National Library Week April 10-16

This week, April 10 – 16th, is National Library Week, a time to celebrate libraries in Sumter County and across the nation. Sumter’s Carnegie Library on West Liberty Street opened its doors in 1917. The opening reception was held on December 3rd, and the first librarian in charge was Miss Grace Randle, a local elementary school teacher. I remember trips to the Carnegie Library on Liberty when I was a boy, going down to the children’s department in the basement. Mrs. Mattie Ivey was the children’s librarian, and I little realized that I would be working alongside her one day. I began working part-time at the Sumter County Library in 1980 while a student at USC-Sumter. By that time, the library had moved to its present location on Harvin Street. Mrs. Ivey would retire in 1988, after 39 years of service.
My career goal at one time had been teaching. Once I entered the doors of the Library, however, I never left. I don’t believe I have left the goal of teaching behind, however. Libraries are very much a part of the educational process. Thomas Jefferson wrote, “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be . . . The people cannot be safe without information. When the press is free, and every man is able to read, all is safe.”
I was first hired to work at the library by Chapman J. (Jimmy) Milling. Mr. Milling had come to Sumter as director of the Carnegie Public Library in 1955. He was Director for thirty years before retiring in 1985. Sumter County was fortunate to have his service. He was instrumental in moving the library from the overcrowded building on Liberty into a new facility on Harvin Street in 1968. Jimmy Milling was a talented, cultured individual who greatly expanded the library collection, paying particular attention to the arts. Many of his selections on art, music and literature are still on the library shelves. He certainly could be described as a renaissance man – his knowledge and interests branched out into many different subject areas and disciplines.
Mr. Milling was a gifted artist and writer. He was a long time member and contributor to the Sumter Poetry Club. He also wrote for the Item, reviewing local art shows and exhibits. Jimmy Milling made important contributions to the cultural life of Sumter. His contributions to library services in Sumter County cannot be overstated and are still being felt today.

Robert Harden
Director

National Library Week

April 10th through the 16th is National Library Week. National Library Week commenced in 1958 and ever since has been held in observance by the American Library Association and libraries across the nation. National Library Week is a time for all people to celebrate the freedom and sense of community libraries bring to cities, towns and villages throughout the United States.

We especially hope you celebrate National Library Week by visiting the Main, Wesmark or South Sumter branches of the Sumter County Library. When you drop by we especially you hope you take the time to walk around the library and notice all that is offered to the public on a daily basis. The Sumter County Library offers computer classes year-round and workforce development assistance for those in need of employment. The Sumter County Library creates new and interesting programming such as an art show, yoga, travel planning workshop, poetry group, book clubs (online and off), story times, movies and much more.

While we still lend your favorite books and movies, the Library is now, more than ever, a centrally based community center where people from all over the community visit to talk, study, read, learn and grow. Our meeting rooms (available by reservation, to all) are constantly used by personal, civic and government groups. The Sumter County Library is the one place where big or small, rich or poor, can come together and grow as individuals and citizens.

Celebrate National Library Week with us.

Ford Simmons
Reference and Information Services Coordinator