Williamson County Public Library

1314 Columbia Avenue, Franklin, TN 37064 | Locations | Contact Us

February Calendar of Events  

The Main Library and the College Grove Community Library will be closed on Monday, February 15 to observe Presidents' Day. The Special Collections Department at the Main Library, and the Bethesda, Fairview, Leiper's Fork, and Nolensville branches will be closed on Saturday, February 13.

February is Black History Month

The Special Collections Department of the WCPL presents "A Tough Row to Hoe: African American Agriculture in Williamson County," a look at African American Century farms, owner families, and workers through photographs and documents. The collection is on display through February in the Special Collections Department, open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 am - 5:30 pm.

In conjunction with this exhibit, two special programs are planned. On Saturday, February 27 from 9:30 am - 12:00 pm, Dr. Lynn Lewis, Associate Professor of Language, Literature, and Philosophy at Tennessee State University, will present a writing workshop entitled "Experiences in African American Genealogy." On Saturday, March 6 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, African American genealogist John Baker will discuss and autograph his book The Washingtons of Wessyngton Plantation: Stories of My Family's Journey to Freedom. More information about both events is available on page 1 of the February issue of Library Bytes.

Income Tax Assistance @ Your Library

WCPL, in partnership with the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is offering appointments for tax preparation assistance. VITA offers tax help for people filing in the low to moderate income range. Volunteers from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) are also available for tax preparation assistance. AARP focuses on low to mid-income filing with special attention given to those persons 60 years of age or older, and is a service provided through the IRS's Tax Counseling for the Elderly program. Contact the Reference Department at 615-595-1243 to schedule an appointment. More information about days and times for appointments is available on page 2 of the February issue of Library Bytes.

Art: Up Close & Personal with Michael McBride

On Monday, February 8 at 6:00 pm, noted Nashville artist Michael McBride will talk about his journey in art during this free educational program co-sponsored by WCPL, O'More College of Design and the Arts Council of Williamson County. McBride explains how he relates to his work: "Art provides a tool for communication between the viewer and me....I believe in presenting images that reflect positive ideas and situations. It is important for the viewer to see my work and view the contents based on their life experiences."

Presidents' Day Program with President Tyler's Grandson

On Wednesday, February 10 at 1:00 pm, Lyon G. Tyler, Jr., grandson of President John Tyler, will speak at the Library about the history of his illustrious family. John Tyler was the 10th President of the United States, serving from 1841-1845. The public is invited to hear this interesting talk. Please register by email or by calling the Library at 615-595-1250.

Land the Job of Your Dreams with ReferenceUSA & WCPL

Please join us on Wednesday, February 10 from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm at the Main Library for a presentation on how ReferenceUSA, a member-based employer database, can be used as a job searching tool. After the presentation, Bill Carlson, a ReferenceUSA representative, will be glad to answer your questions about researching all phases of your job search. Read more…Please register by email or by calling the Library at 615-595-1250.

Author Afternoon with Kyle Dickerson

On Saturday, February 13 at 2:00 pm, Spring Hill resident Kyle Dickerson will discuss his debut novel, Benjamin Cole. Dickerson's book won book-of-the-month honors from TheBookAwards.com. Benjamin Cole is a fast-paced ride through one man's realization that not everything turns out for the better, and that even more often, things things are rarely as they seem. Benjamin comes face-to-face with his most significant trial of all: how do you fight evil without becoming evil?

Author Afternoon with Lisa Patton

On Saturday, March 6 at 2:00 pm, local author Lisa Patton will talk about her new book Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter, a heart-warming and hilarious debut novel about a Southern belle thrown into the wilds of rural Vermont. More than just a funny fish-out-of-water story, this novel shows how one woman learns to stand up for herself and triumph against difficult circumstances.

The Williamson County Public Library has received a grant to establish a Career Resource Center beginning in the 2010 fiscal year. Planning for the Career Resource Center is ongoing. The first component of the Center is a resource guide compiled by the WCPL Reference Staff. More information about the grant is available in the WSMV-TV report aired on May 26, 2009. On June 11, 2009 the Today Show ran a segment on the important role libraries play during the recession, using data and resources provided by the ALA and public libraries. Beginning in August, the Library will offer a series of career development classes, and more activities and events will be announced soon.

R.E.A.D.S. Now iPod®-Compatible

Tennessee R.E.A.D.S. has expanded compatibility with two popular audiobook formats: WMA and MP3. Thousands of WMA audiobooks now offer support for transfer to Apple devices, as well as dozens of other MP3 players, with a simple upgrade of the free software OverDrive® Media Console. In addition, R.E.A.D.S. added MP3 audiobooks to the collection, which offers iPod® and Mac® -compatibility. The R.E.A.D.S. program is so popular with WCPL patrons that WCPL routinely has the highest R.E.A.D.S. circulation in the state of Tennessee. Read more about upgrading to or installing the latest version of the OverDrive Media console.

Information about more activities and events is available on the Main Library page.

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