Tuesday, we spent the day in Dillon, Montana (population 4000+). We usually try and take one day a week off of the bikes, mostly to get a bit more sleep, do laundry, and catch up on writing letters and email. We usually wake up around 4:30am, so sleeping until 6:30 is a real treat.
After breakfast and coffee, we headed to the Dillon Public Library. We spoke with Edna, library staff member, and she told us a bit about the history of the library. The library is a beautiful Carnegie building built in 1902, complete with four gargoyles and a turret. The library building is included in the National Historical Register of Buildings. The driving force behind obtaining the Carnegie funds was Mary Perkins-Hooker, a Dillon resident and great-niece of Harriet Beecher-Stowe. Perkins-Hooker was also a member of the second oldest book club in Montana, the Shakespeare Club, which still exists today in Dillon. We also got the chance to speak with the Library Director, Lori Roberts. What an inspiring librarian! In times of budget cuts for Montana libraries, Lori has written and received 6-8 grants this past year for the Dillon Public Library. Lori told us about several of the resources/services that are available with grant funding. The backpack program provides backpacks that include binoculars, fishing poles, park pass for Glacier National Park, and various maps. The grant funds will also allow the library to offer media workshops to teenagers to develop skills with movie making. The library will furnish an instructor, go-pros, a drone, and laptops with media-making software. While speaking with Lori, she told us of two library programs taking place that very night: the Teen Top-Chef Cookout and an outdoor concert featuring Jack and Kitt, an Emmy-award-winning musical duo. She invited us to the community potluck, same time and place as the concert. We did go and had a fabulous meal while watching children dance to the music of Jack and Kitty. A wonderful evening. Thanks to Lori and the Dillon Public Library for inviting us!
4 Comments
Karen Wegscheid
7/12/2018 11:48:43 am
Love the gargoyle on the peak of the turret! What an absolutely gorgeous building and fabulous programs. Glad to see you LoB are going strong, and seeing some terrific places!
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Beth
7/12/2018 06:32:09 pm
Thanks Karen for your comments and following our journey! That means a lot to us. Warm regards, Beth and John
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1/29/2020 04:41:54 am
I want to understand your fascination towards library. It seems like you have your reasons on why you have such deep desire to know each history of library, and that is the reason why you went to Dillon Public Library. In all fairness, this place was good and will allow you to be at your best self. I am glad to know that you had a great time while you were there because I would feel bad if you are not! I am sure that the day became worth it for everything!
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