Herr Memorial Library

    Dr. Donald Kraybill, who is nationally recognized for his scholarship on the Amish and other Anabaptist groups, is the author or editor of more than 25 books and dozens of professional articles. His 2007 non-fiction book “Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy” with Steven M. Nolt and David L. Weaver-Zercher examines the Amish understanding of forgiveness and explores how and why they responded to the 2006 killing of Amish school children at Nickel Mines in Lancaster County with grace.
    On Thurs., Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. Dr. Kraybill is scheduled to give a presentation in the Weber Chapel Auditorium at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove.  Doors will open at 6 p.m. There is no reserved seating.
    The free public event is presented as part of the 2011 Read Across the Valley project “Living Simple, Living Plain.”  A cooperative effort of one academic and 13 public libraries, the Read Across the Valley project encourages exploring regional cultures, reading, and building a sense of community by encouraging residents to talk about what they read.
    Member libraries are: Beavertown Community Library, Degenstein Community Library, Herr Memorial Library, James V. Brown Library, McClure Community Library, Middleburg Community Library, Milton Public Library, Montgomery House Warrior Run Area Public Library, Priestly-Forsyth Memorial Library, The Public Library for Union County, Selinsgrove Community Library, Blough-Weis Library of Susquehanna University, Thomas Beaver Free Library, and West End Library.
    The National Endowment for the Humanities and numerous private foundations have supported Dr. Kraybill’s research projects, and he is the series editor of “Young Center Books in Anabaptist and Pietist Studies” published by the Johns Hopkins University Press.
    His presentation is the final of four Read Across the Valley presentations in 2011.  Kevin Williams, editor of “The Amish Cook” column and co-author of several “Amish Cook” books, spoke in Sunbury in July.  Marta Perry, author of a series of Amish suspense books, spoke in Sunbury in August. Tamar Myers, prolific author of two mystery series, spoke in September in Williamsport.
    “Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy” and Dr. Kraybill’s 2010 book will be available to purchase at the event, and Dr. Kraybill will be available to sign materials after the presentation.
    The author’s presentation is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities’ “We the People” initiative.  Additional Read Across the Valley sponsors include Kohl’s, Sam’s Club, Sunbury Broadcasting Corp., and the Wal-Mart Foundation.
    For more information about the Read Across the Valley project, follow the organization on Facebook or visit www.readacrossvalley.org