Community Corner

Athens-Clarke County Library to Host Author Kate Sweeney, May 15

Sweeney's book "American Afterlife: Encounters in the Customs of Mourning" was published in March.

Submitted by Athens-Clarke County Library

Someone dies. What happens next? Join Kate Sweeney, author and radio producer, at the Athens-Clarke County Library at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, to find out.

Sweeney, who writes and produces stories for WABE 90.1 FM, the Atlanta National Public Radio station, has written a book exploring the story of death in America titled, American Afterlife: Encounters in the Customs of Mourning, published in March by The University of Georgia Press.

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“American Afterlife” explores the experiences of individuals involved with death in a culture where even discussing such things is practically taboo. These chapters follow ordinary people making memorial choices as well as the purveyors of those choices to investigate how we memorialize our dead, where these practices came from, and what this says about us.

Sweeney’s visit is the first program in “Books & Bites,” a new Heritage Room brown bag lunch series focusing on authors of historical works.

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Sweeney will discuss her research for American Afterlife and the myriad records she consulted.  This program is a must for genealogists and history lovers alike. Bring your brown bag lunch to enjoy during the conversation.  Coffee and water will be provided.

The event is sponsored by the library’s Heritage Room, which provides patrons with the resources to research genealogy, local and Georgia history.

The discussion will take place in Multipurpose Room A and is free, but registration is required. To reserve your spot, please call the Heritage Room (706) 613-3650, extension 350, or email heritageroomref@athenslibrary.org. The library is located at 2025 Baxter Street, Athens.


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