HARDWICK – The smooth new surface along North Main Street signals an end to the presence of heavy equipment at the construction site of the Jeudevine addition. Much remains to be completed inside, hopefully in the coming weeks. Attention has also been focused on the landscaping plan around both the original building and the new wing. A patio will grace the east side of the original library, extending south to a terraced lawn set off by granite blocks. Trees and shrubs will grace the building on all sides. A low wall will parallel the arc around the corner from North Main to West Church Street. In fair weather the outside space of the Jeudevine should prove just as inviting as the inside space.
We are excited to welcome Rachel Funk as the new childrens librarian. She has worked as a librarian in Vermont for almost 15 years, most recently in Morrisville. Beyond her library work, she stays busy as a musician, both performing and teaching. She holds classes and lessons for both adults and children and plays with a number of groups. She looks forward to offering programs for children of all ages and adolescents, with an eye towards fun and creativity. She has already held her first storytime, a weekly event for children up to age five, on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
In previous columns I have introduced Gazette readers to members of the Jeudevine Board of Trustees, all but one that is . . .
I moved here in 1985 to practice medicine at the (then) Greensboro and Hardwick Health Centers. The Greensboro Health Center was housed in what is now the Greensboro Free Library (must be a message there?). I joined the Jeudevine Board in 2019 and fully retired from medicine in 2022. A weekly trip to the local library was a staple of my childhood. I remember how proud I was when my father first picked out a book for me from the adult section: “The Yearling” by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. It was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1939.
In retirement I have turned to writing, mostly in an effort to pass down the histories of my parents to their grandchildren. I also was moved by the generosity and kindness of Gazette sports writer Dave Morse to tell his story in “The Morse Code.”I love the outdoors, whether in the garden, on a hike, or exploring our beautiful countryside by bike or cross country skis.
As a Jeudevine trustee I have learned how much the roles of a public library and a librarian have changed from the days of my childhood. A library is no longer just a home for books and whispered conversations: a librarian does so much more than recommend titles and assist in research. Certainly books are at the heart of a library, but a patron cannot miss the computer stations as one enters the Jeudevine today. Diane, Kevin and Rachel possess the knowledge and skills to help in navigating websites and accessing information from the state or federal governments. In today’s world of multimedia the library provides access to audiobooks, ebooks and DVDs. One can borrow tech equipment: microphones and electricity monitors. Parents can borrow a strider bike for a child learning to ride and coach them along the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail that passes close by.
As the world became engulfed in the COVID pandemic, and as our towns were battered by repeated floods, Neighbor to Neighbor was born to coordinate and provide assistance to those in need and to harness the innate strengths of our community. The Jeudevine has served as a key source for communication in those efforts, and has been the initial contact for those using the Helpline. Our library, and our librarians, are central to our lives.
Brendan Buckley
