By Stephen Smoot
Those attending the Friends of the Library annual dinner last Friday enjoyed tasty homemade food and sweet treats, the beautiful sounds of piano favorites, and incredible fellowship.
A little business was also conducted, including a changing of the guard.
Right beside the entrance, members of the organization busily assembled and stirred together a pina colada punch, complete with pineapple and maraschino cherries. Those who filed into the library’s downstairs event room also could note a large table covered with books.
Attendees were strongly encouraged to put their name on a Post It Note and affix it to the book of their choice.
As they say in the library, sometimes the person chooses the book. Quite often, however, the book chooses the person.
After the social time, Madeline Hoover, president of the Friends of the Library, welcomed all guests. Rhonda Nash, vice president, gave the invocation, saying “We thank You for the blessing of the community.” Boyd Lucas followed by leading the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance to “our flag,” as he made sure to emphasize.
During the social hour and dinner, a group of students from the Pendleton County Middle/High School music program regaled attendees with classic piano favorites. Emma Hartman, Olivia Gonshor, Dillon Eye, Rana Moats, and Leah Nesselrodt flawlessly presented the music for the evening.
Dinner featured a broad variety of dishes, all contributed as part of the potluck theme. Options included two types of meatballs, scalloped potatoes, rice dishes, casseroles, sauerkraut and Polish sausage, baked beans, and much more.
After the approximately 40 in attendance finished their meals, Hoover stood and said “I’d like to welcome everyone again” and indicated that the business meeting would soon begin. Those who came for fellowship with the “Friends” and fellow library patrons filed out, while those involved and interested in the business meeting remained in place.
She then announced, “I’d like to welcome those who have worked so faithfully with me over the years.”
Next, Darlene Bokelman, organizational secretary, read her report. This included the minutes of last year’s annual meeting. Becky Puffenbarger, interim treasurer, followed with the financial report. She stated that the Friends of the Library started 2023 with a balance of $1,695.03.
Book sales from Trout Fest and Treasure Mountain Festival earned $608.75 and $3,195.39, respectively. Other revenues came from dues and donations. When she subtracted expenses, it left an end of 2023 balance of $4,701.67. After the start of the year, $2,000 was donated to the library, leaving a current balance of $2,701.67.
After the reports from organizational officers, the “Friends” introduced the first part of the changing of the guard.
For 13 years, Becky McConnell steered the ship of the Pendleton County Library. On her watch, the facility expanded its collections and offerings, cementing itself as a crucial part of the community. McConnell helped to move the library into 21st century style partnerships, such as that with Pendleton County Schools to secure broadband expansion funding for the county.
In the newsletter, printed by Future Generations University, Paula Waggy shared that “one of her fortes was working with schoolchildren.” She told how “the summer reading program was always a priority, and added “she also worked very hard to add to the book collection and made sure the new best sellers were available to patrons.”
Upon her retirement last summer, Walter Johnson was hired as the new executive director. The “Friends” invited Johnson to talk about the past few months, as well as his ideas and vision for the future.
Johnson first expressed his “true appreciation for . . . Becky and her wise stewardship.” He referred to her work as a solid and sturdy foundation, saying, “As any builder will tell you, the stronger the foundation, the higher you can build.”
His vision centered around two priorities. First, Johnson said that as the library moved forward, it would do so “without losing anything that we already are . . . All of that stuff stays and hopefully grows.”
Libraries, however, have transformed in the past generation from “repositories of knowledge” to, as Johnson described, “the protector and encourager of the spark of creativity.” His vision of that includes expanding public events, such as music, art, and theater. “We are bringing a good deal of programming here,” he stated.
Johnson emphasized that he wants more children’s programming with the possibility of even holding events outside.
“A library is a place of refuge and respite,” Johnson said. He related that his ideal is inspired by the Jimmy Buffet song “One Particular Harbor,” which includes the lyrics “And there’s that one particular harbor/Sheltered from the wind/Where the children play on the shore each day/And all are safe within.”
That sense of safety and security from the storms of the outside world, where anyone can learn, share, and grow as they see fit encapsulates what Johnson thinks a library ought to be.
He ended by quoting Ray Bradbury, calling libraries “a miracle of rare device.”
After Johnson shared his message, the “Friends” endeavored to select their new slate of officers for 2024. Hoover stood and announced that, due to family obligations, she could no longer serve as president. She told the group that a nominating committee had put forth a slate of recommended officers for election, though the voting members need not follow it.
The slate, which was approved unanimously, was Rhonda Nash as new president, Boyd Lucas as vice president, Becky Puffenbarger as treasurer, and Tom Craig as secretary. Directors-at-large include Madeline Hoover, Hayley Craig, Darlene Bokelman, and Mary Jane Santelli.
The meeting then adjourned with Hoover saying, “Thank you everyone. We appreciate the support of the community.”
