The New Castle Public Library was recently awarded a grant in the amount of $8,000 by the Greater Piscataqua Community Foundation (GPCF). The grant was made from donor advised funds to support the library's long-range technology plan, which provides for Internet access as well as computerization of the circulation and catalog systems.

The Greater Piscataqua Community Foundation is a regional division of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, a statewide community foundation. GPCF was established in 1983 for the purpose of building a permanent charitable endowment for the seacoast region.

The Foundation utilizes gifts and bequests from individuals, families, and organizations interested in providing financial support for non-profit agencies and institutions which serve residents of the seacoast communities of Maine and New Hampshire. These gifts and bequests make up a collection of funds which generate income from grants.

To learn more about the work of the Foundation, please contact Foundation staff locally at 430-9182, or in Concord at 1-800-464-6641.

LITTLETON PUBLIC LIBRARY CHOSEN FOR PLA'S EXCELLENCE IN
SMALL AND/OR RURAL PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE AWARD

The Littleton Public Library received the Public Library Associa-tion's (PLA) Excellence in small and/or Rural Public Library Service Award during the PLA President's Reception at the 1998 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

The Littleton Public Library served as a focal point for information and service in the community's efforts to become one of the inaugural New Hampshire Main Street communities. Several of the library's objectives is to identify community needs in order to provide programs that meet those needs and to cooperate with other organizations, agencies, and institutions which can also provide programs.

This award consists of a plaque to the Littleton Public Library staff along with $1,000 donated by EBSCO Subscription Services to honor a public library that demonstrates excellent service to its community as exemplified by an overall service program or a special program of significant accomplishment. "Funds from the award will be used to purchase books, materials, and programs on economic development to further Main Street objectives," said Kathryn Taylor, Director of the Littleton Public Library.

For more information, contact the PLA office at 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL, 60611 or by phone at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5PLA.

CONWAY PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Trustees of the Conway Public Library, at their meeting of May12th, officially accepted the gift of $102,121 from the estate of Jerome Schwartz. Mr. Schwartz was a familiar figure at the library, a quiet man who loved reading. Mr. Schwartz died in 1997 and left this generous bequest to the library specifically for the purchase of books. Only the income from the bequest can be used, but that money will help the library enrich its collection of new books and much needed reference books. This bequest is the largest in the library's history and the trustees, on behalf of the Town of Conway, are grateful to Mr. Schwartz. All of the books purchased in his name will have a special bookplate in his memory.

Aaron Cutler Memorial Library DEDICATES CHILDREN'S ROOM

On Sunday, August 30, 1998, the Aaron Cutler Memorial Library in Litchfield dedicated its new children's and young adult's floor to former librarian and occasional teacher Florence C. Center. In a ceremony that welcomed the late honoree's friends, relatives, and former students and patrons, the newly renovated downstairs portion of Litchfield's public library was officially named the Florence C. Center Young Readers' Room. Paying tribute to the woman who was the town's librarian from 1915 to 1975, State Librarian Kendall Wiggin addressed the gathering about the early years of his career in Litchfield, and Margaret Parent movingly recounted childhood memories of the Cutler Library and its matriarch, her aunt Florence Center. Miss Center's great-grandniece Shanna Pettis, representing the latest generation of young readers, cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the room. Fittingly, the long-time former librarian's desk will now be used by the children's librarian, and Mr. Wiggin commented that he was glad to see it there.

Florence Caroline Center was born in Litchfield in 1888 and died there in 1975. After teaching school in several localities, she succeeded her mother as town librarian following the elder woman's death in 1915. Miss Center's sixty-year career spanned such changes as the library's move from town residences to an exclusive and permanent structure in 1925.

The organizers of the event were Library Trustees Pam Boutselis, Quentin Lewis, Carolyn Lambert, Tammy Law, Zendelle Bouchard, Steven Calawa, and Candace Hale. Florence Goff Leary was one of the relatives serving as co-ribbon cutters. Also in attendance were current library director Brian Hackert and staff members Cheryl Brigham and Florence Hamilton. The short library tour afterward included displays of old photographs and artifacts from Florence Center's life, and from the history of the Aaron Cutler Memorial Library building.