Steel columns up!

Look at the progress at the Library construction site!  The structure for the new addition is rising into the air.  Erection of the steel columns started Wednesday August 15. These pictures were taken only two days later.

Photo from webcam Friday morning 8-17-12

Friday afternoon 2:20pm 8-17-12

View from Maple Street side, 11:20am 8-17-12

HPL Night at the Blue Sox!

July 28 New Flash: RAINED OUT again! Will try MONDAY! July 26 News Flash:  This game has bee RE-SCHEDULED (BECAUSE OF RAIN) until Saturday.  It will be the second game of two.
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As part of the Library's Summer Reading Program, Thursday, July 26, is Holyoke Public Library Night as the Blue Sox, Holyoke’s favorite baseball team, faces the Danbury Westerners at MacKenzie Stadium on Beech Street at 6:30 PM.

All tickets for that game are specially priced at just two dollars each (a saving of $4.00 on each ticket) and children five and under are free – making this a perfect opportunity to treat the family to an evening out as you support your new library and Holyoke’s own ball team.

Holyoke Public Library Board President, Terry Plum, will throw out the first ball for the evening. Mayor Alex Morse and several City Council members are expected to be on hand, together with Friends of the Holyoke Public Library, HPL Board members and other community leaders. 

The 2013 Red Hyundai  Elantra, provided by Gary Rome Hyundai, will be on display at the stadium that evening. Tickets for the “Drive into the Future” Raffle for a three-year lease on the vehicle will also be available for purchase. All proceeds from the drawing have been committed to the Holyoke Public Library’s Next Hundred Years Building Campaign.

Cocktail Party! Costume Party!

Who will you be?
Please join the Friends of the Holyoke Public Library at our Annual Cocktail Party. This year will be a costume party and we ask that you come dressed as your own literary inspiration. Come as a favorite Character, Author, or Book!   Prizes for best costumes will be awarded. We will have hors d'oeuvre, a cash bar, music and several raffles.  Tickets will be on sale soon.

***Saturday, September 22, 2012***      [Date changed from August  to avoid summer heat.]
6:00pm until 10:00pm
City Hall Auditorium
Temporary Library Location
536 Dwight Street, Holyoke, MA 01040
Costumes are NOT required but ARE encouraged! An assortment of fun costumes and props will be provided courtesy of CityStage & Symphony Hall. CityStage Symphony Hall is proud to present great entertainment just minutes from Holyoke. For their complete 2012-13 Season lineup visit www.citystage.symphonyhall

A photographer will be on hand in case you desire a portrait of your character.

Annual Meeting: Election results

Passing the gavel to the new President, Christine Alger

On June 13, 2012, at the Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Holyoke Public Library, elections were held for board members and for officers. The following officers were elected for the coming year:

President:                             Christine Alger

Vice President:                     Sandy Ward

Secretary:                             Jim Massery

Corresponding Secretary:  Connie Kennedy

Treasurer:                            Barbara Raines

Assistant Treasurer:            Patti Lumbra 

Nine people were elected to three-year terms on the Board:  Michael Baron, Elaine Baskin, Darlene Elias, Maredith Haesaert, Connie Kennedy, Katherine Lynch, R. Andrew Parker, Migdalia Thomas, and Frank Wotton.  New member Brittney Noble was elected to a one-year term (filling a vacancy) on the Board.  

Outgoing President Tim Damon will continue on the Board and will also serve on the Executive Team in the role of Past President.  Also continuing on the board are members elected in previous years: Dayna Abrazinski, Christine Alger, Dick Coleman, Catherine Dower, Patti Lumbra, Loida Martinez, marypaz, Jim Massery, Tom McCabe, Andrew Melendez, Barbara Raines, Karlene Shea, Christopher Tinson and Sandy Ward.

Tim presented a bouquet of flowers to volunteer Margaret (Peg) McCarthy, who is retiring not only from the positions of Assistant Treasurer and of Membership Chair, but also retiring from the Board after many years of service. She will continue to be active with the Friends.

Tim Damon presented flowers to Margaret McCarthy

Refreshments from Hamels Catering were served in the lobby by the library entrance.

Terry Plum, President of the Holyoke Public Library Corporation, gave an update about the library building project and answered questions.  The construction process is going very well, on schedule and on budget.

We all look forward to the opening of the renovated and expanded Library next year (summer 2013).  The Friends will then have a designated room in which to meet and work.

Recruiting Board Members

The Friends of the Holyoke Public Library are seeking additional people to serve on the Board and to join the team as we advocate for the Library, promote literacy programs, plan events, and raise funds in support of library services.  We welcome people from a variety of backgrounds who enjoy working as a team.  Board terms are 3 years starting in July 2012.  Assets we are looking for:

·      enthusiasm for the Library and what it stands for

·      good organizational and communication skills

·      willingness to participate actively on the Board, which meets monthly (5:30pm on 2nd Wednesdays)

If you are interested in serving on the Board of the Friends or would like to join the Friends of the Holyoke Public Library, please contact Tim Damon, Christine Alger <chrialg6@gmail.com> or Sandy Ward:  friends.holyokepubliclibrary@gmail.com.

“This is a great opportunity for Friends to increase their involvement by moving onto our Board and for other community members to become more active,” reports Board President Tim Damon. “We hope to interest folks of all ages to join our Board and help us expand our outreach. We especially would love to see more young people at our meetings; this is a great introduction to the process of serving as a Board member.”

The Friends will celebrate the end of an active year and the beginning of its new fiscal year at the Annual Meeting Wednesday, June 13, at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Room at City Hall (the Holyoke Public Library’s temporary location). The election of new board members and new officers will be held then. A slate of nominees is being prepared in advance by the Nominating Committee; additional nominations may be made during the meeting.  Please let us know of your interest by emailing friends.holyokepubliclibrary@gmail.com

To be eligible for a position on the Board, nominees should be Friends members.  Membership in the Friends is open to all, with annual dues of $10 (or any additional amount you choose to donate).  Send your contact information and a check payable to the Friends of the Holyoke Public Library to 

   Friends of the Holyoke Public Library

   P.O. Box 604

   Holyoke, MA 01041

or pickup a Friends envelope (membership form) on the Friends display table near the Library entrance, and give the completed envelope to the library staff.   Come JOIN us!

Live video of Library Construction

Jay Borges, IT Director of the Holyoke Public Library, has set up a webcam (video camera) aimed at the Chestnut Street side of the Library construction site.  This should provide a good view of the demolition of the old stack wing and construction of the new addition.

A major phase of the demolition is expected to start tomorrow, Thursday May 3.

You can view the live streaming video via the web using Internet Explorer as your browser. Go to the Library website [holyokelibrary.org] and follow the link to "Live Streaming of the Library Construction" -- using the username and password provided there.  You may have to enable/allow a plug-in in order to see the video.  [Note: this may not work with Firefox, Safari, or other browsers.]

Deconstruction

The old stack wing of the 1902 library building is empty and ready for deconstruction. Scaffolding on the Essex Street side allows workers to remove and stack the exterior bricks.  I assume they will be reused, given the care with which they are being removed.

The demolition of this wing is (as of now) scheduled to begin April 23.