Submitted by Tate Elementary School Principal, Dr. Deb Longshore

In a community familiar with long-standing traditions, the news of Marble Factory, Dragonfly, Prowler, and Talon Presses publishing books for Pickens County elementary students should be no surprise.
Hollis and Anne Rumble, residents of Jasper, received a book made by their grandchild at his school in Conyers, GA. Their desire was for Pickens County students to be afforded this same opportunity, so in 1996 the Marble Factory was birthed at Tate Elementary.

Peggy Andrews, school administrator, and Sara Fowler, media specialist, were instrumental in supporting the project and seeing it through its first few years. Their support, along with former administrators at Tate, Harmony, and Jasper Elementary, allowed the 40 plus volunteers to publish more than 12,000 books over the last 17 years.

In the words of several students who have had their stories published,

“it was amazing….. it was hard at first and then got easier….. I was able to write about my family.”

The books are personalized with the student’s picture and a short biography. Parents and other family members have also been able to purchase additional copies to have as their own keepsake.

Through the years, the discovery has been that this endeavor wasn’t just about writing and publishing books. It wasn’t about publishing a school newspaper. The dedication and love given to this project by many volunteers offered students an opportunity to interact with another person – one who believed in them, gave value to their thoughts and words, and allowed them, if just for a moment, to ignite a fire for reading and writing that could burn forever.

At this time, we’d like to recognize the efforts of those individuals who have given of their time, resources, and talents to the students of Pickens County.