From the Director’s Corner
Dear Friends:
February is Black History Month, an annual celebration of the achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of Negro History Week,the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Today, Black History Month is a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans across U.S. history and society—from activists and civil rights pioneers such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Rosa Parks to leaders in industry, politics, science, culture and more. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.
The 2022 theme of Black History Month is Black Health and Wellness, which explores “the legacy of not only Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine, but also other ways of knowing (e.g., birth workers, doulas, midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.) throughout the African Diaspora. The 2022 theme considers activities, rituals and initiatives that Black communities have done to be well.”
February also happens to be National Library Month and we love our libraries! Libraries are more than places to check out books—they can be sanctuaries away from the demands of everyday life. They offer an opportunity for peace and quiet reflection. Libraries also provide valuable services to patrons seeking information and recommendations for reading. And libraries offer numerous activities for patrons to enjoy such as book clubs, lectures, live music, film screenings and so much more. There are 10 Horry County libraries located in Aynor, Bucksport, Carolina Forest, Conway, Green Sea, Little River, Loris, North Myrtle Beach, Socastee and Surfside Beach as well as Chapin Memorial Library in Myrtle Beach. Check out librarywebsitesformoreinformation. Here’s to a healthy, book-filled February.
Stay safe and well.
Sincerely,
Dodi Hodges
Executive Director
From: www.history.com: Black History Month 2022: Facts, Origins & More | HISTORY – HISTORY
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Palmetto Literacy Council: 2022
In January, Palmetto Literacy Council’s Board of Directors held its annual retreat at Chapin Memorial Library to reflect on the organization’s successes over the past two and a half years and to discuss our goals for 2022. The most important of these goals is to recruit tutors to work with the 18 students on our waiting list. We also reviewed our fundraising and organizational goals for the upcoming year. Such goals include enlisting the help of volunteers who would like to lend their time and talents to PLC by serving on the following committees: Fundraising, Events, and Sponsorships. PLC is an all volunteer organization—without those who help support our mission, we would not survive. Please consider volunteering. There are so many ways you can assist us as we endeavor to improve literacy skills in children and adults in Horry County.
Please contact Mary Ellen Lynch, our volunteer coordinator via email: [email protected]
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10 of the Best Children’s Books That Promote Critical Thinking
In a recent piece published on bookriot.com, Mikkaka Overstreet considers the importance of promoting critical thinking in children. She argues—as others have—that the purpose of K-12 education has not been to produce critical thinkers. Instead, the goal has been to prepare students
for postsecondary plans that will assure they become functioning members of society. Should we not want our children to aspire to more? Yes. We want to ensure they are, in fact, capable of critical thinking. Overstreet notes that potential employers will look to hire individuals who have strong problem-solving abilities, and it is therefore incumbent upon caregivers, parents and educators to seek out ways to help children become critical thinkers. Overstreet recommends the following books to accomplish that goal:
- THE YEAR WE LEARNED TO FLY BY JACQUELINE WOODSON AND RAFAEL LÓPEZ
- WHAT DO YOU DO WITH AN IDEA? BY KOBI YAMADA AND MAE BESOM
- SHADOW BY SUZY LEE
- GOING PLACES BY PETER H. REYNOLDS AND PAUL A. REYNOLDS
- MISTAKES ARE HOW I LEARN BY KIARA WILSON
- DUCK! RABBIT! BY AMY KROUSE ROSENTHAL and TOM LICHTENHELD
- SEVEN BLIND MICE BY ED YOUNG
- WHAT TO DO WITH A BOX BY JANE YOLEN AND CHRIS SHEBAN
- THEY ALL SAW A CAT BY BRENDAN WENZEL
- SOLUTIONS FOR COLD FEET AND OTHER LITTLE PROBLEMS BY CAREY SOOKOCHEFF
Transformation
By Preston McKever-Floyd
The wings of transformation are born of patience and struggle.
–Janet Dickens
Transformation is “a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance” (Oxford Languages Dictionary). This term appeared in English in the 14th century from Old French transformer, Latin transformare. Transformation = trans “across” or “beyond” + formare “to form.” One the salient synonyms for transformation is pupate, to become a pupa, undergo change from a larva to an insect.
Transformation acquires more technical definitions in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. For example, in biology, transformation is the process
of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) being exchanged between microbial cells. In physics, it is to change or be changed dramatically or the conversion of one form of energy to another form, for example the conversion of matter to solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.
The term is a pervasive literary trope appearing across genres from mythology to modern and post– modern literature through symbolic or actual meta-morphoses.
Board of Directors
CHAIR: Dodi Hodges: [email protected]
VICE CHAIR: Shawna Roessler [email protected]
TREASURER: Maria Denney [email protected]
SECRETARY: Preston McKever-Floyd [email protected]
Members at Large
FUNDRAISING CO-CHAIRS: Patricia D’Ascoli [email protected], Stephanie Southworth [email protected]
TRAINING COORDINATOR: Carla Taylor [email protected]
MAILING ADDRESS: 1229 38TH Avenue North, #130 Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 1010 5th Avenue North Ext., Suite 101I Surfside Beach, SC 29575
For More Information
OFFICE PHONE: 843-945-9278
OFFICE EMAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: www.palmettoliteracy.org
