Kellogg-Hubbard's Outreach Program delivers for those who can't get to the library
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By SARAH HINCKLEY Staff Writer - Published: March 9, 2009
MONTPELIER – Eighteen-month-old Andrew McKinstry exclaimed, "Wow!" as he opened the pages of a new book brought to his day-care.
Andrew is one of six children at Telia's Daycare in Worcester who is visited by two women of the Kellogg-Hubbard Library's Outreach Program each week. After their visit with the children on Wednesdays, library employee Rachel Grossman and volunteer Georgia Valentine scoot over to the Worcester Town Hall for the community lunch.
In an effort to continue the mission of the VanGo – former bookmobile of the Montpelier library – the Outreach Program delivers books to several area spots to those unable to get to the library.
"This can also work for anybody in the community," said Grossman, referring to people like stay-at-home moms, who can ask for books to be delivered. "This just wouldn't happen without the volunteers. We get a lot of books out there with a lot of good help."
Grossman has a number of fans at the Worcester community lunch, but one in particular is very excited to see her each week.
"She is the finest librarian I've ever met," said Greg Gallagher of Calais. "She's smarter than my wife and I. She picks out books that are easy to read. She is better than sliced bread."
Gallagher's sight has been failing and is frustrated with being less able to read. For awhile Grossman was offering books on compact disc or Gallagher's wife Harriet was reading to him. She explained that didn't work too well because she and her husband don't like the same books and he tended to fall asleep.
"It's a great service, I read a lot more since they come here," said Harriet Gallagher, who doesn't like to fight to find parking in the city. "One problem is I don't get much done – I read too much."
The crowd at the luncheon is typically made up of older people more familiar with a library.
"We get to know what they like," said Grossman. "One woman has been doing memoirs a lot, so I try to bring her those."
For some of the children at Telia's Daycare, the visit from Grossman and Valentine is what they know about the library.
"It's a good way for the little ones that don't go to school to get books," said Telia Utton, who runs the day care. "If they don't come, (the kids) know."
Spencer Lang, 5, was two months old when the program began at the day care. His favorite thing about the weekly visits: "Getting movies and books," said the youngster, gazing at a new Star Wars book.
"I'm glad you found that, I brought that special just for you," Grossman says.
As much as the visits are fulfilling for the children, Valentine also thrives on the community visits.
"I'm just a person who's into books – books and children, books and adults, books and anything," she said, explaining why she continued with the program after the VanGo was discontinued. "Fundamentally, I think that reading for children is absolutely crucial."
There is no fee to have the books delivered or checking them out from the Outreach Program's locations, such as the Adamant Co-op. Of course, if the book is extremely late, a fee will be charged, just as with the library.
A recent water main burst at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library, due to extremely cold temperatures, damaged a portion of the books for the program. Grossman works with grant funds in order to keep a solid stock of books for children and adults.
"This is the library without parking, this isn't just for people in Worcester lunch," said Grossman, who enjoys traveling with books and bags in her trunk. "If you're a parent that doesn't have transportation into town, we'll get the books out to you."
Sarah.hinckley@timesargus.com
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To find out more about the Kellogg-Hubbard Library Outreach Program, call the library at 223-3338.
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