Date: Fri 16-Jan-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Booth-Library-Opening

Full Text:

Library Opens (At Last) In Grand Style

BY DOROTHY EVANS

A gala Saturday evening celebration and Sunday afternoon open house heralded

the long-awaited opening of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library last weekend, giving

Newtown residents their first look at the completed $4.1 million project.

More than 200 townspeople gathered at the library for the $35-a-person gala,

where the lilting melodies of flutists Catherine Isles and Pat Reinhardt

matched the general mood of relief and delight felt by the guests at once

again being inside their beloved new "old" library, and seeing it so

beautifully transformed. They admired floral arrangements donated by Newtown

florists and the town's three garden clubs, which graced the tables.

A most un-library-like buzz of excited conversation filled the air as

townspeople greeted each other and noted with approval that, "it was all worth

the waiting."

One guest was heard to remark, "This would be a great place to celebrate First

Night!"

"Or have a wedding reception," said another.

It was a precarious business, chatting with friends and eating hors d'oeuvres

from a tiny plate while standing up - all the while balancing a wine or punch

glass and managing a fork.

One man said he had to be careful not to gesture broadly, move quickly or

laugh heartily for fear of dumping everything on the newly carpeted floor.

The guests then migrated out of the downstairs meeting room to explore all the

other new spaces on the library's three floors, visiting with board members

who stood ready to welcome them and answer questions.

While gala guests wandered upstairs and down, Joe Grasso's quartet played from

the main floor reading room.

At 9 pm, Library Board President Gordon Williams and Library Director Janet

Woycik spoke to the gala guests. Both speakers cited the tireless efforts and

dedication of library volunteers as being the single most critical factor in

bringing the project to such a successful conclusion. Sandy Hook artist Steven

Kellogg bestowed hand-drawn "thank-you" cartoons to each one as they were

recognized.

Selectman Bill Brimmer sang "Newtown, Our Town," with lyrics he wrote to the

song, "Our Town," by Sammy Cahn and James Van Heusen, after which the Library

Board of Trustees joined with the Newtown Choral Society in singing "Can You

See The Love Tonight?"

Sunday Ribbon Cutting

Sunday afternoon was the Grand Opening for all townspeople who decided that

after 17 months' waiting, they had to see for themselves what had been

happening behind closed doors at 25 Main Street.

A ribbon cutting ceremony at 1 pm in front of the sliding doors at the new

lower entrance marked the library's official opening and served to invite the

first of hundreds of curious visitors inside.

Their high expectations seemed well satisfied as they admired the capacious

children's room, the handsome handcrafted circulation desk, the murals, the

handpainted signs and the many exhibits by past and present Newtown

photographers, artists and sculptors.

The Goodrich dollhouse inside the lower entrance drew many who, depending upon

age and size, either bent down or climbed the stool to examine its miniature

world more closely.

Nearly everyone remarked at how well the library's overall design seemed to

fit the needs of a growing number of patrons, yet that despite the near

tripling of the library's interior space by 23,000 more square feet, the total

effect was unified and harmonious.

Color schemes based on hunter green and burgundy were echoed throughout,

presenting an elegant background decor for the library's many antique

furnishings.

For the library's younger patrons, the "Juggle & Joy" clown duo provided

non-stop entertainment. The jugglers were so popular that their act was moved

from the children's department into the large meeting room to accommodate more

families.