<![CDATA[Pittsfield's Roger Clark Memorial Library

<![CDATA[Pittsfield's Roger Clark Memorial Library - Library News]]>Thu, 24 May 2012 18:18:27 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[The Library's new home will right be above it's old home. We're hoping to move in in May!]]>Fri, 23 Mar 2012 06:39:17 -0800http://www.pittsfieldlibrary.com/3/post/2012/03/the-librarys-new-home-will-right-be-above-its-old-home-were-hoping-to-move-in-in-may.html

]]><![CDATA[What a year 2011 was!]]>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:24:35 -0800http://www.pittsfieldlibrary.com/3/post/2012/01/what-a-year-2011-was.htmlRoger Clark Memorial Library
2011 Annual Report

2011 was a busy year for us at the Roger Clark Memorial Library as we prepared for the expected - the renovation of our building, and reacted to the unexpected - Hurricane Irene.

We found creative money saving solutions to not only store our books, but keep as many as possible in circulation. Step one, we invited patrons to hoard books, and hundreds of books found temporary homes around our community. Step two, volunteers took a hard look at our collection. Books that had not been looked at in years, or were factually out of date, were put aside for our annual book sale. Step three, volunteers put all the remaining books in boxes that went to dry safe storage in our neighbors' homes. Last our volunteers, with a few paid hands, loaded all our shelving, chairs and tables onto a hay wagon so it could be driven over to the barn to wait.

With our books were packed up for renovations, we continue to serve our community. On the day set for our annual fund raiser Irene hit Pittsfield. We were able to converted our “Pig Kissin’ Library Fund Raising” jars to “Irene Assistance” jars. We are spending the money collected to help clean up flood debris by paying for dumpsters. We are also proud that the empty library space was used as a temporary medical clinic.

We can’t wait to reopen so we can continue to offer a cozy gathering spot in the center of town, a good selection of books, internet access, and free programs to our community.

Some of our programs this year:
January- 3 week after school Theater Arts program
April - Cabin Fever Game Night
May- Mighty Tweed Bike Rodeo
June - Concert on the Green with the Pittsfield Historical Society and BBQ by the PFC
September- Annual Book Sale at the Pittsfield Bazaar
October - Halloween Free Book Give Away
December - Ginger Bread Decorating Party

We are a multigeneration community center fostering traditional, cultural and technical literacy. ]]><![CDATA[Nov. 22 meeting moved up]]>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:47:43 -0800http://www.pittsfieldlibrary.com/3/post/2011/11/nov-22-meeting-moved-up.htmlThe meeting will be at 6pm at the Clear. Please join us. ]]><![CDATA[Next meeting Nov. 22]]>Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:59:49 -0800http://www.pittsfieldlibrary.com/3/post/2011/11/next-meeting-nov-22.htmlWe have LOTS of planning to do

Will we hold our annual seasonal programs (night before the night before Christmas at the Library, Ginger bread house decorating)? Have we completed our Pittsfield Irene debris removal efforts? What will our new space look like? Who will pick up the library mail? Even though the space is closed for renovations, we still have lots goping on.

Join us for our monthly volunteer and trustee meeting Tuesday November 22nd at 7pm at the Clear River Tavern.

]]><![CDATA[October Library News]]>Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:31:06 -0800http://www.pittsfieldlibrary.com/3/post/2011/10/october-library-news.html

Halloween Book Give Away & Candy Drop
If you are trick-or-treating on the Pittsfield Green this Halloween, be sure to stop in and see us. We have free new books for trick-or-treaters to keep! If building renovations have started, look for us at the town hall. Come in, warm up, and visit with friends and neighbors.

New this year we're sponsoring a candy drop. It's time to help out the generous homes in and around the green who have been buying tons of candy over the years for kids who love to trick or treat in Pittsfield. Drop your candy donations at the Pitt Stop between now and October 24th and we'll see that the treats distributed among those homes.

Where your $ go
We told you all that the money we raised with our pig kissing jars and hurricane assistance jars would help our community recover from Irene. We're happy to report we have been able to supplement the work of the Church's Pittsfield Hurricane Relief fund. We are working on debris removal. We have paid for two dumpsters for flood debris so far, they are in town already. We hope this will help all households with flood damage, and help get our town cleaned up. Unfortunately, dumpsters are expensive. If you would like to help out with this project, drop us a line.

Annual Book Sale at the Bazaar
At this year's Bazaar we earned $625 which will be used in our hurricane assistance efforts. All books were either donated, or weeded from our shelves. The books that were not sold will be taken to a good home.

Pittsfield Town Meeting - Irene Recovery
A town wide meeting is scheduled for October 20th at 6pm at the Pittsfield church to discuss Irene recovery. Don't forget, Angelique Lee has created a great resource, Pittsfield Vermont News, subscribe at her web site.

]]><![CDATA[Meeting Reshceduled]]>Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:26:32 -0800http://www.pittsfieldlibrary.com/3/post/2011/09/meeting-reshceduled.htmlWe're holding our October meeting one week early so we have time to prepare for the book sale at the rescheduled Pittsfield Bazaar. The meeting will be at the Clear at 7pm on September 29th. ]]><![CDATA[Important Pittsfield Town Meeting 9.10.11]]>Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:53:50 -0800http://www.pittsfieldlibrary.com/3/post/2011/09/important-pittsfield-town-meeting-91011.htmlSATURDAY 7:30 AM at the CHURCH
FEMA Information and Representatives
and
USDA Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP)
A USDA Representative will explain this program, which offers help for eroded areas that will be vulnerable to future flooding that could cause personal property damage.
]]><![CDATA[How your neighbors save you money ... and make life more fun.]]>Sun, 14 Aug 2011 20:02:44 -0800http://www.pittsfieldlibrary.com/3/post/2011/08/how-your-neighbors-save-you-money-and-make-life-more-fun.html

Moving furniture into storage.

It can be easy to complain that taxes are too high, that nobody does anything right, and that everything costs way too much for way too little. So here's the other side of the story.

As you probably know after quite a few years of discussion, some cordial and some heated, Pittsfield has finally decided it's time we meet ADA, clean up the mildew, and fix the roof of our old school house. The old school house is now the home of our all volunteer Roger Clark Memorial Library; soon it will hold fresh town offices on the first floor, and the library on the second.

We looked at rates for storage and quickly decided that money should be spent on books and programs for our community, not storage space. Would you believe we've managed to pack up the whole library, and we're not paying one cent for storage? Step one, we invited patrons to hoard books, and hundreds of books have found temporary homes around our community. Step two, volunteers took a hard look at our collection. Books that haven't been looked at in years were put aside for our annual book sale. So were books that were factually out of date. Step three, volunteers put all the remaining books in boxes that went to dry safe storage in your neighbors' homes. Last our volunteers, with a few paid hands, loaded all our shelving, chairs and tables onto the hay wagon so it could be driven over to the barn to wait.

That's right. Other than exactly the cost of a few cardboard boxes and $150 cash, your volunteers packed up and stored your library. And we weren't alone. Did you know your volunteer firefighters don't just put out fires? They spent hours last week packing up the old school house. Pretty cool.

So, we care that much about providing our town with a great space, great books and great programs. We know you do too, and enjoy a great party, so please reserve your spot for our pig ... I mean big ... annual fund raising party at the Clear.

~Marion

]]><![CDATA[Big Box of Books - We are encouraging you to hoard books!]]>Sun, 12 Jun 2011 20:10:44 -0800http://www.pittsfieldlibrary.com/3/post/2011/06/big-box-of-books-we-are-encouraging-you-to-hoard-books.html

In anticipation of the restoration and expansion of our current building, the Trustees and Volunteers of the Roger Clark Memorial Library plan to close the library in July. We hate to think of the bulk of our fabulous collection lying dormant for an extended period of time. To ensure your continued access to a wealth of great reading material we’ve come up with a plan.

We are encouraging you, our loyal patrons, to hoard an unlimited number of books for the duration of our closure. On June 28th and 30th, during regular library hours (or the first week in July by appointment only) you are invited to check out as many books as you may want for the months ahead. Stock up on your favorite author; choose some works outside of your usual genre: get that book your kid hates to return. Beyond the entertainment and educational value, when you help yourself to a Big Box of Books, you help us defray the effort and cost of storage.

It is suggested that you safeguard the books in a plastic tote when not in use. We will have some totes available in the library at checkout time, but feel free to bring your own. Remember, first come, first served.

After we check out as many books as the community can absorb, we will tackle the daunting task of packing up the remaining books, shelving, furniture and supplies. While we have some ideas we haven’t yet committed to any particular storage facility. If anyone would like to donate a climate controlled pest free space suitable for the book collection, or just a dry space for the rest of the items, please let us know. And of course, volunteer labor is always appreciated.

Questions? Suggestions? Contact a Trustee at pittsfieldvtlibrary@gmail.com , or by phone 746 - 4067.

]]><![CDATA[Mighty Tweed Bike Rodeo Stampeded with Young Bikers]]>Wed, 01 Jun 2011 09:31:48 -0800http://www.pittsfieldlibrary.com/3/post/2011/06/mighty-tweed-bike-rodeo-stampeded-with-young-bikers.html

Lots of happy fishermen for the Annual Fishing Derby followed by a great turn out for The Mighty Tweed Bike Rodeo made Pittsfield the place to be for young and old over the Memorial Day weekend.

Mother Nature made herself heard with the pounding of thunder and crackling of lightening but not before over 30 children from Pittsfield and surrounding towns made their way to Roger Clark Memorial Library to register for the Mighty Tweed Bike Rodeo.

Once registered, they headed out to get their bikes checked by our bike mechanic volunteers. Tires were filled with air, chains were greased, and seats were adjusted. Next, they stopped to get their helmets adjusted and fit properly by Kelly O. and Kelly Z. RCML was happy to give away over 15 Bell Tru-fit helmets to young bikers. With their bikes ready and their heads safe, they made their way to the Bike Skills Course. The more seasoned riders blew past the skills course and headed right to the Mountain Bike Skills course and the ever-popular pump track. Kids were encouraged to decorate their bikes for Pittsfield’s Memorial Day Parade!

Mother Nature may have cut the bike rodeo short but kids and parents filled the Library with lots of chatter. Kyle Rasmussen volunteered to read a book to the younger children. Everyone enjoyed snacks and ice cream while they waited for the torrential down pour to subside. We knew we could get people in the library one way or another!

The Mighty Tweed Bike Rodeo could not have happened if it were not for a great bunch of volunteers. It just goes to show when a group of community members get together and volunteer their time a fantastic event can happen for kids and families. These events give people a chance to chat with a neighbor, meet new people, and come up with more ideas for community events. A community-wide softball game was mentioned at this one.

Roger Clark Memorial Library would like to thank the O’brien family, the Ziegler family, Joe Grasso, Mary Sell, Sarah Rasmussen, Lauren Mayer, Taylor Tolar, Mimi Templeton, Dejah Lee, Amanda Mckeen and those behind the scene people who know who they are.

Keep this date open, as we may see a return of the Mighty Tweed Bike Rodeo for next year!
A big thank you to all that participated and helped to make it a fun event despite Mother Nature!

~Traci Templeton

please enjoy photos below by Angelique Lee.

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