Loving Our Library

 

Our hometown library is undergoing a renaissance. 

In October 2021, the Preserving Nora's Legacy fundraiser began. The goal was to raise money for restoration projects at the Nora E. Larabee Memorial Library. A dedicated group of volunteers dreamed big. They called their neighbors. They called their classmates. They sent letters. They talked about their dreams at civic clubs and in the local grocery store aisles. They wrote grants. They talked some more. 

And the community responded, raising more money than even those big-dreaming volunteers thought possible in a little town during uncertain times. A Wall of Giving - Preserving Nora's Legacy - was recently installed at the library. (Thanks to local artisan Robert Owens for his beautiful work.) It includes the names of those who donated at least $100 to the project. 

This photo is by "courthouselover" on Flickr. Currently, they are working on the front door replica and the yard was torn up as crews worked on the foundation, so I didn't take my own photo.

And I took this photo in 2014. (We could sure use the moisture from that snow!)

The Preserving Nora's Legacy Facebook page appropriately uses a children's book analogy to symbolize the volunteer's efforts: "I think I can, I think I can..." It's a book we all read as children, whether it was in the basement children's room at the Larabee Library or from a library in another town or sitting on our mother's lap. And, we, like that Little Engine That Could, dreamed about doing big things.

I can't help but think of the people who originally gifted the library to the city. They were certainly big dreamers as well. The Larabees left quite a footprint in Stafford - in banking, flour milling and civic leadership.

Nora Larabee was the only daughter of two of Stafford's leading citizens, Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Larabee. When Nora died of tuberculosis in 1904, her parents wanted to build a tribute to her. In 1906, they erected a red brick building at a cost of $5,000. Nora Larabee's portrait in stained glass dominates one of the library's west windows.

The building was designed by Charles E. Shepard, a leading architect in Kansas during the first part of the 20th century. At that time, most libraries weren't designed by architects. But he envisioned the dark red brick building in a Corinthian style. The Larabees and Shepard also cooperated on a bank building in Stafford at Main and Broadway. (It is currently one of the buildings used by the Stafford County Historical Society.)

 The library hasn't been without controversy:

      The library is unique as a focal point in a 1907 feud between the town banker and The Stafford Courier editor. The building became a public library only after a controversy which turned the town upside down. Public sentiment about the library was so strong that the entire Stafford City council and mayor resigned before the deed for the building was finally accepted. The condition of the deed that caused the furor read as follows: "Owing to certain unwarranted attacks made by The Stafford Courier…it is made a condition of this deed that the present editor of said newspaper, nor any of his family shall at any time be a member of the said board of directors."
        Finally, in May of 1907, a petition from Stafford citizens requested the library council to either accept the conditions of the deed to the library or resign. The new city council voted to accept the building from the Larabee family along with the stipulation that the editor of The Stafford Courier and his descendants be barred from membership on the library board in perpetuity.

Information from http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Stafford/libhist.html

Besides the individual donors, the library received monies from the Heritage Trust Fund grant program from Kansas State Historical Society.

The renovation projects include:

• Trenches were dug and pipes were laid to carry water from the downspouts away from the building to the curb. The trenches are now back-filled, the sidewalk replaced, the lawn graded and leveled and grass sown.
  
• The interior basement walls got a functional facelift; the bricks and stone were re-pointed with the historically-correct mortar "recipe."
• The exterior will be spot-repointed and masonry reconstruction will restore a portion of the north wall.
• The historic door was irreparable, but a master craftsman is working on a new replica that will incorporate the original beveled glass.
• The electrical system has been updated.

More projects listed on the architect’s report of 2017 are now under consideration by the board and committees. Topics under discussion are:

• Updating entries, steps and one bathroom to meet ADA-compliance recommendations.
• Making the envelope of the building safe and secure, specifically windows. 
• Front step renovation.
• 4 windows (double-hung and beveled glass surround), stained glass windows around Nora's portrait window, trim repair/painting, replacement of overhead light fixtures in two original rooms, and baseboards.

The stained glass window isn't the only unique feature of the library. Many of the other windows feature leaded glass. (Even though it doesn't show the woodwork, I like the angled view below because I could avoid the storm siren and the power lines you see when you look out the window directly.)

The windows are encased in beautiful original woodwork.

This photo also shows one of the pieces of 100-year-old Mission-style furniture in the library. It's a photo I took in 2014. 

Photo taken January 2023

The library remains today, more than 100 years after it was constructed as a memorial to honor a beloved daughter. 

It's not just the building that's undergoing a renaissance. During the past couple of years, the library has added a First Friday event to its programming in the spring, summer and fall. They've featured artists, musicians, photographers, magicians, a car show, readers, crafts and much more. 

The library also offers classes and other special events, along with summer reading for children and adult reading programs all through the year. In fact, I picked up my next contest sheet when we were at the library the other day.

(NOTE: I took some of the photos of the library in 2014, when there was snow on the ground.)

Turning the Page

My sister, Lisa, and I share some reading time

I don't need a contest to "make" me read. However, in 2018, I joined a couple of reading contests at the Nora Larabee Memorial Library in Stafford and the year-long #ICT challenge, a collaboration between The Wichita Eagle and The Wichita Public Library.

Even after I finished the challenges, I decided to keep track of my books for the year. The grand total was 97 books. (I guess I should have read a little more so that I could have made it an even 100!)  That doesn't count all the books I read to Kinley and Brooke during our reading marathons. I love children's books, too.

Darci, me and Lisa with our books

I can't remember a time when I wasn't a library patron. My mom took us to the old library at the Pratt County Courthouse from the time we could toddle in on our own steam. It was exciting when the new library was built in Pratt. There was a whole room of children's books where I discovered Encyclopedia Brown and Nancy Drew. I still love mysteries and thrillers today, and I have to believe those days of uncovering clues with them had to have laid an early groundwork for this love affair that's lasted all of my life.

One of my favorite childhood memories is listening to my mom read "The Little House on the Prairie" books. I read and re-read them myself as I got older. 

I was a champion reader. And I have the certificate to prove it. When I was a third grader, I read 166 books. (Let's just say I didn't win any certificates for math.)

I've decided to again tackle the #ICT challenge. Participating urges me out of my usual reading preferences. In fact, #2 is "a book from a genre you don't normally read." What did I tell you?

Here are the categories, if you'd like to join along. (Here's a PDF if you want to print the categories):

1. A book with a face on the cover
2. A book from a genre you don’t normally read
3. A book that makes you LOL
4. A book set in the place you were born
5. A classic or retelling
6. A book you’ve avoided or didn’t finish
7. A translated book
8. An award winner (Pulitzer, National Book Award, Newbery, etc.)
9. A book recommended by a child or teenager
10. A biography, autobiography or memoir
11. A book featuring a character who is different than you in some way (race, religion, abilities, etc.)
12. A book by an author slated to visit Kansas in 2019

The categories are flexible, so readers can bend and twist them to meet their individual reading habits and goals. For example, one reader on the #ICT reading Facebook group said she's using a clock face as a "face on the cover." See what I mean about flexibility? Nobody is "grading" your efforts. It's just a fun way to challenge yourself. And, since I'm part of the Facebook group, I often find book recommendations from other voracious readers.

Our Stafford library is undergoing a renaissance, so I joined in a couple of adult reading challenges there, and a new one begins January 21. In it, readers have to read five books with authors whose names begin with the letters in "Nora E. Larabee."

Stained glass window at the Nora Larabee Memorial Library in Stafford

Participating in the reading challenges doesn't keep me from reading what I want to read. If Jodi Picoult or Lee Child or Jonathan Kellerman or some other favorite author has a new book out, I'll be putting my name on the reserve list at the library, even if it doesn't fit into a "category."

Nora Larabee Memorial Library - Stafford, KS

But broadening my horizons is a good thing. Want to join me? At the very least, give me some ideas of books you recommend - whether they fit the criterion or not! But bonus points if they fit in a category!

Read more here: https://www.kansas.com/entertainment/books/article222395745.html#storylink=c

Read more here: https://www.kansas.com/entertainment/books/article222395745.html#storylink=