Library of Congress exhibit to visit library
I’m very excited about an exhibit we’ve booked to come to the library. On Aug. 5 and 6, the Library of Congress “Gateway to Knowledge” traveling exhibit will be visiting the Uniontown Public Library and will be parked in our back parking lot for the two-day exhibit.
The exhibit outlines the history of the Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson’s role in re-establishing the library after the burning of the U.S. Capitol in 1814, presents facsimiles of selected Library treasures like the 1455 Gutenberg Bible, and the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence in Thomas Jefferson’s hand with editing by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams.
The visitors will also see the 1962 drawings for the comic book that brought us Spiderman as well as Walt Whitman’s poem “Leaves of Grass.”
This unusual exhibit is mounted in a customized 18-wheel truck that expands to 1,000 square feet of exhibition space. The exhibit is free and open to the public each day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Because the trailer will be parked in the library’s back parking lot, visitors will need to park in the public lot or along Iowa Street or a nearby location.
The library is in week six of the annual Summer Reading Program, and many, many children are reading wonderful books this year, attending fascinating programs, and crafting new, creative pieces every week. At the end of last week, 509 children were registered for the program. There’s still time to join if you haven’t already.
Our program this week is at 1 p.m. Thursday and features Nemacolin Woodlands Wild World of Animals when live critters will be here.
If you are reading this, you are fortunate that you can read. Thousands of adults in Southwestern Pennsylvania cannot read above the most elementary level. We’re about to change all that.
The Literacy Council that used to exist in Fayette County has disbanded, but in its place, we are now part of a consortium based in Washington County and serving Washington, Greene and Fayette counties. The Literacy Council of Southwest Pennsylvania is headed by Amy Ross Phillips Manko.
Our area has a high percentage of non-readers or those reading well below basic levels. It is the goal of the Literacy Council to assist low-level or non-readers to better their skills and improve not only their lives, but improve their job and job training opportunities.
Last year, this Literacy Council helped over 150 students improve their reading skills, prepare for employment, study for their GED, and improve their English language skills.
We are proud to be involved in making this all happen for Fayette County residents. If you would like to volunteer to become a tutor, or if you need the services of the Literacy Council, call them at 724-228-6188.
Come see us in the library, make plans to visit the Library of Congress Exhibit, and read a good book.
Congratulations to our local graduates. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own, and you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.” — Dr. Seuss
Lynne E. Tharan is the director of the Uniontown Public Library, 24 Jefferson St., Uniontown, Pa., 15401. Phone is 724-437-1165