Yolo County Library
Yolo County Black History Month: Stitching Together Stories

Black History Month
Join us in a month-long series of events and displays celebrating Black History Month. The theme, Stitching Together Stories, honors Black history with a kickoff celebration, quilt exhibits that explore Black history and culture, and activities and book displays at all library locations.
Two African American women, one with shoulder-length gray hair and one with short black hair, stand in front of a quilt portraying a tree with many golden fruits in its branches.
Quilt Exhibit
Explore the intricate work of Master Quilter Khristel Johnson, who incorporates African fabrics and beads plus key artifacts and texts to create layered pieces that reflect her journey to seek a more inclusive, accurate, and comprehensive understanding of American history.
 
Quilts are on display throughout February at the following locations:
Storymaking at the Gibson House
Saturday, February 15
Open for tours 8:00 am to 4:00 pm | Quilt Activity 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
The Yolo County Museum Curator will lead tours featuring historical quilts and the work of Grafton Tyler Brown. Participate in the "I Am" quilt piece activity developed by Khristel Johnson and led by YoloArts. 
Yolo County Black History Month is sponsored by: Yolo County Library, Yolo County Office of Education, The Culture C.O.-O.P., YoloArts, Yolo County Historical Collection, Capay Valley Health & Community Center, and the County of Yolo.

Yolo Singing Club Exhibit
An old black-and-white photograph of 18 formally-dressed African American men and women standing and sitting in three rows with a painted theatrical background of Greco-Roman pillars
On display at the Woodland Opera House is an exhibit that features information about the “Yolo Singing Club,” a group of local Black entertainers who performed at the Opera House in the late 19th and early 20th century, as well as information about Woodland’s historic Black community in general.
 
The display was created by Dr. Cecilia Tsu, Associate Professor of History at UC Davis, and a team of six UCD student researchers. The display came about because of findings during their research at the Yolo County Archives for a K-12 curriculum project titled “Uncovering Diverse Histories of Yolo County.”

Reach out to Woodland Opera House staff to learn more about how you can view the exhibit: woodlandoperahouse.org/contact-us
Citation for Archives' Image: "Yolo Singing Club" (sometimes called "The Merry Company") poses for a performance at Woodland Opera House. 1903. Acc. #1996-006. Courtesy, Yolo County Archives.

February Staff Picks
Check out what library staff read in their spare time.
A team of 5 sled dogs pulling a sled through a snowy landscape with an icy mountain range and a rainbow Aurora Borealis in the background
By Sue Henry
A smoky black sky with bright yellow grass in the foreground
By Jane Harper
A close-up of a red vinyl record with a yellow sticker in the center reading
By Michael Chabon
A bright red, pink, and orange geometric background with the back half of a vintage car speeding at a down angle on the right side.
By Peter Carey
 
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Love Libraries? 

Champion Equity with Us!
Yolo County Library Foundation logo showing several concentric circles arranged to look like a yellow-orange sun rising over green hills
The Yolo County Library Foundation funds equitable access to library programs and materials across Yolo County, focusing particularly on our under-resourced communities.
 
They're seeking passionate volunteer board members, especially from Esparto, West Sacramento, Clarksburg, Yolo, and bookmobile-only areas. Bring your ideas, connections, and energy to help them fundraise and strategize.
 
Email info@yololibraryfoundation.org to learn more and make a difference!
 

Upcoming Closures
Monday, February 17:
Presidents' Day
All Branches Closed
Locations and Hours
A giant, waving American flag and a smaller cartoon of Mount Rushmore in front of a dark blue background.

Ongoing and Upcoming Events
 
Animals with Heart
Wednesday, February 12, 3:00 - 4:00 pm
Light green background with two oval frames, one showing a watercolor picture book cover of an aligator baby coming out of its shell, and the other showing a photo of two live aligators.
Featuring Wild Things Animal Ambassadors and local author Rachael Freeman Long
 
Learn about a wide variety of animals and reptiles including their own stories of how they came to live with the Animal Ambassadors. Following this program, author Rachael Freeman Long will speak about her new juvenile fiction adventure series.
 
No registration required, free for all ages.

Are You Prepared?
Wednesday, February 19, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Two men in plaid short-sleeve button-ups and straw hats facing away from the camera, one with an arm around the other and the sun setting in the background.
Learn essential steps to prepare yourself and your family from future disasters. We will have a presentation from Catholic Charities -Yolo Solano.

Grimm Tales: Stories of Life and Death
November 07, 2024 - February 22, 2025
Grimm Tales: Stories of Life and Death examines the role of storytelling in the development of cultural practice and cultural understanding of life and death.
 
Explore how myth, fairytales, and storytelling have been used for centuries to help us make sense of the world and prepare us for darker times.

Find more information at YoloArts and the Yolo County Historical Collection.
Exhibition Open Hours

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Third Saturday of the Month, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
A medieval knight riding a horse followed by two men carrying a slayed green dragon that the knight is presenting to his king and queen.
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Yolo County Library
Administrative Center 226 Buckeye St. Woodland, California, 95695
Phone: (530) 666-8005
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