Alabama libraries have been at the center of attention over the past few years, but due to controversy over books on the shelves and not in celebration of the services they provide.
Jennifer Butler Keeton is setting out to change that with the launch of My Alabama Library, shining light on the efforts of libraries across the state.
“Public libraries transform lives every day, in a lot of different ways,” Keeton said. “Kids develop a love of learning and reading, and seniors stay connected to their community. People of all ages learn new job skills, find meaningful hobbies, and meet new friends.”
Alabama is home to more than 200 public libraries, each offering support, resources, and opportunities to their communities. My Alabama Library seeks to make more people aware of what their local libraries have to offer, Keeton said. She also hopes to build more community support for libraries by highlighting real-life personal success stories through interviews, articles, and videos.
The magazine launched last week features a four-generation family of book lovers who all regularly visit the Rogersville Public Library.
It’s a tradition that started because of 92-year-old Rosalie Lewis’s lifelong love of reading. Her daughter, Patti Reeves, inherited her mom’s love of reading and says childhood trips to the local library helped inspire her to become a 2nd grade teacher. Now, the whole family, including 2-year-old Beckham and 1-year-old Warren, visits the Rogersville
Public Library every two weeks. The adults stock up on books, and the kids enjoy storytime and art activities with the library staff.
“I just learned at her feet,” Reeves said of her mom, “and then my daughter saw me read, and she’s a reader.” She also said that young Beckham “will pick a book over a toy any day” and insists on coming along any time they visit the library.
The story is one of several that will be published on the Rogersville Public Library throughout August at myalabamalibrary.org.
“I’m excited to get this publication off the ground after several months of preparation,” Keeton said. “Rogersville was the perfect library to start with because it’s so important to its rural town. It really shows that when you invest in your local library, you’re investing in a happier, more fulfilled community.”
