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Harwinton Public Library Deserves Praise
By James D. Bagnaschi, Harwinton
I want to compliment Library Director Stasia Motuzick and her staff at Harwinton Public Library for assisting students of Northwestern CT Community College classes in Emerging Literacy and Children's Literature. We've been given assignments in interviewing librarians and finding a large number of specific types of children's literature, videos and report material. Stasia was extremely helpful in assisting our rummaging through more than 18,000 children's books.
The Harwinton Public Library Librarian's Report (published in the Annual Report of the Town of Harwinton) estimates that attendance at the library during the last fiscal year measured between 24,055 and 42,934. For a population of 5,382 (2000 est.) that's not bad!
The Voice recently published a schedule of the upcoming "The Family in Modern Drama" series of book discussions at the library. But the Harwinton Public Library has so much more to offer, besides the wonderfully helpful and cooperative librarians. The library provided over 150 programs last year. I specifically enjoyed viewing the recent quilts displayed in the activities room.
The Annual Report of the Town of Harwinton published the following information: The mission of the library is to provide for the informational, cultural, and recreational needs of the citizens of Harwinton through the provision of an organized collection of print, multimedia and electronic resources … Special emphasis is placed on encouraging children to develop an interest in reading and learning by offering appropriate materials and programs and collaborating with the Region 10 school district educational programs."
Being somewhat computer savvy, I've tended to stay away from the library for a number of years, but class projects have sent me scrambling for hard copies, and I'm glad they did. I did not know that the library provides museum passes, which allow families to receive discount or free admission to places like the Wadsworth Athenaeum, Mystic Marine Life Aquarium, the Science Center, the Bristol Carousel Museum, Mashantucket Pequot Museum, and the Peabody Museum.
Class objectives required that I view the children's section, and I found that the public library provides stories, songs and activities for ages 6-9, summertime stories for ages 3-4 and 5-6, and weekly story times for ages 3-4. The library supported a Pajama Party Storytime, Gingerbread Fun with the Harwinton Recreation Department, Egg Decorating with Laurie Charleton, and storyteller Joyce Marie Rayno. The library even has a web site, <www.libct.org/harwintonpl>.
I must admit I was somewhat embarrassed at my lack of knowledge regarding the vast amount of activities and information found at the Harwinton Public Library. Adult activities are just as numerous as the children's activities. When I hear people complain that they have nothing to do, I now have a new activity I can mention—someplace in our own community, and it's free! And the librarians are eager to assist.
Thank you, Harwinton Public Library!
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