COMING EVENTS

May 1: Cathy Pickens,  7:00 p.m.

May 31: Family Literacy Fair, 11-2, Library Front Lawn

 ROSEMARY WHITLOCK TO ADDRESS LIBRARY FRIENDS

Local author Rosemary Whitlock will be guest speaker at the fall meeting of the Friends of the Lancaster County Library, Monday, October 27 at 7:00 p.m. at the library. Mrs. Whitlock is author of The Monacan Indian Nation of Virginia: the Drums of Life, published this year by the University of Alabama Press. Of Monacan descent herself, Whitlock has written a compelling folk history by relating personal stories of  surviving members of the tribe.

Like many Native Americans, the Monacans have had a long struggle for equality, health care, good jobs and education. Throughout most of the 20^th century, the tribe suffered the indignity of Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act of 1924. This infamous law was interpreted in ways that denied Monacans their Indian identity and forced them to live as virtual outcasts from mainstream society. Whitlock’s moving narrative describes the joys and sorrows of a proud people still fighting for federal recognition. Catawba Indian historian Thomas Blumer praised the book for its valuable documentation of Indian customs and practices.

Rosemary Whitlock was born Rosebud Clark in Selma, Virginia. She grew up with eight brothers and sisters and left school in the fourth grade to go to work. In 1944, she married Kenneth Whitlock and they moved to Lancaster, where they raised four children. In 1971, Rosemary realized a longtime dream and returned to school. She graduated from Lancaster High School at the age of 48 and walked across the stage in the same ceremony as her son, Greg. Soon afterwards she began to write. Rosemary is a published poet and the author of four books: Makin’ Do (1983); Mountain Home (1987); After Tomorrow (1990) and Golden Nuggets (1993).

Rosemary is well known for her volunteer work and as an activist for community needs. Among the many awards she has received is Volunteer of the Year in 1993 for her service on the Lancaster County Library Board.

The 2008 Summer Reading Club for kids was a big success!

Sponsored by the Friends, “Catch the Reading Bug” featured weekly programs and prizes designed to keep kids reading in June and July. 1269 children registered this year and 506 completed the program to receive a Reading Medal. A total of 3390 attended programs such as Mike Fisher, Magician; The Flow Circus Clowns; Lona Bartlett’s puppets and a production from the Porkchop Theatre. Best of all, 14,020 children’s books were checked out. Many thanks to the Friends of the Library from Children’s Librarian Brenda Parker!

Del Webb Library Update...

The 3^rd Annual Fall into Fun Festival was held at Indian Land Middle School, October 4. A great time was had by people of all ages and over $12,000 was raised for the new Del Webb library at Indian Land. This year, the Festival was co-sponsored by the Indian Land Rotary Club and Carolina Gateway.