Florence County Library System

All locations of the Florence County Library System will be closed on Saturday, January 18th and remain closed through Monday, January 20th. We will reopen for normal business hours on Tuesday, January 21st.

Sunday, January 26, 2020 3:00 PM

Author Bio –  Jessica Handler is the author of The Magnetic Girl, an Indie Next selection, Wall Street Journal Spring 19 pick, Bitter Southerner Summer 19 pick, and SIBA Okra pick. She is the author of the nonfiction books Braving the Fire: A Guide to Writing About Grief and Invisible Sisters: A Memoir, which was named one of the “Twenty Five Books All Georgians Should Read” and Atlanta Magazine’s “Best Memoir of 2009.” Jessica writes essays and nonfiction features that have appeared on NPR, in Tin House, Drunken Boat, Full Grown People, Brevity, The Bitter Southerner, Electric Literature, Newsweek, The Washington Post, and More Magazine. Jessica is a lecturer in English at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, and lectures internationally on writing craft. (more…)

The Doctors Bruce and Lee Foundation Library, in partnership with South Carolina Legal Services, will host a program on credit reports on Thursday, January 16, 2020 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.  In this free informational session, attendees will learn the basics of credit reports, how to obtain free credit reports, and how to improve credit worthiness.  Common myths will be debunked and attendees will learn how to keep their information safe from identity thieves.

The Doctors Bruce and Lee Foundation Library is located at 509 South Dargan Street in Florence. For more information and to register for this program, call (843) 413-7074.

To celebrate National Hot Tea Month,  Laurie Crouse, owner of Top Hat Special-Teas, will present a tea tasting on Tuesday, January 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Doctors Bruce and Lee Foundation Library. (more…)

An opening reception of artist JRenee will take place in the Morris Gallery of the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation Library in Florence at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 26, 2020.

JRenee is internationally known for her reverse glass paintings, or Eglomise, depicting southern lifestyle themes, tropical design, and the life and times in New Orleans, pre- and post-Katrina. She enjoys painting images and scenes that promote thought on issues of social justice, history, and folklore. (more…)

The Doctors Bruce and Lee Foundation Library will offer a program on taking business startup ideas, or an existing business, to the next level. Presented by Eddie Watson of the South Carolina Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Florence, the program will take place on Tuesday, January 28 at 6:30 p.m. (more…)

Thursday, February 6, 2020, 6:00 PM

Author Bio: Jeffrey is the award-winning author of two novels — Almost Snow White, winner of the 2013 USA Best Book Awards, and Hating Heidi Foster, winner of the 2013 Readers Favorite Book Award for young adult literature.

He is also an Emmy award-winning television director and a 2016 inductee to the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame.  During a 34-year career at NBC News, Jeffrey directed a decade of Meet The Press, The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, The Chris Matthews Show and major special events. (more…)

Monday, March 2, 2020, 6:00 PM

BIO: Kimmery Martin is an emergency medicine doctor-turned novelist whose works of medical fiction have been praised by The Harvard Crimson, Southern Living, The Charlotte Observer and The New York Times, among others. A lifelong literary nerd, she promotes reading, interviews authors, and teaches writing seminars. She’s a frequent speaker at libraries, conferences, and bookstores around the United States. Kimmery completed her medical training at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. She lives with her husband and three children in Charlotte, North Carolina. (more…)

The Florence County Library has planned a variety of children’s programming for Winter/Spring 2020.  For more information and to register for the programs, please call the Greenberg Children’s Library at 843- 292-7382. Registration is required for all programs and space is limited for some programs.  Daycare centers may call for a separate appointment for Preschool Storytime. (more…)

Last month, Macmillan Publishers implemented a new embargo on ebooks, limiting libraries of all sizes from buying more than one electronic copy of any Macmillan title for eight weeks after its release. This attempt to increase ebook sales comes at the direct expense of the millions of South Carolinians who rely on public libraries to provide equal access to the information they need to further their personal, educational, and professional goals.

Effective immediately, the Florence County Library System (FCLS) is temporarily ceasing purchase of all materials from Macmillan and its imprints, including ebooks, e-audiobooks, and print materials. This boycott will last for at least twelve weeks or until Macmillan reverses its new anti-library business practices.

Macmillan’s decision directly opposes FCLS’ mission, which is to provide materials to all Florence County citizens in support of their educational, cultural, recreational, and professional needs. Macmillan’s action makes it impossible for libraries to provide free and equitable access to certain materials. FCLS is joined in this boycott by the American Library Association, the South Carolina Association of Public Library Administrators, the South Carolina State Library, and a majority of public library systems within South Carolina.

For more information about the Macmillan boycott, visit www.ebooksforall.org. Macmillan may be emailed directly at press.inquiries@macmillan.com.