1975-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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Library Expansion Completed Photo by Elizabeth Heat Richard Morehouse installs his display, the first in the new Art and Music Gallery. A LTHOUGH DULY RECORDED in the library history books, it is not widely realized here that America's first publicly demanded and support- ed free library was in Lexington. (An earlier publicly supported library in Salisbury, Connecticut, was begun as the result of the philanthropy of an individual.) An historic vote was taken at town meeting in 1827 "... that it is expedient to raise sixty dollars, by a tax, to purchase books for said library." This moment in our history was reviewed during the Library's contribution to the Bicentennial Rededication of the Green on April 20. It appears that by vote of the town in 1838, this "Juvenile Library" became a part of a recently founded social library which itself was incorporated into Cary Library in 1868. The early Cary gifts notwithstanding it is significant to note that the beginnings of community library service in Lexington were initiated by the public, and supported by taxes. This pattern continues to the present day. It is a tradition of which we should be proud. Nearly one hundred and fifty years after this 1827 vote, open house for the newly expanded Cary Library was held on Sunday afternoon, September 21. The program featured a dedication by Rev. Harold T. Handley, a trustee for over thirty -five years, a former president and currently vice - president of the board. The New Black Eagle Jazz Band played to a capacity crowd, and the building was given a rousing send -off. The following Sunday afternoon an open house for the new children's library featured a program by Lexington children's author and musician John Langstaff. Since these openings, circulation and other usage have set records in both adult and children's departments. Over 2,000 books are circulated on a busy full day, and over 1,000 on a busy Sunday. Not all construction, equip- ment, and furnishings details are yet completed; we hope that these are accomplished early in 1976. We are grateful to the permanent building committee for its unflagging assistance in the completion of the project. Trustee appointees to this committee are Shirley Stolz and Rev. R. Reinhold Abele. The Bicentennial at Cary Other library events of the bicentennial year include a series of exhibits featuring Lexington subjects and artists, and a fall film festival with such films as Johnny Tremain and Griffith's America. Two of the exhibits will give the library a permanent photographic record of places and events: Richard Morehouses's architectural study done with the assistance of Elizabeth Reinhardt, and Clifford B. Goodie's photo documentary of bicentennial events. The Assistant Director Suzanne Nicot, and Miriam Butts of the bicentennial committee coordinated these and other displays we have en- joyed in the new painting and photograph galleries. Progress Report It was a busy year at Cary apart from the bicentennial events and opening of the expanded building. The new music and art area opened on 18