LIBRARY NOTES

We would like to thank everyone who came out to the library to support the Friends of the Library’s hamburger dinner fundraiser.

Congratulations go to Sabra Lowe, the winner of the 50/50 raffle.

The Friends of the Library would like to thank James Robinson from Lawrence Brothers Grocery Store for providing the groceries for the fundraiser, and to Jimmy Whitefield at Cap Rock Telephone Cooperative for providing the bottled water.

Thank you to library board member Mandy Henry for stepping in last minute to cook the burgers when the two board members that were supposed to cook became ill. With the help of her husband, J.D. Henry, Mandy kept the burgers coming in off the grill hot and fresh. I was talking to J.D. about some of the books in our hometown corner and mentioned Robb Kendrick’s tintype photography of cowboys. J.D. was very aware of Kendrick’s work. To my surprise he was one of the subjects in Kendrick’s “Revealing Character: Texas Tintypes” from 2005.

The library’s board members are some of the hardest working people in the community. Volunteers are the unspoken heroes who often go unnoticed and unappreciated. Board member Darla Thomason has been seen with her paintbrush and garden tools working outside of the library. She can often be seen weed-eating and cleaning up at the parks downtown. Thank you, Darla, for making our library and town more presentable. All of our board members are outstanding and communityminded, and I am proud to be a part of this group.

We had also been looking forward to participating in the Spur Area Chamber of Commerce annual Trunk or Treat event that was scheduled for October 28. The event was cancelled, and we instead participated in the city of Dickens Trunk or Treat that has been scheduled for the same date. Keeping with the library theme, our trunk will be filled with not only treats but a few very hungry caterpillars. Hopefully they will not eat all of the treats and leave some for the children! I’ve even been told there will be a very colorful butterfly passing out the treats to the children. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” is a children’s book written and illustrated by the late Eric Carle in 1969. The book is as popular with youngsters today as it was

I attended Sequoyah Branham’s book signing at the Kent County Library on October 23, the day before the release of her novella, “In the Company of Cows.”

It was an exciting time for the young author and her family. I enjoyed the event and I got to chat with Ms. Branham for a few minutes. I asked her about the workshop she had attended at our library just over a year ago. I was curious to know if anything she learned at the workshop helped in her journey. She told me that it did help. She was able to talk to both the established author and the experienced publisher one on one and ask questions. She said they were both extremely receptive and helpful.

I got a copy of her book for the library and one for myself. The copy for the library has yet to stay on the shelf for very long. The first one to check it out was former county judge Woodie McArthur. Mr. McArthur, who has been in ranching his whole life ,was impressed with Ms. Branham’s knowledge of cattle. He told me, “That young lady knows what she’s talking about when it comes to cattle.” He said it was good book with a sweet story.

I finally got the chance to start reading it and am just a few pages in. Right away I can say that her writing draws you into her world. I feel the emotions and frustrations felt by the main character. I know very little about raising cattle, but the picture she paints with her words lets me know she knows what she is writing about. I can’t wait to read more.

Check it all out at the library.

Donnice Carruth is director of the Dickens County- Spur Library, in Spur.