Vandals Damage Library Statues

By Nancy K. Crevier

Library staff and patrons are dismayed by vandalism that took place sometime the first week in April, said library director Janet Woycik.

Two statues that welcome visitors to the C.H. Booth Library south side entrance were broken in assaults that left a book broken from the hands of a bronze statue child and a cast iron ballerina snapped off of her metal post.

The child reading was installed just last September by the Friends of the C.H. Booth Library to honor longtime library volunteer Joanne Zang. The ballerina, tucked in an upper side garden, was a gift to former Malenkee School of Ballet director Marsha Ismailof Mark from her Ballet Miniature classes.

“We don’t know exactly when the vandalism occurred because being at the side door, and the weather being not so great that week, not a lot of people went in and out that entrance,” Ms Woycik said. “It almost looks as though the ballerina was cut from her post.” The book that was held by the reading child statue was snapped off cleanly, as well, Ms Woycik said, but fortunately was found, a bit bent and battered, nearby.

Repairs to the bronze statue is estimated at $450, Ms Woycik said. That cost will be incurred by Friends of the Library. The exteriors committee is presently considering an in-house repair of the ballerina statue. Additional costs may be incurred if the base for the ballerina must be lifted out of the ground for repairs to take place.

The base that is visible above ground is on top of a 500-pound piece of granite, said Eric Nidehardt, a volunteer at the library, and it will be quite a job if it has to be hoisted from the earth.

“We are really saddened that someone would do this,” said Ms Woycik.