The Lanpher Memorial Library is very excited to announce that we are recipients of a Children's Literacy Foundation (CLiF) sponsorship!  This entitles us to $2000 in new books for our children's collection, plus there will be an event at the Hyde Park Elementary School some time this school year to introduce some of the titles and to get students excited about the new books in their public library!

The Lanpher Library got this sponsorship in 2004, so those of you who remember the presentation at the elementary school know that this is an amazing program.  If you are unfamiliar with CLiF, check them out online at clifonline.org

Something new they've offered in this sponsorship is that we are able to nominate a local child care to receive a story telling presentation by CLiF too.  We've nominated Round Hill Kids of North Hyde Park for this portion and are pleased to work with them on this exciting opportunity.

Thanks Children's Literacy Foundation!!!!

Here are some interesting statistics in the differences in our application for the Children's Literacy Foundation Sponsorship between 2004 and 2010.

                                                       2004                 2010
Total annual Budget:                      36,550.00            46,517.28

Total Annual Children's                  
Material Budget                               2770.00              3100.00

Total Number of new books
added to children's collection
within the past year                          195                     218

Total Children's Circulation             2940                   8030
for last Fiscal Year

The Johnson Public Library and the Lanpher Memorial Library in Hyde Park will each be offering a free five-week course in "Writing Life Stories" for "senior citizens" taught by Julia Shipley.   The course will run on Mondays from 10-12 starting September 13-October 11th in Johnson and beginning on Monday October 25 contniuing until November 22nd in Hyde Park.

This writing workshop is for anyone with an urge to scribble down those significant moments and capture these episodes of the past, in order to preserve them and explore their impact on a deeper level.  By writing down and sharing stories participants can inform others about the big and little events that make up a rich life. 

If you've never taken a writing course taught by Julia Shipley, please give it a try.  This class has been held in Johnson for many years and is incredibly popular, however those who are new to this workshop will be given priority.
Previous participants are especially welcome to register for the Hyde Park course, as it will cover new material. 

*This workshop is sponsored by the Copley Fund.

For more information, please contact Johnson Public Library 635-7141 or the Lanpher Library 888-4628, or by the contact info. on this website. 

It's been a very sad couple of days at the Lanpher Memorial Library.  As many of you may have noticed, the maple tree in front of the library and the one on the side of the library have been cut down and removed. 
While I have had weeks and weeks to mourn the fact that they would be going, I now realize that the community of Hyde Park has not had that time and so I offer a eulogy of sorts...or explaination at the very least for the loss of our beloved trees.

A few months ago, a representative from the Village of Hyde Park requested that we look in to the health of the tree out front.  The two large halves of the trees posed a threat to both the building of the library, and the electric lines over the road. 

We called Tree Works in Montpelier who did some work on the tree in 2003.  At that time, they'd pumped some good fertilizer in the ground around the tree in both the fall and spring.  They also installed a metal rod into the tree to keep the two parts together.  In June, and with the technology since even 2003, Bill DeVoe of Tree Works took a laser reading of the middle of the tree to determine its health.  The prognosis was not good.  It was rotting on the inside and couldn't be saved as we'd originally hoped.  In fact, the metal rod from 7 years ago was really the only thing keeping the tree together.  It would have to go.

While he was here, I asked Bill to take a look at the tree at the side of the library.  The news for that one was even worse!  His worry was that if we did not take care of that tree, we'd be in for some serious damage within the next 6 months. 

The "guys" from the Village and Town agreed to take down and remove the trees for us as soon as they were able.  (This saved the Lanpher Library quite a lot of money as we'd have to pay someone to take the trees down.)  That time came early Monday morning for the tree out front, and early Tuesday morning for the one on the side of the building.

We are VERY grateful to Tree Works of Montpelier and to the Village and Town for their help in taking care of the trees for us. 

We do join the community in mourning their loss.  We already miss the shade of the tree out front.  We feel so "exposed" now without the protection and shade of that tree. 
While the upstairs at the library now has plenty of natural light, we miss being able to look into the tree and observe the birds, squirrels and branches while sitting at the table in the meeting area. 
We'll be looking into putting window dressings in pretty soon!

Many folks are asking:  What is your plan for replacing the tree?!  We know that we will replace the tree out front.  As timing has it, during the Open House for Connie Page's Quilt Display and Exhibit here at the Library this morning, the tree at the side of the library was being removed.  The family of Connie Page began discussing a donation of a mature tree of some kind in honor of Connie to go out front.  My heart swells already with the immediate possibility of something to fill the empty spot where the beautiful, old maple once stood. 
I guess our next step will be to remove the stump.  I'm not sure how ready I am for that yet....but in the meantime, I'll enjoy the little reminder that a nice, old tree was once there...witnessing the comings and goings of the library for a nice, long time. 

The Open House for Connie Page's quilt display was held this morning from 10-12 and drew a crowd of over 40 people.   Connie was here to greet her friends, family and community as they marveled over the work and detail of Connies's quilts. 

It was such a treat to have Connie back in the library and to see so many community members talking, laughing and visiting with eachother.  At times like that, I remember what a nice gathering place the library is and that the part of our mission statement to serve as a "center for sharing skills and ideas and for fostering community spirit" is true and being fulfilled in new and e

Please visit the library soon to see these gorgeous quilts that will be on display through September. 

Local author, Mark Freeman has written a short story that is being made into a film.  Please check out the website and blog at www.thedragonwall.com

Auditions for parts in the film will be held at River Arts in Morrisville on August 14th and 18th and at the Lanpher Memorial Library in Hyde Park on August 29th from 11-4. 
Break a leg!

American Sign Language 1 is hosted and sponsored by the Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VCDHH) and will be held at the Lanpher Memorial Library on Wednesdays beginning September 1st for 13 weeks. The cost for the class is $175 plus the cost of the book and DVD.  Registration deadline is August 27th and inquiries may be made to Keri Darling [email protected]
You may pick up a registration form at the Lanpher Library.  
To get the book and DVD, go to  http://www.dawnsign.com/shopping/Detail.cfm?ProductID=211