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Fall 2007
Dear Friends,
Renewed vigor and plans aplenty abound this fall at the
Rudolf Steiner Library. We'd like to share some exciting news that
holds promise for the future, and invite you to revel with us in new
possibilities; your interest and support are, as ever, essential to
our endeavors.
We received a grant from the New York State Department
of Education to have a preservation librarian assess our library
facilities, and in July spent a day showing her the Carriage House in
all its funky glory, books and other materials tucked into every odd
corner. Ideas and suggestions arose in spontaneous abundance
throughout the tour; our consultant was clearly impressed with our
collection, our beautiful historic building, the staff’s
professionalism, and the challenges we face running a large operation
with so few personnel. We are, she said, just the sort of library
granting agencies will fund, and she will suggest grants we can apply
for in the coming year for air conditioning and dehumidifiers, air
quality monitoring equipment, and upgraded shelving, among other
things.
It was heartening to receive such a positive response
from an objective professional affirming the value of our work, and a
relief to hear that our collection is in good condition. She did,
however, identify much that needs improvement, and we believe she
will become an advocate and mentor as we work to implement her many
practical suggestions.
You may wonder how on earth your librarians will find
the time to apply for grants. We ask ourselves the same question now
that we've learned firsthand what's involved in a successful
application. This brings up a recurring theme from our most recent
appeal letters: automation. Computerizing circulation will
streamline the process of checking books in and out, allowing us to
concentrate on maintaining up-to-date catalogs, both online (our
online catalogs are searchable) and on paper; writing grants;
indexing journals; scheduling and overseeing needed maintenance
projects; and re-shelving books to make optimum use of our limited
space.
We are enthusiastic about these opportunities, and eager
to refurbish, reorganize, and modernize the Rudolf Steiner Library.
Of course, this annual appeal is necessary simply to maintain
services at their current level — we depend on your
generous involvement and creative vision to help us accomplish all
that is needed to recreate and sustain a worthy home for the
treasures that ground and inspire us as contemporary
anthroposophists. We invite you to be part of this renewing impulse:
won't you join us with a gift of $25, $50, $100 or more?
With warm greetings,
Judith Soleil
Librarian |
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![[Rudolf Steiner Library Logo]](/graphics/house1.gif)
