December is upon us, and Dansville Public Library has holiday-inspired events for all ages to look forward to all month long! Check out our Online Calendar for details on individual events and to register: bit.ly/DansvilleLibraryCalendar.
We hope to see you at the Library!
The Dansville Public Library has an opening for a full-time Library Clerk.
Dansville Public Library is seeking an organized and detail-oriented person to serve the public at the circulation desk and assist with collection development and processing library acquisitions. The work of a Library Clerk involves the performance of routine library clerical duties necessary for the proper organization and distribution of library materials. Prospective candidates should enjoy a team-oriented work environment, as well as interacting with the public to deliver high quality customer service with tact, courtesy, and professionalism.
The Dansville Public Library, as a school district public library, is part of Livingston County Civil Service. The Library Clerk position is a competitive civil service position. The successful candidate must take the next Library Clerk examination offered by Livingston County Civil Service and be named to the eligible candidates list.
For more information, please see the Library Clerk Position Description
To Apply
Email resume, cover letter, and three professional references to the attention of Margo Prak, Library Director: dansvillelibrarydirector@owwl.org.
Preference will be given to applications received by December 9, 2024.
Dansville Public Library recently wrapped up its 100 Years in 100 Days celebration of its bi-sesqui-centennial anniversaries with two public events: a commemorative oak tree planting, and an evening Night in the Stacks speakeasy party. Below you can find the program from the tree planting, links to the speeches/remarks from the event, and images from both the tree planting and speakeasy.
We would like to recognize and thank the awesome community businesses who partnered with us to make these events so memorable.
For pictures of the Commemorative Tree Planting, click here.
For pictures of the Night in the Stacks Speakeasy, click here.
We are fast approaching the final events celebrating the Library’s Bi-Sesqui-Centennial!
Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 1:00pm – Commemorative Oak Tree Planting
A commemorative oak tree will be planted on the Library’s lawn, symbolizing our commitment to providing resources and opportunities that educate, enrich, and inspire as we continue to serve our community. We will have a brief ceremony on our front lawn, followed by light refreshments in the Holden Room. This occasion is open to the public; registration is not required.
Friday, October 25, 2025 at 6:00pm – Night in the Stacks Speakeasy
Step out like it’s 1924! Join us after hours in the Library for a 1920s-themed celebration! Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, live music, a book-based scavenger hunt, and more. All food, beverages, and activities at this event are free of charge, however registration is required. Additional Details are available on the Library Calendar. Please note: this is an adult-only event. All attendees must be 21 years of age or older; IDs will be checked upon entrance. There is a limit of two adult beverages per attendee.
To list out each of the significant milestones that 2024 marks for the Library would be quite long – bicentennial, sesquicentennial, and centennial – so we’ve taken the liberty of shortening it to just bi-sesqui-centennial. This year’s noteworthy anniversaries are:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful
committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
– Margaret Mead (1901-1978), anthropologist
As the world has become more interconnected, it is more important than ever to inspire people of all ages to create positive social change. The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) has partnered with the educational organization Facing History and Ourselves to dramatically increase access to the themes and content presented in its national initiative “Choosing to Participate” with poster exhibition designed to encourage dialogue, engagement, respect, and participation in classrooms and communities.
The posters will be on view at Dansville Public Library’s Shepard Foyer from October 1 through November 5.
Developed for middle school and high school students, the posters are intended to inspire people of all ages to create positive social change. The posters present the experiences of individuals and communities, explore the impact of cultural differences, and encourage viewers to consider the consequences of everyday choices—to discover how “little things are big”—and to make a difference in their own communities.
These graphically compelling colorful posters are being distributed at no cost to schools, libraries, museums, and community organizations through partnerships including Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the American Library Association.
Founded in 1976, Facing History and Ourselves is an international educational and professional development nonprofit organization whose mission is to engage students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice, and antisemitism in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry. By studying the historical development of the Holocaust and other examples of genocide, students make the essential connection between history and the moral choices they confront in their own lives. For more information, visit www.facinghistory.org.
SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 70 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science, and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. For exhibition descriptions and tour schedules, visit www.sites.si.edu.
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The Choosing to Participate poster exhibition at the Dansville Public Library was made possible through the support of the Dansville Women’s Civic Club.
OWWL Libraries Helping to Give Back This Fall
(Friday, September 20, 2024) Canandaigua, NY — This fall OWWL Libraries will once again take part in The Great Give Back, an annual opportunity for patrons to engage in meaningful, service-oriented experiences. What began as a local initiative on Long Island in 2017, The Great Give Back has expanded across New York State with over 300 libraries expected to participate in 2024.
According to the National Diaper Bank Network, 1 in 2 families in the United States struggles to afford diapers. To address this critical need, twenty-six libraries across Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, and Livingston Counties have elected to host diaper drives for this year’s Great Give Back project. Collections begin Saturday, September 23 and conclude on Saturday, October 19. Donated items should be new and can include disposable diapers, reusable and cloth diapers, pull-ups, training pants, wipes, and diaper creams.
The Livonia Public Library has participated in The Great Give Back for several years and is particularly excited about this year’s project. According to library director Shamika Fusco, “We understand the importance of serving our community and providing opportunities for those facing life’s challenges to get ahead. This year‘s focus on diapering supplies is particularly heartwarming, and we are thrilled to join together to make a meaningful difference!”
Marion Public Library director Tracy Whitney agrees. “This year we will be collecting donations of new diapers and diapering supplies to help area families in need. While efforts are always on serving our community and building relationships, the exciting thing about this initiative is that it invites our patrons to help us make a difference with kindness and generosity, strengthening our caring community spirit.”
Each library will choose a local organization to give the donated items to, such as food banks, shelters, child care centers, or health clinics to best support local families in need. For more information, visit http://owwl.org/tggb.
Press release information from OWWL. [https://owwl.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-The-Great-Give-Back-Press-Release.pdf]
News Media: For more information, contact Suzanne Macaulay, Program Director, OWWL Library System, at 585-394-8260 x1106 or communications@owwl.org
The Dansville Public Library is hiring a Building Maintenance Person.
The Building Maintenance Person is responsible for providing general maintenance to the Library building. Their main duties involve responding to maintenance requests, performing general regular maintenance duties, and attending to fundamentally all parts of the building and grounds, including the flooring, ceiling, walls, and systems like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical wiring.
For more information, please see the Building Maintenance Person Position Description
Employment Application Form – also available at the Dansville Public Library circulation desk.
To Apply
Send cover letter, resume, and application to the attention of Margo Prak, Library Director: dansvillelibrarydirector@owwl.org or deliver to:
200 Main Street
Dansville, NY 14437
Preference will be given to applications received before October 18, 2024.
The Dansville Public Library has an opening for a Library Page.
Part-time Library Page is a 12-15 hour per week position. Applicants should be personable, enjoy working with people of all ages, have an interest in books and reading, and have excellent written, verbal, & computer skills. Applicants also need to be able to stand for long periods, to reach and bend, and must have a flexible schedule, with readiness to work evenings and weekends.
For more information, please see the Library Page Job Description
Employment Application Form – also available at the Dansville Public Library main desk.
To Apply
Send application to Margo Prak, Library Director: dansvillelibrarydirector@owwl.org or deliver to:
200 Main Street
Dansville, NY 14437
Preference will be given to applications received before September 9, 2024.
July 18, 2024 is a special day for the Dansville Public Library. It marks 100 years since Shepard Memorial was dedicated as the Library for Dansville, on July 18, 1924. It is also 150 years since the first Library room was opened on the second floor of the Maxwell Block on Main Street, on July 18, 1874. This year also marks 200 years after the completion of the Shepard homestead, in 1824.
On July 18, 2024, the Library will host the following events in celebration of our big day:
10:30am – “A Treasure Trove of Magic” Show: Central New York magician Ron Cain will take children on an imaginary treasure hunt at the Dansville Public Library. No registration necessary.
12:00pm-6:00pm – Building Tours: A guided tours of the Library building will run every half hour.
6:00pm-7:30pm – Ice Cream Social and Lawn Fête: Join us for a delicious frozen treat and to share delightful memories of our beloved institution. Listen to music, play lawn games, and enter a basket drawing. *In the event of rain, the Ice Cream Social will be moved inside the Library.
100 Ways to Celebrate the Library in 100 Days!
Something this momentous is too special to celebrate with just one day! June 18, 2024 is just the beginning of our 100 Ways to Celebrate the Library in 100 Days. Stay tuned and check out the Library Calendar for more information on how you can help us celebrate the Dansville Public Library.
