To prepare libraries to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, librarians from rural and small libraries around the south were flown to Atlanta in mid-May for a few days of learning and planning together. The “America 250: Telling America’s Story” convening was made possible by IMLS, the Institute for Museum and Library Services, an important federal agency that supports the work of all public libraries and museums in the country. Our own Calhoun County Library was lucky to be asked to attend, and the convening was wonderfully useful. I was able to tour the Carter Presidential Library and get a hands-on look at one of IMLS’s new Freedom Truck exhibits, and most importantly, network with other librarians from communities like ours about their plans for celebrating America250. I even got to meet up with Megan Fontaine, the Assistant Director for the Association of Rural and Small Libraries, whose conference our library staff will be attending later this fall. We will be announcing our full slate of America250 programming in conjunction with Calhoun County Museum in the near future, so stay tuned!
Carter Presidential Library
Freedom Truck
