Georgetown Library Serves as First Host of Special Ben Franklin Exhibit

The exhibit premieres nationally at the Georgetown County Library on Saturday, November 3, 2007, at 7:00 PM. The library is the only South Carolina site for this display.

Besides serving his country as a skillful diplomat and negotiator, Benjamin Franklin was a vibrant man of all seasons as a scientist, inventor, entrepreneur, humorist, philanthropist, and activist whose wit and wisdom continue to amaze, inspire, and entertain us more than 300 years after his birth. Franklin was dedicated to making the world a better place and himself a better person. His was the quintessential American success story.

The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary of Philadelphia and the American Library Association organized the exhibit with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The ALA Public Programs Office coordinated a competitive application process which resulted countrywide in 40 academic-and-public-library locations for this exposition.

The 1,000-square-foot exhibit will be at the Georgetown County Library until the end of January 2008. From November 2007 until then, the library will host five free humanities programs and other events including a special opening reception, an art contest and exhibit for youngsters from ages 5 to 17, dance, music, and a special 301st Benjamin Franklin birthday party. SC Humanities is sponsoring four speakers from Speakers Bureau: Humanities Out Loud, including Chautauqua scholar Ed Beardsley appearing as Benjamin Franklin.

For additional details, please visit the library’s web site at www.gclibrary.org or telephone the library at 545-3304 or email benfranklin@gclibrary.org.

Art credit: “Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky, ca. 1816. Benjamin West. Philadelphia Museum of Art, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Wharton Sinkler, 1958. Photo by Graydon Wood”