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I really hope you like being on this Library History journey with me. Many people tell me how much they love reading my columns and learning about the library and how it came to be. I think it's very interesting but also important. And here is why.
Before all of our renovations started, there was a plaque hanging on (well, really, screwed into) the cement block wall of the Children's Room. Just inside the door. You probably passed it many times and never noticed it. I'm going to post a photo of the plaque on our Facebook page.
The plaque reads: In memory of Nancy Margaret Gardner Middleswarth / Board Member / 1944-1977.
My first thought was, "Why would you advertise the fact that a library board member served 33 years?" Because that's just not done nowadays. It's not a "Best Practice." Most boards have term limits so that there are new members often. Boards need fresh ideas.
But the library board in 1977 was not advertising the fact that she served on the board for a long time. I was wrong. No, the plaque was in recognition of the fact that she named MCL as a beneficiary in her will and her estate money was used to build or finish the lower level of the library.
I haven't been able to find out how much it cost to build the children's library but I have a Sentinel article detailing other costs. $4,944 went toward tables and chairs, study carrels, lounging chairs and metal cabinets. $7,200 was used for shelving with $400 deducted "if standard colors are chosen for the shelves." Since we still have the white shelves, I assume the library received the deduction. And the old "charging desk," what we would call the service desk, cost $1,560. The article ends with, "The construction of the children's room is being financed by an estate left to the library by the late Margaret Middleswarth." What a wonderful gift.
I wish I had known who Mrs. Middleswarth was and why she had a plaque. But I'm glad I learned this now. I wish the plaque had said more than it does. I feel bad that for all of this time, we didn't know what she did for us. Would we have had the children's room without her gift? I don't know, probably, but it may have taken longer.
The children's room officially opened on Nov. 3, 1978.
In my research, I found a Sentinel photo of Marti Wysocki painting the first rainbow. Hopefully, you remember a previous column of mine talking about the rainbow. She worked on the rainbow during the summer of 1978. I always wondered when that first rainbow was painted and now I know. The first rainbow had five colors: red, orange, yellow, green and blue. The first rainbow had an arrow pointing the way. Unfortunately, the photo is in black and white. I'll post the photo on the library's Facebook page today as well as a photo of the plaque.
Many people were involved in bringing us the Children's Library. More people than we probably know about. This is why I'm taking us on this library history journey. I'm so glad I learned more about Mrs. Middleswarth and I'm very happy to have the photo of Marti painting the rainbow.
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Susan Miriello is the Executive Director of the Mifflin County Library. New children's books recently added to the collection include: In and out the window by Jane Yolen; A Place for Rain by Michelle Schaub; You make me sneeze! by Sharon Flake.