Yesterday afternoon Literacy Volunteers of Bangor hosted their annual
Literacy Tea.  The event was sold out almost immediately after the
announcement in this part of Penobscot County.  There were 25 tables,
roughly 250 people.  Each table featured a children's book.  The
creativity was just amazing.  Since libraries had not been involved in
the past, I challenged local libraries to become involved and they
certainly did!

 

Bangor Public Library and Edythe Dyer Library (Hampden) partnered to
host Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.  Children's
librarians Mary Beckett (Hampden), MaryAnn Lanzikos, and Christine
Erickson (Bangor) did a fantastic job.  Directors Barbara McDade
(Bangor) and Debbie Lozito (Hampden) were there to add their moral
support and to celebrate when this team won first place!

 

Brewer Public Library hosted the team of Director Donna Rasche,
Children's Librarian Shelley Arnold, Phyllis Forsyth and Olivia, Mary
Devoe-Pratt, and intern Pegan Ober.  Their table featured the Maine
classic, Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney.

 

Old Town Public Library also hosted a table and came in third place.
Their featured book was Roger, the Jolly Pirate by Brett Helquist.
Director Cynthia Jennings, Lynn Uhlman, and Kai Ksyniak were the
creative folks behind this tablescape.  Lynn's twin sons Tristan and
Cameron (age 2) were adorably dressed as pirates.  

 

Chris Van Dusen was the keynote.  He read The Circus Ship for the
children in attendance.  He also took time to answer the children's
questions about being an author.  Great food, great entertainment!

 

It was a wonderful afternoon for all who attended.  More importantly it
was another opportunity for these libraries to become more visible in
the larger community.  There were people in attendance from all over
Penobscot County.  Hosting a Literacy Tea can be done by anyone.  Think
what two or three libraries who are closely linked geographically could
do.  Think of it as an opportunity to collaborate with other nonprofit
groups as well.  I truly hope that some of you may be inspired to get
involved in events like these.  

 

A special thank you to the staffs of Old Town Public Library, Brewer
Public Library, Edythe Dyer Community Library and Bangor Public Library
for stepping up for this event.  You can check out the local television
story on their Facebook page (Literacy Volunteers of Bangor).

 

It was just too much fun!

 

Valerie  Osborne, Consultant

Northeastern Maine Library District

Bangor Public Library

145 Harlow Street

Bangor, Maine 04401

947-8336 ext. 114

1-800- 427-8336 ext. 114

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Bad libraries build collections. Good libraries build services.  Great
libraries build communities. R. David Lankes