Biographies and autobiographies are usually shelved within the library in a special section following the Dewey decimal system range of numbers. They are arranged by the surname of the person being written about. If this person is a monarch or ruler, then the biography is filed by the first name rather than the last name.
At May Memorial Library, the autobiographies are marked with a yellow spine label. Any biography or autobiography that begins with a J in the call number is intended primarily for children and is found in the Children's Room.
There is also a special section of books in the Dewey Decimal system call number 920 that are known as collective biographies. They include multiple biographical sketches in on books (for example: Lives of the Great Composers or Pioneers of Psychology)
Please ask at the Reference desk if you are unable to find information on the person you seek. The reference desk at May Memorial Library maintains an index to people found in collective biographies owned by the library.
The most famous individuals associated with Alamance County include:
Professional baseball player Tom Zachary was born in Graham and played in the major leagues for almost 20 years
Pulitizer prize-winning journalist Edwin M. Yoder was born in Mebane and has a local elementary school named in his honor
New-York Times Bestselling novelist Sharyn McCrumb graduated from the Williams High School Class of 1966
Famous North Carolinians may be found in the following reference sets:
Some biographical material on local notables may be found in a newspaper clipping file found in the Local History Room at May Memorial Library. The clipping file contains information on civic leaders, industrialists, elected officials, local athletes, etc.
There are also some collective biographies of local civic leaders of the past in the Local History Room as well. They are:
R 920.0756 BUI Builders of Alamance
R 920.0756 MEN Men of Affairs in the Public-Industrial Life of Burlington and North Carolina
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Alamance County Public Libraries operates as a Department of Alamance County Government. Visit the Alamance County Website at www.alamance-nc.com.