You can learn about Civil Rights struggles through photographs
Published: Sunday, August 5, 2012 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, August 3, 2012 at 5:15 p.m.
You can get a better understanding of the Civil Rights movement by going see a national exhibit this month.
For All the World to See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights, a nationally touring exhibition from NEH on the Road, is on display at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library, 151 Library Drive, Houma.
Through an assortment of photographs, television clips, art posters and historic artifacts, the exhibition traces how images and media disseminated to the American public transformed the modern Civil Rights movement and jolted Americans, black and white, out of a state of denial or complacency.
The display explores dozens of compelling and persuasive visual images, including photographs from influential magazines, such as LIFE, JET and EBONY; CBS news footage; and TV clips from “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Also included are Civil Rights-era objects that exemplify the range of negative and positive imagery — from Aunt Jemima syrup dispensers and 1930s produce advertisements to Jackie Robinson baseball ephemera and 1960s children's toys with African-American portraiture.
For All the World to See is not a history of the Civil Rights movement, but rather an exploration of the vast number of potent images that influenced how Americans perceived race and the struggle for equality.
The For All the World to See exhibit can be viewed during the Main Library's regular hours: from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and from 2 to 6 p.m. Sundays.
For information about this exhibit, call 876-5861 option 4.
The Friends of the Library's annual Tools for Learning Sale, a sale of used textbooks for all grade levels, non-fiction reference books, books on CD and children's books, is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 18, and from 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Main Library.
The books will sell for 75 cents per inch.
The Terrebonne Parish Library System is offering more digital services.
The first is another option for eBook lovers. Freading offers thousands of books that are available anytime with no waiting lists. While this option is similar to the current eBook offerings in Overdrive, Freading's contents focus on smaller publishers.
There are a variety of items available. This service uses a token system, where each patron is allotted five tokens per week. Each book is worth a varying amount of tokens, and if tokens are not used in the week, then they are rolled over to the next week. Apps are available for iPhone and Android devices in their respective app stores. You can also visit the site via your computer at http://mytpl.freading.com.
Secondly is Freegal, a music service that allows free and legal downloads of music you get to keep. Some of the artists available include Adele, Michael Jackson, Carrie Underwood and One Direction, not to mention hundreds of different genres including zydeco, bluegrass, rap and many more. Each patron is allowed to download three songs per week.
While Freegal also has an app available for iPhone and Android devices, Library System staff suggest that songs are downloaded directly to your computer. This way, you have the actual file and can transfer it to the device of your choice. You can start by visiting http://mytpl.freegalmusic.com. As customary, you must be a patron in good standing in order to utilize these services.
Parent Power is a new program that offers fresh ideas and library tools to help your child succeed in school. For parents with fourth- through 12th-graders, sessions are available at 6 p.m. in the distance education room at the Main Library. Discover some of the Library System's best resources available to you and your child. Join the Main Library's reference staff as they share these library tools aiming to help your child succeed in school. For information, call 876-5861 option 2.
The schedule of sessions include:
Tuesday: Power Searching: Parents and students will learn the best ways to use keyword searches, navigate the library catalog and find the best sources available online.
Aug. 14: Writing and Citing: Learn how to find great sources for writing and research papers, and how to cite them properly.
Aug. 21: Newspapers and Magazines: Discover some of the Library System's best magazine and newspaper resources, both in print and online.
Aug. 28: Reference Books and eBooks: Uncover some of the Library System's best reference books. The library has a wide range of encyclopedias, both in print and online. Other reference sources including atlases, almanacs, and dictionaries, as well as their online equivalents, will be discussed.
Computer classes continue for the month of August.
“From the Beginning,” a basic beginner's class, is scheduled from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in the computer lab at the Main Library. “Email and CD Burning” is scheduled for the same time Aug. 14 and “Introduction to Photography” Aug. 16.
“Surf's Up” is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the North Terrebonne Branch Library, 4130 W. Park Ave., Gray.
Bob Cornes, a computer services librarian for the Library System, is the instructor. For questions, call Bob at 876-5861, ext. 218.
Dr. Murali Davuluri is displaying an original display at the Main Library.
Heather Domangue is displaying her memorabilia from the collection of J.R.R. Tolkien at the North Terrebonne Branch Library.
Mary Cosper LeBoeuf is director of the Terrebonne Parish Library System. She can be reached at 876-5158.
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