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Mendon's cottage library offers
services to 1,500 residents
By M.
Kathryn Hanberg
February 25, 2008 | MENDON -- After the decision to
build a new elementary school in early 2005, the need
for the Mendon's first library became even more clear.
"Mendon's citizens had been working for a library
almost as long as they have been in existence," Library
Director Win Gardner said.
A committee was formed to establish a city library
in the new school media center, but it soon began to
look as though the new school was not going to be built
for quite some time. This did not, however, deter the
citizens of Mendon to give up their efforts to open
a library, Gardner said.
The library organizational committee met and learned
of an offer to help their library still open. A family
who lived across the street from the Mendon Station
offered the committee their home free of rent.
In the June city council meeting, it was requested
that the city establish library start-up funds. With
the help of local Eagle Scouts, over 10,000 books, three
computers, three rooms of new oak bookshelves, a front
circulation desk with three chairs were all donated,
Gardner said.
"With a spic and span carpet, floor tile, fresh paint,
a big 'New Mendon Cottage Library' sign and the hiring
of a librarian, all was ready for the big open house
during the Pioneer Day celebration in 2005," said Gardner.
The library began with 58 family library cards its
first month, and has now grown to 290 family library
cards currently. This is about 1,500 Mendon citizens
who now use the library, Gardner said.
The library does more than checking out books. It
also has a story hour every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to
noon at the Mendon Station. This has three instructors
who rotate: Carole Kirk, Karen Kingston and Georgia
Edlund. Each week has 16 to 30 children ranging from
infants to about 5 year olds.
The library is always looking for volunteers, so if
you are willing to help, you can call the library at
435-792-9417, or go to the library and sign the volunteer
form. The library is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday,
and Saturday from 2 - 6 p.m., and Wednesday from 11
a.m. - 6 p.m.
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