The early 2000s, when the Meekins Library was planning for its 2003 renovation and expansion, was a time of unexpected surprises and creative support from our dedicated library patrons of all ages. At the time, a young student, Caitlin Sarazin, decided to share one of her birthday celebrations with her library. She chose not to receive presents that year. Instead, she would give a present to the library that she loved. So, all of Caitlin’s birthday friends made donations to the Meekins to support the furniture for the new addition. Still now, years later, her thoughtfulness and the generosity of her family and friends is felt in the comfortable chairs and tables in the Riverside Room and Picture Book Room.
To share the news, Caitlin and her mother Kathleen made a special card for the library. It shows the façade of the original 1896 building with the two columns of polished Aberdeen red granite flanking the big oak door and the two mottoes around the frieze at top: “Wise Men Lay Up Knowledge” and “Knowledge is Power.” Children’s Librarian Rochelle Wildfong was so taken with the design of the card, that she quilted a special tea cozy for the library tea pot, used for special Meekins tea parties.
Meekins remains so grateful to all our library patrons and community members near and far who continue to support their library in so very many ways. Daria D’Arienzo, Meekins Archivist. #throwbackthursday; #tbt.
Posted to Facebook 6/5/2025
