“I am proud to count myself as a supporter of our town library, a rich resource for Sudbury and beyond, bringing so many together across all ages and interests.”
– Marla Platt, a loyal supporter of the Goodnow Library Foundation
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Hello GLF friends,
Today is #GivingTuesday! For me, this is a chance to reflect on what I have done over the past year to give back to my community – both financially and in the form of volunteerism – and to think about what more I can do during the holiday season. #GivingTuesday is defined as “a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.” It has “grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.” This is powerful! It makes me think about: 1) How grateful I am for my community, and 2) Have I done enough?
To me, the Goodnow Library reflects "community." I remember Esmé Green, the Library’s Director, saying “It’s the place where everyone belongs and no membership is required.” I love this! The Library is steady and resolute in this promise to all. While Goodnow's doors have been shuttered, work is still being done to make sure our community is well-served. Books can still be reserved, classes are being taken, activities are happening, and presentations take place – all virtually. Resilience, flexibility, and creativity are all words that come to mind when I think of the Library staff.
On this day, I would like to thank the amazing staff of the Goodnow Library, and I make my promise to continue giving back in the ways that work for me. I invite you to do the same.
Warmly,
Holly Bernene
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One of the most exciting projects happening right now is that we are finalizing detailed plans for the renovation and opening of the Library’s Historical Room. For years, our patrons have been asking for Goodnow to open this room as a quiet place for reading, writing, and studying. In addition to making the room available to the public, the renovation focuses on preserving Goodnow's important archival material. We are thrilled that we can finally make this happen! The GLF has committed $50,000 to this project to supplement the $150,000 funding that was recently approved by the Community Preservation Act.
We'll keep you posted in the coming months on this long-awaited project. If you would like to learn more or make a contribution specifically for the Historical Room Renovation, please contact Holly Bernene directly at [email protected] or (978) 440-5562.
Warm regards,
Judy Petrovic
President, Goodnow Library Foundation Board of Directors
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Our popular Be Bold Speaker Series is returning for the New Year with the theme “Get Outdoors.” These evenings are designed to educate and connect members of our community through sharing viewpoints and discussion. In the past, we have used used a casual, public-run format that encourages community members to ask questions. In January we will do the same – albeit virtually. Please keep an eye out for our sign-up in early January.
For the first time, we are partnering with Sudbury Valley Trustees. Dan Stimson, Assistant Director of Stewardship, will present “Wildlife in Winter: How our Birds and Other Wildlife are Adapted to Survive a New England Winter.” You will learn about our local natural areas and the wildlife that live there. Discover what animals you are likely to see along the trails during winter.
Dan has been with the Stewardship Department at Sudbury Valley Trustees since 2002. Dan manages trails, access, and infrastructure for SVT's reservations and conservation restrictions, working with volunteers to maintain more than 65 miles of trails. Dan also manages GIS, preparing maps for properties and projects while working with other staff and partners to incorporate GIS in their work. Dan has a bachelor's degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation and Management from the University of Massachusetts.
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Before the NOW Lab was open, Peter took the laser cutter "on the road" to teach kids how to make their own personalized stickers. |
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Peter Fearey is a Goodnow Library Foundation board member and the Chief Product Officer at the growing artificial intelligence startup Nara Logics, Inc.
Peter and and his wife, Christine, have lived in Sudbury for more than 20 years and have raised their two daughters here. When the girls were young, Peter’s job allowed him to work from home. However, “working from home” didn’t mean that he should always be at home since young kids and two dogs don't always allow for peace and quiet! Like so many of us, Peter found the Goodnow Library a place to get work done. And for this time and space, he is very grateful.
In 2016, when the Goodnow Library Foundation started designing the Sara Sherman NOW Lab, the Foundation asked Peter to sit on the Technology Committee. By that time, he was working in the education sector; Peter initially served as Director of Technology at The Fay School in Southborough and then as Director of Innovation.
While some of us like to refer to it as a “fitness center for the brain,” Peter views the NOW Lab as a place to build and nurture creative confidence in kids. Peter conceived of and built out Fay’s Innovation Labs, a set of four classrooms dedicated to teaching innovation using Design Thinking and fabrication equipment (laser cutter, CNC router, and 3D printer and digitizer). He created and taught a class on innovation and ran a full-day workshop for the faculty.
When he worked with students in Fay’s Innovation Labs, Peter says he “started to see kids who normally never spoke up in the classroom get a twinkle in their eye.” Even projects that sounded simple – such as making a personalized, professional-looking sticker for their computers – would light up the students’ faces. Peter did not give grades and instead considered these tasks “challenges to be completed."
Peter recalls a girl from one of these classes who never said a word during class. One day while everyone was busy working on their monogram stickers, this girl designed a house with smoke coming out of the chimney and the smoke spelled out her initials. She was beaming! This, says Peter, is creative confidence.
Peter has been inspired by David Kelley, founder of IDEO and the Stanford d.school creator, and his brother Tom Kelley, IDEO partner and the author of the bestselling The Art of Innovation. Together, they wrote Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All.
Peter has learned that each and every one of us is creative, and he believes wholeheartedly in helping kids to build their own creative confidence. This is the spirit behind our Sara Sherman NOW Lab, and the GLF is so grateful for Peter's insight and leadership.
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Have you heard the news from the Sara Sherman NOW Lab? The Goodnow Library Foundation is delighted to have covered the cost of the filament for a new 3D printing program.
Because of a donation of a Sculpto 3D printer from Creativebug and the aforementioned filament, the Library is thrilled to offer patrons one free 3D print a month! New to 3D printing? No problem! Simply click HERE on the Tinkercad site for a tutorial.
Oodles and oodles of more detailed information can be found right HERE.
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We are so grateful for your ongoing support! In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, please consider a donation to the Goodnow Library Foundation. Please visit us online HERE as well as read our Annual Appeal letter right HERE.
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Just as it is with every organization (especially now), a social media presence is really important for us to share our news and expand our circle of friends.
Do you like to hear our news? Please don’t forget to “Like” us on Facebook and Instagram. And tell your friends! You can reach out to us any time at [email protected]. We love hearing from YOU!
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