The Courtyard View

From upstairs in the library, there is a lovely view of the courtyard below.

Linking to Weekly Top Shot and City Daily Photo Blogs

Friday Fences, Grillwork at the Library

Selma seems to have an endless supply of intricate, iron grillwork,

 both modern and vintage. Pictured is the centerpiece of the

 library balcony located just above the main entrance. 

Linking to Friday Fences

Read, Rest, Relax

It's ABC Wednesday, and C if for Courtyard.

Summer is a good time to head out to the courtyard at the

 Selma-Dallas County Public Library. You can read, rest and relax

 in the shade, hear the drip, drip, drip of the fountain

 and perhaps the song of a bird.

Linking with ABC Wednesday

Line to the Library

Lines of children head into the Selma-Dallas County Public Library Tuesday to meet McClellan's Critters, an annual summer event. Check out more library fun during a Sensational Selma Summer.

The Quintessential Courtyard

Seems I can't stay away from the library during the lingering heat of summer! Its courtyard is at peak when the crepe myrtles bloom, and besides listening to the fountain, you can rest in the shade on one of several benches and read or just watch the birds. And don't forget to make a wish!

Books for Young Adults

The Selma-Dallas County Public Library devotes a whole room of shelves to books for young adults, meaning teenage years on up. When I took this reflection of the trees and clouds from the library courtyard, I noticed the sign inside for the young adult room.

Cool Water

Welcome to the courtyard at the library!

3-D Butterflies

Colorful 3-D butterflies were among the crafts made by children at Open House Art last week.

The two-hour arts and crafts workshop was held at the Selma-Dallas County Public Library and brought lots of children of all ages. The next Open House Art will be July 6 from 10 a.m. til noon.

To see more photos of this event, check out Selma NOW.

View from Carter's Corner

It's midday downtown, and here's a view across Broad Street from the Carter Drug corner. The building you see in the background (from left of the tree and to the right of the tree) is the Selma-Dallas County Public Library. Yes, it's a big building! The entrance is behind the tree, and to the left is adult fiction and a large section of large-print books as well as audio books, videos, DVDs and the main desk. Upstairs, you find nonfiction, reference, the computer lab and genealogy. Sections on the right house meeting rooms and offices downstairs and children's and youth books upstairs, along with a big room used for puppet shows and other special events. Today's schedule includes an acrylic painting workshop for adults and teens, Open House Art and a Kirigami Class for ages 8 and up.

I almost forgot! Just inside the entrance to the right is Selma's Visitor Information Center.

(Click on the photo to enlarge it, and you can get a better view of the butterfly sculptures on the street corners.)

Library Petting Zoo

Passersby at the library yesterday might have wondered what all the commotion was about. Hundreds of children turned out to talk to the animals at the petting zoo on the front lawn.

Cows, donkeys, goats, rabbits, pigs and even a porcupine greeted their guests beneath a sprawling shade tree. (I haven't heard how many children petted the porcupine!)

Grandma's House in Riverview

I'm going way, way back with this photo! One hundred years ago, my Yankee born and bred grandmother lived in this house (photo from her album) in the Riverview District of Selma. (Don't you just love the white picket fence?)

Anyway, Grandma was a recent graduate of Berea College in Kentucky, and her entire family had moved here from New Burlington, Ohio (the town that was drowned in the 1970s when a reservoir was built). Her father and two brothers worked at the Schuer-Miller Lumber Company. Another brother was an engraver at a jewelry store, and she was a teacher.

Selma was something of a boomtown in those days... its population increasing more than 50 percent during the first decade of the 20th Century. Banks and hospitals were under construction. Streets were paved, and electricity introduced. Then, streetcars arrived.

All was well in Selma until influenza struck in the Spring of 1912. My great-grandfather was among the afflicted that April, and the virus progressed to pneumonia. About the time the "worst" was over and the same week the RMS Titanic sunk in the North Atlantic, his illness relapsed and he died. Well, his second wife (my grandmother lost her own mama when she was little) had never cared for Heart of Dixie humidity, so she and most of the children returned to the North...except for Grandma. She was in love with a foreman at the sawmill. He couldn't let her go, so they got married one day in May and lived happily ever after. He got a new job at another sawmill and they left Selma, but decades later, one of her granddaughters (that would be me) moved back specifically to research this story!

This little bit of family history was made possible by Grandma's memories, her photo albums, newspapers on microfilm and the 1909 Selma City Directory that is so wonderfully preserved at the Selma-Dallas County Public Library.

Bibbity Bobbity Boo!

Cinderella turns around to see her fairy godmother come to her rescue in the "Cinderella" puppet show at the Selma-Dallas County Public Library. The show is the February feature in the Children's Department.

And who can remember the words to Disney's version of the song that transformed Cinderella from rags to a glamorous gown for the royal ball?

"Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Put 'em together and what have you got
Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
It'll do magic believe it or not
Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Salagadoola means mechicka booleroo
But the thingmabob that does the job is
Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Salagadoola menchicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Put 'em together and what have you got
bibbidi-bobbidi bibbidi-bobbidi bibbidi-bobbidi-boo"

Just for Fun and Puppet Shows

February is already more than half gone, but there are still a couple of days for children's programs at the library.

Just for Fun is a crafts, music and story time for children ages 4-7 while the Puppet Shows feature the show and a short craft. The Cinderella story is this month's feature. Rapunzel lets down her hair in March.

Looking out the window, you can see the former First Christian Church building.

Twelve Drummers Drumming

"On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...twelve drummers drumming."

Here is Lafawnda Watson's interpretation of the twelfth day of Christmas in the popular song. Aren't these drummers colorful? I can just hear the pa rum pum pum pums now!

The "Twelve Days of Christmas" art project is sponsored by the Selma Art Guild and on display at the Selma-Dallas County Public Library.

Squeaky Clean

Now you know how the saltwater aquarium at the public library stays so squeaky clean!

Library employees not only check out books and keep them orderly; they clean the aquarium, which is home to several species of fish, including Big Fish. He's the shadowy creature swimming away from us. The aquarium is a central attraction in the children's department.

Visitor Information

Welcome to Historic Selma and the Visitor Information Center.

The center opened last summer at the Selma-Dallas County Library, but the sign went up just recently.

The library and visitor center are downtown on Broad Street next door to Selma City Hall. You can find brochures, flyers, maps and recommended tours.

November Theme Day (Books)

It's November Theme Day, and the subject is Books!

So, who can resist a Dr. Seuss quote and a tempting lineup of beginner books at the local library?

To view more literary photos, start your journey around the world in the City Daily Photo theme day.

"Oh, the places you'll go!"

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by freefalling, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Aurora, South Africa by shelagh, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Bali, Indonesia by Anak Dokan, Bandung, Indonesia by Eki Akhwan, Bandung, Indonesia by Bunyamin, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Bangkok, Thailand by UberSand, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Baziège, France by PaB, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Birmingham (AL), USA by VJ, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Ilse, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boulder (CO), USA by A Sterling World, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Chandler (AZ), USA by PattheAZRealtor, Chapel Hill (NC), USA by missleah, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Chateaubriant, France by trieulet, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, City of the Blue Mountains, Australia by Richard, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Evry, France by Olivier, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Gliwice, Poland by prado&fio, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by PPusa, Herne Bay, Great Britain by Han, Lil n Caz, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Honningsvag, Norway by J., Islip (NY), USA by Bettye, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia by Susie of Arabia, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Karwar, India by Yogesh, Knoxville (TN), USA by Knoxville Girl, Knoxville (TN), USA by hope, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lodz, Poland by wikiyu, London, UK by Ham, Madrid, Spain by Tr3nta, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Hilda, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Middletown (MD), USA by Bernie, Milton, New Zealand by Milton Daily Photo, Milwaukee (WI), USA by karl, Minneapolis (MN), USA by snapshutter, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Molfetta, Italy by saretta, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Montréal, Canada by My Life in Montreal, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Moscow (ID), USA by Sherry, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Murcia, Spain by usuahia, Napa (CA), USA by katester, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by Kitty, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Oklahoma City (OK), USA by ananda.tashie, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Eric, Paris, France by Elsa, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Pensacola (FL), USA by P J, Philadelphia (PA), USA by Stiffa, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Sharon, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Prague, Czech Republic by kakna, Quincy (MA), USA by slim, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Reykjavik, Iceland by Vírgíll, Riga, Latvia by Riga Photos, Roanoke (VA), USA by Tanya, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salem (OR), USA by pearls, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Francisco (CA), USA by Burd Zel Krai, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Santa Fe (NM), USA by Randem, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, Korea South by SeoulSnapper, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Singapore, Singapore by Zannnie, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, Springfield (IL), USA by Aubrey, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tamarindo, Costa Rica by David, Tauranga, New Zealand by Lisa Sarsfield, Telluride (CO), USA by mtsrool, Tempe (AZ), USA by angie, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Torino, Italy by Fabrizio, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Trieste, Italy by Rob&Piero, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Verona, Italy by Valeria in Verona, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by D.C. Confidential, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Woerden, Netherlands by Marcel, Yakima (WA), USA by katney, Yellowknife, Canada by Arctic Dreamer, York, UK by Ruby in York,

Happy Halloween

Over at the Birmingham Daily Photo, Virginia has begun an unofficial "100 Strangers Challenge." She challenges herself to greet strangers, get to know them a bit and ask to take their picture. She's met some interesting people that way! So, I decided to try the same thing, and today I met this curious fellow at the Selma-Dallas County Public Library. He was too timid to say a word, but his picture tells his story...which is? I don't know, except he normally wears a suit of armor, and now he is dressed as a warlock? I really think that bright orange (scarf?) brightens him up a lot, and I picked up a vibe that he'd like to tell everybody "Happy Halloween!"

Bird Watching

A good place to watch birds is on a bench in the library courtyard.
I was only there a few minutes, and several different birds flew over to the fountain to test the water. This photo is greatly enlarged so is not sharp...just wish I could have gotten closer with the camera.

Kathryn Tucker Windham Day

I'm making an exception and posting two photos today in honor of the 90th birthday of a very exceptional lady, Kathryn Tucker Windham.
On Sunday, Selma celebrated our National Treasure: our "Ghost Lady," nationally renowned author, storyteller, photographer and one-woman drama performer.

Her party was one for the record books, the cameras, the TV stations and the newspapers...held on the library lawn, complete with a Dixieland jazz band and New Orleans-style street parade, a comb concert and family, fans and friends who came from all over Alabama and some from around the USA.

Above, Kathryn enjoys the street parade from the library balcony, and at right, she proudly wears a birthday hat for her cake and moonpie reception at the Performing Arts Centre.
To view the slideshow, click HERE.
To read news articles about her, click HERE
and HERE.