Meekins 2024: a Year Swirling with Activity: We’ve left 2024, and 2025 has arrived with a deep freeze. Looking back—the year 2024 was packed full at the library—with more and more library visits, and lots of activities and programs for patrons of all ages—in person and virtually. To keep the library going, behind the scenes we ordered, cataloged, and processed new books, magazines, audio books, DVDs, puzzles, hotspots and more. We got them ready—and then checked out (and checked back in again) thousands of items. We telephoned and e-chatted and e-mailed—answering reference questions in-person, by phone and online near and far. We promoted our online sources and coached and encouraged use of Kanopy, Hoopla, Libby and a variety of tech devices too. As the town’s school library, every week we welcomed Anne T. Dunphy School classes for introduction and instruction for library materials and of course the chance to borrow lots of books and books and books. All year we had a rotating series of exhibitions of local artists shown throughout the library, each hosting a special opening. Community groups made good use of the Hawks-Hayden Community Room for meetings and programs open to all. And the Meekins grounds were well-populated for quiet moments and for fun by multiple generations in every season—a real oasis in the center of town.
January 2024 brought Meghan as our new Technical Services Librarian. She jumped right into the fray cataloging all library material and streamlining the library’s online presence with creative tweaks to our website and online communications. In July, library assistant Amber was lured to the Erving Public Library and by summer’s end Collee had joined the Meekins, a new face on the library’s service desk.
Meekins was hit by the unsettled weather events of the spring and summer, losing trees and other plantings to the town’s Juneteenth microburst and other weather fiascos during the following weeks. Thanks to the town’s Highway Department, tree debris was quickly taken away. Several trees found to be diseased were removed. All this changed the look of the library’s surrounding grounds. But it also sparked plans for new landscaping that will beautify the grounds and welcome even more community use of the Meekins lawns.
We took special care of our historic library building with town support for replacement mini splits to help stabilize the heat and humidity in the building. The Meekins worked with the town to alleviate poor climate conditions in the small Haydenville Library building. And the beautiful Meekins grounds were not forgotten, with a simple black fence and native plantings added to the Mill River edge for safety and beauty. A new picnic table and umbrella now grace the riverside lawn, a popular spot in all seasons.
Technology was a major focus for the year. As part of the Hilltown Tech Connect Grant, the library focused on providing technology services and support for the seniors in our town and local communities, with monthly Tech Days and training. A well-attended “Chat GPT” program was held in February, full, in spite of winter weather. The “Cutting the Cable Cord” workshop in April had standing room only. Participating in the Alliance for Digital Equity has enabled Meekins to make tablets and Chromebooks available to those who need them. And a new public catalogue interface, Aspen Discovery, launched in March.
Special programs filled the year. The new Chess Club offerings are popular. Ensemble Galliard offered a winter afternoon of guitar and recorder music. In April, the “Softer Side of Celtic” kicked off National Library Week. On April 8, the afterschool solar eclipse party on the patio was packed, with treats and special eclipse glasses available for all. Brandon’s sourdough starter workshop sent everyone to their kitchens to bake bread. Children’s author Astrid Sheckels read to her fans in October. The early winter mending workshop drew a full room. And in the fall people learned to draw with pastels. The Meekins joined the “All Hamptons +Burgy” community reading of “Master, Slave, Husband, Wife”. Poets Maureen O’Brien and Richie Davis read from their works to appreciative audiences. The spring offered the poetry (Jim Armenti) and photograph (Dave Madeloni) program “Sun on the Muddy”. Lara Tupper drew many for her “Memoir Writing” workshop. Staff member Wenny offered the library’s first “Mooncakes” making event. And Archivist Daria presented the practical “Keeping your Family Papers” workshop for American Archives Month.
Meekins participated in the months-long inter-community commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the 1874 Mill River Flood, which changed the face and history of the communities in its path. With a seam-bursting crowd attending the Mill River Flood talk by Eric Weber (relocated to the Burgy Church to accommodate 300!), an exhibition of flood-inspired paintings by artist Francis Kidder, a display of flood-themed art and poetry by Anne T. Dunphy 3rd graders, serving as a resource for flood history, videos and commemoration information and activities, to the grounds populated with programs on the day of the May commemoration—Meekins was in the midst of it all.
And there is more. The fairy houses workshop was jammed. The annual “Drop Everything and Read” brought readers and listeners together here at the Meekins. The adult library book club read and discussed a new book each month—“The Delight of Being Ordinary” by Roland Merullo, complete with a visit from the author, was a favorite. The “Read, Renew, Repeat” summer reading program for kids and adults, was in full force—with visits from Caravan Puppets, endangered animals, beavers, and the Grumpytime Club Band. Thursday night poetry lovers came together to read monthly. Every month, on a Sunday afternoon, Yarnspinners knitted and chatted and indulged in treats. We moved with world Tai Chi Day and celebrated poetry in April. And “Reading to Dogs” brought canines and kids to the library to read. “Ask an Archivist Day,” for all your historical and genealogical questions, returned.
School classes came every week—spring, fall, and winter. All year, parents and children came weekly for the always popular story hour. Crafts, chainmail bracelets, robots, science programs, Legos, “Zines” and book arts, stuffed animal sleepover and D&D programs packed the year. STEAM programs brought kids and science and engineering together for creative experiments.
The Friends had their annual October book sale. Halloween festivities were held in the entire spooky decorated library and hundreds visited that night. We shared “Day of the Dead” bread with those who visited the memorial photos and mementos placed there by community members in front of the fireplace in the Black Reading Room. The Cabinet of Curiosities featured theme book collections from three Meekins librarians and a good month of vintage kitchen gadgets.
At the end of the year, the 16th annual Meekins Market filled the rotunda as our patrons discovered “new” old treasures to share. The 2024 10-puzzle raffle had people eagerly awaiting the December drawing. The decade-plus annual warm clothing drive filled boxes in the library and added coats to the permanent food collection in the library supporting the Neighbors-Helping-Neighbors local pantry. We participated in the “Christmas in Williamsburg” festivities—with happy children (and adults) making special cards, books, and ornaments while waiting to visit Santa. The 16th annual Holiday Read was a lovely interlude in a crazy season as we read new and old favorites by the fireplace.
At the end of the year, the 16th annual Meekins Market filled the rotunda as our patrons discovered “new” old treasures to share. The 2024 10-puzzle raffle had people eagerly awaiting the December drawing. The decade-plus annual warm clothing drive filled boxes in the library and added coats to the permanent food collection in the library supporting the Neighbors-Helping-Neighbors local pantry. We participated in the “Christmas in Williamsburg” festivities—with happy children (and adults) making special cards, books, and ornaments while waiting to visit Santa. The 16th annual Holiday Read was a lovely interlude in a crazy season as we read new and old favorites by the fireplace.
Kids of all ages undertook the very popular monthly scavenger hunts. “Take & Make” crafts flew out of the library lobby daily. And every week during the year, new Throwback Thursday moments appeared on Facebook, sharing bits of town places, stories, and history, remembering townsfolk, and quirky Meekins tidbits.
Throughout it all the library was full, with community members of all ages seeking books, doing research, attending programs, looking at exhibitions, just relaxing and more. It was truly a jam-packed year at your community library. Wishing you a good start to 2025 and a year of joyful surprises. Daria D’Arienzo, Meekins Archivist and photographer. #throwbackthursday; #tbt.
Posted to Facebook 1/9/2025
