Join the 21st annual Flagler Reads Together between now and April 9 to celebrate Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and National Library Week with one book – “The Personal Librarian.”
“This is a brilliant piece of historical fiction that weaves through one woman’s life telling the story of how she denied her true identity in order to protect herself and her family from racial persecution,” said Library Director Holly Albanese, who made this year’s selection. “It focuses on the extraordinary life of Belle da Costa Greene, who was the personal librarian of J.P. Morgan, as co-written by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.”
As in past years, the Friends of the Library sponsor associated programs throughout the reading timeframe, which in this case is nearly two months.
These programs include the following:
- Movie matinee – 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Public Library Main Palm Coast Branch – about the thrilling and inspirational life of an iconic freedom fighter whose escape from slavery transformed her into one of America’s greatest heroes. Her courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.
- Author presentation – 2 p.m. March 2 at the Public Library Main Palm Coast Branch – Kim Medley, who is also a member of the American Association of University Women, will discuss her book “Suffrage, Women & Untold Stories” and share images she compiled during her research. She will also discuss the 1916 Seventh Day Adventist Church project, a venture with the American Association of University Women and the Flagler County Historical Society. Some members will dress in period costume.
- Movie matinee – 1 to 4 p.m. March 19 at the Public Library Main Palm Coast Branch – about the incredible story of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, and Mary Jackson. These brilliant African American women worked for NASA and were the brains behind the launch into orbit of astronaut John Glenn. This visionary trio crossed racial and gender lines to turn around the Space Race.
- Book Club discussion – 2:45 to 4:30 p.m. March 23 at the Public Library Main Palm Coast Branch – of “The Personal Librarian.”
- Movie matinee – 1 to 4 p.m. April 1 at the Public Library Main Palm Coast Branch – that showcases America’s librarians, who have more cardholders than VISA, more customers than Amazon, and more restaurants than McDonald’s. It is a vivid blend of documentary, feature film, and storytelling that reveals the history and realities of librarianship in the appealing context of American movies.
- Movie matinee – 1 to 4 p.m. April 6 at the Public Library Main Palm Coast Branch – is a David versus Goliath story that tackles some of the nation's most challenging issues: homelessness and mental illness.
“We are very excited about having a book for Flagler Reads Together that gives us the opportunity to simultaneously celebrate Black History, Women’s History, and National Library Week,” Albanese said. “Please join us in the pages of ‘The Personal Librarian’ and in person for our programs.”
