Press release:
Haywood County Public Library celebrates 125 years with month-long celebration:
“Haywood Heritage: Honoring the Past, Heralding the Future”Established in 1891, the first library in Haywood County, N.C. operated out of the law office of W. B. Ferguson, with each library stockholder paying a $5 subscription fee to be able to check out books. One hundred twenty-five years later, the Haywood County Public Library (HCPL) has four library branches, nearly 40,000 cardholders – and it’s free for county residents to receive a library card.
While there have been many changes to the library over the course of its history, a few constants have remained, including ongoing support from the community for its library. Through the library’s 125th anniversary month-long celebration in September, HCPL would like to say thank you to our supporters and encourage those who do not yet have a library card to apply for a library card. We want to foster reading in Haywood County. We want to invite everyone in our community to become more engaged with books. All are invited to take part in the library’s anniversary celebration by visiting their local library and attending the special anniversary events scheduled.
The majority of performers scheduled for the anniversary celebration all draw from the Southern Appalachian Mountains for inspiration, and the two headliners – storyteller Donald Davis and poet Fred Chappell – both hail from Haywood County.
Other celebration speakers include local author and homesteader Ashley English, and for the kids, storyteller Vicky Town and magician and balloon artist Mark DeVerges. English has degrees in holistic nutrition and sociology, and has written several books on a variety of small-scale homesteading topics. She will be leading a workshop titled “Appalachian Homemaking Skills: DIY Butter and Yogurt.” Vicky Town performs stories for and with people of all ages. She has performed at storytelling festivals across the country, partnered with various libraries on programs and has taught and directed drama. Mark DeVerges has brought his comedy magic and balloon twisting to audiences around the world.
In addition to the events, Haywood County Public Library has partnered with the Haywood County Arts Council to exhibit historical and literary works of fine art and photography beginning in September, and there will be opportunities to eat cake and enjoy refreshments at each of the library’s four branches in celebration of the library’s big birthday.
Library events are always free to attend and open to all. This project is made possible by funding from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and by the Friends of the Haywood County Public Library. For more information, visit http://haywoodlibrary.libguides.com/125anniversary .
Schedule of Events:
- Waynesville Birthday Party, Tuesday, Sept. 6 1-3 p.m. at the Waynesville Library. Drop-in to enjoy cake and refreshments. Enter a raffle to win an anniversary canvas tote bag!
- Storyteller Vicky Town, Tuesday, Sept. 6 4 p.m. at the Canton Library. Town has performed at festivals, schools and libraries across the country, and is currently collaborating with the Northwest Regional Library System of N.C. She also teaches and directs drama.
- Author and poet Fred Chappell, Thursday, Sept. 8 5:30 p.m. at the Colonial Theatre in Canton. Chappell was an English professor for 40 years at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and was Poet Laureate of North Carolina from 1997-2002.
- Homesteader Ashley English, Saturday, Sept. 10 11 a.m. at the Waynesville Library. English has degrees in holistic nutrition and sociology, and is a member of Slow Food USA. She has been featured in Food & Wine, Delish, Edible Magazines, and Anthology, and has been a repeat guest on Martha Stewart Radio on SiriusFM.
- Canton Birthday Party, Tuesday, Sept. 13 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Canton Library. Drop-in to enjoy cake and refreshments. Enter a raffle to win an anniversary canvas tote bag!
- Storyteller Donald Davis, Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. at First United Methodist in Waynesville. Davis served as a Methodist minister for more than 20 years before retiring to become a professional storyteller. He has performed across the country, and has received the Circle of Excellence award from the National Storytelling Network. He is the former Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Storytelling Association.
- Fines Creek Birthday Party, Wednesday, Sept. 21 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Fines Creek Library. Drop-in to enjoy cake and refreshments. Enter a raffle to win an anniversary canvas tote bag!
- Magician Mark DeVerges, Saturday, Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. at the Waynesville Library. DeVerges is a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, WNC Magic Club and Laugh Makers International. His shows include balloon twisting and comedy magic.
- Maggie Valley Birthday Party, Thursday, Sept. 29 3-5 p.m. at the Maggie Valley Library. Drop-in to enjoy cake and refreshments. Enter a raffle to win an anniversary canvas tote bag! There will be special exhibits in partnership with the Haywood County Arts Council at each of the library’s branches that will include historical and literary works of fine art and photography by Haywood County Arts Council member artists. The exhibits will run from September through December 2016.
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