In celebration of Black History Month, the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) is highlighting two collections relating to the state’s African-American history that have been added within the last year.

Last fall, TSLA added a collection called Guide to African-American Genealogy-Related Documents Prior to 1865, which includes a large selection of Supreme Court cases, state acts from 1796 through 1850, legislative petitions from 1799 to 1861, church records, correspondence, diaries, memoirs and other documents.

TSLA also added a new collection, Reconstruction and the African-American Legacy in Tennessee, to the Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA) within the last year. That collection, which includes photographs, scrapbooks and other images, can be found on the web at: http://teva.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm4/reconstruction.php

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The Tennessee Library Association has passed a resolution honoring State Librarian and Archivist Jeanne Sugg for dedicating her career to improving libraries throughout the state.

Kevin Reynolds, the library association’s president, said: “Jeanne has been a strong advocate for our libraries and her unflagging efforts over many years have resulted not only in libraries in Tennessee becoming better prepared to assist library users, but also have resulted in library users more easily gaining the critical services and resources that libraries provide. Furthermore, under Jeanne’s leadership, we have witnessed increased access to important archival resources, thanks to digitization and other efforts.”

Sugg will retire Jan. 29, capping a 20-year career with the Tennessee State Library and Archives. She has served as the State Library and Archives director since 2005.

Secretary of State Tre Hargett is urging people to be cautious and make wise decisions when considering donations to help the Haitian relief efforts.

“Whenever there is a tragedy of this magnitude, people want to do what they can to help,” Secretary Hargett said. “Many people want to contribute money to the relief efforts. Unfortunately, there are scam artists out there who will try to take advantage of that spirit of generosity.”

Charles Sherrill, a Middle Tennessean with 25 years of experience as a library administrator, will begin his new job as State Librarian and Archivist Feb. 5, Secretary of State Tre Hargett announced this week.

The State Librarian and Archivist directs operations at the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA), the agency that collects, stores and displays state documents and records. The State Library and Archives also operates the Tennessee Regional Library System, provides training and support for other public libraries throughout the state and oversees the Tennessee Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, which offers free library services to people with disabilities.

“I am very pleased to have someone with Mr. Sherrill’s background and skills in this esteemed position,” Secretary Hargett said. “Our goal is to increase the awareness of the great programs available to Tennesseans through the State Library and Archives. Our goal is to extend our outreach beyond our downtown Nashville location and I know Mr. Sherrill will provide excellent leadership and vision not only to TSLA, but also to libraries throughout our great state. "

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A Portland man faces possible prison time and at least $40,000 in civil penalties after fraudulently representing himself as a Robertson County deputy sheriff who was raising money for a charitable publication to be produced by the sheriff’s office.

Branden L. Fitzgerald, 19, was arrested and notified of the civil penalties against him this week following cooperative efforts involving the state’s Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming and the Robertson County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation found that Fitzgerald did business under the name Local Youth Prevention Services.

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