AWE Computers Provided by New Castle Library Friends

April 2017

Footnotes
News for enthusiastic supportersof the New Castle Public Library

A Reminder...

AWE computers provided by New Castle Library Friends

The New Castle Library benefits tremendously from donations from the Friends. In 2016, as a result of generous contributions like yours, the Library Friends purchased resources that benefited the community. We support valuable programs the library offers including LEGO, quilting, PAWS, and “Library After-Hours” events that help attract new audiences of library patrons. We established a literacy initiative and funded books and resources for the volunteers and their students. We enhanced resources for children in particular, purchasing new learning computers and new book collections. We also continue to fully fund the digitization ofThe Weekly, our local newspaper, making all issues accessible and searchable.
If you have already renewed you membership for 2017, we thank you. In return you will receive a regular newsletter, information about upcoming events, discounts to Friends’ social events throughout the year and recognition for supporting a great cause. Please consider renewing your membership today. A basic membership is just $10/year ($15 family). Help us continue to make the New Castle Library a fun and exciting place for the community by contributing to the Friends.

Barbara Whisman & Kim Wipf
Membership Committee Co-Chairs

A Day in Old New Castle (DIONC) Committee is looking for volunteers to help all over town onSATURDAY, May 20, 2017.This event is amajor fundraiserfor the New Castle Library Friends. The Friends received over $4,000 from the proceeds of the 2016 event so it is very important that the members of the Friends are well represented in the volunteer bank for DIONC. All volunteers receivefree admissionto the Homes and Gardens.
The theme this year will again be “Taverns, Taprooms & Tippling Houses”. Many costumed volunteers will be needed to be stationed at the locations of former taverns to give a snippet of information on those sites. For volunteers to these sites, we will be holding a brief meeting at the library onWed. April 26to acquaint all with the sites and scripts as well as providing simple outfits. Time and specific location will be provided to these volunteers.
We still need a few friendly souls at the off-site parking area to greet and direct people to the shuttle buses and in town to welcome the visitors as they get off the shuttle buses. Docents are still needed to staff the houses and gardens. The information table will also need helpers.
Please let Kathy Tidal know, 2,if you are interested in being involved in this festive day and in what capacity.

And while we are asking...

Volunteers are also needed over several days for the Separation Day Book Sale.

Separation Day Book Sale Preview
Friday, June 9th, transporting books up from the cellar
Separation Day Book Sale
Saturday, June 10th, transporting books outside and staffing the cashier tables
After Book Sale Bag Sale
Monday, June 12thand Tuesday, June 13th

Please f you are available and willing to help. Thank you.

Meet the Staff

Fern Toner-Horisk,Library Aide

The welcoming smile at the circulation desk belongs to Fern Toner-Horisk, Library Aide here, at the New Castle Library. Fern is a life-long Delawarean, who presently resides with her husband Jack in New Castle. Early in Fern’s career she worked forThe News Journal. When Fern’s three children were young, she was a stay-at-home mom, reentering the work force once her youngest child started kindergarten. She made her reentry into employment holding down a full-time position at Wilmington Trust and a part-time job, initiallyat the circulation desk at the Bear Library and then in 2000, at New Castle.
Fern retired from Wilmington Trust in 2005, just in time to help care two days a week for a new-born granddaughter, while she continued her work at the library three days a week. This rewarding arrangement continued for five years, until her granddaughter entered kindergarten. Fern now focuses her time and talents to her ongoing, part-time, library work.
When asked what her favorite part of her job is, Fern, without hesitation said, “I love everything about my job. No two days are the same.” She especially enjoys her interaction with the community and her co-workers. The size of the library allows for friendships between patrons and staff to blossom, and the staff remains like family. Fern enjoys learning about the families and travels of library regulars.
In Fern’s free time she enjoys baking and reading. Her favorite genres are history and cook books. Fern also loves music. She has played piano since age eight, and she loves to sing.
Fern Toner-Horisk represents the essence of our town library. She is warm, welcoming, knowledgeable, and above all, helpful. Thank you, Fern, for a job well done.

Event Recap: Annual Membership Meeting

Much like Broadway’sHamilton: An American Musical, the Friends annual meeting followed by a presentation on Alexander Hamilton had a standing room only crowd. The program was given by Eric Mease of Delaware Humanities Forum. The evening was so well attended that dozens of additional chairs had to be gathered from various rooms of the library, and the crowd outpaced the food. Unfortunately, there was a problem with part of the sound system and Mr. Mease was unable to share music clips from the show. Despite this omission, the presentation was lively, well received, and generated many questions. Special thanks to Barbara Whisman, Nancy Crowder, Suzanne Sounder, and Renee Rousseau. Their combined efforts made for an enjoyable evening.

Event Recap: Scrabble in the City

On Fridaynight,February 24th, four New Castle Library Friends took part in Literacy Delaware's Scrabble in the City FUNdraiser. It wasn't false advertising. It was great fun. It was held at the Copeland Maritime Center in Wilmington, the home of the Kalmar Nyckel. We had a wonderful view of the ship and the Christina River. As three of us aren't Scrabble novices, we went in thinking we were the cat's pajamas. (As my mother would say way back in the day.) There were 16 teams and the rules were slightly different than standard Scrabble. We worked as a team and competed against the other teams. The end result -- besides lots of laughs -- let's just say we made it on the scoreboard. Hope others can join us next year.

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