Library receives rare black history book

Joe and Mildred McNeal presented the book to the library staff Tuesday.

Former mayor Joe B. McNeal and Mildred McNeal of the Mountain Home Community Black History Committee presented the library Tuesday with a limited edition copy of "Black American's In Congress: 1879-2007," on behalf of the Idaho Black History Museum. The book was prepared by the Committee on House Administration of the U.S. House of Representatives, and presented to McNeal and the Idaho Black History Museum, by Sen. Mike Crapo, to be given to the Mountain Home Public Library.

Black History month currently is being observed at the Mountain Home Public Library and Faith Ringgold's Idaho Black History Museum print is currently on display. The showing of the print was made possible by Leslie and Stephen Goddard.

Visitors can browse the books and information board on display concerning the development of black history.

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In March the library will be celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday as well as Women's History Month. A number of displays have been set up to commemorate the events. For Dr. Seuss' Birthday on Monday, March 2, at 4:30 p.m. there will be a story time and a Seuss' craft. There also will be a presentation from "Seussical the Musical," presented by Mountain Home High School students.

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The Mountain Home Library will be participating in the Big Read again this year.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to revitalize the role of literary reading in American popular culture. It encourages people all across the country to read and discuss a single book within their communities.

This year the book is the "The Maltese Falcon." The book, written by Dashell Hammett, is a detective-novel and considered one of the best ever written.

"It is a great literary work, along with being a thriller, a love story and a dark comedy," organizers of the event said.

The book was made into a famous movie starring Humphrey Bogart.

Books of the Hammett story are currently available from the library. There will be a showing of the movie, starring Bogart, Mary Astor, Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet on Friday, Feb. 27, at 6:30 p.m.

The book discussion will be held March 6 at 7 p.m. The facilitator for the discussion will be Michael Lazare a retired professor from Colorado who taught detective fiction. "Bogey" will be attending the movie and book discussion.See the mountainhomenews for the complete story.