Library Legacy Program

Previous Legacy Program Evaluations

Library talk: Celebrating Rural Minnesota’s Historic Legacy

Eric Bergeson discusses the writing of his book Pirates on the Prairie, in which he not only tells the tale of a small-town basketball team in 1952, but traces the history of a typical small Minnesota farm town. How do you sort out truth from local myth? What unexpected lessons can be learned from a small town’s past? What do audience members remember of Saturday nights on the town in the 1950s? Women’s roles in the 1940s? The advent of television and its effect on small town life? Audience members are encouraged to tell their favorite small-town stories from both the past and present. 

Classroom talk: Everybody's a writer!

In a talk which can be customized to students from third grade on up, author and columnist Eric Bergeson relates tales from a writing career which began with the publication of the Bergeson Blab as a third grader. Students write in interactive exercises which illustrate aspects of the writing process. The talk is humorous and informative. The goal is to encourage students of all ages to develop their writing skills no matter what profession they may enter. 

Nursing home performance: Conjuring up the good memories

Each year, Eric Bergeson performs for dozens of nursing homes. Residents enjoy his high energy old-time musical numbers, his story-telling about characters he has known and his willingness to pass the microphone around to allow older folks to share their stories. 

Community celebration: Down on the Farm

In a performance that has no purpose but fun, Eric Bergeson plays music, sings old country songs and tells stories about the ups and downs of small-town life. This performance is appropriate for a community-wide celebration, dinner or special event. A piano is required, but it can be the oldest, most-out of-tune upright in town.

Have Eric spend a day in your town for three programs or more and get a package deal!