Thursday, December 29, 2016

Sponsors for 2017 Mini Golf in the Library

Click on image to enlarge it

On December 28, 2016, The Republican published this story about our upcoming Mini Golf fundraiser and our request for sponsors for 2017: "Tee off to help library"
(See also the MassLive version posted the next day.)

We are pleased that many of last year's sponsors wish to sponsor again. We thank in particular two sponsors who have DOUBLED their level of sponsorship and sent us their checks promptly:
  • Ross Insurance Agency
  • Conklin Office Furniture
Ross Insurance Agency became our first Event Sponsor for 2017, sponsoring at the Gold Level.

Conklin Office Furniture is the first of our Hole Sponsors for 2017. They have chosen to sponsor one of the premium holes: the 18th Hole.  On our Friends Facebook page Conklin Office Furniture commented,
"Something to look forward to in 2017! A fun time and such a great cause! Thanks for all the work you do Friends of the Holyoke Public Library."
For more information about our April 2017 fundraiser and how to become a sponsor, visit this Mini Golf page on the HPL website:

We'll update this page as additional sponsorships come in.

December 30: We are happy to welcome a NEW sponsor for 2017: Racing Mart Fuels, 330 Main Street, Holyoke. Racing Mart is an Event Sponsor at the Bronze level.

A sponsorship check from Marcotte Ford, 1025 Main Street, Holyoke, arrived in our mailbox in early January. We welcome Marcotte Ford as an Event Sponsor at the Bronze level.

On January 10, CareerPoint returned as a sponsor, increasing their contribution to become an Event Sponsor at the Silver level this year. Thank you!

Aaron's, 740 High Street, will sponsor the 1st Hole. This is their second year of sponsoring a Premium Hole at the $500 level. Much appreciated!  Store Manager Rob Lopez presented the Aaron's check to Sandy Ward, Mini Golf chair, on Friday January 27.

Mount Holyoke College has become an Event Sponsor at the Bronze level, thanks to Kevin McCaffrey, MHC Director of Government and Community Relations.

HAP Housing will again be a Sponsor in 2017, this time as an Event Sponsor at the Bronze Level.

Daniel Deschaine, owner of Reliable Computer, presented a check to Sandy on February 22. Last year he decorated Hole #14 with a variety of computer parts and creative signs. He's eager to return as sponsor of that same section of the course, which weaves through the book stacks on Level 1. A reliable Hole Sponsor!


River Valley Counseling Center will return as a Hole Sponsor. Angela Callahan enjoyed hosting Hole #17 last year in the Teen Room. This year she will be at Hole #11, in the Children's Activity Room on Level 2.

Hole #18 will be in the Teen Room for 2017.

Conklin Office Furniture is the proud sponsor of the 18th Hole. On March 3, Mike Morin (marketing coordinator) and owners Franco and Rosemary Arnold came to scope out the space and practice some mini golf. Fun! They also enjoyed a tour of the Library including the Holyoke History Room. For more photos, see 3/5/17 blog entry.

Holyoke Gas & Electric is an Event Sponsor at the Gold Level. We are delighted to have HG&E's support again this year.

Witman Properties, 121 Main St, Holyoke, joins us as a new Event Sponsor, at the Bronze Level.

Open Square returns as a Hole Sponsor for 2017.

State Representative Aaron Vega is a Hole Sponsor for the second year in a row. What obstacle will he bring this year?  Last spring a copy of the thick Massachusetts Budget was in our way.

Homewood Suites by Hilton returns not only as a Hole Sponsor, but also as donor of one night of free lodging (to be auctioned off during our Swing into Spring Cocktail Party April 7).

Mass. Surgical Supply will again be a Hole Sponsor.

Logos of all the sponsors listed above were incorporated into the design of the 2017 Scorecard to be given to each player.  Hadley Printing completed and delivered the beautiful scorecards in late March.

Positronic Farms, a very new enterprise in Holyoke, joined us as a new Event Sponsor a few days after the scorecard was finished. We were able to add Positronic Farms to the "Thanking our Sponsors" sign March 30, just before printing at the Holyoke Creative Arts Center print shop.

The next day HAP Housing announced a name change to Way Finder. We are grateful for their support, regardless of name.


Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Ornaments on sale at Library


This is the latest addition (2016) to the Friends series of ornaments depicting historic Holyoke buildings and scenes.  It is a 21st Century view of our public library showing the new addition and entrance facing Chestnut Street.    (Scroll below for additional photos of this one.)

You can buy this lovely new ornament at the Library Circulation Desk; the price is $20.  Other ornaments, including the Maple Street view of the 1902 Library, are also available. 







Friday, November 4, 2016

Friends Board meetings

The Friends board will meet on Monday, December 5, 2016, 5:30 - 7:00pm in the Library.  These meeting are open; please join us if you are interested in the Friends group and how we function. We make decisions about what projects to undertake, how to raise funds (e.g., our Mini Golf event in April), what library services and programs to support with the funds we've raised, and what supplemental programs or activities to organize (e.g., an author talk, a poetry reading, or a games day).

Typically we meet on the 4th Monday of each month. But for November-December 2016, because of holiday schedules and conflicts, we chose to have a single combined meeting on Monday, December 5th.

Subsequent meetings dates as currently scheduled on 4th Mondays in 2017:
January 23, 2017
February 27, 2017
March 27, 2017
April 24, 2017
May 22, 2017
June 26, 2017


Mini Golf in the Library, again!

We are happy to announce that plans are underway for another Mini Golf fundraiser, a.k.a. FUN raiser.  Mark your calendars now:

 Saturday April 8, 2017,  9:30am - 3:30pm
Mini Golf in the Library
250 Chestnut St, Holyoke, MA

$5 Adults; $3 for ages 5-12; children under 5 are FREE.

The Friends of Holyoke Public Library invite you to come play Miniature Golf in the Library and thereby help us raise funds in support of library services and programs for youth.

Last spring's event was delightful, and raised over $6K, thanks to generous sponsors (Hole sponsors and Event Sponsors), donors of silent auction items, and the over 200 people who played the game.

If interested in being a Sponsor in 2017, please email friendsofthehpl@gmail.com.  Our 2017 Mini Golf Chair (Sandy Ward) will let you know what sponsorship opportunities are available.

Here are a few photos from April 2016:









Friday, September 23, 2016

Library Fest photos

Here are some photos from the Library Fest, which was sponsored by the Friends of the Library, and planned in coordination with Children's Librarian Nathan Hayes and Teen Librarian Rachel Dowd. Activities were held both inside and outside the library on Saturday September 17, 2016.






Sunday, September 11, 2016

Library Fest
Saturday, September 17
11 A.M.-2 P.M.
Holyoke Public Library


LOCAL-Join the Friends of the Holyoke Public Library for a day of free outdoor/indoor activities, including games, button-making, and Enchanted Circle Theater's reenactment of children's book “Max the Brave” at 11. Get a library card printed on the spot, so you can take the Fest home whenever you want.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Library outreach at Celebrate Holyoke


Friends of the Library helped with library outreach August 26-28, 2016 at Celebrate Holyoke. We staffed tables displaying Holyoke Public Library information as well as Friends merchandise.
Barbara Raines with Friends Merchandise

Karlene Shea and Tim Damon
The Library's Teen Outreach Librarian, Rachel Dowd, was there with us Friday evening. Archivist Eileen Crosby and several of her assistants from the History Room took turns staffing a display promoting the Nuestros Senderos project (Community digitization day coming September 24).

Eileen Crosby promoting Nuestros Senderos project 

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Holyoke History Room


The History Room collection of the Holyoke Public Library contains many special resources and treasures. Archivist Eileen Crosby recently led Friends board members on an "after-hours" tour, showing us unique items and describing the types of research possible here.
Old maps made for insurance purposes detail the shapes and construction materials of buildings on each lot in Holyoke in the 1880's.
A Water dept notebook includes hand-drafted details of projects.

Holyoke Boys Club scrapbooks include clippings of newspaper articles about boxing matches and other sports and activities of the club. These large format scrapbooks, with old newsprint glued to pages, present challenges for archivists (e.g., how to store and preserve), yet provide wonderful information for those interested in Holyoke sports history.

Compact shelving in a climate-controlled area of the library basement provides safe long-term storage for archival collections.

Terrence Smith, newly elected member of the Friends board, stepped into one of temporary* aisles for a closer look at the archival boxes.

*The compact shelving rolls on tracks, allowing only one aisle open at a time. This is a huge space saver.

The public is not allowed in this basement room. Eileen invited us for a quick look at this specialized shelving. 







Fortunately many of the fragile old documents have now been digitized, and may be viewed online. The quality of the old lithographs is stunning.

 Eileen showed us examples of digitized books that can be downloaded.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Friends Board Meeting

The Board of the Friends of HPL will meet, as usual, on the 4th Monday of the month at 5:30 pm at the Library.  Thus, Monday, June 27, 5:30 - 7 pm.

Because the Library is now on SUMMER HOURS, closing at 6pm Mon-Thurs, we will meet in the Community Room, which can remain open past the closure of the library.

Childcare is now provided at Friends Board meetings.  We have young parents on the board, and wish to make it easier for them to attend meetings.

Our meetings are open to the public. All welcome!

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

BOOK SALE May 20-21

A big BOOK SALE will be held in the Community Room at the Holyoke Public Library on Friday May 20th 12noon-4pm and Saturday May 21st 8:30am-4pm.

This is a fundraiser for the Friends of the Library. Most books will be priced at $1 for hardback and 50¢ per paperback. We have over 6,000 books awaiting sale.

Book Sale Categories:

Arts/Architecture
Business/Economics
Biography
Children's books
Cookbooks
Education
Fiction
Foreign language
History
Hobbies & Sports
Holyoke/New England
Home & Garden
Mystery & Suspense
Poetry/Short Stories
Politics & Government
Psychology
Religion & Philosophy
Romance
Science Fiction/Fantasy
Social Science
Science & Technology
Travel

Since December 1, 2015, a small self-serve book sale has been running daily in the lobby of the library. That sale has been quite successful, raising an average of over $100 a month for the Friends. But it has not made much of a dent in the huge pile of books in storage. Thus, it is time for a BIGGER sale, to help us recycle more of these gently-used books.

Come to the sale! Bring your friends! 

Prices will be discounted in the final hour (Saturday 3pm-) of the sale.  Help us clear that room!

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Mini Golf - more photos

   Some fairways...



were on



             stairways!

 

      April 9, 2016

  


HAP Housing sponsored the 8th hole and added a house!

Mini Golf in the Library was fun for all ages. On Saturday 200 people came and played mini golf!  Families played together.  Laughter and smiles were everywhere.

 "This is genius!" remarked one man. Throughout the day we had heard many positive comments.  "Please do this again" was a common refrain.  "Will you do this next year?"

YES!  By unanimous vote at the Friends of the Library board meeting April 25, the decision was made. We'll repeat this wonderful fundraiser (and FUN-raiser) next spring. Save the date:  Saturday April 8, 2017.



Saturday, April 9, 2016

Mini Golf FUN!

Playing mini golf INSIDE the Holyoke Public Library!   These photos are from the preview event Friday night.  MORE fun to come TODAY, 9:30am-3:30 pm April 9.   Don't miss it!





All sorts of obstacles may appear on the fairways.
Someone called this one a "Sandy Trap"


Monday, April 4, 2016

Thanking Our Sponsors

We thank the generous sponsors who have provided major funding for Mini Golf in the Library!

Each sponsor is invited to attend our "SWING into SPRING with the Friends" Cocktail Party this Friday, April 8, 6:00-9:00pm at the Library, and to add special "obstacles" to their portion of the golf course, which we expect will be enjoyed by hundreds of golfers of all ages the next day.

Come PARTY with us Friday night, and preview the course.  Play a round, if you wish. See Facebook invitation:  www.facebook.com/events/797130643752080/

Sponsors at the Silver level:

Holyoke Gas & Electric Co  (event sponsor)
People's United Bank (event sponsor)
Finegold Alexander Architects  (1st hole)
Westfield Bank  (18th hole)
Aaron's (19th/ Hole in One contest)

Hole Sponsors:

CareerPoint  (event and hole sponsor)
Children’s Study Home
Conklin Office Furniture
HAP Housing
Homewood Suites by Hilton
Mass. Surgical Supply
Open Square
Reliable Computer
River Valley Counseling Center
Ross Insurance Agency
State Representative Aaron Vega
Tea Cups on Linen
Williamson Commercial Properties

COME PLAY Mini Golf in the Library Saturday April 9, 9:30am-4:00pm (last tee-off at 3:30pm).

Complete information about both events is posted on the Library website:

Friday, March 18, 2016

A Mini Golf green has arrived


A very large box arrived today from Library Mini Golf, LLC.  Inside we found the components of a "green" for Mini Golf.  This will become a Practice Hole for the public – once we acquire some golf balls and decide how/when/where to make the LMG putter available (without causing a nuisance or extra work for library staff).  For today, we just assembled the green and placed it in the lobby, adding a big sign, "Coming soon..."

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Envisioning Mini Golf in our Library




Is it time yet to play Mini Golf at the Holyoke Public Library?
A practice "hole" will come soon...




These wonderful images have been created for us by local graphic artists. We are in the process of creating flyers to promote the event. Which image(s) would be best?  Such a hard choice!

There is also a catchy cartoon image chosen by the editor of the HPL Newsletter.  See page 1 of the Winter 2016 issue. 

If you'd like to help, or to express you preference, please email  friendsofthehpl [@] gmail [.] com
Thanks!