Last weekend I went to the last of my summer library visits. Driving up to Southworth Library in Dryden, NY, I was impressed with its beautiful architecture.

Southworth Library in Dryden, NY

When I spoke to the library director, Diane Pamel, she shared the library’s fascinating history with me. It turned out that many years ago a member of the library board owned an original copy of the victory speech from Abraham Lincoln’s second presidential election. He bequeathed this document to the library. Fast forward to the early 2000s. The library sold the document at auction through Christie’s, earning over $3 million. They used the money to completely renovate and expand their library. Awesome idea! A copy of the original hangs in the library today.

A copy of one page of Lincoln’s 1864 Victory speech

I had a great time sharing my book Assassin Bug vs. Ogre-faced Spider:When Cunning Hunters Collide with an enthusiastic audience of young readers.

Garett and Chris from Grey Biological were on hand to share all kinds of creepy critters from Madagascan hissing cockroaches (available to hold and pat) to a red-rumped tarantula (that stayed in its cage).

Red-rumped tarantula

We had a great time — I look forward to returning to this great library!

Me with Garett and Chris from Grey Biological