Lewes Public Library Scholarships Awarded to Amanda DeGirolano & Christopher Smail

Pictured in the Photo left to right are Chrys Dudbridge, Library Director, Karen Smail, Christopher Smail, Bonnie DeGirolano, Amanda DeGirolano, Gene DeGirolano and Beckie Healey, Board President.

Members of the Lewes Public Library Board of Trustees congratulate Amanda DeGirolano and Christopher Smail, this year’s recipients of the Lewes Public Library Scholarship.  A $1000 scholarship is awarded to a graduating Senior in the Cape Henlopen School District who has volunteered or worked at the Lewes Library during their school career.  This year, two deserving recipients were chosen. Amanda will attend Bob Jones University in Greenville South Carolina. Christopher will attend Delaware Technical & Community College.  

For more information about the library scholarship, qualifications, and submission forms, please visit the scholarship page or call the Library Director at 645-4633.

Friends of Lewes Public Library to Publish Anthology

 THE LEWES PUBLIC LIBRARY is pleased to announce that the following writers had works accepted for No Place Like Here: An Anthology of Southern Delaware Poetry and Prose. Thanks to Sarah Barnett for allowing the use the title of her short story in the anthology title. It is a perfect “fit.” The writers below will receive an agreement, which will include the right to edit and acknowledgement of one time only publication rights.

Juliana Baggott, JoAnn Balinget, Sarah Barnett, Michael Blaine, Linda Blaskey, Fleda Brown, Jamie Brown, Anne Colwell, William Claire, Denise Clemonts, Gail Comorat, A.V. Crown, Liz Dolan, Devon Miller Duggan, Denise Duhumel, Irene Fick, Orrel Mae Peet Funk, Dana Garrett, Ethan Joella, Vanesa Haley, Gary Hanna, Karen Heyman, Wendy Ingersoll, Maria Keane, Gerry LaFemina, Alexander Long, George Merrill, Abby Millager, Marjorie Miller, James O’Neill Miller, Francis Minni, Darcy Mozer, Will Reader, Sue Ellen Thompson, Susan Towers, Maggie Rowe, Gibbons Ruark, Heather Smith, Billie Travalini, Jeanne Walker, Christina Weaver, Alexis Weber

 The work by these poets and essayists (the fiction deadline has been extended until May 15) represents a wide range of writings about Southern Delaware and collectively captures the unique beauty and flavor of this area. The readers and judges for this anthology; the editor, Billie Travalini; Friends of the Lewes Library; and the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, are grateful for the many submissions to this anthology. 

 The deadline for short story entries has been extended to May 15, 2010 -- only short stories -- to better represent this genre in the anthology. The May 15, 2010 date is FINAL. If a story has been previously published, author must currently own the publication rights. Mail short story entries to Maribeth Fischer, PO Box 1326, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, 19971

 

 Lewes Library Receives National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Grant

In Photo: Reference Librarian Mary Bernheisel & Volunteer Hope Tyler

 

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded the Lewes Public Library a grant to help conserve the library’s Delaware Room Collection. The Delaware Room houses more than 200 rare books among its 450 books, as well as photographs, manuscripts, scrapbooks, maps, and works of art. The focus of the collection is Delaware history with an emphasis on Sussex County, and Lewes in particular, and many Delaware authors are featured in the collection.

The project has also been designated a NEH “We the People” project and is being supported in part by funds NEH has set aside for this special initiative.  The goal of “We the People” is to encourage the teaching, study, and understanding of American history and culture. Since its inception in 2002, the “We the People” program has awarded support to nearly 1,700 projects that enhance the teaching and understanding of American history. 

The Library’s project will begin early this year and be completed in July 2010.  Shelves in the Delaware Room will be lined with conservation grade acrylic and museum board to prevent direct contact between materials in the collection and wood shelving which contains chemicals that could cause damage to the materials.  This work was recommended in a Preservation Survey done by the Northeast Document Conservation Center of Andover, Massachusetts.   

  

Library Honors Volunteer Hope Tyler 

Pictured: Rep. Ruth Briggs King, Hope Tyler, Sen. Gary Simpson (in the background, volunteer Holmes Russell and on the left side, staff member Terry Mezger) 

  The Lewes Public Library honored longtime volunteer, Hope Tyler, at their annual Volunteer Appreciation Party. Hope has volunteered at the Library in many capacities since 1992. On hand to honor Hope and the approximately 100 other Library volunteers were Library board and staff members, community leaders, Senator Gary Simpson and Representative Ruth Briggs King. Hope was honored with Legislative Proclamations from the Delaware State Senate, sponsored by Sen. Gary Simpson and Sen. Joe Booth, and from the Delaware State House of Representatives, sponsored by Rep. Ruth Briggs King.

From 1992 to 1998 Hope was Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Lewes Public Library.  From 1998 to 2002 she served as President of the Friends’ Board.  While volunteering with the Friends, she carried out the project of the library’s publication and sales of Barbara Mitchell’s book “Cornstalks and Cannonballs”, which relates how the citizens of Lewes outwitted the British Navy during the War of 1812.  Hope worked tirelessly to distribute these books to Delaware elementary schools to enhance students’ appreciation of Delaware history.
Hope has been invaluable in the “back room” of the library, helping with five of the library’s annual appeals and scheduling the use of the library’s lobby display case for community groups.  She always has been willing to take on any task to benefit the library, no matter how great or small.  Hope is a treasured and valued friend of the Lewes Public Library.
The Library annually honors a long-time volunteer who has provided valuable service to the Library. Past honorees include Ruth Macintire, Anna Jane Mercer and Myra Ware.