Civic Engagement

Our 2018 Summer Reading Program is wrapped up.  77 kids signed up to track their reading hours, and the combined program attendance was 616. We would like to thank all of the sponsors who made our programs possible:

• The Friends of the Simon Fairfield Public Library
• The Douglas Cultural Council
• Dance Sensation, LLC

Also, we would like to thank all the donors who made our prizes possible:

• Breezy Picnic Grounds and Waterslides
• Douglas House of Pizza
• Harry’s Famous Pizza
• The Little Coffee Bean
• Friendly’s
• The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
• Yankee Candle Village
• The Big E
• Sandy Stopyra
• Rebecca Lavallee

When Sarah Guimond saw the Friends of the Library annual membership mailing in February, she decided to kick friendship up a notch.

In 2016, Sarah happened across a cup and saucer set up for auction on eBay. It is gold-trimmed bone china, sporting an engraving of the Simon Fairfield Public Library with the words, “JW Wixtead, East Douglas Mass.” Wixtead was one of the first appointed Library trustees when the building was given to the town in 1903, and passed away in 1923. Assuming he commissioned this cup, that puts it between 94 and 114 years old. Sarah, who is always on the lookout for historical stuff to collect, wanted to bring this teacup home as it was being auctioned from another state. So she bid on it and won.

Fast forward to February, 2018: Sarah decided to post the teacup on We Are Dynamic Douglas for auction–with the results going to the Friends of the Library. Keith Menard offered the winning bid of $125.00, and received the teacup on the first of March. When asked what he intends to do with this priceless artifact, he said, “It will proudly be displayed in my 1870’s colonial.”

Both Keith and Sarah are now honorary Friends of the Library. We thank Sarah for bringing this local historical treasure home, and Keith for his generous donation to the Friends and commitment to preserving the artifact.

Sarah said, “I hope other people will be encouraged to try to help the community in some way, even a small way.”

I arrived at work on Tuesday to find the most amazing thing on my desk. Deanna Dunleavy, age 10, has been concerned about the well-being of the library since the discussions of defunding it aired on local access cable prior to the May town meeting. Not one to sit around, Deanna took it into her own hands to save the library.

Deanna started a petition, gaining signatures in her 4th grade class at Our Lady of the Valley in Uxbridge. She also reached out to after school programs, friends, and family. She ultimately garnered 26 signatures–in a variety of colors–to support our library.

But she didn’t stop there! She also made cupcakes and held her very own bake sale, where she raised $5 to donate to the library. On behalf of the trustees and staff of the Simon Fairfield Public Library, I would like to express our most sincere gratitude to Deanna and all those who signed her petition.