At the Library: Board of Trustees Vice-President shares her library experience

'Library” is a word that is essentially magic to me. Think of all the knowledge, secrets, revelations and stories that are housed in a library! I still remember my first visit and the book I chose. Since then, knowing where the local library is has been important every time I move. So, moving back to Washington in 2005, after leaving in 1969, it was a good feeling to visit the library and find the same sense of home that I remembered growing up. By then there was more support for the library and the librarians were not constantly worried about potential loss or damage to the books. Everyone was so friendly and helpful - of course. Then - how amazing to watch a new building go up - a building that so many residents thought was a waste of time and a bad location. Were they ever wrong! The new library is an anchor on the Square, busy all the time with patrons, programs, meetings and gatherings for all ages. The vision of that library board was brilliant and I thank them by doing as much as I can for the library. Serving on the board of trustees has been a real eye-opener - most of us do not realize how much goes on here and how connected to the community the library is. After a career of teaching art and art history to high school students, I have loved being on the Art Committee. We are curating the Dave Elder Fine Art Collection, much of which has been in storage for years. Some of these works turned out to be real treasures, unknown to Elder, and our research is continuing. We have also loved adding more local art to the collection. We hope to have everything up and labeled by summer when we will celebrate with some tours and artist talks. And, we are encouraging more exhibits in the Helen Wilson Gallery and the Foyer. We couldn't ask for a more hardworking, knowledgeable and friendly staff and we have a fine collection of books, graphic novels, audio books, DVDs and periodicals. In my book, the Library will always be a treasure trove: I deeply appreciate all those who keep it going. Thank-you!

New Materials at the Library

Adult Fiction

The Eight Mountains by Paolo Cognetti

To The Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey

Sisters By Choice by Susan Mallery

Salt River by Randy Wayne White

Large Print Fiction

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

A Small Town by Thomas Perry

Treason by Stuart Woods

Adult non-fiction

The Age of Illusions by Andrew Bacevich

The Witches Are Coming by Lindy West

Easy Children's

Huggie & Stick by Drew Dayvalt

Little Red Rhyming Hood by Sue Fliess

Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris

One Fox by Kate Read

Straw by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Because of an Acorn by Lola M. Schaefer