Library Newsletter
A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE MORRISTOWN CENTENNIAL LIBRARY
Volume 5, Issue 1 - Spring 2011
LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES
Elevate Your Mind—Buy a Book
This book auction and gala will raise much needed funds for the completion of the addition and renovations to the library. In 2007, the Morristown Centennial Library (MCL) Board of Trustees initiated a capital campaign to raise funds for the construction of an additional 4,792 square feet of space as well as to carry out necessary renovations on the original building. MCL is one of only four Carnegie Libraries in Vermont and is the last of those buildings to undergo a major expansion. The ground breaking for the addition kicked off on April 3, 2010. As of March 2011, the addition has a foundation, exterior bricks, roof, and windows completed. And, so far, not one penny of public (taxpayer) money has been spent. All monies have come from donations, grants, and bequests. The library needs an additional $500,000 to complete this project.The event on Saturday, May 14 will include both silent and live auctions (with guest auctioneer David Whitcomb) of first edition and signed copies of books by Vermont authors and books about Vermont. It will be held at the Morristown Centennial Library at 7 Richmond Street in Morrisville from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thank you to the many Vermont authors who have graciously donated books to support this event.
Special guest authors and speakers, including author William L. McKone of Jeffersonville, will be attending. Mr. McKone will speak about this book, Vermont Irish Rebel, the Biography of Captain John Lonergan—Civil War Hero. This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served and tours will be given of the new addition. For more information or to donate a book, please contact Pat Stevens at 888-4374 or Mary Collins at mary@shinecommunications.org by April 30, 2011. Please come and show your support for the Morristown Centennial Library—and help us complete the library for future generations!
Building Committee Update
by Ruth Brown, Chair, Building Committee
Hard to believe that it has been only 11 months since the ground breaking for the library addition! We now have a beautiful shell with a foundation, exterior bricks, roof, and windows. Electrical, heating, and sprinkler/plumbing systems are installed. Within the last month, the basement in the original part of the library has been totally gutted and new walls, flooring, ceilings, and shelving are being installed.
The Special Collections Room, formerly located in the basement, has been reconfigured and is now located on the second floor. There are interior windows from this room looking back into the original library. Howard Manosh kindly donated lumber for this room’s new hardwood floor. Beautiful new shelving has been built and a humidity control system installed. The Special Collections Room is the archive for Morristown’s weekly newspaper, the News & Citizen, dating back to the 1830s. This room will also house the Civil War Collection and other antique books.
Fund raising continues in order to complete the library. We received a $20,000 grant from the Vermont Arts Council toward the elevator. We need to raise at least $20,000 to match this grant before the end of 2011. The Building Committee is meeting regularly with Mike Isabell, Head of Construction; Sonny Demars, Construction Advisor; and Paul Trudell, Project Architect. Thanks to their hard work, foresight, and thriftiness, this project is under budget and ahead of schedule. The library needs approximately $500,000 to complete the project. This money would be applied to completing the interior: flooring, painting, furnishings, and shelving; installing the elevator, bathrooms, and kitchenette; and completing the renovations to the original library building’s front steps and interiors.
Thank you to all who have contributed to this important project. There are several ways to make donations. Checks made out to “MCL/Capital Campaign” can be mailed to the Morristown Centennial Library, P.O. Box 727, Morrisville, VT 05661. Visit our web site at www.centenniallibrary.org to make a credit card donation. Information about including MCL in your estate planning and bequests is available at the library.
Library Program Update
by Mary West, Library Director
Thanks to our patrons for putting up with the noise and space constraints here at the library while construction has been progressing. We will certainly let you know as soon as we have access once again to the nonfiction collection.
In spite of limited seating, we have scheduled a number of programs. Two author visits are planned—Joe Sherman on April 13 and Bill Schubart on May 4. Mr. Sherman’s latest book is Young Vermonters: Not an Endangered Species. This is a series of interviews with young people who have chosen to stay in the state. Mr. Schubart’s book Fat People is a fictional account of those who live to eat. Both programs will be held at the library beginning at 7 p.m.
April is National Poetry Month and we will continue our tradition of “Pocket Poems.” These are copies of short poems, selected by the staff, which you may pick up, read, and take along with you.
The “writers,” “knitters,” and “bridge players” all remain active, but it is best to call the library to confirm meeting time and place.
Funds Needed for Elevator
by Meredith McGee, Grants Committee
Fundraising continues for one of the last big expenses of of our new addition—the elevator! It will cost $60,000 to install the new elevator. This is a crucial part of the addition because it will allow access to the entire beautiful library to all members of our community. On January 13, 2011, in a ceremony at the State House in Montpelier, we received a generous grant from the Vermont Arts Council in the amount of $20,000. You can view the “giant check” on display at the library. In order to make use of this grant, we need to raise the rest of the $40,000 by the end of this year. While we will continue to look for grants to help with this, we need the assistance and support of our community to make sure that this elevator becomes a reality.
Friends of the Library Second Annual Plant Sale
by Elaine Guillot
The Friends of Morristown Centennial Library will again be holding a plant sale in May as a fundraiser to benefit the library’s many programs and projects. Look for the sale on the library’s front lawn, where we will have a large variety of different plants available—flowering annuals, vegetable seedlings, perennials, bushes, raspberry plants, and house plants. Come early for the best selection because we will sell out of some types early. We welcome donations of plants, pots, and soil.
Fourth of July Book Sale/Fundraiser
Mark your calendar now for the annual library book sale. This year we hope to hold the sale inside the unfinished library addition as well as outside on the library lawn, which will enable the trustees to begin setting books out before the day of the sale.
Library Receives Vermont Centennial Nonprofit Award
Morristown Centennial Library was recognized as being “in business” for over 100 years by the Secretary of State’s office. Governor Peter Shumlin and Secretary of State James Condos presented the award to library director Mary West and trustee Pat Stevens at a ceremony held in Montpelier.
KIDS CORNER
April is a busy month at the library! We will be celebrating both National Poetry Month and National Library Week (April 10–16, 2011), and holding several fun story times and programs. May and June will also be filled with great activities for readers of all ages!
Preschool Story Times
- April 5 and 7: Colorful Rainbows—April brings rainbows to the sky and to story time!
- April 12 and 14: I Love Libraries!— To celebrate national Library Week, we’ll have a story time all about the library!
- April 19 and 21:Wonderful Earth—Books, crafts, and songs to honor Earth Day and our planet.
- April 26 and 28: Rhyme Time—Stories and poems in honor of National Poetry Month. April 28 is also Poetry Reading Day!
- May and June Preschool Story Times themes will be forthcoming.
Lego Club
The Lego Club takes place ton the first and third Thursday of each month at 3:30 p.m., and is open to all ages. The Lego Club meets on April 7 and 21, May 5 and 19, and June 2 and 16.
After School Programs
After School Programs generally take place on Wednesday afternoons at 3:30 p.m., and are usually geared toward elementary age youth and/or young adults.
- Tea and Poetry: Wednesday, April 13 at 3:30—Come to a tea party at the library in honor of National Poetry Month. Bring a poem you wrote, or one written by someone else that you really like, and share it with the group. Enjoy tea party treats! Recommended for ages 9 and up.
- Stories and Snacks: Wednesday, April 20 and 27 at 3:30—Join us for two consecutive Wednesdays where we’ll enjoy afternoon snacks, and listen to wonderful books by well-loved authors. On April 20, we will read books by Jan Brett. On April 27, we will share stories written by Eric Carle.
- May and June After School Program information will be forthcoming.
Saturday Morning Programs
Saturday Morning Programs take place bi-weekly each month. Individual programs are geared to specific age groups.
• Fantasy Fan Club: Saturday, April 9 at 11:00—Are you age 12 or older and a huge fan of fantasy books? Come to the library to discuss your favorites with other fans, and learn about new books! Snacks will be provided. • Peter Rabbit Party: Saturday, April 23 at 11:00—Spring is a good time to celebrate this wonderful book written by Beatrix Potter. Listen to the book, sing “rabbit” songs, and play fun games! Recommended for ages 4–7. • May and June Saturday Morning Program information will be forthcoming.
For information about upcoming story times, new books, upcoming events, helpful websites and more, go the Kids’ Page . Please feel free to contact me with any questions at 888-3853 or youthservices@centenniallibrary.org.
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SPRING CALENDAR OF EVENTS
April 4—Public hearing on the library elevator at the Tegu Building at 6:00 p.m.
April 5—Friends of the Library meeting at 6:30 p.m.
April 7—Last book discussion group meeting at 7:00 p.m.
April 13—Joe Sherman, author of Young Vermonters: Not an Endangered Species, at 7:00 p.m.
May 4—Bill Schubart, author of Fat People, at 7:00 p.m.
May 14—Elevate Your Mind, a Vermont Book Auction and Gala, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the library.
May 20—Friends of the Library Plant Sale, 1:00–5:00 p.m.
May 21—Friends of the Library Plant Sale 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Please note: The writing, knitting, and bridge groups are still active events. Those interested in participating in these groups should call the library to find out where and when they are meeting.
For more information about these programs please call the library at 888-3853.