The Bookworm and the Serpent - the Founding of a Public Library in Madison County, Kentucky

Written by Dr. Stuart Tobin, The Bookworm and the Serpent chronicles the true, contentious, polarizing and divisive struggle over eight years of conflict culminating in 1987 to establish the Madison County Public Library.  The drama, uncertainty and passions that ignited a firestorm of opposition is documented in vivid detail. 

In this program, Dr. Tobin will read selected passages from the book, as well as provide a first hand account of the years long, grassroots effort to provide library services to all in Madison County. 

Dr. Tobin became, "acutely and chronically" involved in the founding and development of the Madison County Public Library, and served as its first Chairman of the Board for ten years. He was asked by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives to serve on the White House Committee and chair the Advisory Council. A board certified dermatologist, Dr. Tobin now works at the VA Hospital in Lexington, caring for his fellow veterans while continuing to reside in Madison County.