Author: un_admin

 Come check out the new books and items we have received from NYS Creating Healthy Schools and Communities & The Pilcrow Foundation. From the Healthy Schools and Community Grant Program we received money to purchase health related books, games, toys and a puzzle,  among other things, for our library. From The Pilcrow Foundation we received a grant through our April 2018 Children’s Book Project. With the grant we received 68 new books and also got 23 additional math and science books provided by Mr. Hal Berenson & Mrs. Laura Ackerman of Colorado.  We want to thank these organizations and individuals for their generous contributions to our library. We also want to thank everyone for supporting our library book sales. The proceeds from our last 2 book sales contributed to the matching requirement from The Pilcrow Foundation.

With the renovation of five rooms, 2017 has been a time of rejuvenation for the Unadilla Public Library.

In 2016, the Library was awarded a construction grant from the New York State Education Department, Division of Library Development. One component of the Grant was a 25% match requirement, which was fulfilled through Bullet Aid from the New York State Senate, and a grant from the Community Foundation of Unadilla.

The physical work of updating the adult nonfiction section (The Reading Room), the circulation area, the computer room, the adult fiction section, and the children’s room (affectionately known as Nana’s Room), began in February, 2017.

Three LG Inverter air conditioners, combined with thermal windows, which replaced leaky, rattling windows, have allowed for whisper-quiet, super energy-efficient cooling and heating. Carpets were pulled up, and laminate and engineered wood flooring was laid down. New ceilings were installed in three rooms, and light fixtures (with LED bulbs) in four.

The shelving in all five rooms was removed, and new bookcases were custom-constructed. For floor plan flexibility, bookcases in the middle of the the adult rooms are mobile. They were built on wheels so they can be rolled out when an event necessitates additional floor space. Vertical expansion was made possible by taller bookcases with increased space between shelves for collection storage and display. Walkways were widened for universal access, and comfy seating was added in two rooms.

In Nana’s Room, one wall of bookshelves was built with a gambrel roof to create the appearance of a barn, and gable roofs were built over two other bookcases to give the impression of houses.

All construction work for this project was done by Cohen and Frazier Builders. Unadilla Mayor, David Welch, and Steven Bachman, the Executive Director of the Four County Library System, contributed many hours of guidance and encouragement throughout the entire process.

After a successful serialization in The Evening Sun, the illustrated fable My Mostly Happy Life: Autobiography of a Climbing Tree will be introduced to the world in book form–for the very first time–at the Unadilla Public Library… on Arbor Day.

This is particularly meaningful because the Library’s grounds are home to the giant trees that inspired Shelly Reuben’s climbing-tree narrator and Ruth McGraw’s wonderful illustrations.

Join us on Friday, April 27th, 7-9pm, as Shelly tells a few stories, reads a few fun paragraphs, answers questions, and introduces us to her ferret, Homer, after whom one of the book’s most lovable characters, Winston the Ferret, is patterned. Marigold, the goat, will also be present. Petting is encouraged!

Poetry contest: Write a poem about your favorite tree. It can be a giant redwood, a bonsai, or a  tree in your own backyard. It can be lovable, scary, or imaginary. Just put your feelings about it in a poem, and bring it to the library by Saturday, April 14. Shelly will pick her favorite and read it aloud after her talk.  The writer of the poem will also get a free copy of Shelly’s new book!

This is a free event. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

See shellyreuben.com for more information about the author.