We had a lovely event when we broke ground--and soon we'll be able to see the big equipment at work! Everyone likes to watch a backhoe! The construction trailer is at the site, and we've had a meeting with the contractors. Any day now the fence will go up (I noticed the paint on the pavement showing where it will go.) Most people have one of two reactions--"You must be happy to have gotten this far" (which I surely am--elated even), and "When will the building be finished?"--one of those questions that cannot be answered with any precision. The answer depends on the weather. However, I can safely say that we should be in the building in a year. I'm being generous with the time--if we have great weather late into the Fall, things could follow the more optimistic time line. But this is Western New York--if you don't like the weather, wait a while--it'll change.
I've finished writing the NYS building grant for the next round--and am waiting anxiously for the first check from this year's grant. On the other hand, it's not like I've heard that any other library has received a check either. So we'll see what happens. Part of the problem is that hardly anybody works at the State Education Department any more. The department has been cut and cut (part of the education budget, which has also been cut and cut). We did get our check for the LLSA (Local Library Services Act), - our direct aid from New York State. A drop in the bucket, but every bit helps. Anyhow, State Ed. has the same amount of work to do, and far fewer people to do it than there used to be, so everything takes longer.
We're looking at other sources for grant funding as well. There are not as many as there used to be, which should surprize no one--the pies are smaller--so the pieces are too.
I'm working on our next Friends of the Library Projects as well. First is our book and Mum sale--mostly what I'm doing right now is going through my books to see what I can donate! My house is rather full of stuff--the more I get rid of, the less I'll be going around with bruises on my legs from walking into stuff. Well, maybe that's an exaggeration, but not by much!
And then, to get some pieces together for the "Art by Inches" show and sale. We tweaked the rules this year--instead of asking for everything to be 6" x 6" we're saying nothing larger than 7" in any dimension. I wanted more three dimensional items--sculpture and so forth. We may have a bit of difficulty figuring out how to display it all--but there should be great variety. And if my friends (and your friends) have items that are 5" x 7", or 4" x 6" or 6" x 6"--well, all of it will be fine. Idris may have some little difficulty hanging it all--maybe, maybe not. But what better way to get some original art work to hang on your wall or sit on your mantle or side table? And you'll be benefitting the library by decorating your apartment! How can you beat it? Look for the rules on the Swan Library website--we'll get them posted in a day or so. This event and the chair auction at the Strawberry Festival are the two events that we are using to pay the Friends' pledge to the Library Capital Campaign each year. And it's working!
If you want to help out, please join the Friends of the Library. We'll keep you posted on events, and use your help for various library events, and you'll have the fun of connecting with a group of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers. The Friends of the Library meet at 7:00pm the first Wednesday of each month. We usually meet in the meeting room, but if only a few people show up, or if there's a competing meeting or event, we sort of crowd into Susie Gaylard's office (the Curtis Civil War Room) instead.
