Back in the day, back in the fall of 1960 if I remember correctly, it was not unusual for two high school sweethearts to tell their parents they needed the family car to go to the Library to do research for an upcoming assignment.  Once there, it was easy to find a quiet, dark secluded corner to hold hands and exchange a tentative kiss. Little academic research was actually done.  The town landmark, the Raymond Library, was a gloomy, cramped building with a stern staff who shushed miscreants and dispensed fines and warnings about prompt return of materials.

 

Those days are decidedly over. Today’s newly renovated Raymond Library is bright, open, inviting and full of wonderful services for residents of all ages. Today’s teenagers would be hard pressed to find a dark corner anywhere.

 

The $9 million renovation of the 48,000 square foot library added 14,000 square feet to the original building which dates back to 1889. The new library has a computer training classroom (donated by the East Hartford Rotary Club), two community rooms that can accommodate as many as 300, an upgraded children’s library, a young adult area and 60 computer work stations for public use. Another new addition to the library is the Creative Zone which houses 3D Printers while also having other low-tech options for creativity.

 

Congratulations to Rotarians Susan Hansen, Director of Library Services and Mary Martin, Project Administrator, who oversaw the project from conception to final completion. It is a wonderful achievement and contribution to our town. Congratulations also to Rotarian Mayor Marcia Leclerc and the town council who provided the funding and the political leadership to get the project done.

 

So despite the wet weather we had a full crowd on hand for today’s meeting which was held in the one of the new community rooms on the lower level. Box lunches were provided and additional tables and chairs were pulled out as the group increased. President Marc introduced his guest, his father in law, Lowell Waldo and Herb Barall introduced his bride, Reggie. Dan Larson and Jack Sayre lead the Welcome Song.

 

Hope Firestone provided a beautiful poem for our invocation. Her husband, Dan, got his last licks in as Sergeant At Arms, declaring folks were just “throwing money at me.” Much of it was sourced from those who wanted to salute the beautiful new library, some who came in late or, in Mike Kerrigan’s case, haven’t been coming at all, and, most puzzling of all, several who had problems containing their excitement over a couple of puny recent wins by a baseball team that has been wallowing in the cellar and has been basically irrelevant for months now. Strange.

 

Among the announcements were the following:

Jim Fallon and Doug Willett were presented Rotary pins for sponsoring new members.

 

Dan Firestone won the raffle.

 

A tour of the spanking new facility followed.