OPLF News and Events

Orono Public Library Foundation Receives $25,000 Donation From Arline K. Thomson

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 14:41:49

December 15th Holiday Reception Will Honor Arline's Legacy

Sarah Kenney
President, Orono Public Library Foundation
skenney@sbkconsulting.com

ORONO,December 6, 2010 –The Orono Public Library Foundation announce a $25,000 donation from the estate of Arline K.Thomson.Arline was a well known artist and book designer.She worked at the University of Maine's Department of Public Affairs and Central Services and in the University of Maine Press for more than 20 years.Arline received many forms of recognition,including the prestigious UMaine Patrons of the Arts Vincent Hartgen Award in 2007.

“The Foundation is both honored and grateful for such a generous donation to our new library,” said OPLF President Sarah Kenney.“Arline’s desire to see the library grow in size is shared by many in the community.Patrons of all ages are enjoying the new space and will continue to do so for many years to come.”

As a way to honor Arline's legacy we would like to invite the public to a Holiday Reception on Wednesday, December 15 th at 3:00 PM.

About the Orono Public Library Foundation: The Orono Public Library Foundation was established in 2002 to build a free-standing public library for the town of Orono and to provide for the library's ongoing support. The Foundation supports the Orono Public Library's mission: to serve as a community resource and to support the educational, cultural and informational needs of the people of Orono. The Foundation is committe to strengthening the Orono community and enhancing the quality of life for all Orono's citizens.The Orono Public Library Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3)charitable organization founde by the Citizens Library Campaign Committee,a group of residents dedicated to actively pursuing support for the new library.

For more information please contact Sarah Kenney:skenney@sbkconsulting.com, or the Orono Public Library 866-5060

New OPLF Board Named

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:15:59

Welcome to the new Orono Public Library Foundation board. The following members are listed below:

President: Sarah Kenney

Vice President: Brian Rahill

Treasurer: Geoff Gordon

Secretary: Barbara Wicks

Additional Members: Tom Perry, Tom Spitz

The current board members would like to thank the previous OPLF board and committee for all their hardwork.

New Orono Public Library Unveiled September 12, 2009

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:00:00

A wonderful day in Orono's history was marked on September 12, 2009. View the WABI coverage and see what all the buzz is about!

http://www.wabi.tv/news/7578/new-orono-public-library-unveiled

Orono residents break ground for new libary (Bangor Daily News Article)

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 08:00:00

9/24/08

Orono residents break ground for new library

By Jessica Bloch
BDN Staff

ORONO, Maine — It’s just a grassy, lumpy, rocky field right now, but by this time next year a building that will house the Orono Public Library could be standing on it.

More than 100 residents and supporters attended a Tuesday afternoon groundbreaking for the library, another step in a six-year drive to put the town’s first free-standing public library in a lot on the corner of Pine and Birch streets.

“I have to say, the groundbreaking event has to be the most satisfying day of the whole effort,” said David Chase, president of the Orono Public Library Foundation, which has been working on the new library project since 2002.

“After six years, it’s nice to be in this spot with shovels about ready to go into a pile of sand, so we can enter this final stage of getting this new library built,” Chase added.

Orono’s library is located in a 4,000-square-foot space inside a building on Goodridge Drive that also houses Orono Middle and High schools. The new building will be about 6,000 square feet, librarian Kathy Molloy said.

Construction could begin as soon as next week, Orono Public Library Foundation vice president Dana Devoe said. The contractor is E.W. Littlefield of Hartland and the architect is WBRC of Bangor.

After remarks from Molloy, Chase and Devoe, a group including those three each dug their shovels into the pile of sand for the ceremony. The public was then invited to join in. Some people brought their own shovels.

Mill Street resident and writer Sandra Hutchison was one of the first town residents to step forward and dig a shovel into the mound of dirt.

Hutchison said her daughter Shira Hollinger, a sixth-grader at Orono Middle School whose first name means poetry in Hebrew, is also excited for the new building.

“My daughter loves to write and read as well,” Hutchison said, holding an orange plastic shovel. “We are so happy. We bought a house a decade ago around the corner without any idea a library was going to be here. We’re literally two minutes away. It’s a wonderful turn of events for us.”

Several speakers thanked Alice and Charlie Smith, residents who several years ago convinced University of Maine professor Katherine Miles Durst, who died in 2002, to donate $200,000 in cash and stocks to the cause. The library’s children’s wing will be named for Durst.

“We know that libraries change lives,” Molloy said. “There will be little miracles happening with little people, some of whom haven’t even been born yet. That’s why I have a feeling of awe, thinking about the future and the wonderful things that will happen after we open the doors.”

The foundation had raised $2,049,000 as of Aug. 14. The building itself will cost around $1,547,000, Devoe said.