leigh library blog

Friday, February 24, 2012

SAF-T-NET

Statewide weather warning system sends text messages and email alerts on a street-by-street basis. Sign up at the following link to receive breaking news, National Weather Service alerts, traffic, sports scores & updates, school closings and more as text messages on your mobile phone or PDA.

http://my.textcaster.com/ServePopup.aspx?id=1415

Friday, February 10, 2012

Celebrating Black HIstory

Watch this inspiring video about opera diva Barbara Smith Conrad.

Thursday, February 02, 2012

Black Women in American Culture and History

This year's theme, "Black Women in American Culture and History," invites us to pay special tribute to the role African American women have played in shaping the character of our Nation -- often in the face of both racial and gender discrimination. As courageous visionaries who led the fight to end slavery and tenacious activists who fought to expand basic civil rights to all Americans, African American women have long served as champions of social and political change. And from the literary giants who gave voice to their communities to the artists whose harmonies and brush strokes captured hardships and aspirations, African American women have forever enriched our cultural heritage. Today, we stand on the shoulders of countless African American women who shattered glass ceilings and advanced our common goals. In recognition of their legacy, let us honor their heroic and historic acts for years to come.

from President Obama's Official Proclamation

of February as African American History Month

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

The Star Thrower

An old man had a habit of early morning walks on the beach. One day, as he looked along the shore, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. As he came closer he saw that it was a young woman and she was not dancing but was reaching down to the sand, picking up starfish and very gently throwing them into the ocean.

"Young lady," he asked, "Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"

"The sun is up, and the tide is going out, and if I do not throw them in they will die."

"But young lady, do you not realise that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it? You cannot possibly make a difference."

The young woman listened politely, paused and then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves, saying:

"It made a big difference to that one."

Adapted from the story "The Star Thrower"
by Loren Eiseley (www.starfishcharity.org)