. 

Imagine a drum roll here if you will. 

In consultation with Cassandra and Sydney, the BDC's Materials Monday theme on the BDC's Facebook page for 2026 is Independence (Mon)Day. 

Accordingly, the theme adopted for 2026 is to show the depth and scope of the BDC's holdings from or about a specific time frame, the years 1770 - 1783, that help explain what happened before, during, and after the Declaration of Independence was signed. This is in line with our intentional increase in American Revolution related local history programs since 2021 with our partners the Beaufort County Historical Society, the Beaufort History Museum, and the Beaufort County 250th Committee and with the Library system's plans to highlight the upcoming 250th anniversary of our country in Spring - Summer 2026.  

As before, I know that our 2026 theme will offer me some research possibilities to satisfy my interests and perhaps satisfy your need to know more about the course of the American Revolution and the vicissitudes of establishing a country like no other in the history of the world.  

As per usual, we will not post on Mondays when the Library is closed, nor when the main writer is on vacation. When I retire, Cassandra will be tasked with researching and writing the posts until my successor is hired - at which time the new head of the Library's special local history collection and archives unit may have other ideas. But until I retire and my successor is hired, expect to see an Independence (Mon)Day post on Facebook from me or Cassi most Mondays beginning Monday, January 5, 2026.  BTW: Thanks go to Sydney for the logo!