Author to speak, sign books in finale of library program

The author of The Sweet Everlasting, the book at the center of the Columbia County Library's One Book, One Community program, will visit the library Saturday as the finale to the program.

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Novelist and poet Judson Mitcham will be discussing his book at 7 p.m. in the Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center at the library on North Belair Road in Evans.

The program is dedicated to reading and discussion, and officials hoped it would urge county residents to read the same book at the same time to create a communitywide book club.

Mitcham's book was chosen by residents from four books by Georgia authors.

Mitcham's book explores the mid-century rural Southern sharecropper's son, mill worker and ex-convict who is always working toward, but never expecting, redemption.

Jessica Thompson, a branch librarian at the Evans library, said participants don't have to have read Mitcham's book to attend the free author visit, where he will be signing books.

Mitcham's book has stayed checked out during the past few months of discussion groups throughout the county.

The Friends of the Library will be selling copies of The Sweet Everlasting.

"We've got stuff going on all day," Thompson said, adding that the Week of the Young Child Festival and Picnic will begin with carnival games at 10 a.m. at the amphitheater behind the library. "It is supposed to be in celebration of our one-year anniversary."

Mr. Bob the Singing Storyteller, who uses a variety of odd instruments in his show, will perform at noon at the amphitheater and 3 p.m. in the library lobby, where cake and punch also will be served.

"The noon performance will be held on the lawn and everyone is invited to bring their own picnic," Thompson said.

Mitcham will speak at 7 p.m. followed by heavy hors d'oeuvres. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, call the library at (706) 863-1946.