THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 21, 1996 TAG: 9602200107
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JO-ANN CLEGG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Nearly 50 people were treated to a series of literary readings and international delicacies recently as the staff of the Kempsville Library kicked off its latest reading and discussion program, ``Let's Talk About Me.''
Starting Feb. 26 and meeting every other Monday evening through April 22, group members will listen as local scholars discuss five popular autobiographies, then break into small groups to continue talking about the books and authors.
Retired Old Dominion University professor Carolyn Rhodes will start the series with her discussion of Jill Ker Conway's ``Road from Coorain.'' The book is a personal memoir of the years when Conway was growing up on a sheep station in the western part of New South Wales, Australia.
At last week's introductory meeting library patrons interested in joining the group had a chance to meet Rhodes and the other scholars, nibble on finger foods that each of the authors might have enjoyed and hear Tallwood High School drama students read passages from each book.
The upcoming lecture series is a follow-on to a very successful one organized by the library last spring. At that time the program was underwritten by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and the Friends of the Virginia Beach Public Libraries.
While the Friends continued assistance this year, the state group, operating under severe budget restrictions, did not. Even with the reduced funding, library staff members stood by their commitment to offer another series of discussions.
``We like the idea of out of school adults reading books and then getting together at the library to talk about what they've read,'' said Kempsville librarian Judy Pate.
Knowing money would be tight, the Kempsville staff stepped in to fill the dollar gap. Staff members got input on what patrons wanted, researched available books, lined up scholars and discussion group leaders and began putting out the word.
Once done with the basics, they moved on to the niceties. For last week's pre-series event, they decorated five tables in styles appropriate to the authors' tastes and stocked them with regional foods.
They'll continue to provide refreshments for each of the five programs. The food will come from their own kitchens, the costs from their own pockets.
``We saw such enthusiasm for last year's program. There was a real energy flowing. It would have been a shame not to do it again,'' said library technician and committee member Karlyn Chafee.
In addition to Rhodes' presentation on ``The Road from Coorain,'' the group will hear Gerald Pepe of Eastern Virginia Medical School discuss Danish author Isak Dinesen's ``Out of Africa'' on March 11 and Ann Woolford-Singh of Tidewater Community College talk on Sarah and Elizabeth Delany's ``Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years'' on March 25. Kara Keeling of Christopher Newport University will explore Arthur Ashe and Arnold Rampersad's ``Days of Grace: A Memoir'' on April 8. Journalist Beth Barber will end the series with a look at newsman Russell Baker's ``The Good Times'' on April 22.
Limited numbers of each book are available at the libraries or may be purchased in paperback at a discount from Barnes & Noble on Virginia Beach Boulevard.
All discussions will be held at the Kempsville library from 7 until 9 p.m. Call 495-1016 for information and registration. ILLUSTRATION: Tallwood High School drama student Andy Landers plays newsman
Russell Baker in ``The Good Times'' on April 22 - the last in a
series of literary discussions, this one led by journalist Beth
Barber
Photo by
JO-ANN CLEGG
by CNB