This is an opinion column

More than forty years ago, a tiny man approached a podium as short as he was, looked around the auditorium of the Huntsville Madison County Public Library, and said in his reedy voice, “Hello, Huntsville. Here I am.”

And then Truman Capote, one of the best known writers of his time and the subject of more than twenty films and television programs about his life, began to read from one of his “New Yorker” stories while a rapt audience listened. He warned the listeners before there was a curse word, citing his southern upbringing that didn’t allow curse words in front of the ladies.

The ladies on the front row loved it. And so did members of the Huntsville Literary Association who had brought him here. Years later, they would bring Eudora Welty, another literary star, to read from her award winning story collection. She’d won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature but remained modest and wondered why so many people had turned out to hear her talk.

For 57 years, the H.L.A. hosted other author events as well, and sponsored professional Shakespeare performances, a Young Writers’ Contest, and Sunday Salons in members’ homes where a writer came to read from his work or talk about his craft over glasses of wine or cups of coffee. Writers mingled with readers. Book talk buzzed all around.

The H.L.A. also published a literary magazine called “Poem” which included poems from all over the country and a few from other countries as well. Young people who won prizes in the Young Writers’ Contest grew up and had children who entered the competition as well. There was a “Poet’s Choice” reading at the library each year where a chapbook of the poems was handed out.

The H.L.A. served the community for decades, relying completely on volunteers, membership fees, and grant money. The love of literature continued, but the times changed. Young families dashing to school events and children’s soccer matches didn’t have time for poetry readings. Book lovers read on their digital devices. Book stores declined in number. Literary Associations around the country did, too.

So the H.L.A.Board of Directors made a tough decision. The organization would cease operations, but would donate its remaining funds of almost $9,500 to the Huntsville Madison County Public Library in appreciation of the years the library allowed H.L.A. to use its meeting rooms and with the understanding that the library would continue its rich literary traditions of bringing in writers.

In September, they’ll be doing just that. The featured speaker of their annual fundraising event—Vive le Livre- will be Andy Weir, the novelist whose book “The Martian” was adapted into the 2015 film of the same name, and directed by Ridley Scott.

According to Jay Hixon, Public Relations Director, and Brooke Rawlins, Development Director, the H.L.A donation will go a long way toward sponsoring well known writers like Mr. Weir and bringing in others.

Hixon is proud of the library’s more than 200 years of existence. Started in 1818, the “library” was a shelf with a few books on it. It was located in the Boardman Building, now a part of the Constitution Hall Park. It’s the oldest continuously operating library in the state. Rawlins is proud of the library’s long history, too, and its association with the H.L.A. which will be an author sponsor of Vive le Livre and continue its long commitment to the literary arts.

Even when you close one book, you can always open another. Rawlins says that while H.L.A. is no longer an organization, its former members can continue to promote the literary arts by volunteering and donating to library events. “Vive le Livre” roughly translates to “Long live the book”. And books and their readers do live on and on.

For more information on Vive le Livre, contact Jay Hixon at [email protected] [email protected]

You may contact Beth Thames at [email protected]