Black History Month got its start in 1926, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson began commemorating the second week of February as "Negro History Week". This was to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. The efforts of Dr. Woodson, one of the first academically trained African-American historians in the United States, are largely responsible for the observation of Black History Month.
In order to provide teachers with resources to teach about this subject, the Florida Memory Project has a number of resources, including photo exhibits, videos, sound recordings, and educational units. The sound recordings by Zora Neale Hurston are very good.
By the way, even if you are not a teacher or a student, these resources are free to everyone on the internet. So go learn something new today.
And while you are plunking around, enjoy this clip from the FAMU Marching Band playing at the 200th Annual Bastille Day parade in Paris:
(Photo courtesy Florida Memory Project)
System status
A new library system and online catalog will debut on May 30. Here's the current status of:
- Checkouts: May 24-29 you must have your physical library card in hand to check out materials.
- Due dates: All checkouts will have a due date of June 22, except DVDs and GRU watt meters, which still have 7-day limit.
- Holds and requests: New holds and purchase requests cannot be placed until May 30, but those placed previously will continue to be processed.
- Returns: Please "Babysit Our Books" — keep them until the new system is running smoothly (mid-June).
- Registration: Continues as usual today, but cannot be done May 24-29, as our entire system will be down.
- Interlibrary loan: Continues as usual throughout the transition.
- Digital checkouts: OverDrive checkouts and holds will work normally throughout the transition.
- My Discoveries: Will be retired with the AquaBrowser catalog on May 24. Please retrieve any saved book lists before then.
- Website: The Library District website (www.aclib.us) will be up as normal throughout the transition.
- My Account: Account info will be available through May 24. Your account will appear on the new system on May 30.
- Bill payment: All payments including PayPal are working today. No payments can be accepted May 24-29
- New catalog: Watch for its debut on May 30, with new features.
More about the transition.
More about the new online catalog.
Have any questions? Please Ask Us!
