The Geneva Public Library will co-sponsor a special keynote author talk with Charles Burrall on Sunday, June 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, N.Y.

Burrall, a Geneva native, will share the true story behind his book, "Captured by the Russians," reflecting on his Cold War experience and his years attending Geneva’s last one-room schoolhouse.

The free public event is part of the annual Country School Association of America conference, where Burrall will serve as keynote speaker.

The talk will be held in Scandling Center at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 300 Pulteney St., Geneva. The program is titled "From a One-Room Schoolhouse to Captured by the Russians." Burrall will recount his experience taken hostage by the Soviet Union along with other fishing boat crew members during the Cold War, and his four years educated at Geneva’s last one-room schoolhouse, the Glass Factory Bay School, now a residence.

Co-sponsors include the County School Association of America, the Geneva Public Library and Historic Geneva.

The talk serves as the keynote address for a national conference on preservation of historic rural schools. In conjunction with the conference, four area schoolhouses will be open to the public for visitation.

Open-house tours are scheduled for Sunday, June 21, from 1 to 4 p.m. Four area schoolhouses will be open:

• ANSLEY SCHOOLHOUSE — 4921 County Rd. 6, Geneva
• BENTON SCHOOLHOUSE — 2390 Baldwin Road, Penn Yan
• MIDLAKES SCHOOLHOUSE — 1510 NY-488, Clifton Springs
• OVERACKERS CORNERS SCHOOLHOUSE — 5658 Vine Valley Road, Rushville

Map with locations indicated.