Gardiner Public Library Director Anne Davis announces that the family of Louise Bowley designates the Gardiner Library Association as the recipient of donated funds made in her memory. To date, those donations have exceeded $2,800.00.
Louise Bowley passed away in June of this year. She was a friendly face at the National Bank of Gardiner (and its various other names, now Bank Of America) for almost 30 years. She was active in many community projects and volunteered for Meals on Wheels and many other charities. She and Frank Bowley, her husband of 65 years, chose the Gardiner Public Library as their final charity. She wasn't a frequent library visitor but it was the second home for her only son, Craig. She would be amazed that the contributions in her memory could add a new bookcase to the newly renovated Library.
The staff has purchased 2 new bookcases to highlight new titles. These cases have replaced tables that have been a library fixture for more than 25 years. The original budget for the main floor renovations did include the purchase of all new bookshelves. Due to unexpected structural issues, this item had to be removed from the final budget.
The Gardiner Library Association is a non-profit 501 (c3) organization that is responsible for the care and maintenance of the library building and grounds. In a unique cooperation agreement, the Association maintains the facility and purchases about 1/3 of the library items while the City of Gardiner allocates the operating budget for the daily running of the municipal library. The towns of Litchfield, Pittston, Randolph and West Gardiner are partner towns in the library and pay a yearly fee so that all their residents can have unimpeded access to this regional library.
The Gardiner Library Association has begun fundraising for the Phase 3 project of renovating the interior space. The Children’s Room project was completed in 2008 and the main floor renovations finished in 2010. Phase 3 plans are to rehabilitate the Community Archives Room that houses the local and regional histories of the lower Kennebec Valley. For more information about setting up memorial funds at the library, please call Anne Davis at 207-582-3312.
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