🏃🏽♀️Register with Williamson County Parks & Recreation for the May Marathon, and then opt to register with Williamson County Library to complete fun badges and enter into drawings for prizes!
🏃🏽♂️The Challenge is to walk or run an accumulated distance of a half or full marathon during the month of May. Participants register with the Parks and Recreation Department at https://bit.ly/2021WilCoTNMayMarathon to receive the UT Extension Offices log sheet for tracking their miles daily. You can also enroll in an online challenge via the Library’s Beanstack program at http://bit.ly/2021MayMarathonWCPLS to be entered in the weekly prize drawings from the Library. Beanstack activities include reading audiobooks while walking or running, taking nature photos, and visiting different local parks with the opportunity to also earn virtual badges.
“We are all looking for ways to make exercising fun plus encourage people to read and explore Williamson County.”, said Jeffie Nicholson, Adult Services Manager. “There will be a weekly prize drawing for everyone who walks or runs 7 miles. People who complete activities in the Library’s Beanstack program can earn another entry towards prizes.”
🏃🏾♀️This program is open to all Williamson County residents. Registration is free. Everyone will be asked to do a survey at the start and end of their challenge to evaluate any improvements and personal satisfaction with their progress. The challenge runs from May 1 to May 31.
Due to unexpected technical issues, Virtual Trivia Registration, General Knowledge – Part 2, has been extended until April 20, 2021 at 8:00 AM. This round of virtual trivia will run from Tuesday, April 20 at noon until Tuesday, April 27 at noon.
The new link for registration is here.
If you have any questions, please contact the Reference Desk at 615-595-1243.
The first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate (2017), Amanda Gorman secured the poet’s spotlight on January 20, 2021 reading her poetry at the inauguration of the United States 46th President, Joe Biden. Her recitation of her poem, The Hill We Climb granted international acclaim to the young poet, establishing her place in the history of American poetry.
A writer at a young age, in 2013 Gorman was inspired to pursue activism after listening to a speech given by Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani activist and Nobel Prize laureate. This ensuing inspiration was a good fit for Ms. Gorman, who was chosen as the first youth poet laureate of Los Angeles, CA in 2014 at the age of 16. She then published her first poetry book, The One for Whom Food is Not Enough in 2015. The influences that taught her to write in her own voice – of a young black woman – were Toni Morrison, Audre Lorde, Maya Angelou, and Phillis Wheatley. Their impact was enough to expand her poetry writing to social justice issues, like the intersectionality of feminism and race.
During an interview for the New York Times in 2017 after winning the National Youth Poet Laureate, Gorman revealed one of her long-term goals, “[t]his is a long, long, faraway goal, but 2036 I am running for office to be president of the United States,” she said matter-of-factly, at the time. “So you can put that in your iCloud calendar.” After winning the Milken Family Foundation college scholarship, Amanda Gorman graduated cum laude from Harvard University, with a degree in Sociology in 2020.
Prior to presenting Chorus of the Captains, a poem to three essential workers named as honorary captains presiding over the coin toss of Super Bowl LV, Ms. Gorman said,
“Poetry at the Super Bowl is a feat for art and our country, because it means we’re thinking imaginatively about human connection even when we feel siloed.”
The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the County will be published this spring and Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem, and The Hill We Climb and Other Poems will both be published in September of 2021. We will carry copies of all of these titles.
D. Duff, Reference
https://poets.org/poet/amanda-gorman
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanda_Gorman
Williamson County Emergency Management Agency
304 Beasley Dr. Franklin, TN 37064
Office: 615-721-3003
Share what you love about the resources and services available at your local library using the hashtag #MyLibraryIs. Post to Instagram, Twitter, or on the I Love Libraries Facebook page, about an e-book, audiobook, virtual storytime or bookclub, or how your library has made a difference while you’ve been social distancing at home.
The American Library Association will gather all the entries by the tag, and one randomly selected winner will receive a $100 Visa gift card. The promotion started Sunday, April 4 at noon CT and ends on Saturday, April 10 at noon CT.
Don’t forget to tag your library, @wcpltn!
If you love your library, say it loud and proud: vocal community support helps libraries secure much-needed funding and reminds hardworking library staff that their efforts are appreciated. Participating in the #MyLibraryIs promotion is a quick, easy way to help your library thrive! The graphics above are free to use too.
Learn more at: http://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/natlibraryweek
Williamson County Emergency Management has launched a flood resource page for those impacted by the March 27th and 28th floods.
The page provides consolidated information regarding debris management, damage reporting, and links to local volunteer organizations: http://www.williamsonready.org/372/March-27-28
Should more resources become available to the Williamson County community, this page will be updated with that information.
You can find Williamson County Emergency Management on Twitter – @WCTNEMA or on Facebook for further information.
This week, Williamson County Public Library encourages all community members to visit our website to explore and access virtual services and programs. WCPL offers a wide array of online resources that are available from the comfort of home, including Overdrive, the Overdrive app- Libby, and Hoopla.
April 4-10, 2021 is National Library Week, a time to highlight the essential role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening communities. The theme for this year’s National Library Week is “Welcome to your library,” which promotes the idea that libraries extend far beyond the four walls of a building and that everyone is welcome to use their services. Whether people visit virtually or in person, libraries are accessible and inclusive places that foster a sense of belonging and community through learning, discovery and exploration.
During these challenging times, libraries of all types have been going above and beyond to adapt to our changing world by expanding their resources and continuing to meet the needs of their patrons. Libraries across the country are making a difference in people’s lives by providing electronic learning resources like online homework help and wi-fi access for students and workers who may lack internet access at home. WCPL is supporting the community with virtual services such as book clubs, gardening programs, meditation programs, crafting tutorials, etc.
This National Library Week, the public can show their appreciation and support for libraries by visiting their library’s website, following them on social media and using the hashtag #NationalLibraryWeek.
First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries of all types across the country each April.
For more information, visit wcpltn.org.
Press Release courtesy of The American Library Association
April is World Autism Acceptance month and is dedicated to increasing awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder. Initiated in 1972 as the first annual National Children’s Autism Awareness Week by the Autism Society of America, the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization. Through the concerted efforts of all of the Autism advocacy groups such as the Autism Society of America, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, and the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, among other groups, the recognition of the disorder has effectively advocated in advancing April into Autism Acceptance Month. According to the Autism Society of America, this month is dedicated to
promote autism awareness, inclusion and self-determination for all, and assure that each person with Autism Spectrum Disorder is provided the opportunity to achieve the highest possible quality of life.
Not having a formal national designation for the month, the Autism Society of America is leading a significant effort for the federal government to officially designate April as Autism Acceptance Month.
Autism Society of America’s goal for Autism Acceptance Month is to foster acceptance and ignite change. With improved support and opportunities in education, employment, accessible housing, affordable health care and comprehensive long-term services, acceptance for those affected by autism can also help promote inclusive practices in policy as well as everyday life.
This will coincide with their campaign to #CelebrateDifferences, which encourages individuals with autism and their families to live full, quality lives through connection and acceptance.
With the increased recognition of autism in the United States, the goal for Autism Acceptance Month is to further increase awareness about autism signs, and symptoms with information, referrals, and events, printable and digital resources. There is also concerted efforts to enrich community partnerships with businesses and organizations dedicated to building inclusive experiences.
An Outsider’s Guide to Humans: What Science Taught Me About What We Do
and Who We Are (2020)
by Camilla Pang NEW BOOK SHELF 306 PAN
The Pattern Seekers :How Autism Drives Human Invention (2020)
by Simon Baron-Cohen 616.85882 BAR
Fifteen Things They Forgot to Tell You About Autism: The Stuff that Transformed
My Life as an Autism Parent (2018)
by Debby Elley 618.9285882 ELL
What Science Tells Us About Autism Spectrum Disorder: Making the Right Choices
for Your Child (2020)
by Raphael A. Bernier, PhD, Geraldine Dawson, PhD, Joel T. Nigg, PhD 616.85882 BER
The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving your Kids More Control
Over Their Lives (2018)
by William Stixrud, PhD, and Ned Johnson 155.4138 STI
Turning Skills and Strengths into Careers for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder:
The BASICS College Curriculum (2016)
by Michelle Rigler, Amy Rutherford and Emily Quinn CAREER CENTER 650.140874 RIG
Autism Adulthood: Strategies and Insights for a Fulfilling Life (2016)
by Susan Senator 616.85882 SEN
D.Duff
Take Charge of Your Diabetes is a fun, skill-building program
designed for persons with diabetes.
The program helps individuals take day-to-day
responsibility for their diabetes care.
Participants gain skills necessary to self-manage their diabetes
and work effectively with their health professionals.
The Take Charge of Your Diabetes Program is led by two
UT Extension educators certified by Stanford University
Diabetes Self-Management Program Master Trainers.
Anyone with diabetes, prediabetes, or a family history of diabetes.
Family members, friends or caregivers of a person who has diabetes.
Take Charge of Your Diabetes is a free, virtual, two-hour
workshop, held once a week for six weeks.
Set your own goals and make a step-by-step
plan to improve your health and your life.
Each participant receives a copy of Living a Healthy Life
with Chronic Conditions book and relaxation CD.
Registration is required. To register: https://tiny.utk.edu/diabetes
Questions contact: Patsy Watkins, Williamson County Extension,
615-790-5721 or pwatkin2@utk.edu
After the success of his lending library in Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin wrote:
these Libraries have improved the general Conversation of Americans, made the common Tradesmen and Farmers as intelligent as most Gentlemen from other Countries, and perhaps have contributed in some Degree to the Stand so generally made throughout the Colonies in Defence of their Priviledges.
By making the incredibly costly books available to a non-elite membership, society and culture flourished. Unlike the collections in academia (at that time all in classic Latin and Greek), the public collections were in English – a balanced collection allowed for the intellectual prosperity of the public.
Fast forward 290 years and we have e-publishing: E-publishing is publishing books in digital format only. This allows authors and the publishing companies advantages over traditional print publication. Primarily it is cost-effective, there is an ease of creation and distribution, there is a wider reach into the community, it is easier to store, and it is better for the environment. In libraries, digital books supplement the print collection, providing both options for patrons.
2020 saw a dramatic increase in the number of digital book loans in libraries and schools. According to an Overdrive press release, “Librarians and educators achieved record levels of digital book circulation in 2020. Readers worldwide borrowed 430 million e-books, audiobooks and digital magazines in the past 12 months, a 33% increase over 2019.” The rise of the pandemic and social justice awareness had this incredible influence on this growth.
Image courtesy of Pixabay
When lending books, the First Sale Doctrine of US Copyright law permits the purchaser of a legal copy of copyrighted work to use it as they choose, as long as they do not infringe on the copyright owner’s rights. In other words, the copy can be given away, sold, destroyed, or rented. When it comes to electronic books, subject to Digital Rights Management, the book is not purchased from the publisher.
Consumers (You and I) are buying the license to access the digital copy of the book. Because a library grants multiple people in it’s community access to an e-book, a library pays three to five times the cost a consumer would pay for each license. These library licenses have a limit – either time (two years) or number of check-outs, whichever comes first. Also, a library cannot lend its license to another library, as they can with paper copies of books via Inter-Library Loans (ILLs).
As librarians we believe in copyright and the idea that the ownership of a work belongs to the artist, the author, the creator, and they should be paid for their work; we must also work within the boundaries set by publishing companies. They contend that libraries reduce book sales, when in fact, library lending increases book sales. Patrons get a taste of a new (to them) author or genre and will purchase books. As stated in the Panorama Project report, “Libraries, bookstores, and online channels mutually reinforce each other, leading to engagement and sales.”
NOW – enter Amazon e-publishing. Amazon started as an online bookseller and when digital books broke wide open, they were in it to win it. They sold readers, (Kindle), tablets, e-books, real books, subscriptions, and then, well, pretty much EVERYTHING. They also started a company for publishing electronic books and audio books (Audible), about ten years ago, with an offshoot for self-publishing. After evolving into a publishing behemoth over the last decade, you ARE NOT able to “borrow” the e-books they publish at your library.
Why? Because this tech giant has made the business decision to not sell downloadable versions of their products to libraries. In an article in The Washington Post on March 10, 2021, Geoffrey A. Fowler writes,
That’s right, for a decade, the company that killed bookstores has been starving the reading institution that cares for kids, the needy and the curious.
Not surprisingly, Amazon’s charts of bestsellers beat out the New York Times bestsellers, yet Amazon bestsellers do not end up on the New York Times bestseller’s lists. With a captive audience reading on a Kindle complete with a subscription to Amazon Prime and a link to Alexa, the many tentacles of this giant monopoly can propel it’s consumers to keep feeding the beast.
Image courtesy of Pixabay
According to Fowler, when the American Library Association testified before Congress it called digital sales bans like Amazon’s “the worst obstacle for libraries” moving into the 21st century. New York and Rhode Island Lawmakers have proposed bills that would require Amazon (and everybody else) to sell e-books to libraries with reasonable terms. In Maryland, the House of Delegates unanimously approved its own library e-book bill, which now heads back to the state Senate. And while Amazon is in talks to define a new model for library lending with a nonprofit aptly named Digital Public Library of America, it would not help the majority of libraries in America which purchase and distribute e-books through Overdrive and Hoopla.
Amazon’s monopoly results in libraries, public libraries losing on the chance to provide access to these e-books to their patrons. Public libraries are here to serve citizens. Libraries are the great equalizers among American citizens. As Franklin understood, few individuals could afford a large enough collection to be well informed and your library fills the void. By excluding libraries from purchasing the digital rights to their e-books, Amazon impedes the mission of public libraries to provide the access essential in advancing the aspirations of the underserved.
D. Duff, Reference
Resources:
http://www.benjamin-franklin-history.org/lending-library/
https://kitaboo.com/advantages-digital-publishing-platform/
https://cals.org/blog/publishers-are-changing-e-book-access-for-libraries/
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/the-first-sale-doctrine.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/03/10/amazon-library-ebook-monopoly/ Amazon’s monopoly is squeezing your public library, too – The Washington Post
By Sharon Reily
That is the question to be answered by the Williamson County Master Gardeners pruning wizards at our second Garden Talk series program. “Pruning Shrubs” will be held this coming Monday, March 22 at 1pm. We’ll learn why, when and how to prune our conifers and shrubs. You can register for this virtual program here. Login information will be emailed to you the day before the program.
Thanks to guidance from our expert presenters, participants will be able to stride confidently into their yards armed with pruning shears and loppers. But if you’re still hungry for more information, the Library has some print and digital resources to help. Here are a few:
The Complete Guide to Pruning Trees and Bushes: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply
by K.O. Morgan
635.977 MOR
Cutting Back: My Apprenticeship in the Gardens of Kyoto
by Leslie Buck
635.0952 BUC
Essential Pruning Techniques: Trees, Shrubs, and Conifers
by George E. Brown; revised and enlarged by Tony Kirkham
635.97642 BRO
Grow a Little Fruit Tree: Simple Pruning Techniques for Small-Space, Easy-Harvest Fruit Trees
by Ann Ralph
634.0442 RAL
The Pruner’s Bible: A Step-By-Step Guide to Pruning Every Plant in Your Garden
by Steve Bradley
631.542 BRA
Pruning Simplified: A Visual Guide to 50 Trees and Shrubs
by Steven Bradley
635.91542 BRA
Smith & Hawken: The Tool Book
by William Bryant Logan
635.9 LOG
The Well-Tended Perennial Garden: The Essential Guide to Planting and Pruning Techniques
by Tracy DeSabato-Aust
635.932 DIS
Country Gardens (in the Magazines Department on the second floor at the Main branch and as a digital magazine from Flipster)
Fine Gardening (in the Magazines Department on the second floor at the Main branch and as a digital magazine from Flipster)
Exstrom, Elizabeth. “Tips for Pruning Flowering Shrubs and Roses.” Southeast Farm Press, 4 Feb. 2021. Gale General OneFile
McLaughlin, Christina. “Winter is a Great Time to Prune Trees: How to do it Right and Protect Your Trees.” New York State Conservationist (Vol. 75, Issue 3), December-January 2020, Page 34. Gale in Context
“Pruning Trees and Shrubs” by the National Gardening Association Editors
“Renovating a Flowering Shrub” by the National Gardening Association Editors
“Pruning a Hedge” by the National Gardening Association Editors
Don’t forget to register for “Pruning Shrubs” on Monday, March 22 at 1pm. And be careful with those loppers!
The Williamson County Health Department will be changing the hours and location of COVID-19 testing beginning Monday, March 22, 2021. Testing will no longer be available at the Williamson County Agricultural Center.
Health Department administered PCR COVID-19 testing will be offered by appointment only on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Franklin Clinic located at 1324 W Main St, Franklin from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
For an appointment, please call (615) 794-1542.
Everlywell self-test kits will also be distributed at the Franklin Clinic on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, and available upon request at the Fairview Clinic.
Mar 16
This gallery contains 2 photos.
Get creative with framed, 3-D arts and crafts. Using old picture frames, perhaps painted for new life, and buttons, beads, or sequins, put together a decoration for an event – Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day. Aside from care needed when handling the glass from the picture frame, this can be a family event. Card […]
The Williamson County Vaccine Information Line hours are changing starting on Monday, March 15th to 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
The phone line (615-595-4880) can assist with signing up for the County Vaccine Availability Alert System, signing up on the state vaccine registration portal, and with appointment scheduling/cancelations.
For more information, visit our website at www.williamsonready.org or follow us on social media @WCTNEMA.
Tennessee’s Severe Weather Awareness Week is February 28 to March 6, 2021, and Williamson County Emergency Management is using this week to promote preparedness to Tennesseans.
“As we experienced over the last week with extreme winter weather, severe weather can impact our community at any time. It is important that we all be prepared, stay alert and get involved in our communities ahead of these types of events,” says Emergency Management Director Todd Horton.
NWS offices in Nashville are planning a series of education and training events, using each day of Severe Weather Awareness Week to focus on a different severe weather threat. Information on the NWS activities is available at weather.gov/ohx/swaw2021.
A highlight of the week will be the statewide tornado drill NWS will conduct at 9:30 a.m., CST, on Wed., Mar. 3, 2020. The drill will also include a statewide test of NOAA weather radios.
Residents should also sign up for the Williamson County Emergency Alert System. This system is shared between the County, Spring Hill, Fairview, Thompson’s Station, Nolensville, Franklin and Brentwood. The sign up is available here:
https://member.everbridge.net/3531635643383845/login
Some basic severe weather advice include:
➛ Never venture into high water, either on foot or in a vehicle.
➛ If you’re outside and hear thunder, go indoors immediately.
➛ Go to a basement or an innermost first floor room in your home if you’re told to take shelter during a tornado warning.
➛ Know the location of and route to your office or building’s tornado shelter if available.
➛ Emergency plans should include where to meet, and who family members should check in with if you are separated from each other during a severe weather emergency.
At a minimum, emergency preparedness kits should include one gallon of water per-day, per-person, and per-pet, for three to five days. The kit should also have enough non-perishable food for each family member and pet, for three to five days. Other items that every kit should include: flashlight, battery powered radio, extra batteries, first aid kit, personal hygiene items, cell phone charger or solar charger, copies of important family documents, and extra supplies of medications, especially for those with chronic health conditions.
Additional resources are available:
• ready.gov
• emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/kit/disasters
• http://www.sba.gov/managing-business/running-business/emergency-preparedness
The United Nations Organization recognizes that “social justice is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations.” The United Nations is charged with taking action on the issues confronting humanity in the 21st century, which include peace and security, climate change, sustainable development, human rights, gender equality, humanitarian and health emergencies, and food production, among many other goals. Social justice is a means necessary to achieve these goals.
We strive to remove the barriers people face, around the world – barriers because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, or disability. Bringing an end to some or all of these barriers will bring us closer to the ideal of Social Justice. The pursuit of this social justice is core to the UN’s global mission to promote development and human dignity.
In more modern, grassroots movements of social justice, there is an emphasis on breaking barriers for social mobility, the creation of safety nets and economic justice. The institutions of Economic Justice are ones of taxation, social programs – social security, medicare, medicaid; public health, public schools, public services (like your library), equal opportunity, labor law, and the regulation of markets to ensure the fair distribution of wealth.
While social justice can be construed to be an economic term, social equality and racial equality is wrapped in it, in that equal opportunity for all, regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, or ability is good for society, as a whole. Indeed, equal opportunity is not just healthy for society – it is healthy for our world, as whole.
Equity by Design: Delivering on the Power and Promise of UDL by Katie Novak
370.115 NOV
Navigating Difficult Moments in Teaching Diversity and Social Justice edited by Mary E. Kite, Kim A. Case, and Wendy R. Williams
370.117 NAV
Predict and Surveil: Data, Discretion, and the Future of Policing by Sarah Brayne
363.2 BRA
Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire by Rebecca Henderson
330.122 HEN
Ultimate Price: the Value we Place on Life by Howard Steven Friedman
305 FRI New Shelf
A Peculiar Indifference: the Neglected Toll of Violence on Black America by Elliott Currie
305.800973 CUR New Shelf
The Broken Ladder: How Inequality Affects the Way We Think, Live, and Die by Keith Payne
305 PAY
All of these titles are linked to Williamson County Public Library’s Online Catalog – you can simply choose to hold them, after signing in to the Catalog with your library card number. Then, wait for confirmation from Circulation and pick up your holds between 8:30 am and 10 am Monday through Saturday for minimal contact; or you can come into the 10 am and 7 pm Monday through Thursday, 10 am through 5:30 pm Friday and Saturday, or 1 pm through 5:30 pm on Sunday to retrieve your holds from Circulation.
Are you wondering how to get on the signup list to get vaccinated? What phase are we in now? How to get called when it is your phase so you can schedule an appointment?
Hannah Bleam is the Williamson County Public Information Officer and she is joined by Todd Horton, Director of the Williamson County Emergency Management Agency to address these questions and more. Hannah shows how to find vaccination information on the Williamson Ready coronavirus website, explains the difference between the waiting list and vaccination appointments, and more. Both she and Director Horton then answer questions from the participants.
Our appreciate to both Ms. Bleam and Director Horton for taking the time to meet with us and answer our participants questions.
All materials normally due on February 24, 25, and 26 will not be due until February 27.
The outside book drop will not be available until February 27.
The parking lot space is need for roofing materials, machinery, and the roof workers. Please avoid the area as it will not be safe for you, your family, and your vehicle.
Thank you for your patience while the roof project is completed.
Our Branches in Bethesda, College Grove, Fairview, Leiper’s Fork, and Nolensville will be open for their normal operating hours.
The celebration of African-American History is observed during the month of February – the observance is an acknowledgement of the central role of Black Americans in the story of the United States. African-American history is indelibly American history, it belongs, good and bad, to all of us. February is the time we give to affirm our fellow Americans and recognize the sacrifices made on behalf of our shared country. Segregation and negation of a specific group of fellow Americans, either by voice, action, or silence is not tolerable, in any situation.
Every year, in February, our Special Collections department highlights a local, pioneer, African-American family. By definition, a pioneer family is one that can document it’s history in Williamson County prior to 1850. In actuality, most all of the black pioneer residents were enslaved. As such, their history is entwined with the history of their white owners. There can be no disputing that American – Williamson County – pioneering families share a common history; it is the same history, from different perspectives. Endeavoring “to walk in one another’s shoes” is our shared human bond.
The pioneer family exhibition featured this February in our Special Collections area is that of Wiley and Jane Brown Scruggs, presented by the African American Heritage Society of Williamson County. The Scruggs’ story is documented by Tina Jones with a display of exhibition panels that details genealogical research and local history. Beginning in the days of slavery, Wiley and Jane, lived on a farm that was located where the Westhaven development is now. This exhibit describes their lives as they move through slavery to freedom to migration, including documented evidence.
Please visit the Special Collections web page to look at the Wiley and Jane Scruggs link detailing the immediate family history. There is a second link providing a more general look at the Scruggs family, including the white slave-holding family.
Wiley and Jane Brown Scruggs Family
Also, all of this local history is available for viewing, in-person. The exhibit is in Special Collections department, on the second floor of the library.
Dori Duff
Reference
This year VITA is offering VIRTUAL tax assistance online and IN-PERSON tax assistance at 8 locations in Middle Tennessee for families earning less than $66,000 annually.
To schedule a VIRTUAL tax assistance appointment:
https://www.getyourrefund.org/en
To schedule an IN-PERSON tax assistance appointment:
https://www.volunteerforvita.org/tax-site-listings
or check the list below (it is the same list)
Please note that there are limited in-person openings available and
there may be closures for inclement weather.
Dial 2-1-1 or 615-830-7940 with questions
First Baptist Church **This site opens Feb 1 and closes April 10
(Dickson County) **By appointment only; call 615-806-1870
2501 Highway 70 East
Dickson, TN 37055
Hours: Monday 2:30 pm to 7:30 pm; Thursday 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm; Saturday 7:30 am to 2:30 pm
LaVergne Public Library **This site opens Feb 12 and closes April 11 (closed Apr 2 & 3)
(Rutherford County) **Appointments preferred, call 615-830-7940; walk-ins if time is available
5063 Murfreesboro Road
LaVergne, TN 37086
Hours: Friday and Saturday 10:00 am to 1:00 pm; Sunday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Marshall County Senior Center **This site opens Feb 10 and closes April 15
230 College Street, Suite 140 ** By appointment only; call 615-830-7940
Lewisburg, TN 37091
Hours: Wednesday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Patterson Park Community Center **This site opens Feb 10 and closes April 11
(Rutherford County) ** Appointments preferred, call 615-830-7940; walk-ins if time is available
521 Mercury Blvd
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm; Saturday 9:30 am to 2:00 pm; and Sunday 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Smyrna Town Hall **This site opens Feb 13 and closes April 10
(Rutherford County) ** Appointments preferred, call 615-830-7940; walk-ins if time is available
315 South Lowry Street
Smyrna, TN 37167
Hours: Wednesday and Saturday 9:30 am to 2:00 pm
St. Luke’s Community House ** This site opens Feb 16 and closes April 15
(Davidson County) ** By appointment only; call 615-830-7940
5601 New York Avenue
Nashville, TN 37209
Hours: Monday and Wednesday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Westwood Baptist Church **This site opens Feb 8 and closes April 15
(Davidson County) ** Appointments preferred, call 615-830-7940; walk-ins if time is available
2510 Albion Street
Nashville, TN 37208
Hours: Monday and Thursday 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm; Saturday 9:30 am to 1:00 pm
April 15: 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
Woodbine Community Center **This site opens Feb 1 and closes April 15
(Davidson County) **THIS IS A DROP OFF, QUALITY REVIEW, PICK UP SITE
635 Spence Lane
Nashville, TN 37064
Drop off: Monday and Wednesday 9:00 am to 7:00 pm; Quality Review and Pick-up: Friday and Saturday
A flyer about COVID-19 testing at the Williamson County Agriculture Center:
Please visit the Williamson County Office of Public Safety for more information.
The Williamson County Health Department is working in partnership with other local, regional and state officials to implement prevention and mitigation strategies for local communities based on guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and by state leadership.
The Williamson County Health Department is currently providing FREE drive-through assessment, COVID-19 testing, and cloth masks following protocols from the CDC and the Tennessee Department of Health. Individuals can receive a free test, mask or both when arriving at the testing site.
Testing and masks are FREE to anyone, regardless of symptoms or county of residency. Appointments are not required.
County Mayor Rogers Anderson has challenged the Williamson County Public Library to increase our community membership. This Membership Challenge kicks off on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 and continues through Sunday, May 30, 2021.
The Kickoff on the Library’s Not Just Books show via WC-TV’s Channel on YouTube.com will be available later this month.
Once you join the Library, you will be eligible to win one of three prizes! 1st Prize is a Nintendo Switch Lite, 2nd Prize is a $50 Visa Gift Card, and 3rd Prize is a $25 Visa Gift Card. Any new member of any age could win.
Prizewinners will be selected from new WCPL cardholders who join during the Mayor’s Membership Challenge period. The drawing will be held on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. via Facebook Live – Facebook.com/WCPLtn.
To be entered in the prize drawing, Williamson County residents can sign up for their first eCard for digital access, or visit a local branch for a physical library card for in-person materials. An eCard gives digital access to all our online e-book and media platforms, as well as our digital research and genealogy tools. A physical card provides access to the full library collection, both physical and digital, including all books, media, and electronics. For more information on benefits and requirements, please contact your local WCPL branch.
The WCPL has six convenient locations throughout the county: the Main library in Franklin, and branches in Bethesda, College Grove, Fairview, Leiper’s Fork, and Nolensville.
Don’t miss out on all the Library has to offer and for a chance to win one of our three prizes.
If you are a returning reading challenge patron, log in to your beanstack account at http://williamsoncounty.beanstack.org.
The beanstack homepage will show you the available reading programs at the library. You may choose from the Children’s program, the Teen program, or the Adult program.
The Account Creator is the person whose log in information will be used to access all accounts registered. Multiple readers can be added to the same account, even if they are registered for different programs.
*Example* A parent may sign up for the Adult program as the Account Creator and add children as Readers, or vice versa. Both the Account Creator and Reader will use the same sign-in information.
Following the prompts, register both the Account Creator and Readers, if any. A green band at the bottom of the screen will alert you that you are successfully registered.
Now you’re ready start exploring beanstack!
At the top of each Reader’s account, there is a green “Add to the Log” button.
You will be notified by email when you earn a prize, what the prize is, and how to redeem that prize.
If you have any questions, please contact the library and we will be happy to assist you!
Also, please review our More About the Winter Reading Challenge Blog.
By Dori Duff
I am happy to say that I have completed two more videos for our Crafty Adults program. These videos are in lieu of our in-person Crafty Adult program we have had to suspend at this time.
The videos are on the Special Programming Playlist of the Williamson County – TV (WCTV) channel on YouTube.
Or you can just click on my links below.
I, again, tried to stick with crafts that are possible with things you might have in the house. And give options when I could. They are “fall” themed – the artificial tea candles I did in Halloween colors, but they can be changed to green and red, or brown and gold. It all depends on what you have and how you want to use the decoration.
Anyhow, if you want to try one of these crafts and do not have the needed supplies, contact me at the Reference desk at the library (615-595-1243) and I will get you set up with a little kit to help you.
I was fortunate to be able to attend “Inner and Outer Peace through Meditation,” a live Zoom program hosted by Sharon Reily, one of our Reference Librarians, on October 6. It featured meditation instructor Arvind Naik.
I have to be honest – I have never attended a meditation program nor attempted to apply any meditation techniques in my life. I have read about the many benefits and have witnessed the numerous testimonials in both print and video about meditation. It has been touted by celebrities, influencers, and everyday people. I was somewhat skeptical – one of my coping mechanisms in the last decade has been walking. Walking briskly for miles. By myself, with music. With a new (and welcome) change in my daily schedule, I have found less time for this stress reducer.
In light of the reduced walking time, I just might be able to substitute with meditation. I have to say that I am mildly surprised to find myself using the simple technique taught in that first Zoom session. Let me stress that I have not performed this technique in the recommended way, but often, in the last two weeks, when I have been alone, I have taken a few moments to re-energize and relax with the simple practice espoused in that meditation program.
These are stressful times, so we can use all the help we can get. If you missed the October 6 presentation, Mr. Naik will be returning with “The Power of Meditation” on November 16. And we’ll be kicking off the New Year with “Staying Sane in an Insane World through Meditation” on January 14, with Zelma Chamberlain, who’ll be returning for her fourth presentation at WCPL. Both programs are presented live with Zoom, and they’re both open for registration online at wcpltn.org or by phone at 615-595-1243.
The following books were recommended by Arvind Naik during the October session; the first four are in our collection, the fifth, Empowering Your Soul Through Meditation by Rajinder Singh has been ordered.
10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in my Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing my Edge, and Found Self-Help that Actually Works–a True Story by Dan Harris 158.12 HAR
And in Large Print
Inner and Outer Peace Through Meditation by Rajinder Singh 204.35 RAJ
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman 152.4 GOL
Meditation as Medication for the Soul by Rajinder Singh158.12 RAJ
By Dori Duff
The Special Collections Department of Williamson County Public Library and Academy Park Press have added a new title for book collectors and enthusiasts of Williamson County local history and genealogy.
Excellent Citizens and Notable Partings is a compilation of portraits and profiles as published in the series, “Portrait of an Excellent Citizen,” in The Review-Appeal, between the years 1966 and 1968. One hundred and forty-three local citizens are portrayed in short biographies and hand drawn portraits.
Special Collections library staff, Marcia P. Fraser and Ashleigh M. Florida compiled and edited the articles and materials to enlarge their lives by including their obituaries, feature articles, family-submitted entries, ads of the era, and quotations from other local writers. They have created a book that is not only a useful resource for Williamson County history and family connections; it’s a fun and quick look at the lives of some of the people making things happen in Williamson County in the late 1960s.
How to Purchase:
You can purchase this book, while copies last, through “Friends of the Library” in the Special Collections Department of Williamson County Public Library. Purchases can also be made through local booksellers and Amazon.com.
Please contact the Special Collections Department at WCPL with any questions about the book at 615-595-1246.
Names of the Excellent Citizens profiled in this book:
James Boyd Akin, James Clayton Arnold, William Casey Ashworth, Charles Mark Ballard, Roy Edwin Barker, Col. Fulton Beasley, John Thomas Beasley, John S. Beasley II, Joe Bellenfant, Jimmie Dee Bennett, Tyler Berry, Jr., James William Bond, John A. Bragg, Ransom Joseph Brent, Bess J. Buford, Elmer Ernest Byars, Byrd Douglas Cain, Jr., Mrs. Georgia (Ollie Edgmon) Cameron, James William Cameron, Stewart Campbell, James Henry Chapman, Joe Clinard, Dr. James A. Cogswell, Haywood Clark Cole, Joseph Powell Covington, Herschell Eugene Crawford, Lois Crowley, Glen Davis, Woody Dickerson, Col. R. L. Duncan, Josiah Carr Eggleston, William Bryan Ehresman, Mrs. T. Y. (Bessie Parks) English, Robert C. Finley, Jr., Cynthia Fleming, Cliff Frensley, Mrs. Edward A. (Libby Zerfoss) Fryer, Clifford Leroy Gardner, Dr. Raymond Albert Gathmann, Mrs. Z. B. (Goldie Gertrude Butner) Gentry, Henry Goodpasture, Bobby J. Goodwin, Frank Gray, Jr., William Frank Gray, Curtis C. Green, J. W. Greer, Judge Fulton Mayberry Greer, Blythe Grigsby, Dr. Harry Jasper Guffee, Dan Hagerty, Loy G. Hardcastle, Prof. Henry Hardison, Matthew Thomas Harwell, Judge John Hughes Henderson, Mrs. Thomas P. Henderson, Joe Rucker Hendricks, Wilson Herbert, Rev. John C. Hight, Homer Roger Hill, Paul Ellis Hinson, Mrs. Ivy Ellis Holt, James William Hood, Lewis Morgan Hood, Roy D. Hughes, Harrell T. Hunt, Dr. R. H. Hutcheson, Harry Perkins Isaacs, Alfred E. Jaqueth, Vergil Roland Jenkins, Mayor Asa Jewell, Dr. C. C. Johnson, Howard E. Johnston, Joe Turner Jones, Myron Keith, Brown Campbell Kinnard, Will C. Lanier, Stephen S. Lawrence, John Marshall Liggett, Davis Milton Lillard, W. F. “Jumbo” Little, Herbert McCall, Thomas McCall, John M. McCord, Cletus W. McWilliams, Johnnie Allen Marlin, Henry Hunter Mayberry, Jr., Rev. Thomas A. Meadows, William Hart Miller, L. I. Mills, Jr., Van B. Montague, Tom C. Moody, Robert Nathaniel Moore, Frank A. North, Paul Ogilvie, Walter W. Ogilvie, Glen Overbey, Carl Newell Owen, Joseph Hamilton Thompson Paine, Clyde Pewitt, Joe Pinkerton, John D. Pinkerton, William Ross Price, Dr. Walter Pyle, Mrs. J. E. (Edna Harper) Ragan, James Albert Ragsdale, Paul Redick, Clair D. Regen, Mrs. M. T. Regen, Joseph Lee Ridley, Charles A. Rigsby, Herbert A. Robinson, Mrs. Floyd (Lucinda Kimmins) Sandlin, W. P. Scales, Bob Sewell, Jesse E. Short, Jr., B. Wayne Sims, John Sloan, John L. Smith, Mrs. Paul (Inge Meyring) Smith, Richard Hanes Sparkman, Prof. C. B. Spencer, Chester A. Stephens, Emmett T. Strickland, Prof. Barry Sutton, Prof. Daly Thompson, Martin Tohrner, Mrs. Martin (Peggy Shatz) Tohrner, Felix Wesley Truett, Joe Turk, Rev. James Edward Underwood, Dr. J. O. Walker, William H. Walker, Ed B. Warren, Judge James W. Warren, James B. White, Mrs. James B. (Virginia Perry) White, Melvin White, Dr. Joseph L. Willoughby, Mrs. Franklin D. (Peggy Stephenson) Wilson, W. C. Yates
Although Mayor Anderson allowed the order mandating face coverings to expire at midnight on August 29, 2020, he urges Williamson County residents to voluntarily wear a facial covering when in public spaces and physical distancing is not possible.
This expiration DOES NOT effect the policies of the school systems withing Williamson County; those systems are governed by the Boards of Education and School Superintendents.
Also, face coverings will continued to be REQUIRED in all County-owned buildings; Tennessee Supreme Court’s orders will continue to apply to wearing of face coverings in buildings where court is conducted.
#WearAMask
As of June 15, 2020 the Williamson County Public Library will be open for limited hours. Patrons may enter their Library Branches in Franklin, Fairview, and Nolensville Monday-Friday from 10-6 and on Saturday from 10-1. Our Bethesda and Leiper’s Fork Branches are open Tuesday-Friday from 11-6 and on Saturday from 10-1.
Our College Grove Branch will not reopen and only offer Holds-2-Go.
Holds-2-Go curbside service has been implemented at all Library Branches. It is offered at the Main Library in Franklin, Fairview and Nolensville from 9-10, Monday to Saturday. Bethesda and Leiper’s Fork Branches offer it from 10-11, Tuesday to Friday, and 9-10 on Saturdays.
All patrons will have their temperatures checked with a touchless thermometer and be asked five health questions by staff before they can enter their Library Branch. Patronage at the Main Library will be limited to 50 people per hour to ensure the ability to social distance while inside. It is required that patrons wear a face mask in the facility until all social distancing safety measures are installed. Some areas of the Main Library will have a smaller occupancy level due to the size of the space.
Library patrons will have access to all public areas of the facility excluding the meeting room and Williamson Room. It is recommended that visitors look online for their materials so they can quickly locate and borrow them. Visits should be limited to one hour or less so that others may enter the facility.
Other changes include:
All materials will be available and patrons should take appropriate precautions in handling items. We ask that all handled library material be left out for staff to pick up, along with all returned library items, they will be quarantined for three days prior to their return to the shelf.
Magazines and newspapers will not be quarantined. It is recommended that patrons use gloves in handling those items. The Library does not have gloves to provide. It is recommended that patrons looking for magazines utilize the free Flipster app and the Tennessee READS apps, Overdrive and Libby. Flipster and READS can also be enjoyed on a computer.
Please visit our website for up-to-date information. The Williamson County Public Library System will continue to expand digital offerings such as virtual Facetime Live Story Times and digital Reference appointments. Updates are also available by subscribing to your Branch’s online newsletter, https://www.wcpltn.org/277/Newsletter-Sign-Up, and by following WCPLtn on Twitter and Facebook. Further announcements regarding changes of hours and in services will be made via these channels.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE —
FRANKLIN, TN — At 1:47 am, Stations 14 and 22 were dispatched to a residential structure fire on South Berrys Chapel Road just outside of the Franklin City Limits. Home owners were awoken by their smoke alarms and found heavy smoke in their home. Due to the alarm, they were able to exit their home safely and call 911. The fire was out when fire units arrived on scene, but heavy smoke remained in the home. Fire crews helped to ventilate the smoke from the house before returning to service. The cause of the fire was accidental.
“Working smoke alarms saved the family’s lives. Had smoke alarms not been working and present in the home, the family could have suffered from smoke inhalation and even worse, death. Not only were lives saved, but the fire was able to be extinguished quickly before spreading.” –Williamson County Rescue Squad Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal, Bob Galoppi.
If you are in need of a smoke alarm and live in the Williamson County Rescue Squad service area, please contact us at https://www.wcfire.com/contact or 615-790-5821.
In 2020, there were 75 fire deaths in Tennessee. Fire Departments across Tennessee have been working through the “Get Alarmed, TN!” program to ensure that all homes have working smoke alarms. Since the “Get Alarmed, TN!” program began in 2013, 314 lives have been documented as saved by the smoke alarms, and over 244,500 smoke alarms have been installed across Tennessee by both paid and volunteer fire departments.
Dinah Wade, Public Information Officer, Williamson County Rescue Squad
dwade@wcfire.com
—
Register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0pdemqqDspE9yytQlH7ajkqpXD12TP852Q
The topic for this Challenge is General Knowledge, Part 2.
Registration has opened on the Calendar of Events on our website at wcpltn.org.
The game will begin on Tuesday, April 13 at 1:00 pm and end on Tuesday, April 20 at 1:00 pm. Once registration is over, we will send an email with a link to that specific game in Kahoot. You do not need to create an account in Kahoot, you just must open the link on a device (mobile, laptop, or desktop) with a web browser. You will have to use the same device to log in and out of the game.
Rules of the Game:
Each question is multiple choice,
only one of the four choices will be correct,
and there are 30 seconds to answer each question.
You must click “NEXT” to progress to the next question so you can pause and play the game at your own pace.
The Friends of the Library will be having a Pop-Up Vintage Book Sale.
One day only – Friday, April 16, 10:00 to 5:00 at the Friends of the Library Bookstore in the Franklin Branch.
There are hundreds of vintage books in great condition, with many rare and valuable editions priced well below online sales.
Join Booklist’s Donna Seaman and Dan Rather for a live conversation about his recent book, “What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism” in celebration of Take Action for Libraries Day, on Thursday, April 8.
Dan Rather will also reflect on the value of libraries in today’s society and share how everyone can help support these important institutions.
Registration is free and open to all, but space is limited, so sign up now. The event is sponsored by United for Libraries, Booklist, and the American Library Association.
Learn more at: http://www.ilovelibraries.org/national-library-week-conversation-dan-rather
