Bobby Norfolk, other programs on tap this week at library

Jenny Gray/FULTON SUN 
Jazz hands? Why not? Bobby Norfolk of St. Louis visited the Callaway County Public Library in Fulton Monday night to dance with the locals and regale them in the personna of famed ragtime musician Scott Joplin. Brynn Bynum (center) and his cousin, Taji Braxton gave the dance lesson their all.
Jenny Gray/FULTON SUN Jazz hands? Why not? Bobby Norfolk of St. Louis visited the Callaway County Public Library in Fulton Monday night to dance with the locals and regale them in the personna of famed ragtime musician Scott Joplin. Brynn Bynum (center) and his cousin, Taji Braxton gave the dance lesson their all.

The Callaway County Public Library is in the heart of its activities in line with its summer reading program.

This week will feature an activity nearly every day, most starting at 2 p.m. in the Friends Room of the library, 710 Court St. in Fulton.

On Monday, musician Thad Beach will present his "Musical Chair" program. He will pose the question, "How does a common chair become a musical accompaniment to his original songs and traditional tunes?" Beach will teach participants how to turn everyday objects into musical instruments. His roots are in old-time mountain music, country blues and jug band styles.

Library favorite Bobby Norfolk, who performed earlier this year at the library as Scott Joplin and George Washington Carver, is returning Wednesday. Norfolk will perform "Rap, Poetry and Prose," 2-3 p.m. An award-winning storyteller and author, he will provide works by literary favorites including Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson and Dudley Randall.

The faculty of the University of Missouri-St. Louis and the Board of Curators this year voted to confer upon Norfolk the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa. He also gave the commencement speech at the graduation ceremony.

On Thursday, learn about the Katy Railroad history and heritage with Mike Offineer, a retired Union Pacific locomotive engineer, at 6-7:30 p.m. Offineer will discuss historical aspects of railroading, such as how various trains and locomotives operate and how lantern and hand signals were used. He'll also share railroad photographs and artifacts like old lanterns and timetables.

Friday marks the end of the Daniel Boone Regional Library system's teen photo contest, celebrating this year's theme, "Libraries Rock." Winners will be announced in late August. For more information, go visit dbrl.org/teens/teen-photo-contest.

July 31 is Chess Tuesday from 2-4 p.m., a free event for people age 10 and older. If you know chess, that's great. If you don't, library staff with teach you.