African American Subjects on United States Postage Stamps
This exhibit of Black Heritage stamps was created by one of the library's skilled staff members, and includes replicas of US Postage Stamps honoring African Americans. The first U.S. stamp to honor an African American was the ten-cent Booker T. Washington stamp, issued in 1940. This stamp depicted the educator best known for his leadership of the Tuskegee Institute. The first stamp in the new Black Heritage Series features Harriet Tubman. Born a slave, Tubman helped more than 300 slaves escape to freedom along the fabled ‘Underground Railroad.’ She was also the first African American woman to appear on a U.S. stamp.
In 1978, the Postal Service initiated the Black Heritage stamp series to recognize the achievements of individual African Americans. Today, close to 50 years later, the Black Heritage series is the USPS the longest-running U.S. stamp series.
The inspiration behind the displays comes from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). Each year, ASALH creates themes to highlight different aspects of Black history and culture. This year's theme, “African Americans and Labor,” focuses on the profound impact of African American labor. By showcasing the Black Heritage stamps, the exhibit not only honors the individuals depicted but also aligns with ASALH's theme by recognizing the significant contributions of African Americans in various fields of labor throughout history. This connection underscores the importance of acknowledging and celebrating the diverse roles and achievements of Black Americans in shaping the nation's labor landscape.
Learn more about how subjects are selected for U.S. postage stamps.
Join the Southlake Public Library in celebrating Black History Month.
NewsStand is an innovative platform that provides a vast selection of magazines at your fingertips. Whether you're a fan of fashion, sports, current events, or lifestyle content, NewsStand has something for everyone.
With just a few clicks, you can read the latest issues of popular publications on your tablet, smartphone, or computer. It's never been easier to stay informed and entertained, no matter where you are. Plus, it's all free with your Southlake Public Library barcode!
Some of the magazines included are Men’s Health, Vogue US, Car and Driver, HGTV Magazine, and Women’s Health.
To get started, simply visit our website and click NewsStand Magazines or find them in our digital library apps for cloudLibrary and Libby. If you have questions, our friendly staff is always here to help you navigate our digital resources and make the most of your library experience!
Visit the Southlake Library Newstand Magazines.
Date: Wednesday, December 18
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Location: Town Hall, Third Floor
Get ready for a delightful morning as Mrs. Claus joins us for a special story time event at Town Hall! This enchanting session will take place on Wednesday, December 18, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on the third floor of Town Hall. Mrs. Claus will bring the magic of the holiday season to life with fun songs, a heartwarming story, and delicious cookies. This event is perfect for children aged 6 and under, offering a wonderful opportunity to immerse themselves in the festive spirit.
Don't forget to bring your camera! After the story time, there will be a meet-and-greet session where children can meet Mrs. Claus.
Please note that this is the only story time scheduled for this day, so make sure to mark your calendars and join us for this memorable event. We look forward to seeing you there for a morning filled with joy and holiday cheer!
Starting December 2nd, young readers are invited to play Book Blizzard Bingo at the Southlake Public Library where they can complete various reading challenges to earn tickets for prizes. Sponsored by the Library Foundation of Southlake (LFOS), readers will receive a colorful bingo card encouraging them to compete in a fun game as they discover a flurry of new books.
Similar to the summer reading program and last year’s successful Funopoly winter reading program, this program helps keep students engaged in reading during the long winter nights. The program is for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. They can register and pick up their game board by visiting the Southlake Public Library anytime through the program period of December 2nd – January 6th.
“We couldn’t be more excited to help encourage reading during the short winter days. I have four grandsons who are active Southlake Public Library users and it’s so fun to see programs like this that get them excited about reading,” said Lori Burr, President of LFOS.
“The beauty of our Book Blizzard Bingo game is that it gives kids a lot of choices about the types of books they can read,” Burr added. “We want to encourage readers to stretch themselves to explore new genres and types of books. That said, more than anything, we just want kids to love to read as much as we do.”
For reaching milestones in the game, readers will earn tickets to be put in drawings for various prizes, such as gift cards from The Toy Maven, 1956 Pizza, Talking Animals bookstore, and other local businesses.
Learn more about the Library Foundation of Southlake (LFOS)
If you’ve visited the library, you’ve likely been greeted by Marva’s warm smile and friendly hello. Marva has been an incredible addition to our team, assisting patrons in finding their next great read and crafting beautiful, thoughtful displays. Her creativity and dedication shine through in every project she undertakes.
“Marva is an invaluable team member,” said Youth Librarian Stacy Wells, when asked about Marva's contributions to the library. “Her creativity and exceptional customer service transform every library visit into a delightful experience. She makes our patrons feel truly welcome and inspired, pouring her heart into every interaction. This dedication extends to her impressive large-scale displays, such as those for Black History Month, as well as smaller book displays that not only inform but also spark curiosity and the imagination.”
Marva is also an active member of the Southlake Library staff matrix team, bringing fun treats and words of affirmation to her colleagues.
Next time you visit the library, be sure to say hello to Marva and compliment her on her hard work. Her creativity and enthusiasm create a magical world for everyone who walks through our doors to enjoy!
The Summer Reading Program thrived thanks to the generosity of its sponsors. The Southlake Public Library is incredibly grateful to our sponsors who made our 2024 Summer Reading Program a resounding success. Sponsors are truly the backbone of our program, bringing joy and inspiration to the kids of the Southlake Public Library.
Thanks to the incredible donations of Frost Bank and Peppa Pig, we were able to offer some of our most cherished prizes, including a Nintendo Switch and a snow cone machine. These fantastic prizes have become favorites among our participants.
The Library Foundation of Southlake played a pivotal role this summer by sponsoring a visit from New York Times Best Selling author James Ponti. James delighted our young readers with an engaging writing workshop, guiding them through the process of creating their own stories. Additionally, the foundation hosted a two-week writing workshop camp, teaching the principles and guidelines for crafting fun and imaginative stories.
The Friends of the Southlake Library are an indispensable part of our library community. They not only keep our book donations organized and ready for sale but also generously sponsor most of the Summer Reading prizes. Their generous donations make it possible for us to offer both small and large prizes. These prizes bring immense joy and excitement to the faces of our young participants, who absolutely love receiving them!
Thank you to these wonderful sponsors for their contributions, which made our Summer Reading Program such a memorable experience for all the kids and parents who visited the Southlake Public Library. Their support has helped foster a love of reading and learning in the library community.
To learn more about our sponsors and their contributions, visit the following links:
Learn more about the Library Foundation of Southlake
Learn more about the Friends of the Southlake Library
Learn more about Frost Bank
Learn more about Peppa Pig Theme Park
To foster a love for reading and prepare young minds for school, Southlake Public Library offers the “1000 Books Before Kindergarten” program. Families with children from birth to 5 years old are invited to participate in this exciting initiative. Here’s how it works:
The first Masterworks concert of the season, hosted by the Southlake Public Library, will kick off on Friday, March 17, 2023, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with themed giveaways, pizza, and a live performance by the Journey Tribute Band, Escape. Food vendors will begin serving pizza and dessert at 6 p.m. and the band will begin at 7 p.m.
Arts Council Northeast (ArtsNet) and the City of Southlake are delighted to present the return of the Masterworks Concert Series this spring with guests appearances by local chefs! So, grab your lawn chair, cooler, picnic blanket, friends, and family members, and head on over to the Rustin Pavilion for a relaxing evening in the Southlake Town Square.
Families, friends, and groups of all ages will enjoy visiting Southlake to discover a wide range of music genres and styles throughout the concert season. Local and regional talent will be performing at Rustin Pavilion in Southlake Town Square on various Fridays throughout the spring.
Don’t worry about dinner on concert nights. The locally owned 1956 Pizza truck, accompanied by a dessert truck, will be serving specialty pizzas cooked by guest chefs throughout the Masterworks Concert series. The proceeds for guest chefs' specialty pizzas will go to their favorite charity. For example, Executive Chef Jose Soto has selected Ronald McDonald House. Here’s what a couple of guest chefs had say about their love for pizza:
Aly Romero, Jeremy Berlin, and other featured chefs will unveil their specialty pizzas at 6 p.m.—an hour before each concerts begins—giving you time to place your order before the show starts. You might even get to try the Mayor’s very own pizza creation if you attend the concert on May 5! For more information about the bands and chefs go to www.VisitSouthlakeTexas.com. In the meantime, here’s a quick glance at the Masterworks Concert Series schedule:
Bands begin at 7 pm; Guest chefs begin at 6pm.
The first Masterworks concert of the season, hosted by the Southlake Public Library, will kick off on Friday, March 17, 2023, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with themed giveaways, pizza, and a live performance by the Journey Tribute Band, Escape. Food vendors will begin serving pizza and dessert at 6 p.m. and the band will begin at 7 p.m.
Arts Council Northeast (ArtsNet) and the City of Southlake are delighted to present the return of the Masterworks Concert Series this spring with guests appearances by local chefs! So, grab your lawn chair, cooler, picnic blanket, friends, and family members, and head on over to the Rustin Pavilion for a relaxing evening in the Southlake Town Square.
Families, friends, and groups of all ages will enjoy visiting Southlake to discover a wide range of music genres and styles throughout the concert season. Local and regional talent will be performing at Rustin Pavilion in Southlake Town Square on various Fridays throughout the spring.
Don’t worry about dinner on concert nights. The locally owned 1956 Pizza truck, accompanied by a dessert truck, will be serving specialty pizzas cooked by guest chefs throughout the Masterworks Concert series. The proceeds for guest chefs' specialty pizzas will go to their favorite charity. For example, Executive Chef Jose Soto has selected Ronald McDonald House. Here’s what a couple of guest chefs had say about their love for pizza:
Aly Romero, Jeremy Berlin, and other featured chefs will unveil their specialty pizzas at 6 p.m.—an hour before each concerts begins—giving you time to place your order before the show starts. You might even get to try the Mayor’s very own pizza creation if you attend the concert on May 5! For more information about the bands and chefs go to www.VisitSouthlakeTexas.com. In the meantime, here’s a quick glance at the Masterworks Concert Series schedule:
Bands begin at 7 pm; Guest chefs begin at 6pm.
The Southlake Library Task Force is scheduled to present its recommendations to the City Council on Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
“The level of engagement on this issue has been extraordinary,” said Councilmember and Task Force Co-Chair Kathy Talley. “We have heard from hundreds of community members who are passionate about this new opportunity and what it will mean to Southlake.”
Many citizens used an online comment form to share their thoughts. Councilmember Talley noted that the comment form will be open until Monday, June 6, 2022.
“It’s vital that our residents have the opportunity to get involved in such an important decision,” said Talley.
Earlier this year, the Library Task Force was charged with looking closely at the future of the library and working with the community to envision a new space that welcomes people at the front door and invites them to experience a library in a whole new way.
After visiting libraries and community spaces in other DFW Metroplex cities, the Task Force hosted two Open Houses and Town Hall Meetings. Those meetings held on May 11, 2022, and May 16, 2022, helped provide the Task Force with citizen feedback and allowed them to report what they had learned through the research process. Then, on May 25, 2022, the Task Force presented location options to the Library Board, facility amenities, and complementary uses that could be incorporated into the facility.
The Council will review the Task Force recommendations and the Library Board’s feedback at the June 7 meeting. The public is invited to the in-person meeting or can watch online. The meeting starts at 5:30 in the Town Hall Council Chamber. The Task Force is expected to present their findings at approximately 7:00 p.m. following Executive Session.