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To celebrate National Library Week, which runs from April 4^th-April 10^th, Community Services Librarian Greta Selin-Love invites everyone to take part in a very special project at the Victor Farmington Library.  Years ago, Greta first learned that cranes are a symbol of hope and healing, and heard the long-held Japanese belief that anyone who folds 1,000 paper cranes will receive a wish.  During Coronavirus, “Sadako’s Cranes” by Judith Loske inspired her to begin folding cranes and bring people of all ages together to reach the mammoth goal of 1,000 origami cranes.  “Folding these beautiful cranes has a meditative quality, which is helpful in stressful times” Greta explains.  For details on learning to fold and string origami cranes on April 8th and April 15th, please visit the library’s online event calendar.  Then, bring your strands of finished cranes to the library.  Victor Farmington Library will hang 1,000 community-made cranes this summer to mark the progress being made in healing from the world-wide pandemic.

This undertaking dovetails nicely with the library’s mission, to promote and nurture a sense of community by offering the space and resources for educational, recreational, and cultural enrichment for patrons of all ages.  Making paper cranes uses inexpensive, easily available supplies.  In fact, some online versions of Sadako’s story claim that she folded her cranes from medicine wrappers and other materials like cellophane.  The 1,000 Cranes Project also represents the accessibility and inclusivity that the Victor Farmington Library strives for, which is a natural tie to National Library Week.  A National Park Service article about Sadako Sasaki elaborates that while her wish for healing was not granted, her legacy of persevering did indeed promote healing and peace. 

Perfect for book clubs, scout troops, youth groups, and service clubs, the project also lends itself to those who wish to participate independently.  Participants are encouraged to deliver completed paper cranes to the library by May 31^st.  Those looking to lead a group in making cranes are encouraged to call Greta Selin-Love at 585-924-2637 x105 for free lessons and origami paper.  Please stop by the library in June to view this spectacular display rooted in hope, healing and collaboration. 

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries of all types across the country each April.  During National Library Week, free library-themed worksheets will be available for children at Victor Farmington Library.

The library is hosting two online information sessions on the upcoming library budget vote on Wednesday, April 28th, and Tuesday, May 11th at 6:30 pm. Please click either link to register, or e-mail Tim Niver to request a meeting invitation. Click here to learn more about the vote.

The recent successful installation of a Storywalk^® at the Victor Municipal Park by the Victor Farmington Library, Farmington Victor Kiwanis Club, Victor Parks and Recreation, and Victor Hiking Trails has led to further collaboration and cooperation between Victor Farmington Library Community Services Librarian Greta Selin-Love and the Kiwanis Club: another Storywalk is to be installed in Farmington in the spring of this year.  The library made the Farmington Storywalk^® the focus of their ROC the Day Fundraiser in December, and community members supported the effort with generous donations.  In January, Dave Plante, Kiwanis Club Member, delivered a $1,000 grant from the club to the library, bringing the project’s fundraising to a successful conclusion. 

Town of Farmington Highway/Parks Superintendent Don Giroux, and Town Supervisor Peter Ingalsbe helped identifythe perfect location for the new Storywalk^®, which will surround the existing playground at Farmington’s Town Park on County Road 8.  This addition will encourage literacy, physical activity, and families to spend time together in the great outdoors.  Watch for news about the Grand Opening of the Farmington Storywalk^® this spring.  Anne Ferguson of Montpellier, VT is credited with developing the Storywalk Project and in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.  To learn more about Storywalks®, please visit victorfarmingtonlibrary.org/storywalk. 

Thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Farmington-Victor, Victor Hiking Trails, and Victor Parks and Recreation, today we unveiled Victor’s first Storywalk^®. Please visit our Storywalk webpage at victorfarmingtonlibrary.org/storywalk for activities related to the first featured book, Kathleen Blasi’s “Hosea Plays On”, or stop at the Victor Municipal Park to enjoy the Storywalk^® first hand.

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