On June 27 USA Today reported that 34% of rural libraries have high-speed internet connections. The paper also reported that only 18% of all libraries offer wireless internet access for patrons' own computers. With those numbers in mind, I am delighted to announce that a wireless access point has been installed at the Reading Public Library, creating a WiFi Hotspot right here in town. Our high-speed cable internet connection is available to any of you who own a PDA or laptop with a wireless card. There is no usage fee. Several patrons living in outlying areas have told me that they are unable to get broadband connections in their homes. We hope our upgrade helps some in the interim.

The policy for use of the copier has changed. We used to charge ten cents a page. We now give you the first three pages, then charge ten cents each for any additional pages. All we ask is that you don't try to copy a 30-page document over the course of ten days.

Now that the school year is underway, I want to remind you that the library is a Vermont Online (VOL) member. This allows you access to about a dozen databases containing information on a variety of topics, including health, business, science, genealogy, and the arts. The databases contain articles culled from popular and scholarly journals, newspapers, and other reference sources. The information is checked for accuracy and is current, unlike a lot of what is found through a typical search engine. VOL is a great resource for kids with homework assignments and for adults researching a subject for work or pleasure. You can even use VOL at home. The regular cost for access to all the databases would be many thousands of dollars. But it's free through the library. Call or stop in for more information.

As part of Reading's town-wide celebration on Saturday, September 24, the library will hold a fall book sale from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. across the street at the old Universalist church. If you have any books to donate, you may drop them off at the library. We ask only that they be in reasonably good shape. And no textbooks, please. Thanks.

Books new to library shelves include two copies of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince; Bob Woodward's book about Watergate, The Secret Man; Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, a novel that should appeal to fans of The Da Vinci Code; and 1776, by David McCullough. We also have two video copies of Reading's Talent Show 2005: Night of a Thousand Stars.

With a grant obtained from the Preservation Trust of Vermont, we've had the chimney, the slate roof, the exterior brick, the cobblestone foundation, and the front steps repaired. Everyone who works on the building says the same thing: "They don't build 'em like this anymore."

Back in March, I wrote that we were "tantalizingly close" to providing accessibility and a bathroom with running water. We have what we believe is a workable plan for handicapped access to both the main floor and the children's room. We also have a plan for a bathroom. The architect is Tom Keefe, one of the premier preservation architects in Vermont. He designed the Windsor Precision Museum renovations. We were able to secure Mr. Keefe's services with the help of the Preservation Trust of Vermont. There have been numerous complications because of our small plot of land, but we continue to move forward. We believe that programming is an essential part of library service and community-building. As a result of our not having running water and a bathroom, we are at present severely limited as to the kinds of programs we can offer, especially for small children.

The accessibility issue has taken on new meaning recently. One of the library's most frequent patrons has lost the ability to walk. The library steps are now a barrier, keeping him out of the building. Until he and others like him are able to enter the library, we are not providing full service. We hope to remedy that before long.

I was sorry to read that Eva Gasper had died. She was 102 years old. Eva was still writing the town news column for Reading in the Vermont Standard when I started working here in 2001. Every Saturday morning she would telephone me at the library and ask, "What’s the news?" After writing down each item, she'd ask, "What else?" Even after four and five and six items, she'd keep asking, "What else?" She wanted news, not repeats. Once, when I wanted to remind patrons that we had a series of story hours in progress, Eva replied, "I reported that two weeks ago. Anything else?"

She always called at 10 A.M. on the nose. If I was running late to work, she’d leave a message. "Well," she'd say into the answering machine, "my notes have it that the library opens at 10 A.M. Where are you?"

One afternoon I delivered a couple of Western novels to Eva at her home. We talked for half an hour. I asked her about Minnie Fay, the town's first librarian. Minnie served from 1899 through 1939, forty years. I asked Eva what she remembered about Minnie. Eva thought for a moment and said, "She didn’t care for drink, and was only just tolerable of drinkers."

Although it saddens me to know I'll be disappointing Minnie, tonight I'll raise a glass and drink to Eva Gasper.

Cordially,
Tony

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