Ah, the bittersweet experiences through lifes convoluted journey... The Town of Berry Library & Museum officially opened its doors Saturday! Phase 1 of my U.N.A. internship is complete, resulting in new civic services and cutting-edge educational opportunities (lecture series, tutoring, test-prep, etc.) for my home-town. Mind you, the TIRELESS work of the Friends of the Berry Library Committee is the reason that the historic Berry City Hall and Jail now houses over 2,000 books and an archaeological/ethnological collection. However, after much discussion over the past few months, U.N.A. is calling me back to graduate school next year, full-time. I have some writing, research, and lecturing to do. Archaeology Field School. Then... its PhD time! Woop-woop! For those interested, my Grand Opening speech is below... Two years ago, I approached then-Mayoral candidate Jimmy Madison about the possibility of utilizing this building, our former Berry City Hall and Jail, as a town library. Not only did I want our town, the place where I grew up and that will always be home, to experience the practical uses of library and museum services, but the preservation and re-purposing of Berry’s historic City Hall and Jail fell right into line with my graduate program of study at the University of North Alabama… Archaeology & Heritage Resource Management. As you work your way through our small, yet inclusive building, please take a moment to notice the bricks forming the structure of the two jail cells. These bricks are the re-purposed bricks remaining from Berry’s 1918 Alabama Christian College, once standing approximately where the Berry Church of Christ and high school are today. In sum, this two-year project represents a facet of my graduate work for U.N.A., but, much more importantly, it is an opportunity to give new services and experiences to my home-town and its families that I have called family for a lifetime. Time passed, the election became a memory, and Mayor Madison ramped up plans to convert this well-preserved and rehabilitated historical building into something tangibly useful to the community. The Mayor personally chose 5 citizens to form the “Friends of the Berry Library & Museum” Committee. In addition to books, quiet niches to read and study, computers, and printing services, I also envisioned practical and comprehensive educational programming for all ages and the installation of a small, but visually and mentally stimulating, museum. Though this museum now houses archaeological and ethnological artifacts from my personal collection and that of Mr. Clyde Pendley, I look to transition the museum’s focus to include approximately 75% regional artifacts, with the remaining 25% representing our global family. My hope is that, as our citizens grow comfortable with this civic service, they will be generously forthcoming in the lending, donating, and acquisition of items to include, both in the cases and on the walls, of the library and museum. As for the educational programming that will be offered through the library and museum, it will eventually include everything from readings to elementary-aged children, tutoring (both face-to-face and computer-based), GED and ACT prep-classes, and lectures. Our lecture programs will include literary, historical, and self-help topics. During the early part of 2014 and as a primer activity, I offered to instruct a series of free creative writing workshops for the Fayette County Public Library, but with no follow-through on the library’s part. You can rest assured that the Berry Library and Museum will take full advantage of local, national, and international experience and bring to you, the citizens, additional learning opportunities. As a matter of fact, the Berry Library & Museum is pleased to kick-off our lecture series with Mrs. Barbara Hill of the Shoals Area, author of Your Credit: What You Dont Know Can Hurt You. Please keep your eyes on the library’s advertising board and the Times-Record for dates and times. Thank you Mrs. Hill, for offering a workshop so crucial at this time in our history. I would also like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank two other authors in our presence: Ms. Cheryl Morris, author of The Night the Stars Fell, and Mrs. Kim Kimbrough, author of a new work-in-progress tentatively titled Hard Discipline. Though these three ladies have taken my creative writing courses through the University of North Alabama, they are first-and-foremost my friends and I appreciate their 2 hour journey to join us for this joyous occasion. Please allow me to take a moment and thank one of my bosses. Mr. Trevor Kribbs of Berry High School has been highly supportive of my endeavors, even though several absences have resulted from meetings, supply-runs, and general work on the library and museums behalf. Thank you Mr. Kribbs, for your unwavering support. Now, please allow me to introduce our “Friends of the Berry Library” Committee: 1) Mary Lollar: President of the Library Committee 2) Betty Wedgeworth: Head Librarian 3) Billie Pendley: Treasurer 4) Toni Morgan 5) Clyde Pendley: Berry City Council Liasion 6) Me: serving as the Educational Director and Museum Curator I invite Mayor Jimmy Madison to the podium… “The Unlocking of the Library and Museum Door for the Public” Ceremony: The “Friends of the Berry Library” committee decided, in lieu of a “ribbon-cutting ceremony”, to ask Mayor Madison to officially open the Library & Museum door for the public, for the very first time. The key is tied with the stars and stripes, symbolizing the freedom to pursue knowledge and happiness that we all enjoy through our citizenship in the United States of America. Mayor Madison, as the door is officially unlocked, please remember to pause for photographs. As this joyous ceremony comes to an official close, we would like to wish you and your family the very best Thanksgiving to date. Thank you all.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 21:45:52 +0000
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