News

Dansville Public Library is pleased to announce two new members of the staff, Library Page, Cory Bennett, and Part Time Clerk, Karen Cowley. Both Cory and Karen are in training, learning the OWWL circulation system, the proper shelving locations, and how to help you with your questions and requests.

Karen Cowley previously worked for McKelvey Ford, and brings to the library many excellent clerical and customer relations skills. Cory is a Senior at Dansville High School. You may have met Cory at Brae Burn, on the golf course.

Be sure to say "hello" when you are in the library. Both are waiting to assist you!

The Library expressed its appreciation to its many volunteers with the first Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on Thursday, September 22 at the Dansville Methodist Church Community Hall. The event was organized by Gay Frame, former library board trustee, Mary Ann Holden, currently secretary of the library Board, and library clerk, Marcia Miller.

Addressing the nearly 50 people present, Board president David Reinholtz stated, "A small town library depends on its volunteers. We have an excellent staff, but it’s the work of the volunteers that strengthen our programs and events. This is our special thank you to all of you for your support."

Senator Catharine Young was present for the luncheon, presenting a special recognition award to Carol Welcher for 10 years of volunteer work at the library’s main desk. In turn, the library presented a certificate of appreciation to Senator Young for acquiring a grant of $50,000 earlier in the year for the library’s expansion project.

Trustee Holden spent a few moments updating the volunteers on the progress with the building expansion. Purchase of the neighboring Wilcox property will take place at the end of the year.

The library plans to make the Volunteer Luncheon an annual event.

The New York State Festival of Balloons at the Dansville Airport will be the place to be this weekend beginning Friday evening, September 2. Dansville Public Library Staff and Volunteers will be on site with activities for children and a few chairs to give Festival goers a moment of rest during this exciting annual event.
The Library booth will feature a duck pond with prizes for the youngest visitors, pages to color for all ages which will be on display in the Library tent, and some special "freebies" courtesy of the Friends of the Library.
This will be the Library’s second appearance at the Festival, and all are invited to stop in to say hello to Staff and Volunteers.

Dansville Public Library is the recipient of $10,703.31, monies collected during the February 2005 Reading Gone Wild Read-a-Thon sponsored by Dansville Rotary Club. The Guinness World Record event, certified by Guinness in July as an official record, featured 100 hours of consecutive reading by participants Scott Vegder, Richard deAsis, Francesca Koycyba, Betty Minemier, Kim Swink and Ashley Standish. The check was presented by Rotary President Richard deAsis and Past President Lois Mann at the Rotary Club’s Annual Changeover Dinner.

This year is Rotary International’s 100th Anniversary, thus the goal was 100 hours of reading. The event was proposed by Rotarian Scott Vegder to promote reading and literacy awareness.

The Read-a-Thon provided an opportunity for Library Webmaster Tony Witte and Dansville Central School Technology Coordinator Jim Blum to set-up a "web cam" which transmitted live action during the entire event.

Rotarian Jennifer Leuzzi organized participation and support from Dansville Central School elementary and middle school students who contributed more than $1000.

The six readers autographed T-shirts commemorating the event, and the shirts are now available at the library.

The Board of Trustees are truly appreciative for supporters of the event, many of whom contributed on line from various locations throughout the United States. The funds will be used in the children’s room as part of the library’s expansion project.

The library’s newest staff member is Sharon O’Neil. Sharon was born and raised in the Southern Tier, but she and her husband moved from Livonia to Dansville just a couple years ago.

Sharon’s clerical experience has been in the health information and technology field, so she is more than qualified to deal with an organization like the library which deals with files and records and data in paper and computer formats. Sharon, who works 18 hours each week, is currently learning the ins and outs of our on-line circulation system, finding her way around the collection, and assisting with electronic reference and genealogy inquiries.

Please stop in to say hello and welcome her to the staff.

Assemblywoman Cathy Young stopped in Dansville to present a State grant in the amount of $50,000 to Dansville Library Director Teresa Dearing and Library Board President David Reinholtz on Thursday, May 5. The grant will be used to help offset the purchase price of the Wilcox Auction Center in January 2006.

"Libraries are an essential part of the community, especially in rural areas," Assemblywoman Young stated. "As someone who grew up in Livingston County, I can remember how important a strong community library was to me and my family. That’s why when I was told of the expansion plans in Dansville, I worked to help offset some of the costs with State funding."

"We are so appreciative of the generosity of the State toward the people of Dansville and the needs of the Library," said President Reinholtz. "This is a continuation of the good works that Senator Patricia McGee had traditionally supported, and we appreciate the Assemblywoman’s efforts."

"On behalf of the Trustees, our patrons and community, we want to thank Assemblywoman Cathy Young for this generous grant which will help us with the expansion of the library," said Director Dearing. "The Dansville Public Library has experienced steady growth in that demand for our services and resources, and the demand has outpaced our facility. The grant will do so much to address the community’s need for additional library space."

The next time you’re in the Library, please introduce yourself to Brandy Osheski, Library Assistant for Children’s Programming. Brandy joined the Library Staff on April 5, and she will be coordinating children’s programs in addition to working the main circulation desk.

Mrs. Olsheski’s previous experience with children includes working as a volunteer for Literacy Volunteers of America and for Junior Achievement. She is a graduate of Livonia High School, MCC and SUNY Geneseo. She is "Mom" to three children ages 2 years, 8 years and 13 years old.

We are very pleased to welcome Mrs. Brandy Olsheski to our Staff, and we look forward to an expansion of the services we provide to the children in our area.

We began this website in 1996, before many people had heard of the World Wide Web. We called it "Dansville Community Home Page" and it has become Dansville’s showcase to the world. Since then, of course, the Internet has transformed the way we live and get information. Several other web sites have sprung up to serve Dansville, including Village of Dansville offices, Danville Area Chamber of Commerce, the public school, and many others.

The Library Board of Trustees chose in 2004 to rename our website to simply "Dansville Public Library" to reflect its primary role as a library information resource.

Also, a new web address was obtained: www.dansvillelibrary.org, which is simpler and easier to remember than the original dansville.lib.ny.us.

As Dansville Public Library seeks to further serve the information needs of our community, we will continue to revise and remodel this website. Glitches or lost pages may occur, and we appreciate your patience during our renovations.

We look forward to your comments and suggestions!