The aim of this blog is to inform patrons and friends of the Pleasant Valley Free Library about new developments, especially those related to the projected expansion of the building. You can contribute to the Building Fund using The Community Foundation of Dutchess County (mention the Pleasant Valley Library Building Fund).
Bryan Bunch is a long-time trustee of the Pleasant Valley Free Library. Currently, in addition to being Deputy Treasurer of the Board, he heads a committee devoted to raising funds for library expansion. He and his wife Mary (also a library volunteer) have lived in Pleasant Valley since January 1995 and have been Pleasant Valley Free Library volunteers nearly all of that time.
The Friends of the Pleasant Valley Free Library met last night (Monday, April 4) to plan events for the next few months, including donations to the Library and a second Mah Jong tournament. But the main emphasis was on the forthcoming annual Book, Plant, and Bake Sale, scheduled for Friday April 29 through May 1 at the Pleasant Valley Town Hall. As in the past, attendance at the April 29 opening at 7:00 p.m. will require a fee of $5 per family, which gives a first crack at the books and plants (the bake sale starts Saturday morning). Volunteers who worked on Friday afternoon to set up the sale can shop without paying the early-shopper fee.
Getting enough volunteers to set up the sale has been a problem in recent years. There are two phases to the set-up. Starting about 3:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon, workers begin to move the thousands of books from the basement of the Library, where they have been sorted during the year into boxes by type of book, to the Town Hall. As books arrive at the Town Hall, a second group of workers unpacks the books from their boxes and arranges them on some 40 tables that are labeled with type--fiction, mystery, cookbooks, science, travel, biography, etc. There are usually plenty of volunteers for the unpacking and sorting, mostly older women and men. The problem is with the first stage, where more strength is required. At one time, local men's clubs came out for the heavy lifting and sometime the Boy Scouts helped, but recently it has been more difficult to schedule these kinds of groups; so, if you are in good shape and can use an hour or two of healthy exercise, the Friends hope that you can volunteer. Just show up at the Library on Friday afternoon April 29 (and plan to visit the book sale 7:00 to 9:00 to get early access free).
A new and very successful event took place earlier today--the Board of Trustees of the Library arranged a get-to-know-each-other lunch with the Library staff and Library Friends. Although the staff was out in full force, the Board was represented by President Dave Kruger, Sue Holland (who with a friend not only arranged a terrific lunch but also imaginative table decorations), Steve MacNish, and Kathy Kruger. The Friends who could make it in addition to this blogger were Friends President Barb Shapley and chief book sorter Mary Bunch. It was believe that some Board members and Friends may have intended to come but were confused by a late change in location from the Firehouse to the Libary.
After everyone introduced themselves and Dave Kruger welcomed us all, we enjoyed lunch while we discussed matters of mutual interest including signs for book sales, library cards for young children, income from fines, and problems with a few patrons who act up despite being in a library. We learned that LaGrange Library had installed a "panic button" to be used in case of a threat developing to the staff or to other patrons--something that is not as far-fetched as you might think. It was decided that our Library should investigate adding such a button to our existing alarm system.
It was clear that our Library is blessed with a caring and competent staff, many of whom have been with the Library for more than ten years. My view, which I suspect is shared, is that this kind of encounter ought to take place annually. I know that although I was on the Board for 14 years, there were always some staff members that I didn't really know, and I believe that is probably true of today's Board as well. Also, neither the Trustees nor the staff always know who the Friends are.
When I saw that 17 protesters had been arrested in Albany yesterday, I thought "Oh, no! The library lobbying effort has gone too far." But the protesters were folks who wanted--reasonably in my opinion--NYS to maintain the so-called "millionaire's tax," which Governor Cuomo and the Republicans want to let expire at the end of the year. Library Day in Albany was actually two days ago, not yesterday, and apparently went well.
Here is what Rebkkah Aldrich of the Mid-Hudson Library System reported:
"We had over 20 member libraries represented – 60+ people from the MHLS region! But I know many of you were there with us virtually through calls your legislators, use of the NYLA Online Advocacy Center, and expertly timed letters to the editor… the support out there in the MHLS region for library advocacy this year has been tremendous – and very necessary.
"It was fantastic to be waiting for a meeting with a legislator yesterday and to hear their staff picking up phone calls from library supporters who were calling with the same messages we were there to deliver in person – it really proved that there are a lot of people out there who care about libraries and who are watching legislators behavior towards our issues. Two legislators told us that they’ve heard from more library supporters in the past month than have from any other group of constituents!
The day went pretty well, we saw most legislators at some point in the day, others of us had face time with legislative aides but that’s ok – most seemed to really get what we were saying and were encouraging that we continue to speak up which is a good sign – it means there is still hope. MHLS will be following up with all legislators, making sure they get another dose of our messages via letter, calls and visits. We’re going to make appointments with some key legislators in their local offices to continue to press our message."
She also suggested that now is a good time to ask your local legislators to visit your library. We did this at the Pleasant Valley Library a couple of times recently (Marc Molinaro was the visitor) and, in addition to lots of good advice, we also ended up with a Member Item that Representative Molinaro sponsored. We have invited Sen. Steve Saland, who previous also sponsored a member item for us, to visit, but could not work out the dates. Given the general budget-cutting madness that is going on at all levels of government, it is more important than ever to keep in touch with our representatives.
And, by the way, I agree with the arrested protesters that the "millionaire's tax" should be kept. We need to pay for services with taxes instead of abandoning needed services because we refuse to pay for them. Keep that in mind when the next Chapter 414 campaign starts.
The New York Library Association has declared March 1 this year's Library Advocacy Day. The idea is that local constituents should converge on their representatives in state government that day, visiting the offices in Albany to encourage the legislature to protect funding for libraries. I cannot think of a year when this is more necessary, given the budget problems facing the state and the general nationwide movement to reduce government aid instead of raising taxes.
Now there is a good argument to be made against raising taxes for New York State residents, who have one of the highest tax burdens of any state; but cutting library funding helps to reduce a basic service that is vitally important in poor economic times. Even so, I suspect cuts will be made, so the Library Advocates who speak to their legislators may at best reduce the size of the cuts. That is at least improvement. One motto I always have liked is "Progress, not perfection." So if you can go to Albany on March 1 to lend your voice, I encourage you to do so. For the Pleasant Valley Free Library, our legislators are Assemblyman Marc Molinaro and Senator Steve Saland. Both are lovely people, so a chance to talk to them about the library situation should not be a burden. And let me remind you that they have helped our Library in the past--Sen. Saland made the roof that currently protects our building and holdings possible with a member item a few years ago, while Assemblyman Molinaro recently arranged for money that I believe was credited to the improvement of the walk along the side of the building near the driveway.
Here is how Mid-Hudson can help you participate:
To Register:
If you would like to take the bus you must register with RCLS by February 18th. Cost: $15 per person.
Library Friends are special people, often volunteering many hours each week for years to serve the libraries they love. Some of the devoted Friends of the Pleasant Valley Library have been stalwarts since the beginning of the operation now nearly ten years ago. These include Barb Shapley (current president), Sybil Alderman, Joe Lukaitis, Mary Bunch, Eileen Weslowski, and Suzanne Nolan. Today I am pleased to pass on some kudos to Friends of the Bethel (CT) Library and the Greenville (NY) Library.
In some ways, the relationship between the Pleasant Valley Library Friends and the Bethel Friends has been like that of cities that are paired with each other. My longtime friend (and frequent co-author) has been a large part of the Friends of the Bethel Library since before Pleasant Valley even had the current Friends organization. Currently Jenny is president of the Bethel Friends, a position she has also held before. Now she is about to step down from the Friend's Board, but not from her work with the group. She and her organization were recognized publicly on February 8 for a surprise donation of $25,000 as a big step toward closing the gap in funding for finishing the new wing of the library building. This sum was nearly all raised through the sale of donated books and other media.
Bethel has another connection with the Pleasant Valley Library. The husband of Library Director Daniela Pulice has a business in downtown Bethel, so Daniela knows that library well, also.
I mentioned that Library Friends often volunteer year after year. Mary Heisinger of the Friends of the Greenville Library has been at it for more than twenty years. The Town Council of Greenville recently honored her work by declaring February 6 "a day of special recognition." Until last fall she was the Friends' president. The recognition was an award ceremony at the Friend's "Winter Tea" at a local restaurant and, it appears, was a surprise for Mary, who received various awards and plaques.
It is great to learn of a Town Council that recognizes the value of a library in the community. Too often the Town officers are more likely to see the library as just another drain of tax money. The national anti-tax fervor (as I read in the paper today) has led many leaders to want to cut all sorts of educational and cultural programs, including PBS, NPR, and Teach for America. As with libraries, these institutions need more support, not less. At least in Pleasant Valley the voters decided that it was more important to support our library than it was to eliminate taxes.
No, a Winter Warmth Sale is not achieved by book burning--instead a wide selection of media and a select group of good books will go on sale in the Pleasant Valley Library this Saturday and continue to the end of February. Given the kind of winter we have been having, nothing should be nicer than to cuddle up with some warming music and a good book, unless it is to watch a fiery movie in the comfort of your living room.
As with all the sales by the Friends of the Pleasant Valley Library, the items being sold were donated, the sale is run by volunteers, and 100% of the income goes to support Library programs and materials. So plan to come to the Reading Room in the Pleasant Valley Free Library this Saturday to get first crack at the items. On Saturday the Library is open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
The New York Times in an editorial yesterday--which many may not have seen due the disruption of circulation by the storm--called attention to a speech by a British author defending libraries in Oxfordshire against cuts from the austerity budgets that are sweeping that nation. I looked up the speech, which is well worth reading. Here is a much edited-down version that concentrates on the parts that specifically deal with libraries:
Leave the libraries alone. You don’t understand their value.
Best-selling author Philip Pullman spoke to a packed meeting on 20 January 2011, called to defend Oxfordshire libraries. He gave this inspirational speech …
Here in Oxfordshire we are threatened with the closure of 20 out of our 43 public libraries. Mr Keith Mitchell, the leader of the county council, said in the Oxford Times last week that the cuts are inevitable, and invites us to suggest what we would do instead. What would we cut? Would we sacrifice care for the elderly? Or would youth services feel the axe? ,,,
Nor do I think we should respond to the fatuous idea that libraries can stay open if they’re staffed by volunteers. What patronising nonsense. Does he think the job of a librarian is so simple, so empty of content, that anyone can step up and do it for a thank-you and a cup of tea? Does he think that all a librarian does is to tidy the shelves? And who are these volunteers? Who are these people whose lives are so empty, whose time spreads out in front of them like the limitless steppes of central Asia, who have no families to look after, no jobs to do, no responsibilities of any sort, and yet are so wealthy that they can commit hours of their time every week to working for nothing? Who are these volunteers? Do you know anyone who could volunteer their time in this way? If there’s anyone who has the time and the energy to work for nothing in a good cause, they are probably already working for one of the voluntary sector day centres or running a local football team or helping out with the league of friends in a hospital. What’s going to make them stop doing that and start working in a library instead? …
Imagine two communities that have been told their local library is going to be closed. One of them is full of people with generous pension arrangements, plenty of time on their hands, lots of experience of negotiating planning applications and that sort of thing, broadband connections to every household, two cars in every drive, neighbourhood watch schemes in every road, all organised and ready to go. Now I like people like that. They are the backbone of many communities. I approve of them and of their desire to do something for their villages or towns. I’m not knocking them.
But they do have certain advantages that the other community, the second one I’m talking about, does not. There people are out of work, there are a lot of single parent households, young mothers struggling to look after their toddlers, and as for broadband and two cars, they might have a slow old computer if they’re lucky and a beaten-up old van… – people for whom a trip to the centre of Oxford takes a lot of time to organise, a lot of energy to negotiate, getting the children into something warm, getting the buggy set up and the baby stuff all organised, and the bus isn’t free, either – you can imagine it. Which of those two communities will get a bid organised to fund their local library?
But one of the few things that make life bearable for the young mother in the second community at the moment is a weekly story session in the local library, the one just down the road. She can go there with the toddler and the baby and sit in the warmth, in a place that’s clean and safe and friendly, a place that makes her and the children welcome. But has she, have any of the mothers or the older people who use the library got all that hinterland of wealth and social confidence and political connections and administrative experience and spare time and energy to enable them to be volunteers on the same basis as the people in the first community? And how many people can volunteer to do this, when they’re already doing so much else? …
I still remember the first library ticket I ever had. It must have been about 1957. My mother took me to the public library just off Battersea Park Road and enrolled me. I was thrilled. All those books, and I was allowed to borrow whichever I wanted! And I remember some of the first books I borrowed and fell in love with: the Moomin books by Tove Jansson; a French novel for children called A Hundred Million Francs; why did I like that? Why did I read it over and over again, and borrow it many times? I don’t know. But what a gift to give a child, this chance to discover that you can love a book and the characters in it, you can become their friend and share their adventures in your own imagination.
And the secrecy of it! The blessed privacy! No-one else can get in the way, no-one else can invade it, no-one else even knows what’s going on in that wonderful space that opens up between the reader and the book. That open democratic space full of thrills, full of excitement and fear, full of astonishment, where your own emotions and ideas are given back to you clarified, magnified, purified, valued. You’re a citizen of that great democratic space that opens up between you and the book. And the body that gave it to you is the public library. Can I possibly convey the magnitude of that gift?
Somewhere in Blackbird Leys, somewhere in Berinsfield, somewhere in Botley, somewhere in Benson or in Bampton, to name only the communities beginning with B whose libraries are going to be abolished, somewhere in each of them there is a child right now, there are children, just like me at that age in Battersea, children who only need to make that discovery to learn that they too are citizens of the republic of reading. Only the public library can give them that gift. …
I love the public library service for what it did for me as a child and as a student and as an adult. I love it because its presence in a town or a city reminds us that there are things above profit, things that profit knows nothing about, things that have the power to baffle the greedy ghost of market fundamentalism, things that stand for civic decency and public respect for imagination and knowledge and the value of simple delight. ...
Leave the libraries alone. You don’t know the value of what you’re looking after. It is too precious to destroy.
