Features Editor

The Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library in Brundidge will celebrate National Library Week, April 14-20 with an open house at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 17.

"We are very fortunate to have Anne Bailey as our special guest for the open house," said Jane Ward, children’s librarian. "Anne Bailey is best known as a storyteller and she will be ‘on stage’ at 3:30 p.m., telling stories for both children and adults."

Bailey is founder of Wise Words Art, a company that creates programs and products that communicate common human wisdom and experiences. She shares life experiences in stories and art.

In describing herself, Bailey said she is a poet, a storyteller, a book artist and a visual artist.

"I’m sure that everyone who loves a good story will want to be here for her performance," Ward said. "She is outstanding and I know people of all ages will enjoy her."

The public is invited to the open house and refreshments will be served.

The open house will be an opportunity for the public to tour the library and see what all is available to patrons.

"We are very excited that we have 250 new books for children and young adults," Ward said. "A grant from the Alabama Public Library Service allowed us to get these books and they a wonderful addition to our children’s and young adult’s library."

Ward applied for the grant while she was in Montgomery attending a summer reading workshop program.

"We were notified that we had received the grant and Jean Carroll and Judy Henderson went up to pick out the books," Ward said. "It was just like going shopping for Christmas presents. The books are all hand-picked and include the Dear America, series, the Hank the Cow Dog series and the Cam Jansen mystery books. It’s an all-around collection that I’m sure will be popular with our young readers."

Ward said the new books will be valuable tools in the library’s outreach program.

"We go the the kindergarten at Pike County Elementary School once a week and read to the students," she said. "We also service the Head Start program in Brundidge and the Lampley Day Care Center. As as extension of the open house program, Anne Bailey tell stories to students at Pike County Elementary School Wednesday morning."