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Politics & Government

Celebrating 200 Years of Bringing Books to East Windsor

Warehouse Point Library is having an open house on Saturday to commemorate its history.



Two hundred years ago, the Warehouse Point Library opened in a room in someone’s home with a small collection of books. Now it has a circulation of 60,000, offers e-readers, downloadable books, computer terminals for research, as well as discounted museum and park passes, movies and more.

In its current location since 1938, the library is celebrating the 200th anniversary this Saturday with an open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., a video presentation of the library through the years and a performance by an award-winning storyteller.

Minstrel Storyteller Mary Jo Maichack will perform at 1:30 p.m. Maichack is a national award-winning singer, storyteller and creative teaching artist. She has won two national awards for her CDs of storytelling and music, including an original tale of historical fiction. She will be performing “King Frost and Chilly Tales for Chilly Children” for children of all ages.

There will be a presentation of the video “Warehouse Point Library 200 Years,” as well as a display of historical photos in the Community Room. Refreshments will be served.

Vincent Bologna has been the library director since 1989. “It seems like we get one project done and the next one comes up,” he said, comparing the experience to being a homeowner constantly making improvements.

The upgraded community room project started 10 years ago with a white slat wall and was recently completed with new flooring, automatic room-darkening window treatments, and updated electronics, with a movie projector and hook-up for laptop presentations. Bologna said they were able to finish the project with a legacy gift from E. Eileen Ulsen and a grant from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

“It took longer than expected,” he said, but he is pleased with the end result.

 The community room is used for children’s story time, book discussions and monthly movies for adults and children. Non-profit organizations also use the room, the East Windsor Historical Society has speakers throughout the year, the Photography Club has bimonthly meetings, other non-profits use the room for presentations and the Enfield MOMS Club has their monthly meetings there. The room also is available for local artists and photographers to showcase their work.
Sarah Myers, an East Windsor resident, said she is in the library every couple of days, borrowing books and movies.

 “I like coming here, I know everybody and they are very nice and helpful,” she said.

Her children also use the computers for homework, she said they don’t have a computer at home so she appreciates having the computers available.

Bologna said the library has about 28,000 visits a year and 13,000 cyber visits annually.
In December, the library is hosting its annual Christmas Party for children in story time, with a visit from Santa, on Dec. 6, and quilting expert Jo Hansling presents “Victorian Quilts and Traditions” on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.

The library is having its annual fund drive, which helps support new reading materials, programs for children and adults and multi-media library materials. Last year’s fund raised $9,815. Bologna mentioned parking lot repairs are on the list for improvements, as well as rearranging the children’s department.

The Friends of the Warehouse Point Library, a non-profit group of volunteers, continues to host the ongoing book sale in the library as part of its fundraising efforts. Money raised by the group has helped fund the library’s collection of videos, large print books, museum passes and more.

Timeline

1811: The library was first started in a room at the home of Bethuel Phelps at the corner of Bridge and Main streets in Warehouse Point.
1897: The library was incorporated.
1902: The library was moved to the first floor of the Post Office building in Warehouse Point, at the corner of Main and School streets.
1906: The library moved to the second floor of that building and remained there for 32 years.
1937: The current location, at 107 Main St., was purchased and the building opened in February 1938.
1970: The Community Room was part of a one-story addition to the existing structure.
2011: The library is celebrating its 200th anniversary with an open house.

 

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