Union Carnegie Free Library, 1905
Union County, South Carolina

At the turn of the 20th century, steel industrialist Andrew Carnegie created one of the most far reaching philanthropic programs in the nation’s history, donating millions of dollars to create thousands of libraries. In South Carolina, 15 of these Carnegie Libraries were eventually established. The Carnegie Free Library in Union County bears the distinction of being the first. Commissioned in 1903 and constructed in 1905, the Union Carnegie Free Library was built at a time of nationally increasing optimism, literacy, and interest in public libraries. Today, this library is one of only four Carnegie Libraries remaining in the state, and less than 1,000 in the nation.

Designed by the regionally well-known firm Wheeler & Runge, the Beaux Arts style building occupied an important place in the town’s day-to-day life, both physically and symbolically. Its iconic portico and distinctive copper cupola offered citizens a sense of pride in their collective civic accomplishment.

The historic structure was added to the National Register in 1983 as part of the South Street Historic District, forever cementing it as part of the fabric of Union County history. By 1986, the surrounding region had grown enough that local residents were able to re-invest in the facility through an addition that more than doubled the existing space and reinvigorated support for the library as a key part of the historic downtown’s character. Decades later, a preservation and upgrade project restored the original building design.

Sambaland's Bossa Triba
Saturday, February 18, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Brazilian music comes to the Library during Carnival season! The six piece melodic ensemble Bossa Triba is a lively troupe of musicians who perform on traditional Brazilian percussive instruments including drums, bells, and shakers. They make up one of three incredible groups of the musical collective known as Sambaland, founded in 1994 by Teri and Jim Weber. Their mission is to provide authentic Brazilian music to the Berkshires and beyond. Please register for this free concert here.

Please note: Seating is extremely limited for these two shows. The performance on Sunday is full. There are no more chairs available, but there are still a few floor seats for the Saturday performance.
Visit here to register for the performance on Saturday.

Books & Booties: The Music of Bees
Sunday, February 26, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Kick off your winter boots and gather around a fire in the Great Hall as we discuss The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin. Named a Good Morning America BUZZ PICK, A Good Housekeeping Book Club Pick, an IndieNext Pick, and a LibraryReads Pick, this national best-seller is about the power of friendship, compassion in the face of loss, and finding the courage to start over (at any age) when things don't turn out the way you expect.

Over 20 copies of The Music of Bees are currently available through inter-library loan. Contact Front Desk Circulation at 860-542-5075 or [email protected] to reserve a copy today. Visit here to register for this program.

Norfolk Library Book Group with Mark Scarbrough
Chan Koonchung, The Fat Years (2009)
Thursday, March 9
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. or 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Chan Koonchung's dystopian novel The Fat Years imagines state-engineered amnesia in China. Described as "an astute take on the effects of Chinese politics in everyday life," the novel is set in Beijing. A month has disappeared from official records and is forgotten by almost everyone. But a small group of friends investigates what is behind the sinister cheerfulness and collective amnesia that have taken over the country.

Koonchung was born in Shanghai in 1952 and raised in Hong Kong. In the mid-1970s, he started the influential City Magazine, becoming its editor and then publisher for 23 years.  The novel is the first of a trilogy. It was followed by Naked Life in 2012 and The Second Year of Jianfeng: An Alternative History of New China in 2015.

If you are new to the Book Group and would like to participate, please email Mark at [email protected], and he will email you a formal invitation link to the online discussion group.

Click Here to View the More Information About The Norfolk Library Night Owl - February 17, 2023