January 13, 2009

CELEBRATION OF POET ROBERT BURNS AT THE JOHN F. GERMANY PUBLIC LIBRARY

In 2009, the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, Scotland’s National Bard will be celebrated. Festivities are planned all over the world and Tampa Bay is no exception. The St. Andrew’s Society of Tampa Bay has exciting plans for its celebration.

"The Society is very pleased to be working with the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System in commemorating the birth of Burns. The Society and the Library will be bringing back the tradition established by Andrew Carnegie of placing a bust of Burns in public libraries," noted Steve Barber who is Co-Chairing the Burns event and will be the President of the St. Andrew’s Society in 2009.

The St. Andrew’s Society has commissioned nationally renowned sculptor, Linda Ackley-Eaker to sculpt a bust of Robert Burns commemorating the 250th anniversary of his birth. The bust will be gifted to the John F. Germany Library in downtown Tampa and there will be a public unveiling and celebration at 5:30 pm on January 21st.

Along with the unveiling ceremony, spend the evening mingling with the artist and enjoying Scottish bagpipe music. Light refreshments will be served.

This program is cosponsored by the Friends of the John F. Germany Public Library, Inc. For more information about this and other FREE programs @ your library®, please call (813) 273-3652, or visit hcplc.org.