Benefactor opens world of books to young readers / June 10, 2008
By Gail Ober
Standing before a colorful array of books, Duncan McDougall held his young audience spellbound as he described his trip to the base of Mount Everest in Nepal.
"I was hiking with a yak. Does anyone know what a yak is?" he queried, as about half of the young hands shot up into the air.
"That's right," he said to the young boy who gave him the correct answer.
But though the Sanbornton Central School students could answer all of McDougall's questions about Nepal, yaks and mountains, they didn't readily have an answer for how he returned home without benefit of trains, boats, cars, airplanes or even his trusty yak.
"I traveled all the way by book," he said triumphantly.
And now anyone who wants to take that same literary trip to Nepal can, thanks to the Children's Literacy Foundation and the $2,000 worth of books it bestowed upon the Sanbornton Public Library at an assembly Monday morning.
McDougall is the executive director of the foundation and, to date, has distributed books to about 12,000 children in 322 towns from both New Hampshire and Vermont.
The grant was secured by Sanbornton Library Director Cab Vinton, who said he had about 800 books and audio books from which to choose and picked about 115. Vinton was able to choose the new books from the CLiF book list, which includes more than 700 titles — classics, Caldecott and Newbery award winners, recent titles and a wide selection of books by local authors and illustrators.
"CLiF has allowed us to significantly strengthen our children's collection with this donation," said Vinton. "With the average price of a hardcover children's book now exceeding $21, it will always be a challenge to keep our collection fresh and well stocked with recent award-winners.
"Our annual budget for children's books is around $2,600, so this grant of $2,000 in new books is a tremendous boost."
The grant is part of CLiF's Rural Library Sponsorship Program, which awards support to 24 rural libraries throughout New Hampshire and Vermont each year.
The program was started in 1998 in an effort to boost the children's book collections of small libraries with the hope that increased exposure to great books and inspiring storytelling will go a long way toward improving children's literacy across the Twin States.
CLiF has already sponsored almost 60 percent of all the rural public libraries across New Hampshire and Vermont.
Library, philanthropist cross each other's paths / December 20, 2007
Just as his rich and diverse life began with a childhood spent in libraries, resident Nicholas Grewal has taken a special interest in the Sanbornton Public Library.
On Saturday, during the library’s Holiday Open House, trustees, staff, and patrons dedicated a plaque and personally thanked Grewal for contributing his time, money, and brainpower to the cause of the library.
“He’s been very instrumental,” said library director Cab Vinton, noting that Grewal’s support had been crucial in the library’s meeting the terms of a “challenge grant.” In April of 2006, an anonymous donor promised to give $5,000 to the library if the library could raise 515,000 through its own efforts. Six months later, the donor repeated the challenge.
“Nick’s support was vital in helping us meet those goals,” Vinton said.
Grewal has also donated materials, such as computers, to the library
According to Vinton and the Library Trustees, Grewal regularly and enthusiastically participates in three-lour trustee meetings, offering input and listening with interest as the trustees discuss the future of library.
Trustee Linda VanValkenburgh said that she and her colleagues were taken aback when Grewal first walked into a trustee meeting in Jan. 2006.
“Some of us just sat in silence, amazed that this man had come and wanted to help the library,” she said.
Grewal, a 55-year-old gentleman who enjoys flying, gardening, and horseback riding, said that helping out with the Sanbornton Public Library seemed a naturally right thing to do.
“I have always believed that if you’re going to do charitable work, then you should start near your home,” said Grewal, noting that he lives within walking distance of the library
He added that he developed a personal connection with libraries as a child growing up in England.
“As a kid, I always ended up in the library on evenings and weekends,” Grewal said. In England, he noted, the libraries offered a myriad of activities, including table tennis and various arts programs. He also learned how to play chess at the library, he said.
Grewal later attended London University, and paid for his education with “every job you could think of,” including cab driving, restaurant work, and painting. He studied engineering, and quickly moved on to entrepreneurship, founding several companies specializing in computer hardware and software development.
His last company, which he founded and operated, was Nashoba Networks. He eventually sold Nashoba to Cisco Systems, and moved on to another stage in his life, philanthropy
“You have to sort of look around, and see what you can do for the people who need it,” Grewal said. He added that he prefers projects that give people the chance to better themselves.
In Stratham, he helped with a home for young girls cast out of their own due to pregnancy. He also worked for homes in Hampton and Manchester for young people struggling with drug addiction. He has also contributed to the YMCA in North Andover, Mass.
“Kids and education is probably the big theme here,” Grewal said.
Grewal has lived in Sanbornton since May of 2004.
“There is really a community here,” he said, adding that Sanbornton “needs a little momentum to get going.” Grewal also noted the irony that Sanbornton’s unique character perhaps comes from a lack of momentum.
He observed that his involvement in developing the Internet was “hot and heavy” in the 1980s and 1990s. The end product, Grewal noted, a world changed in ways unforeseen, has been welcomed by some and bemoaned by others.
“People should look back and learn from history, but they should always look forward to new things,” he said, illustrating his point quote based on the re of his “buddy” Charles Darwin: “Change or die.”
Sanbornton honors library supporters at Community Recognition Dinner / October 24, 2007
A group of outstanding community library volunteers and supporters were honored on Saturday, October 20 when the Sanbornton Public Library hosted its Community Recognition Dinner at the First Baptist Church.
The evening began at 6 p.m. with a social hour and hors d'oeuvres, followed by a dinner of roast pork, stuffed cabbage and all the trimmings, prepared by Linda VanValkenburgh, Dolly Elliott, and Emily Vinton.
This occasion presented an ideal opportunity for the staff and Trustees of the Library to recognize and publicly thank the many individuals who volunteered their time, talents, and resources in support of this cherished institution.
Over the past several years, close to a hundred different individuals have helped the Library in so many ways: staffing the front desk, serving on library committees, providing physical labor for numerous projects, making financial donations, and organizing special events, to name just a few.
The demands have been particularly heavy in recent years because of the launch of a major undertaking – the construction of a new addition to the library building.
Trustees Linda VanValkenburgh and Deb Wyman informed the guests that an elevator will soon be installed in the addition. Library Director Cab Vinton also announced the launch of a downloadable audiobook program, providing free access to over 1700 audiobooks, and plans for the installation of a state-of-the-art electronic catalog in 2008 to replace the current card catalog.
One for the Books / June 21, 2007
Sanbornton - Russ Spearman is receiving statewide recognition for his work on the Sanbornton Public Library Board of Trustees. On Tuesday, June 19, 2007, the local community hosted a tribute dinner at the Lane Tavern where Spearman was presented with the New Hampshire Library Trustee Association's Trustee of the Year Award. The award is given annually in recognition of outstanding service to the library community as a trustee.
According to Linda VanValkenburgh, the current chair of the board of trustees, "The Association has over 1,000 paid members, so it is a tremendous accomplishment and fitting testimony to the wonderful service that Russ has given to the library and the community over the years."
Spearman was first elected to the board in 1975 and has served almost continuously since then, gaining strong support from Sanbornton's voters every year he came up for election. During that time he has helped oversee the growth of the institution from a library open 16 hours per week with a budget of $3,250 to one open 35 hours per week with a budget over $100,000.
Over 50 guests attended the dinner, including friends and family, library trustees, and longtime library supporters. The following local political representatives were also present and rose to convey their thanks and congratulations to Spearman: State Senator Deborah Reynolds, State Representatives Gail Morrison and William Tobin, and Town Selectmen Andrew Livernois and Steve Ober.
Several of the speakers expressed particular gratitude for the long hours that Spearman contributed to the new addition project. As chair of the library's building committee and Clerk of the Works, he consulted extensively with library patrons, abutters, architects, the construction team, and a variety of Town officials during the course of a multi-year design and build process. "This project has had so many hurdles to overcome and Russ has been absolutely determined to see it through to the end," said VanValkenburgh. "He truly has been indispensable from day one."
The award was presented by Lillian Edelmann, past president of the New Hampshire Library Trustee Association and NHLTA Board Secretary Ann Fabrizio. Edelmann spoke about Spearman's accomplishments and dedication to volunteerism in Sanbornton. She referred to her travels around the state and country, and commented that Sanbornton residents should be exceedingly proud of the library's accomplishments in such a small town.
The NHLTA is the oldest such organization in the country, having just celebrated its fiftieth anniversary this past May.
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