Who knew the word "cozy" was pejorative?

You would, if you attended the Carolyn Hart and Margaret Maron lecture last night. According to the authors, describing American mysteries written by women as "Cozies" belittles the genre and reinforces the preconceptions of chauvinistic, misogynist editors who dominate the publishing business (or something to that effect). Again, who knew?

The authors were both entertaining and enlightening (one of them won The Order of the Long Leaf Pine). Of particular interest were their descriptions of how they became mystery writers, and the challenges that they have faced through their careers (see the above paragraph). Their humor and insight, and rather good questions from the audience made the night quite memorable. Many thanks to Carolyn Hart and Margaret Maron.

Look for more events in the upcoming issue of the Charleston Reader, and don't forget about the Southern Literary Festival on May 28-30. It will be loads of fun, and again, you need to be here!

Spring has been especially beautiful, and colder than normal, this year in Charleston. This season, above all others, makes me grateful to be a resident of the Lowcountry. There are far worse places to live, most of which are north of Virginia and west of Texas.

Read a book!

Carolyn Hart and Margaret Maron...and You Need to be Here!

Thursday we will host Carolyn Hart and Margaret Maron, two of the world's most successful mystery writers...and you need to be here! Per your demands, we have made murder mysteries (or cozies) the greatest strength of our circulating collections for the past fifty years. Now, you have the opportunity to listen to, meet, and get signed copies from two of the masters in their field. Skip whatever you have planned (including College of Charleston plays, organizational meetings, or drinking at the club), and come to the Library Society to show your devotion to the genre. Be forewarned! If you do not attend, we will begin using the mystery book budget to purchase how-to and self-help books. Cozies or lawn mower maintenance manuals...the choice is yours!

Also, don't forget about the Southern Literary Festival from May 28-30. This year we will have a great line up of authors who will offer their perspectives on fiction and the South. Tickets will be available from Piccolo Spoleto. We look forward to seeing you here!

Read a book (and come see Carolyn Hart and Margaret Maron)!

I'm just sad 'cause there's still six months of baseball left...

XJSes roll around town with their tops down, polychrome sails push scores of dinghies back and forth across the harbor, tourists form an unplanned human chain Meeting and Market Streets in a kind of casual protest against all politeness. Yes, its springtime in Charleston. Which at the Library Society can only mean one thing... the Spring Book Sale!

Which was last weekend, so, you missed it. Way to go. For the record, it was excellent, which is a polite way of saying we made a little money with it. Thanks to all the members, Bridge Runners, tourists, and sundry passers-by who stopped in; an even bigger thanks to the volunteers who kept the sale sailing along.

So with the Book Sale out of the way, springtime at the library must mean it's time for something else... and that something is murder! On Thursday, April 16th, at 7:00 PM, we will host Writing Murder Mysteries of the Carolinas, a lecture and book signing with authors Carolyn Hart and Margaret Maron. These two nationally-recognized authors will be providing insights into their creative process. It's sure to be an exciting night- doubly so if they disclose their "creative process" for penning murder mysteries (over fifty between the two!) to be autobiographical. RSVP now.

Don't forget, the Edgar Allan Poe exhibit is still here: if you can't make it to the Murder Mysteries event, you can still get in a little vernal morbidity- if you come before the 20th of April.

ACTUAL LIBRARY NEWS: the Library Society will be closed this Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th. We will return to normal hours Easter Monday because we're the only country in the Western world that doesn't get the day off...

Spring Book Sale, Still More Poe, and Mysteries

This weekend the Library Society will hold its annual Spring Book Sale: we refer to it as Mr. Hinson's Crazy Book Bargain Bonanza (everything must go, go, go)! As in the past, this year's sale will feature great titles and even better bargains. If you love books, and you are looking for a stack of volumes to read during summer vacation, the Library Society is the place to be on Saturday and Sunday. The hours for the sale are 9:30 AM-5:00 PM on Saturday, and 1:30-5:00 PM on Sunday. All books will be half price on Sunday. Book dealers are welcome, but only after Noon on Saturday.

People are still talking about Friday's Poe event (in a good way)! Prof. Harry L. Poe gave an enthralling lecture about the famous poet, and then read "The Raven." Members indulged on Poe-themed hors d'oeuvres, such as City in the Sea Shrimp, The Pit-cooked Barbeque and the Pendulum Sliders, and Ravens Wings (there was no extra charge for the puns). We are grateful to Prof. Poe and other Poe family members, who made the gala and our month-long Poe exhibit possible. If you have not yet seen the exhibit, you have until April 20. It is definitely worth a trip to King Street.

Don't forget that nationally best-selling mystery writers Carolyn Hart and Margaret Maron will be at the Library Society on April 16 to speak about writing mysteries in the Carolinas and to sign copies of their books. If you love mysteries, this is a must-see event!

We look forward to seeing you this weekend.

Read a book (that you purchase from the Library Society)!

Poe, Poe, Poe...and Other Things

On Friday evening the Charleston Library Society will unveil its Edgar Allan Poe exhibit at a Poe-themed party (or Poepalooza) for members and guests. The exhibit includes Poe manuscripts, rare editions, and ephemera, and the event will feature Poe-themed hors d'oeuvres. The exhibit made the front page of the Post and Courier on Monday, and it is even more impressive in person. Tickets for the Poe party are still available, so call today. We are sure that you will have a good time (we humbly apologize to the member who called on Monday to express their concern that people are enjoying themselves at the Library Society).

Jack Bass and Scott Poole did a great job last week at their lecture on South Carolina during the modern era. One of the underlying currents to their comments (and the resulting audience questions) was that South Carolina is dealing with many of the same issues today as during the past century (no great surprise there).

Don't forget our annual Spring Book Sale on April 4-5. We begin the book sale on the day of the Bridge Run, with the hope that dehydrated and fatigued runners will stumble into the building and purchase their weight in Lee Iacocca biographies (at least that is how it has worked in past). Sunday is half-price day (we have discontinued the "fill a box with books for $10" promotion).

Thanks for your support, and we hope to see you soon!

Read a book!

(It's also Osama Bin Laden's birthday... but let's not get into that.)

Happy Purim! We here at Shh! would like to thank the City of Charleston for bringing some non-traditional ra'ashan... er, noisemakers, in the form of jackhammers and Sawzalls and front-end loaders and the like. These guests should still be around long after the holiday has passed...

We hope you've been able to make it to one of our late-winter events: both the Ken Burger and Marjorie Wentworth book signings proved entertaining, interactive, and very well-attended. If you haven't been able to make it to an event recently, we hope you'll join us Monday (yes, Monday- not Thursday) the 16th (St. Pat's eve!) for Jack Bass and W. Scott Poole as they discuss and sign copies of their new book, The Palmetto State: The Making of Modern South Carolina.

Also on the horizon... a major event celebrating Edgar Allan Poe, mid-April murder mysteries, and, yes- the Spring Book Sale (April 4th-5th... get the word out now)!

Southern Fried Fiction and Poetry

You should kick yourself if you missed Ken Burger's talk about his book Swallow Savannah. Burger is a rarity; he is an accomplished journalist, an excellent writer, and as congenial as anyone that you would ever hope to meet. The setting for his novel is mid-century Groton, SC, (a thinly disguised Allendale, which was Burger's childhood home). His book is replete with elements of Southern Gothic fiction: sex, avarice, violence, substance abuse, and racism. Burger uses all of these instruments to create a tale of how outside forces change the residents of a small South Carolina town. Check it out today.

Next on the agenda is Marjory Wentworth, who will be at the Library Society on March 5 to discuss her book, Shackles, her poetry, and herself. She is poet laureate of South Carolina, a prolific writer, and a regular contributor to the Post and Courier. She also will sign copies of her books, so do not miss this event!

The city's work crews have once again descended on lower King Street to "beautify" it with bluestone sidewalks. We apologize for the daytime mess, but you can park behind the Library Society and avoid much of the noise. The construction crews depart by 5:00 pm, so parking for evening events is not a problem.

We hope that you join us for all of our entertaining and educational programs. We also hope to see you soon.

Read a Book!

Many moons have passed....

It has been quite some time since Clifford Jacobs or I have taken time to keep you informed of Library Society happenings. We hope that you had a chance to come to Danny Crooks' lecture on January 15 (the crowd was large and enthusiastic). Let's face it, if you can't draw a crowd in Charleston with a lecture and book signing dealing with Robert E. Lee, then you are just not trying.

I also hope that you had a chance to attend the Library Society's 260th Annual Meeting. For the first time in its long history, the Library Society has witnessed trustees rotating off the board as a result of term limits. The new trustees are excited to be part of the team, and we are excited to have them on board.

The Library Society received much appreciated publicity from the the front page Post and Courier article about the George Washington/Charles Cotesworth Pinckney correspondence. We also received an addition to the collections. After reading the article, two generous members donated to the Library Society Pinckney's appointment as Minister Plenipotentiary to France. They also donated a letter from Washington welcoming Pinckney home from France and offering to host him and his family at Mount Vernon as they returned to Charleston.

We have big plans for late Winter and early Spring. Ken Burger will be here on February 19 to discuss his debut novel Swallow Savannah. Many of you know him as the Post and Courier's new columnist and a former sports reporter.

We will blog more often in the future. After all, what would Shh! be without news?

Read a book!

Christmas Parades and Gifts

For those who were not able to partake, our second annual Christmas Parade Party was a great success, though the parade was significantly smaller than in past years. Entries included pirate re-enactors, Lowcountry Basset Hound Rescue, and the usual assortment of late-model convertibles with poorly-spelled posters alerting spectators that they were in the presence of the Junior King and Queen of various fraternal organizations. Of particular interest were the entries for the US Department of Homeland Security, Division of Customs and Border Patrol. One Customs van stopped in front of the Library Society, and a small boy asked the agent if he could ride in his truck. The officer smiled and responded that all of his trips are "one-way."

Since the holidays are upon us, we are all still looking for those last minute gift ideas. Though it is late, the Library Society is still taking orders for gift memberships. Give us a call at 843-723-9912, and we will make sure that your special someone receives the wonderful gift of one year of Charleston Library Society membership.

Thanks for a great year, and we hope to see you often in 2009!

Read a book (preferably something by Dickens)!

Giving Thanks

With the approach of Thanksgiving, we have much to be grateful for at the Library Society. The first ten months of 2008 have been a time of growth for our organization. Our membership has increased, and more Charleston residents and visitors are learning about our mission and our wonderful collections. Recently, the Charleston Mercury featured an excellent article about the Library Society and its history.

In addition, we have sponsored a number of successful events this year, which have been both entertaining and educational. Two weeks ago we sponsored a sold-out lecture on rum, the triangle of trade, and Charleston, which was followed by a rum tasting. Everyone enjoyed the event, though there was little consensus on which rum was best. Judging from facial expressions (and coughs), the Barbancourt 15 yr. old was definitely not the winner (so much for Haiti's #1 industry).

With the good, however, comes the bad. This year has been a time of failing heating and cooling units at the Library Society. Last Monday the boiler in the main library ceased to function. You might recall that we replaced, at substantial cost, the air conditioning unit in that same building this past summer. The boiler should be fixed in the next few days, but until then, visitors will find the building to be much colder than normal.

We all have witnessed the stock market's slump, which has negatively affected our endowment. Last week we mailed our 2008 Annual Appeal Campaign letter to our members. The mailer was two months later than usual, since we decided to wait for a respite from the successive waves of financial bad news that have pounded us since September. We urge you to give generously to this campaign. Your gifts are more important to the Library Society now than perhaps at any other time in our history.

To kick off the holiday season, we hope that you will join us for our second annual Christmas Parade Party on Sunday, December 7. Bring the children and grandchildren, and watch the Charleston Christmas Parade from the best seats on King Street: the stairs of the Library Society. We will have some cushions, but we urge you to bring your own, since the Society's marble steps are hard, and the parade will last from 2-5 p.m. We will serve Christmas refreshments, hot cider, and lots of holiday cheer!

Read a book (and come wave to Santa at the parade)!

Ghosts, Used Books, and Rum

The staff of the Library Society are absolutely giddy with excitement about tonight's Halloween Party. Hopefully the city's subcontractors will put down their Mountain Dews and honey buns long enough to move their trucks to let visitors and patrons use our parking lot. For those who attend, we promise a frighteningly fun time! Society directory Eric Emerson will give a ghost tour of the building, and Mike Coker will give a ghost tour of downtown Charleston. For our junior members, Carol Jones will have games and crafts. The prize for the best costume is Mike Coker's newest book, Charleston Curiosities: Stories of the Tragic, Heroic, and Bizarre. With any luck, our resident ghost will make an appearance. We guarantee good food, drink, and scary company.

Speaking of scary, after this protracted election cycle, we all will need something to soothe our nerves and distract us for a few months until the next presidential election begins. With that in mind, why not stop by our annual fall book sale on November 8-9. The sale will take place on the first floor of the Barnwell Building from 9:30-5:00 on Saturday, and 1:30-5:00 on Sunday. Book dealers are welcome after noon on Saturday and not a minute earlier (unless, of course, we are desperate). On Sunday, all books are half price, or you can fill a box with books for only $10.

If you are a fan of steel drums and boat drinks, the Library Society's other November event will grab your attention. On November 13, Eric Emerson will give a lecture entitled "Rum, the Triangle of Trade, and Charleston," which will focus on the seventeenth and eighteenth-century rum trade and its impact on Charleston. Afterwards, participants will have an opportunity to enjoy Caribbean-inspired hors d'oeuvres and taste some of the world's finest rums. It will be the most fun that you can have north of Jost Van Dyke.

Read a book!

Earplugs, Anyone?

Like one of the circles of hell from Dante's Inferno, the past two weeks have been a time of endless jack hammering, drilling, sawing and construction noise outside the Library Society. Continuing road work has prevented staff members and visitors from using the Library Society's parking lot, and this morning, the staff was greeted with the pungent aroma of a natural gas line that construction workers pierced in front of the Ripley-Ravenel Building. The leak was contained within a couple of hours, and the work began anew. The good news is that workers have filled and paved the ditch in front of the Library Society's driveway, so visitors might have access to the parking lot by the time of the lecture and book signing on Thursday (fingers crossed).

Speaking of which, did I mention that we are hosting a lecture and book signing by local historian and archivist Michael D. Coker at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 23? Mike's newest book is entitled Charleston Curiosities: Stories of the Tragic, Heroic, and Bizarre (History Press). Mike is a great story teller, and he also has volunteered to lead ghost tours of Charleston as part of our Halloween Party.

Speaking of which, did I happen to mention that the Library Society will host its first Halloween Party at 7:00 p.m. on October 30? Party goers will enjoy refreshments, scary tales, and ghost tours, while children will enjoy games, stories, and Halloween goodies. Everyone is expected to dress in their scariest Halloween costume. I am personally thinking about dressing as Ben Bernanke or Vladimir Lenin (hmm).

Thanks to our members for filling out their surveys. We have learned much that we did not know, and confirmed much that we suspected. Thanks, also, to our members for their patience with King Street construction. Thankfully, it will cease for the holidays, and we will all enjoy a short break before it begins again in 2009.

Read a book (and come to our next lecture and Halloween Party)!

They're Baaack!

City of Charleston construction crews once again have begun work on King Street in front of the Library Society. Trucks and backhoes will block our driveway for a few days, so please accept our apologies for any inconvenience that the work may cause. Needless to say, we will remain open during this newest round of "improvements", and we hope that you will not let the construction deter you from visiting.

We have an exciting programs schedule for the Fall, and our next event is a book signing on October 23 featuring local historian Michael Coker. His newest book, Charleston Curiosities: Stories of the Tragic, Heroic and Bizarre, is a series of essays regarding some of the more fascinating aspects of Charleston's past, including a chapter on the 1706 Spanish and French siege of Charleston, and another regarding Seminole warrior Osceola and the final disposition of his remains. As with all Library Society events, we will have refreshments for those who attend.

We have been inundated with member surveys, and we hope to get even more. If you have not mailed your survey, you can fill out an online version on our website and save the cost of postage. Member comments are vital to our strategic planning process, and all surveys are anonymous and confidential. Thanks for your support, and we hope to see you soon.

Read a Book!

Concerning the second most annoying "Hannah"...

The Library will be closed this Friday and Saturday as we all flee like cowards from a Tropical Storm/small Hurricane. If you decide to stick it out, stop by tomorrow and pick up some books. Just be aware that you can't run to the Library for new stuff this weekend; we will not be here.

I, for one, am looking forward to sailing my new boat down Coming Street. May you have a weekend every bit as safe and exciting.

P.S.- Check back Monday (ha ha, like you'll have power!) to see if we're closing for "Ike".

Is That What I Think It Is?

Are you feeling particularly anti-social? Sick of the staff's smiling faces and witty banter? Ashamed that all of your books are a month overdue, including the latest about the "Snookums the Cat" Detective Agency? Or are you simply too tired to get out of your car? Well if so, have we got a solution for you! Introducing the Charleston Library Society's new book return! It is constructed of durable steel, powdered coated in white paint, marked "Book Return" in large black letters (for our less observant members), and located beside the driveway. Now you can drive into our parking lot, turn around, and drive up to the book return without getting out of your car! It is also appropriate for videos, DVDs, and cash or checks (we hope for lots of the latter). We are sure that it will be a big hit.

If you joined the Library Society during the past year, Thursday is the day of our annual New Member Reception. We will have many of the Library Society's treasures on display, and staff will give behind the scenes tours of our collections (plus we will have refreshments). We hope that you can join us, and if not, we hope to see you soon!

Read a book!

"Tropical Storm Party" just doesn't have the same ring to it...

Well, summer is winding down. Kids are going back to school, third-stringers are trudging through pre-season football games, politicians are politicking, anglophile Library Society members are checking out Last Night of the Proms (now available on DVD)... all the typical late summer stuff.

And this week, nature herself is doing her end of August thing: sending us a Tropical Storm! Tropical Storm Fay is making landfall in south Florida (where Bill Parcells will attempt to sign it as QB for the Dolphins) and should be a glorified rainstorm when it comes to Charleston: more of a "Barry" than a "Hugo". Still, a good hard rain causes Charleston to do her best Venice impersonation... better to come by the Library Society early this week to stock up on books in preparation for the storm.

ACTUAL LIBRARY NEWS: Our annual New Member Reception is still on for August 28th. If you've joined in the past year, come by for tours and canapes and rare stuff from the collections and refreshments... Attire is business casual- better than flip-flops but less than than top hat and tails, and we'll probably let you in (we would let you in in tails, but you'd make the rest of us feel shabby).

Would Someone Please Close the Oven?

Can it get any hotter? That, of course, is a rhetorical question. Yes it can get hotter, and it probably will in the near future. No matter how oppressive the heat (99 degrees yesterday), we are blessed to be located only minutes from a breezy river or beach. In Columbia, the temperature hit 102 yesterday, and relief for its residents is much farther away. The current conditions provide an excellent reason to visit the Library Society. While here, you can marvel at the awe-inspiring efficiency of our brand new air conditioning unit. It is whisper quiet, energy efficient, and very effective.

As the heat subsides we will begin our Fall programs schedule. First on the agenda is our annual New Member Reception on August 28. Members who joined the organization for the first time during the past year will have an opportunity to make new friends, meet the staff, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the Library Society and its great collections. Did I mention that there will be refreshments?

Two days after the reception, Clemson University will begin its 2008 football season in Atlanta, where they will play Nick Saban's University of Alabama team. This game has absolutely nothing to do with the Library Society, but the start of college football season is highly anticipated by Library Society staff (and all true Americans).

We have good news for patrons! The backhoe and jackhammers have moved on, and we are left with only the noise of passing autos and pedestrians, thus providing you with one more reason to stop by and spend some time with us. We hope to see you soon.

Read a book (and drink plenty of water) !

W.G. Hinson

A Backhoe, a Jackhammer, and a Good Book

During the next couple of weeks, Library Society patrons will be greeted by the presence of a large backhoe in front of our main building. They also will be forced to endure a cacophony of jackhammering. City workers have begun the Library Society's portion of the King Street repair and beautification program. We hope that you will not be dissuaded from visiting by the machinery, noise, or orange cones. You will still be able to park behind the building, and the sidewalk is not blocked, so you may use the front or back entrance. We apologize for any inconvenience that the construction may cause.

July has been a fairly busy month for the staff. We have rearranged the Children's Room to create more flexible space, and we continue to relabel special collections materials. We also are inventorying our collection of videotapes and DVDs to remove duplicates, with the goal of generating extra shelf space in the Barnwell Building for additional DVDs.

If you are a military history buff, I urge you to stop by and check out Rick Atkinson's The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-44. It is the second in a planned three-volume history of the U.S. Army in North Africa and Europe during World War II. The first volume, An Army at Dawn, earned a well-deserved Pulitzer Prize for Atkinson, and The Day of Battle is every bit as good. Atkinson is a wonderful writer, and though his work is very detailed, it is compelling enough to hold the attention of most readers.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Read a book!
W.G. Hinson

Summertime

Carolina Day has come and gone, and once again it was a great success. The weather at the Battery was beautiful, cool (low 90's), and breezy, and the Library Society again fielded a large contingent of marchers. Amid a sea of seersucker, Library Society members cast disparaging glances rearward to those johnny-come-lately organizations founded in the late eighteenth century. Upon arrival at the Sergeant Jasper monument, we spread out under the beautiful live oaks, which to our chagrin, were filled with Yellow Night Herons that attempted a bombardment of their own. The service concluded with what seemed like an endless cannonade by a battery of Confederate reenactors. Adults winced, children cried, and dogs barked with each shot. This year the cannon was pointed at the Fort Sumter House instead of out over the harbor, and those in attendance were left with the impression that a company of Yankees had purchased a two bedroom, two bath condo, and the Winyah Light Artillery were trying to drive them back north of the Mason-Dixon. All in all, it was a remarkable day.

The Library Society was closed on July 4 and 5, but we opened again on July 7 for those patrons who are looking for a cool and quiet refuge from the heat. Summers are our quietest season, as members leave for cooler climates. If you are in town for a "staycation," stop by and take a look at the newest issues of Country Life. Yes, these issues have all that you've come to expect from our most popular periodical: horsey debutantes who are spending their gap year in Santorini; multi-million pound country estates; and commentary on the oh-so-troublesome and invasive American Grey Squirrel. Throw in a photographic spread from Lord Smith-Smythe-Smith's birthday party, and you have something for the whole family.

Seriously, we hope that you will stop by, if for no other reason than to say hello. Read a book!

Carolina Day is coming, the goose is getting fat...

Just a few more days 'till Carolina Day! Join us as we celebrate South Carolina history: our crude palmetto fort absorbing British shot; the heroism of Sergeant Jasper, leaping into the crossfire to raise high our flag; the Redcoated blockhead who thought wading troops across Breach Inlet (while under fire) would be a simple endeavour...

Join us Saturday in commemorating South Carolina's own independence day. The Library will march near the head of the parade (so feel free to act sniffy to friends near the tail). We'll see you underneath our green and gold banner at Washington Park between 10:30 and 11:00!

If you can't make it out Saturday (and don't use some excuse about heat or humidity- just remember What Would Colonel Moultrie Do?), stop by the Library and check out some movies that you can watch in air-conditioned comfort. We're in the middle of receiving and cataloguing a big batch, so look for new titles on the shelf soon.