Our National Library Week Celebration was a huge success with over 80 individuals attending the 91st Monroe County Public Library Birthday Celebration. The library was founded in 1927 and is located in the former La Salle Hotel where Academy Award winner Gregory Peck stayed while preparing for his role in the “To Kill a Mockingbird” movie. The Monroe County Library Board purchased the property from Dwight Harrigan in 1981 for $125,000 and Harrigan donated the remaining $104,000. The library is located in the Monroeville Downtown Historic District and is listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage. Attendees toured the building, visited Phillip Ward’s Photographic and Graphic Art Exhibit, enjoyed refreshments as they reminisced.
A Pound Cake Contest was also a part of the celebration. Surprisingly 43 pound cakes were entered in the contest. The Pound Cake Queen was crowned prior to Sean Dietrich’s presentation later in the evening
Roughly 50 children attended a book reading held in the “Tween Room” of the Library. The author of “Goodnight Mobile,” Ms. Abby Grodnick Kennedy, was a featured speaker at the Birthday Celebration. The first 30 children to arrive received free autographed copies of Goodnight Mobile and all listened intently as Ms. Kennedy read the book.
Approximately 150 attendees enjoyed a presentation and book-signing by the author, Sean Dietrich or “Sean of the South,” at the Monroe County Heritage Museum. After the event, everyone was invited to enjoy pound cake and other refreshments.
5000 Library Rack Cards were purchased as an accompanying piece. The rack card tells the story of the Library and is an informational piece for the public.