LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County community is invited to participate in the Lake County Library’s Book-to-Action series of events, featuring the book “The Oral History Workshop” by Cynthia Hart and Lisa Samson, to be held during April at several locations around Lake County.
The Lake County Library and the Lake County Museums are collaborating to produce this Book-to-Action series, which grew out of the realization following the county’s “Summer of Fire” that many people have stories to tell.
“Although perhaps a cliché, it is true that history happens every day,” said Lake County Museum Curator Tony Pierucci. “The fires that Lake County survived last year left an indelible mark on our community and it is important that we begin the process of preserving the oral history.”
Fire survivors may be looking for a way to record their stories. People interested in conducting interviews may not know how to help with that process.
An oral history project may seem intimidating if one isn’t sure about how to do it. Book-to-Action will bring together people in both categories and help them conduct interviews.
The Oral History Workshop breaks down an oral history project into a series of easily-managed tasks so even beginners can start their own projects.
More than a how-to manual, the book is also a why-to-do-it guide. Author Cynthia Hart drew on her own family’s history for stories that illustrate why oral history is important.
All Book-to-Action events are free and no registration is required to attend an event. Participants will volunteer their time to conduct interviews once they’re trained. Call 707-263-8817 for more information.
Copies of “The Oral History Workshop” are free and available at all Lake County Library branches and both Lake County Museums in April as long as supplies last. Come to any branch to get a book and a schedule of events.
Library branches are located at 1425 N. High St. in Lakeport, 14785 Burns Valley Road in Clearlake, 21256 Washington St. in Middletown and 310 Second St. in Upper Lake.
The Lake County Museums are the Historic Courthouse Museum located at 255 N. Main St. in Lakeport and the Schoolhouse Museum at 16435 Morgan Valley Road in Lower Lake.
The Book-to-Action program is a variation on the traditional library book group – it offers participants not only the opportunity to collectively read and discuss a book, but also to put their newfound knowledge into action by engaging in a community service project or activity related to the book's topic.
Book-to-Action is a project of the California State Library in partnership with the California Center for the Book, and it is being implemented in libraries throughout the State.
The project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
Join local residents to discuss The Oral History Workshop, which explains how to open the door to memories and record those vivid stories for future generations. Share with other readers your favorite aspects of the book, and pose questions you'd like to discuss. Get ideas about how you can get involved in volunteer oral history projects in Lake County.
Events will include workshops and book discussion where participants will learn how to do oral history and then record oral history interviews. Other events will feature people telling their Valley Fire stories.
Book-to-Action culminates in a five-hour recording session on April 23 at the Schoolhouse Museum in Lower Lake.
The full calendar of events is available at all Lake County Library branches and both Lake County Museums, and is posted on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov .
People who have stories to tell can contact the Lake County Library at 707-263-8817 if they want to be interviewed or to share their stories about the recent fires. They will be matched with trained interviewers to record their stories.
The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary . The Lake County Museums are on the Internet at http://museums.lakecountyca.gov .
Jan Cook works for the Lake County Library.
Book-to-Action: Oral history project takes place in April in Lake County
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