Clermont County Public Library and the Clermont College Library are joining forces in a panel discussion of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Entitled “Harper Lee, Scout, and a Mockingbird: A Look at One of the Most Endearing Characters in Literature,” this panel discussion will start at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28 in Room S142 at UC Clermont College. Join us for a discussion about the literary classic To Kill A Mockingbird. Panelists will discuss: a biography of the author Harper Lee, the book and its historical context, the movie and the new book, Go Set a Watchman, to be released on July 14.

For more information, call the Batavia Branch Library at 732-2128 or visit the event’s Facebook page. For ages 12 and up.

If you follow the literary world at all, you’ve probably heard that Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird, is releasing her second book in July. Lee’s first story, published in 1960, follows Scout and her father Atticus Finch as he fights for civil rights in Maycomb, Alabama. The Pulitzer Prize winner has been read by millions of people and created quite the impact. Now fifty-five years later the author’s second book, Go Set a Watchman, will be released in July.

In the meantime, I picked up The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee by Marja Miller. Part memoir, part biography Marja had the rare opportunity to spend many months with Harper, called Nell by her friends, and Alice Lee. Alice, Harper’s sister, is a lawyer who followed in her father’s footsteps.

In 2001, the Chicago Public Library chose To Kill a Mockingbird for its One Book, One Chicago city-wide read. At that time Marja worked for the Chicago Tribune and was asked to travel south to Monroeville, Harper Lee’s hometown. She hoped to at least write about, Monroeville, the small-town Maycomb was based on. She never imagined she’d spend months in the company of Harper Lee and her sister, plus spend time with their close circle of friends.

The Mockingbird Next Door is one of the best nonfiction books I’ve read. Reading Ms. Mills book was like sitting with her at lunch and chatting with a friend. By the time I finished the book, I felt like I’d visited Monroeville and met the Lees. If you’re waiting to read Go Set a Watchman, this would be a great book to peruse, in the meantime.

Penny McGinnis
Technical Services Manager
Clermont College Library

It’s summer term, and weather outside sure does feel like summer this week! Throughout the summer term, the library will be open Monday through Thursday from 7:30am to 6:30pm, and Friday from 7:30am to 4pm.  For complete details about when the library is (and isn’t) open, see our library hours page.

Whether you’re taking classes or working, enjoy yourselves and be safe!  We hope to see you all in the library this summer.

Our featured artist for the summer is Jessica Medley.  Using colored pencils and paper of varying textures, Ms. Medley’s verdant representations of flowers and butterflies are the perfect compliment to our blooming spring, inviting viewers to “see the beauty of all living things.”

Jessica’s work will be on display in the library through August.