Library Named in Honor of Former Librarian, 1996

Library branch named in honor of former librarian

Photograph caption:  Dave Davis, left, director of Tuscaloosa Public Library System, unveils the portrait of Ruth Eaton Bolden Tuesday at the Weaver-Bolden Branch of the Tuscaloosa Public Library

By Bryan Long, News intern

TUSCALOOSA -  Former Tuscaloosa librarian Ruth Bolden was honored Wednesday night on her 87th birthday with a ceremony at the branch library named in her honor.

More than 65 people attended the reception at the Weaver-Bolden Branch of the Tuscaloosa Public Library to witness the unveiling of a portrait of Bolden.  The color photograph was made by local photographer John Earl.

According to information provided by the public library's Board of Trustees Bolden "developed the Weaver Branch into a valuable community resource for the black community of Tuscaloosa, provided inspiration and guidance for many children, and had a profound influence on many young library users."

She also pushed for the naming of her branch of the library in honor of Dr. George Augustus Weaver, a black physician who contributed the use of his library to the young people in Tuscaloosa.

Bolden was honored for her service in 1991 by the library's Board of Trustees with a resolution which changed the name of the Weaver Branch to include Bolden's name.  The building closed for renovations following the resolution and re-opened in January 1992 with the new name.

Angeline Kelly, branch librarian , said she had to limit the number of invitations sent out for the portrait unveiling because more than 500 people attended the dedication ceremony, and the building could not accommodate them all.

In addition to honoring Bolden, the library celebrated the donation of two new computers by JVC.  Dave Rodger, manager of external affairs for JVC America, presented the library with two locally manufactured IBM clones.  The computers are loaded with Microsoft Windows95, Microsoft Office Pro and multi-media software.

The donated computers are part of JVC America's plan to put computers with Internet connections in all Tuscaloosa Public Library facilities and public school libraries.