NORA SMITH
Staff Writer
It’s quite a feat to turn 95. Whether as an individual, organization, building or so forth, a landmark birthday warrants a big party — and today is exactly that.
From 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. today, Friends of Smith Memorial Library will host the annual Library Day bash for literary lovers of all types at Smith Memorial Library in celebration of the library’s 95th birthday.
“It is a fundraiser for the Friends of Smith Memorial Library who support the library and do special projects,” Scott Ekstrom, director of Smith Memorial Library, said. “So, [attendees] are invited to give at any amount, but even if they don’t give, we want them to come and enjoy the time because it is just a celebration for what this library means for the greater Chautauqua community. So, all are welcome.”
Library Day is a morning of socializing, refreshments and word games. If the weather permits, the block in front of the library will be closed off so the celebration can take place in front of the library and on the front steps. If these festivities alone weren’t enough, the library will invite attendees to wear their favorite books with pride via the quintessential red “my favorite book” stickers.
“[There’s] baked goods from the area and coffee, word games, a chance to get the annual, one day only a year, ‘my favorite book’ sticker,” Ekstrom said.
The sticker is a great icebreaker for attendees to spark conversations with one another while still preserving the book theme of the event as they write their favorite book title, or whatever book they’re currently into at the moment, on a sticker and a name tag they place on their shirt.
Ekstrom said part of the Library Day tradition consists of inviting local librarians throughout the region to the grounds to celebrate not only the Smith, but libraries as an institution, and experience a day at Chautauqua.
“One thing that we do, a long-standing tradition, is invite area librarians from around the region to come and enjoy Chautauqua for the day,” Ekstrom said. “So, I hope to see a lot of them.”
