Georgia Magazine - March 2024 - 21

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1: Lee Bryan's " Aesop's Fantastic
Fables " show is a mash-up of
three moral-based fables,
Fables " show is a mash-up of
three moral-based fables,
4
including the story of the mouse and the lion.
including the story of the mouse and the lion.
2: Jerry G. White's newest show is cowboy-themed, with cows representing
words that need to be herded into pasture.
3: Meredith Gordon of Decatur, aka Squeeze the Clown, describes himself
on his website as a " circus artist, actor and musician [who] fell in love with
theater and circus at an early age. "
4: Lee Bryan brought " Aesop's Fantastic Fables " to the Library Performers
Showcase in November.
might be interested in the program? Is the program in line with our
strategic plan, mission and vision?
" The No. 1 thing is that summer reading [programming] is not
just for kids. At DCPL and other library systems, it's for all ages-
zero and up, which includes teens, adults and seniors, too. "
Jenkins says she hopes the summer entertainment schedule
will encourage county residents to explore how much libraries have
to offer.
" I'm looking forward to seeing more of our patrons, young and
old, returning to our many library locations virtually or in person,
knowing that the library is their No. 1 source for free entertainment
and information and is the place where you can see, read, hear, learn,
engage in and celebrate the diversity of DeKalb County, " she says.
In addition to the library system's budget, funding for the
programs is supplemented by " Friends of " groups at individual
branches and the DeKalb Library Foundation, Jenkins says. Libraries
cannot charge for public programs, so funding for the summer events
is a key consideration.
Slithery show-and-tell
Jason Clark, founder and owner of Milner-based Southeastern Reptile
Rescue, delivers hundreds of educational talks about reptiles every year and
was on hand at the library showcase to set his schedule for summer library
appearances.
Clark says libraries played a role in his lifelong love of snakes. When he
was 14, he caught a snake for the first time and didn't know anything about
them. At the time, searching the internet wasn't an option, so he went to the
library to check out books about the creatures.
" I read them and read them and read them again. There is new
Top: Jason Clark discusses possible dates for summer bookings
with Windy Ward, children's coordinator with the Franklin
Memorial Library in Swainsboro. Above: Lee Bryan performs his
show " The Suitcase Circus " at the Cumming Library in June 2018.
information coming out all the time, and reading
teaches you a lot, " he says.
He started his business at 14 with a pager and
helped rescue snakes from 911 calls. He's since
built from that pager to a business that has drawn
attention from Animal Planet, which featured his
family in a six-part series in 2010 called " SnakesKin, "
as well as producers of movies and commercials.
He merged his love of libraries and snakes
because " the more you know, the less you're afraid
and the less you get bitten, " he says.
Teri Anderson, a program associate at the
Newnan Carnegie Library, booked Clark for this
summer.
MORE
www.georgiamagazine.org 21
Jerry G. White's newest show is cowboy-themed, with cows representing
COURTESY LEE BRYAN
PHIL SKINNER PHOTOGRAPHY
PHIL SKINNER PHOTOGRAPHY
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Georgia Magazine - March 2024

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