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Knights in Shining Armor

Editor’s Note: Library Director Laura Blaker, mother of Rachel and baby Ava, is on maternity leave. Library board member Jacquie McTaggart wrote this month’s update.

I’m beginning to feel like a “Kelly Girl.” Within the last two weeks I have subbed at East, West, and Middle School, and now as Laura’s guest columnist. Subs (in any field) aren’t as knowledgeable or as competent as the “regulars” are, but we give it our best shot. So, bear with me. The pro (Laura) will be back soon.

Building Update
Everyone is excited about the way the new building is taking shape, and many are understandably curious about the “behind the scenes” logistics of time and money. The most frequently asked questions follow:

Are we staying within the budget? Yes, we are. Despite some unexpected excavation costs and a sprinkler system that was not budgeted for, it looks as though we’ll be okay. This “as good as it gets” news is a result of some construction bids coming in less than the amount budgeted, and a healthy dose of comparison shopping (fixtures, furniture, shelving, etc.) that has been financially beneficial for the library.

Are donors honoring their pledges? Absolutely. Less than five percent are delinquent, and most of them will fulfill their pledge when they can.

When will we be in the new library? There is not an exact target date, but we expect it to be late summer or very early fall. Despite a longer than expected excavation process and a horrendous winter, construction is on target. The contractors and their crews have done a marvelous job of overcoming obstacles and working through some mighty unpleasant weather conditions.

Knights in Shining Armor
Most of you are familiar with (and have contributed to) the Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Drive. Normally the KCs give all proceeds to ARC, a family-based organization that works with and for people with developmental disabilities. This year, due to an extraordinary successful drive, the KCs voted to divide the monies collected equally among four local groups who in one way or another serve people with disabilities. The library was given $773.78  to purchase books and tapes to help our community’s autistic members and the families who care for them. It is a wonderful gift.

If you have a loved one on the autistic spectrum or know someone who does, stop by the library and ask to see the new books on autism. As a grandma of two little boys on the spectrum (one on each end), I was especially eager to peruse each new book as it arrived. I have not read any of them from cover to cover, but I have scanned all of them. All are good, and The Miller Method is an absolute must-read.

The follow titles are in and ready to be checked out: Thinking in Pictures and Other Reports from My Life with Autism; Unraveling the Mystery of Autism (a mother’s story of research and recovery); Changing the Course of Autism (a scientific approach for parents and physicians); Facing Autism (Giving parents reasons for hope and offering guidance); Healing the New Childhood Epidemics (autism, ADHD, asthma, and allergies); The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun (activities for kids with sensory processing disorder); Evidence of Harm (mercury in vaccines and the autism epidemic); The Miller Method (Developing the capacities of children on the autism spectrum); The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism cookbook (Guide to the gluten-free, casein-free diet); What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Vaccines; 1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders; Ten Things Your Student with Autism Wishes you Knew; The Official autism 101 manual; and Let’s Get Natural with Herbs.

If you have a chance, stop by the library and see the picture of Laura and Mark’s beautiful new baby, Ava. She is adorable.

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