Friends of South Berwick Library

Tuesday, Aug. 17th, 7-8:30 pm, Town Hall Auditorium
 
Getting the campaign underway...
 
The Event: The 2nd meeting of folks wanting to Make It Happen: a new Library for South Berwick.

In July, 31 people gathered and split into five committees which got right to work. Now, we would like input from the larger group to evaluate the possibilities for large events so have called a second large meeting. This is a good time to step up and join the party! There is nothing like a worthwhile project to bring people together and create community.

Friends of South Berwick Library
Make it Happen Raffle


Take a chance to win a Kindle™
Help build South Berwick’s new Library!
Drawing: September 15, 2010
Tickets:  1 for $3  - 2 for $5
All proceeds benefit the Friends of South Berwick Library Building Fund.
Kindle™ donated by the236diner.com
Prize:  Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G, 6" Display, White, 3G Works Globally

The Town Council held a public meeting, " a listening session" on July 21st, the subject in question being the New Library Project.There were only a handful of people in attendance, but the questions asked reflect a much broader interest. Most questions received answers and many of those will be published in The Quamphegan, enclosed with tax bills being mailed in late August. Some questions related to fundraising by the Friends of the South Berwick Library and could only be answered by the Friends. Here are those answers: (note - we are working on getting the website up to date, some info is not up yet, check back, please)

By Molly Colman

It’s a good time to take a walk by the Young Street building that is slated to become the new South Berwick Public Library to see the first signs of the new life the building will soon enjoy.

Creative townspeople have stepped forward to spiff up the building, formerly St. Michael’s Catholic Church, as it awaits the transformation from a building in need of tender loving care to an energy efficient, modern library. South Berwick resident John Klossner, with support from the Friends of the Library, has organized a project to cover up the boarded up windows with murals, collages and sculptures created by local artists.

Paint Drive to be held for library windows project!

A paint drive will be held in conjunction with the South Berwick Library Book Drive on May 1. Donated new and used paints are being collected to use in the Library Windows Project, with local artists using the paints to create pieces to serve as temporary windows coverings during the remodeling of the Young Street property. Anyone who would like to donate acrylic paints (interior or exterior) can bring them to the South Berwick Library during their Book Drive on Saturday, May 1, from 9 AM to 1 PM.
 

For more information, please contact John Klossner at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

We have moved the date of the Young Street Property Workshop to Wednesday 4/21. 
This workshop will be held in the Auditorium Hall at 6:30 pm. 

This is a workshop meeting with the Council.  The public is welcome but only invitees may participate.

Do you want to be part of making a new library a reality?

There are many ways you can help – large and small, sooner or later. Come find out where your time and talent might benefit a new library for South Berwick.

At the August 24th meeting, the South Berwick Town Council voted to contract with JCJ Architects to proceed with the next step toward a new library. This step will answer the many questions out there about the reuse of the building, the layout of the library and specifics about materials and systems. The money for this phase, $50,000, will come from the Town's Library Reserve Fund.

To garner support and raise awareness of the New Library project, the Friends are hosting an Open House Sunday, Oct 4th, from 3-7 pm. The July Open House was so successful, we thought we should keep going and get some more folks into the building to see the possibilities for themselves. And, in tribute to church suppers and the social role of churches in communities, there will be a Library Supper at 5 pm.

Won't you bring the family and come to an old-fashioned potluck supper, a Library Supper at the former St. Michael's Church on Young Street, the future home of South Berwick's Public Library?

The Friends of South Berwick Library is hosting an open house Thursday, July 16, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the former St. Michael’s Church to offer citizens an opportunity to see the building, which is now owned by the Town and slated to become the new home of South Berwick Public Library.

The open house will feature “imagination stations” where adults and children can help imagine the future library. Visitors will have a chance to explore the space and find out more about the project. This free event offers refreshments, children’s art activities, a poster contest and a book nook. All are invited. It is scheduled the same night as the Hot Summer Nights Concert at Central School so visitors can attend the Open House and then follow the path from the future library to the concert at the school.

Plans for a new library in South Berwick have been underway for many years. Population growth in the last two decades has outpaced the size of the current 1,500-square-foot library housed in the Jewett-Eastman Memorial building, a historic house that was once the home of Sarah Orne Jewett. It is not handicap accessible nor does it have the electrical capacity for computer technology.

The $5 Challenge!

This year's Annual Fund Drive has resulted in a whole lot of brand new books for the Children's Room.

If you haven't already, it's not too late to demonstrate your appreciation of the services our Library provides.

The South Berwick Town Council has scheduled a public meeting about a new library: May 13, 7 pm, in Auditorium Hall.

• Firms are being interviewed prior to hiring one to evaluate church building and its possibilities as a library building.

• Funding sources for a new library are being explored.

• The South Berwick Library Building Program (a planning document) has been updated.

The Town Council held a second facilitated workshop on June 30, 2008, with the same invited committees as the May 19th workshop.

Agenda:
Building Committee Report
Money Action Team Report
Next Steps

Report on May 19, 2008 workshop held by the Town Council

The 'Big Picture Action Team' met Monday, May 19, 2008, in a workshop organized by the Interim Town Manager and the Town Council. Present were members of the Library Advisory Board, South Berwick Public Library staff, Town Building Committee, Historic District Commission, and Friends of the South Berwick Library. The stated purpose was to discuss the use of the St. Michael's Church property as a library site. The workshop was assisted by a facilitator.