Library demonstration in Augusta
The North Gorham Library will be represented in Augusta as the legislature hosts a display today (Jan. 11) in the Hall of Flags at the State House for Maine Library Week, which began on Monday, Jan. 9.
Jan Labrecque, president of the board of North Gorham Library, and Virginia Rundell, librarian, will meet with Gorham’s legislative delegation. “The legislature is going to recognize the Maine libraries,” said Labrecque, a former legislator from Gorham.
The library, located at the intersection of North Gorham and Standish Neck roads, has three new computers available for use by the public. The computer upgrade was made possible through a recent fund drive to update technology at the library. “We received $20,000 total,” Rundell said.
A plaque in the library identifies those who contributed. They were the North Gorham Public Library patrons, the town of Gorham, the Davis Family Foundation, the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, the Vincent and Barbara Welch Foundation, the Narragansett Number 1 Foundation, the Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust, the Gates Staying Connected Grant and Gorham Savings Bank.
The library also has plans for a new workstation for the computers and also plans on adding a new circulation desk. The library, which provides free access to people in Windham and Standish besides Gorham, has 600 registered patrons.
The library has a children’s story hour and a program for babies. On Wednesday, a mom with a two-week old baby visited the library to take part in the program. Rundell also said the library has an extensive collection of books by Maine authors and Maine history.
In addition to books, the library has tapes and videos. It also participates in an inter-library loan system in which patrons can request books not in the library’s collection. ‘We’re trying to stay modern,” Labrecque said.
MARVEL, Maine’s new on-line library, is also available. A hands-on demonstration of MARVEL will be available for legislators today in Augusta.
A universal service for schools and libraries pays for Internet service and the town of Gorham budgets $10,000 annually to operate the North Gorham Public Library. “We’d like to have an increase,” Labrecque said.
In addition to Labrecque, the other members of the library’s board of trustees are Marlene Scholl, vice president; Greg Smith, treasurer; Dave Alexander, secretary; Edith McCauley; Wendy Wales; and Barbara Farrell. Bert Gilman is the library’s technician.
“A Night of Broadway”
The School Street United Methodist Church, 29 School St., is presenting “A Night of Broadway” at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21.
The show is a “cabaret evening” of show tunes and performances for all ages. Performers include Matt Slipp, Farah Padamsee, Elisa Doucette, Ryan Pickering, Amy Doucette, Kathy Baker and Gail Ambrose. Rep. Chris Barstow will be master of ceremonies.
The show is a fundraiser for the church’s building fund. The church building is under contract to be sold and the congregation has plans to build new at the corner of Cressey Road and Route 25.
Tickets for the show are $7 in advance; $10, at the door; $5, all students. For tickets or more information, call 839-3111 or e-mail tickets@vineyardpromos.com
Hughes bounces back
Jim Hughes of Clay Road said he is feeling “fine” these days after a five-way bypass heart surgery in September.
He and his wife, Glenyce, hosted a party for 50 family members and friends in November at Verrillo’s in Portland.
Hughes, 77, served with the U.S. Marines in Korea. He is one of the “Chosin Few” who survived the battle of Chosin (Changjin) Reservoir in 1950.
Baxter closed Monday
Baxter Memorial Library, 71 South St., will be closed on Monday, Jan. 16, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
U.S. taxpayer debt
The Bureau of Public Debt reported on Thursday, Jan. 5, that the U.S. public debt was $8,160,320,491,591.57.
(North Gorham Library 1) – Virginia Rundell, on the left, and Jan Labrecque are happy with fundraiser results that provided three new computers for the North Gorham Public Library.Send questions/comments to the editors.
