For 10 years, a group of Clinton residents dedicated themselves to making the Clinton Library a reality. Finally, after much effort and community involvement, the Clinton Library on Deer Lake Road opened May 20, 2000.
Now, as the Clinton branch of the Sno-Isle Regional Library marks its second anniversary, the Friends of the Clinton Library, including many of the original library visionaries, invite the community to celebrate and dream some more as they put some innovative ideas on the drawing board to consider for the upcoming year.
The anniversary party will be held today from 1 to 5 p.m. The Friends invite the entire community to join in the outdoor anniversary festivities, which will include recognition due those who helped make the library what it is today.
“We’re getting all the signs out now,” said Friends of the Clinton Library President Eric Falken.
The Friends will honor those whose personal efforts helped in the building process and the development and growth of the library from its modest beginnings: Elsie Olkonen, who remembers the very beginning; Jim Scriven; past president Herb Hunt Sr., who still keeps pictures of the early efforts; Betty Hall, who always gladly helped despite her failing health; Linda Iversen, former “book sale maven extraordinaire”; and many others.
Newer residents were equally committed, Falken said. Kate Grossman continues to manage the memorial brick sales for the library; Marty and Sara Benum are king and queen of the annual rummage sale; Mary Jane Aurdal, is newsletter editor and resident humorist; past president Vince Mack has been especially noted for his landscaping; Gary and Marni Jezek are currently in charge of summer book sales; local artist Pat McVay crafted the bench outside the library; and Erik Falken serves as president and, says Linda Falken, “changes light bulbs, takes out trash, and otherwise does whatever needs doing.”
There are dozens of others, the Falkens said, thanking “all who helped to paint, plaster, plumb and dig holes for plants.”
Debbie Colfer, library branch manager, advises that the grounds should be especially pretty for today’s event, since people were out earlier this week sprucing things up.
The role of the library, Falken said, is to inspire the community and encourage it to renew itself through a diversity of ideas, people and activities that contribute to a greater wisdom and wholeness in the world.
Toward that end, the Clinton Library has worked hard to achieve these goals, and wants to build on their accomplishments.
“The benefits to the community are already great, and the Friends have barely gotten started,” Falken said.
Plans under consideration include:
n Travel Dreams — a February evening in 2003 at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts with one of the speakers from Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door. Guides from his European tours could provide valuable advice about traveling to Europe and amusing stories about planning a trip.
n An auction featuring live and silent bidding, combined with the Travel Dreams evening.
n A South Whidbey community book read, patterned after the program sponsored by the Seattle Public Library, “If All Seattle Reads One Book.” The program would involve a series of discussions and other activities meant to foster cross-generational conversations and connections among individuals and groups within a community.
The Friends of the Clinton Library see the library as becoming a focus for the community it serves, a positive, lively hub of activity and ideas. People interested in becoming involved or needing more information may contact Debbie Colfer, manager of the library at 341-4280, or call Eric Falken, FOCL president, 321-2655.
