Tag Archive for: #richardhthorntonlibrary

TownTalk: Basic Genealogy

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Today’s genealogy enthusiasts have a multitude of online resources, from databases that help create family trees to digitized newspapers from bygone eras.

Whether you’ve been at it a long time, like Mark Pace and WIZS’s Bill Harris have, or whether you’re just getting started, there are a few rules of thumb to keep in mind as you ferret our tidbits of information.

In their tri-weekly history segment on Thursday’s TownTalk, the two history buffs discussed the basic nuts and bolts of genealogy – call it Genealogy 101.

Pace, North Carolina Room specialist at Oxford’s Thornton Library, has been doing research on his family for half a century. Harris, for about the past 25 years.

Harris reminds others to talk in person with the oldest family member you can to find out information. “But there’s so much more,” he said, from family Bibles to web-based resources.

Pace said a family’s oldest living relative is a “wonderful resource” to start with, whose basic knowledge can be verified – or disproven – by checking against other sources.

“If you start with what you know,” Harris said, such as talking with a grandparent or other older relative, to gain information, “you can plug it in and then…slowly start working backwards” to fill in the gaps.

It’s important to determine what information is relevant to your search to avoid getting distracted. “Don’t let it overwhelm you,” Harris continued.

Libraries and courthouses are familiar places to many seasoned genealogists. But there is so much information available at your fingertips – online databases and archived documents make it easier for genealogists to find information in far-flung places.

Most places have a local history library, Pace said, and he constantly receives calls from people who are doing just that – checking sources.

“North Carolina was one of the very last states to mandate by law that you have a birth certificate or death certificate,” he said. That law took effect in 1913.

Before then, births may have been recorded in family Bibles and deaths verified in wills or estate records.

Wills and estates, however, were used by those who owned property. The lives and deaths of individuals who didn’t own property could easily have fallen through the cracks and lost forever, Pace noted.

Case in point, a branch of Pace’s own family. “All they did was grow tobacco and go to church,” Pace quipped, adding that there is scant information available about that part of his own kin.

Not surprisingly, when recorded information was done by hand and not by keystrokes on a computer, errors were much more common.

That’s just one reason why genealogists should always have multiple sources for their information

“Question everything,” Pace advised, adding that genealogists often have to be part sleuth to uncover information that may be difficult to prove.

For years, telephone books served the vital purpose of listing numbers of individuals and businesses. Those thick paperback behemoths are obsolete today, but the old ones that are still around can help genealogists confirm information, Pace said.

Documents as mundane as phone books help to place a person in a certain time period at a certain place. They are “fabulous” resources, Pace said.

He fielded a query once from someone who wanted to know the phone number for a family member who lived in Oxford at the beginning of the 20th century, when the town had its own self-contained telephone system. Pace located a 1903 phone book and found the phone number.

What was that phone number, you ask? 1.

 

 

CLICK PLAY!

 

Thornton Branch Introduces ‘Seed Library’ & Community Garden

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

The Richard H. Thornton branch of the Granville County Library System continues to offer innovative services by introducing a “Seed Library” and community garden to residents and library patrons. Now available to the public is a card catalog filled with vegetable seeds, as well as herbs and berries that can be “checked out,” taken home and planted in family gardens.

According to Adult Services Librarian Ashley Wilson, families can come in, browse through the “card catalog” that has been stocked with a wide variety of seeds, and select what they would like to grow. Collards, cucumbers, corn, melons, squash, tomatoes, peas, peppers, okra and other vegetable seeds have already been prepared and are available in starter packs, which include growing instructions.

The Richard H. Thornton branch of the Granville County Library System introduces a “Seed Library” and community garden to residents and library patrons. Now available to the public is a card catalog filled with vegetable seeds, as well as herbs and berries that can be “checked out,” taken home and planted in family gardens. (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt)

With a limit of three packs of seeds per family, it is hoped that those who begin their own gardens will share seeds after harvest to keep the project ongoing from season to season.

“The community played a large role in the plant and seed selections at the library,” Wilson notes. “We asked what they would like to see growing – most said tomatoes – so we made sure we offered tomatoes. The library values community input in all our projects and this one wouldn’t have been possible without it.”

Packets offered were also selected based on local soil conditions and other criteria that would make them “region friendly,” with many of the seeds available being donated by interested community members in support of this project.

To continue the message of sustainability through gardening, the Thornton Library also announces the addition of an on-site community garden. Planted just outside the front entrance and in the surrounding area, plantings include strawberries, peas, okra and other seedlings, as well as lavender, mint and cooking herbs.

“Visible and open access gardens are a way that my family has always enjoyed the growing season, especially when we didn’t have a place to grow ourselves,” Wilson explains. “Open gardens also gave us a chance to learn about new plants or varieties we may not have seen before.”

To continue the message of sustainability through gardening, the Thornton Library also announces the addition of an on-site community garden. Planted just outside the front entrance and in the surrounding area, plantings include strawberries, peas, okra and other seedlings, as well as lavender, mint and cooking herbs. (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt)

Through mulch donated from a local business and in garden beds constructed by library staff and volunteers, seedlings are just now peeking through the soil. Taller plantings and bush varieties such as tomatoes and blueberries can also be spotted along the library’s exterior walls and around the corner to the side entrance.

As these plantings grow and mature, community residents are encouraged to come by and keep track of the garden’s progress, and to share in the harvest once the produce has reached its peak.

To provide hands-on instruction in using fresh ingredients in the kitchen, cooking demonstrations and samplings have been scheduled at the Thornton Library during the month of May, with all ingredients provided. The “What’s Cooking at the Library” series kicked off on May 8 with a class on making homemade pasta. Demonstrations continue on May 15 with Sultan’s Pilaf, and on May 22 with Versatile Salads and Dressings. These programs are being held at 2 p.m. in the library’s large conference room.

The Richard H. Thornton Library is located at 210 Main Street in Oxford and is one of four branches of the Granville County Library System, which also includes the South Branch in Creedmoor, the Stovall Library and the Berea branch.

For more information about programs and presentations offered through the Granville County Library System, visit  https://granville.lib.nc.us/ or call 919-693-1121.

Ten Local Authors Scheduled for Thornton Library Meet & Greet

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Ten local authors will be featured at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford for an open “meet and greet.” Scheduled for 1 until 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, the “Local Author Showcase” offers an opportunity to meet writers of a wide assortment of genres. On site will be romance writers, suspense novelists and authors of historical fiction, as well as writers of inspirational guides, educational resources and children’s stories. Those participating include Cynthia Abbott, Lynn Allred, Phil Bowie, Michael Brantley, Mary Clay, DuWanda Epps, S. Denice Newton, Celine Koropchak, Desmond Sneed and Carolyn Thompson.

Cynthia West Abbott’s book, “Forever Loved” is a historical romance novel set in colonial America. Based on real events, the book follows the journey of sixteen-year-old James West, who is sent to America from England as punishment for a crime. After being sold as a convict servant on a Maryland plantation, West meets Sarah Bowman, whom he marries and brings to Granville County in search of the long-lost brother who came to America before him. Abbott, a resident of Oxford, describes the love story of her fifth-great-grandparents in historical settings based on her own research.

With a story from historic Beaufort NC, Lynn Allred of Oxford introduces young readers to Molly, an adventurous girl who lives near the harbor shortly after the town was founded. Inspired by the marker of an unnamed girl in Beaufort’s Old Burying Ground – who was buried in a rum keg – Allred imagines what a child’s life may have been like growing up on the N.C. coast. “Molly’s Beaufort Town,” developed in partnership with the N.C. Press Association, has been published in major statewide newspapers as an educational resource. Allred has more than 25 years’ experience in the newspaper industry.

Phil Bowie of New Bern, NC is a lifelong freelance writer with articles and short stories published in national magazines such as ‘Reader’s Digest’ and the ‘Saturday Evening Post.’ Books he has authored include four suspense novels: “Guns,” set in Ocracoke; “Diamondback,” which takes place in the Blue Ridge Mountains; “KLLRS,” with a backdrop of the Great Smokies,” and “Deathsman,” also set in the North Carolina mountains. With lots of twists and turns, these novels – all part of the “John Hardin” series – are described as being “hard to put down.”

Former sports writer and photographer Michael Brantley is author of “Galvanized: The Unlikely Odyssey of a Reluctant Carolina Confederate.” Brantley’s book – his second –  describes the struggle of a North Carolina farmer who fought for both sides in the Civil War before spending time in a POW camp and later becoming involved in a bizarre murder. His first book, a memoir about growing up in eastern N.C., is entitled “Memory Cards: Portraits from a Rural Journey.” Brantley currently works as a Visiting Assistant Professor of English at North Carolina Wesleyan College and resides in Nash County.

Mary Clay’s comical “Daffodils” (Divorced And Finally Free Of Deceitful, Insensitive, Licentious Scum) books have been called “fun reads” as three middle-aged sorority sisters set out to solve mysteries in their hometown. The first book in the series, “The Turtle Mound Murder,” has been followed by “Bike Week Blues,” “Murder is the Pits” and “Murder in the Stacks.” Clay, an economist by trade, began her writing career in her forties, using her divorced friends as inspiration for this light-hearted and witty series.

Life coach DuWanda Epps has received accolades for her positive messages to women and children. Her books include “Broken Silence: Life After the Rain,” “Anastasia’s Adventures” and “Flowin’ Emotions,” as well as others that describe journeys of strength, courage and determination. A resident of Wilson County by way of New York, Epps is the founder of Cultivating Change II, LLC and the Women Rebuilding and Transforming program and is author of 20+ books filled with inspirational messages of hope and resilience.

Celine Koropchak is a retired Duke University medical researcher and blueberry farmer who has authored the books “One With All of Thee: Growing Your Sacred Connection” and “One With All of Thee: Sowing the Seeds for Change.” Using her knowledge of science and agriculture, these collections of essays – filled with practical wisdom –  are designed to be read for daily, weekly or spontaneous inspiration and personal development. Koropchak has also authored more than 30 publications in scientific journals during her career.

Denise Newton, a native of eastern North Carolina, is an inspirational speaker, author and activist. Her most recent book, “Ari’el Rising: 21st Century Empowered Women,” is an anthology that follows 50 courageous women from different backgrounds as they unite to empower women all over the world. Other works include “Keturah’s Song” and “The Messenger,” as well as books of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Newton is a decorated war veteran and the founder of the Ari’el Rising Network, a grassroots empowerment movement for women and girls.

Desmond Sneed’s book for children, “Am I Too Big?” describes the beginning of a school year at the fictional Stovall Kids of Greatness, where students rekindle friendships and compare how they have changed from one year to the next. While some got taller, some got stronger and some got faster, one young student named “Dez” has not realized he has gained a lot of weight until his return to school. That’s when the comparisons officially begin. This book will teach youngsters the importance of healthy eating, as well as having a positive outlook on life. Sneed resides in Stovall, NC.

Minister and Judge Carolyn Thompson of Granville County shares stories and tips to help identify those dealing with domestic violence in her book “Abigail’s Veil: A Domestic Violence Handbook for Clergy and Church Leaders.” Using her extensive experience with cases of abuse, Thompson takes a new look at the traditional roles of women, especially those who may be victims of abusive relationships. This resource guide is used to assist the clergy and church leaders as they encounter victims who may need help to break the cycle of domestic violence.

The “Local Author Showcase” will be held in the large conference room of the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford. The public is invited to attend.

Granville County Library System

North Carolina Room Preserves Historical Flavor of ‘Old Granville County’

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In honor of April 7-13 as National Library Week, Mark Pace, North Carolina Room Specialist at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford, was the featured guest on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program.

A part of the Granville County Library System since the early 1960s, the North Carolina Room’s primary mission is to preserve and maintain materials for historical and genealogical research in the present-day county of Granville and adjacent counties.

“We are a regional history center. Granville County formed in 1746 and is a ‘mother’ county. Warren, Vance, Franklin, parts of Orange and Person and present Granville were all once part of the original Granville County,” Pace explained. “We seek to preserve the materials that are relative to the cultural and historical flavor of old Granville County.”

According to Pace, genealogical records ranging in date from 1746 to present day include wills, deeds, marriage records, court records and cemetery records.

Such information can be found on the approximately 600 microfilm reels of newspapers, dozens of large size genealogy charts and 175 scrapbooks – some dating to the late 1800’s – that are a part of the Room’s collection.

“I always tell people that when you start researching your genealogy, you’re going to find something that you don’t like. On the other hand, you find out things about your ancestors that make you proud,” said Pace.

In addition to microfilm and charts, the 900-square-foot room inside the Thornton Library is also home to an extensive photography collection, personal papers and 4,500 books and volumes specific to local history.

“We have received some good collections recently, specifically a photography collection of 4,500 images given by the family of J.B. Clay, a local photographer in Oxford from the mid- 1950s to the mid-1990s. This new donation serves as the largest known photo collection relative to Granville County to date,” Pace said.

Donated materials from the public, including family bibles, photos and letters, are essential to the mission of the North Carolina Room, according to Pace.

“We rely heavily on what people donate to us or bring and let us copy. You can’t go out and buy these types of things. The public is always encouraged to bring by any items of local historical significance for us to copy and keep a record of, no matter how obscure those items may seem.”

Although its primary function is genealogical, Pace said the North Carolina Room meets patron needs for inquiries into historical environmental site surveys, high school reunions, local government requests, church histories and more.

While the majority of visitors are Granville County residents, Pace reported that up to 40% live outside of the area, including residents of other states and countries. “In just this year alone, we’ve had visitors from 35 different states and from far away as Great Britain and Jamaica.”

Pace, a Henderson native and college history major, said his passion for historical events and documents began with the Henderson High School fire of 1968.

“I was eight-years-old and my father taught school there. I remember it vividly. He got home late that night and I begged him to take me back to the school to let me see it. The next day, I saved the newspaper articles about the fire. After that, I would save other newspaper articles of historical events. In the late 1960s/early 1970s, there was a lot going on.”

In his Town Talk interview, Pace relayed many interesting historical facts about both Granville and present-day Vance County, including what he considers Granville’s most significant contribution to the world marketplace – flue-cured tobacco.

“The land in the southern part of Granville County was so good for growing flue-cured tobacco that a group came from Australia in the 1890s and loaded up dirt from Granville County and had it shipped back to Australia to see if they could grow it there. Of course, it didn’t work,” laughed Pace.

To hear the Town Talk interview with Mark Pace in its entirety, including more interesting historical facts on Granville and Vance County, please click here.

The North Carolina Room is located inside the Richard H. Thornton Library at 210 Main St. in Oxford. Hours of operation are Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. (closed Sundays from Memorial Day until Labor Day).

Science in the Summer

Seats Still Available for Granville Libraries’ ‘GSK Science in the Summer’

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-Press Release, Granville County Government  

The Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford and the South Branch Library in Creedmoor will host GlaxoSmithKline’s “Science in the Summer,” a fun and free North Carolina education initiative that helps children “grow into science.”

Through classes held at public libraries and in community-based centers all over North Carolina, “Science in the Summer” is designed to get kids excited about studying science with hands-on experience. The theme for the 2019 program is “The Science of Me” as students explore human biology through activities and experiments.

During these educational sessions, students will learn that the human body is a complex system that is constantly working to complete tasks such as breathing, running and even picking up a pencil.

“Without our body working in harmony, we would not be able to function,” the registration flyer reads. “From the building blocks of life to organ systems, students will develop a deeper understanding of the human body.”

(Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt)

At both local library branches, Level One (second and third graders) is scheduled for July 22 through July 26 from 9 a.m. until noon; Level Two (grades 4 and 5) will be held July 22 through July 26 from 1 until 4 p.m.; and Level Three (for students in grades 6 through 8) will be held July 29 through July 31 from 9 a.m. until noon. A total of twenty elementary students and 24 middle school students will be accepted for each session.

A few slots are still available. Registration continues online at www.scienceinthesummer.com and will be open until all seats are filled.

Parents are advised that a waiver – which will be sent separately – must be completed within 72 hours of the registration process for enrollment to be complete.

The Richard H. Thornton Library and the South Branch Library are two of four branches of the Granville County Library System. The Thornton branch is located at 210 Main Street in Oxford and the South Branch is located at 1550 S. Campus Drive in Creedmoor.

The “GSK Science in the Summer” program is being held in partnership with Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and will be taught by certified instructors. Email scienceinthesummer@unc.edu for more information about this program or call 919-843-9379.

Maloney Named New Branch Manager at Thornton Library

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

The Granville County Library System welcomes Andrew Maloney as branch manager of the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford.

Maloney comes to Granville County from the Boston Public Library in Boston, MA, where he served in several capacities ranging from Fine Arts Archivist and Music Specialist to Readers’ Services Librarian. He brings with him knowledge and experience in cultural research, program development, collections management and library technology, and has plans to use these skills to continue and further enhance the programming already in place.

“I hope to expand on what is already being offered by possibly adding more music and movie events and a greater outreach,” Maloney said. “There are so many ways that the library can partner with the community and help people connect, and I am looking forward to exploring those opportunities.”

The Granville County Library System welcomes Andrew Maloney as branch manager of the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford. Maloney’s first day of work was February 1, 2019. (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Government)

Maloney also credits the library’s Board of Trustees and the Friends of the Library for their enthusiastic support of the Thornton Library.

A new resident of Durham, Maloney is a 2012 graduate of the University of Connecticut, majoring in English and Political Science. He received his Master’s degree in Library and Information Science at Simmons College Graduate School and earned his North Carolina Public Librarian Certification in 2018.

Maloney’s first day of work was February 1, 2019.

Will Robinson will continue to serve as Director for all four branches of the Granville County Library System, which are located in Oxford, Creedmoor, Stovall and Berea. Both Maloney and Robinson can be reached at 919-693-1121.

For more information about the Granville County public libraries, visit https://granville.lib.nc.us/.

Wilton Express Library Back in Service; One of Three Express Locations in Granville

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-Information courtesy the County of Granville

The Granville County Library System announces that the Wilton Express Library is now back in service after being temporarily out of operation.

There are three Express Library locations – in Wilton, Oak Hill and Stovall – which consist of lockers, a computer kiosk with access to the library catalog and a book return. Materials can be placed on hold from home or from the Express Library site and delivered to a locker at the site by choosing this option when placing your “hold” request. Transit deliveries are made on Monday and Thursday evenings.

The Wilton “Express Library Center” is located at 2547 Hwy. 96 South, on the same property as the Wilton EMS Station, next door to Wilton Elementary School.

For more details, contact the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford, the main branch of the Granville County Library System, at 919-693-1121 or visit https://granville.lib.nc.us.

The Granville County Library System announces that the Wilton Express Library is now back in service after being temporarily out of operation. The express library is located at 2547 Hwy. 96 South, on the same property as the Wilton EMS Station, right next door to Wilton Elementary School. (Photo Credit: County of Granville)

Granville Co. Librarians Announce Exciting New Year’s Initiative, Upcoming Events

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Granville County Library System staff Ashley Wilson, Adult Services Librarian, and Amy Kemp, Children’s Librarian, were the guests of honor on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program.

With four branches, including the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford, the South Branch in Creedmoor, the Berea Branch and the Stovall Branch, the library system offers a variety of programming and initiatives for the communities it serves.

The newest initiative, referred to as “New Director, New Year,” forgives library fines accrued prior to January 1, 2019, and fees prior to January 1, 2018. Amnesty has also been granted on all lost and missing books.

“We’ve received excellent feedback and we are getting our materials back,” said Wilson. “We feel there are people who felt driven away from the library because of an unpaid fee or a lost book. We want to invite everyone back to the library system.”

No refunds will be given for fines or fees previously paid.

Ashley Wilson (left), Adult Services Librarian, and Amy Kemp (right), Children’s Librarian for the Granville County Library System, discuss upcoming and ongoing library events on WIZS’ Town Talk program. (Photo Credit: WIZS)

The library system has also recently launched a new webpage that provides detailed information regarding upcoming programs and events as well as operating hours and locations for all four branches.

When asked about the part a physical library plays in the new digital age, Kemp responded, “There used to be more public community places; a lot of that has died away. We hold on to the library as one of the last true community spaces.”

Wilson said a love of reading often brings people in, but she has an answer for those who are hesitant. “For anyone who says they don’t like to read, I always say it’s because they haven’t found the right book yet.”

In addition to a large selection of written material, the Granville County library branches offer meeting rooms for community groups, computers and computer training, children’s services for education and entertainment and much more.

“I often hear people say that libraries are going out of style, but I don’t think that’s the case,” said Kemp.

“I think it’s a false, dirty rumor,” laughed Wilson. “It’s absolutely not true! Our circulation and door count have been up at all four branches.”

To keep the branches open and thriving, Kemp said it is important that others help spread the word on library offerings and upcoming events.

Wilson added that volunteers play a large role and that the library could always use “another people person.”

Supporting the library by becoming a member of the Friends of the Library program is also encouraged. Membership dollars from this program, along with money raised at various books sales throughout the year, help fund library programming.

Children’s Programming:

  • A new series of STEAM programming (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) is now available for kindergarten through 5th graders every Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Thornton Library. Each week, children will enjoy hands-on exploration of a new STEAM topic.
  • Storytime for toddlers and preschoolers is held at all four branches. Please check the website for days and times by location.
  • A “Teen Book Club” meets at the South Branch at 3:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. Teens can talk about what they are currently reading, swap recommendations with friends and enjoy snacks. An “arts and crafts” time is also offered for teens every third Monday of the month at the South Branch. Call (919) 528-1752 for details.
  • LEGO Club is held at the South Branch in Creedmoor on the second and fourth Monday of each month and at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Play begins at 3:30 p.m. at both locations and is open to kindergarten through 5th graders.

Upcoming Events for Adults:

  • Trivia Night with Tobacco Wood – Thurs., Jan. 30
  • Romantic Reading with Cynthia Abbott – 2 p.m., Sun., Feb. 10 – Thornton Library
  • Buck Meek and Twain Folk Rock Bands – 6 – 8 p.m., Thurs., Feb. 21 – Thornton Library
  • Dr. Christine Darden, American mathematician and inspiration behind the book and movie “Hidden Figures” – Sun., March 3
  • Shannon Christmas – DNA/Genealogical expert, 4 DNA kits to be given away – Sat., March 30

To find out more on upcoming events, complete a volunteer application or join Friends of the Library, please visit https://granville.lib.nc.us/.

To hear the interview in its entirety, please click here. 

Granville County Library to Host Folklore Author Sharyn McCrumb

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-Press Release, County of Granville

 New York Times’ best-selling author Sharyn McCrumb will make a special presentation at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford on Thursday, November 15 at 5:30 p.m.

Best known for her Appalachian “ballad novels” set in the North Carolina/Tennessee mountains, McCrumb’s body of work includes “She Walks These Hills,” “The Rosewood Casket,” “The Songcatcher” and “Ghost Riders,” as well as “The Ballad of Tom Dooley” and “King’s Mountain,” which take place in North Carolina. Her most current novels include “Prayers the Devil Answers,” the story of the last public hanging ever carried out in the United States, and “The Unquiet Grave,” the story of West Virginia’s Greenbrier Ghost.

New York Times’ best-selling author Sharyn McCrumb will make a special presentation at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford on Thursday, November 15 at 5:30 p.m. (Photo courtesy the County of Granville)

“I find that the more I write, the more fascinated I become with the idea of the land as an intricate element in the lives of mountain people, and of the past as prologue for any contemporary narrative,” McCrumb has said of her work. “This connection to the land is personal as well as thematic.”

Awards and honors McCrumb has garnered include the Patricia Winn Award for Southern Fiction from the Clarksville/Montgomery County Arts and Heritage Council of Clarksville, TN; the Mary Frances Hobson Prize for Southern Literature by North Carolina’s Chowan University; the Achievement in Literature Award from the Edward Buncombe Chapter of the N.C. Daughters of the American Revolution; and the Perry F. Kendig Award for Literary Arts from Blue Ridge Arts Council of southwest Virginia, as well as other prestigious recognitions. In 2006, McCrumb was named the winner of the Book of the Year Award from the Appalachian Writers Association.

McCrumb’s work has been studied in universities around the world and her novels have been translated into eleven languages. She has lectured at Oxford University, the University of Bonn-Germany and at the Smithsonian Institution, as well as teaching a writers’ workshop in Paris.

The author will be discussing these award-winning Appalachian “ballad novels,” as well as her other books, during this presentation. The Richard H. Thornton Library is located at 210 Main Street in Oxford. For more information, contact the library at 919-693-1121 or visit www.granville.lib.nc.us.