Table Of ContentTHANK YOU
From start to finish, the building of the Norton Public
Library- L G. and Mildred BalfourMemorial hasbeen athirteen
yearproject. Duringthosethirteen years, countless individuals
and groups have worked for the day when the finished library
would become a reality. Throughout those years loyal patrons
and friends never lost sight of the fact that one day the library
holdingswould have a new home. That day has finally arrived.
Itcould never have happenedwithoutthe hardworkofso many
people: people who served on committees; people who held
coffee hours; people whowrote letters orcalled friends; people
who voted to supply the funds necessary to construct the
building; people who drew the plans and completed the work;
peoplewho neverlostsightofthefinalgoal; peoplejust likeyou.
To every person who helped in anyway at all,thankyou
very much.
September 22, 1991
Dear Friends, Neighbors and Guests:
It is my tremendous pleasure, on behalf of the Board of
Directors of the Norton Public Library, to welcome you today
to share in the joy of dedicating our new library facility.
The endurance ofall concerned andthe ability of manyto
pull together and support the goal of providing a modern
library facility, complete with a Community Room, is a tribute
to the spirit that lives in our Community.
The building reflectsthe hopes,aspirationsand hardwork
of so many - Patrons, Staff, Friends, the Building Committee,
and the Board of Directors. However, the true value of this
facilitywill be intheopportunityforgrowthitofferstoeveryone,
young and old, individually and as a community drawn closer
through the sharing of ideals.
Itiswiththesegoalsin ourmindsand heartsthaton behalf
of the Board of Directors, present to you the
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NORTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
L. G. AND MILDRED BALFOUR MEMORIAL
and dedicate it to all citizens of the Town of Norton, present
and future. May it be enjoyed to its fullest extent.
Sincerely,
Anne T. Hiltz, President
Board of Directors
Norton Public Library
NORTON PUBLIC LIBRARY DEDICATION PROGRAM
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1991
Invocation
Rev. Lynn Carman Bodden
Trinitarian Congregational Church
"America the Beautiful"
Norton High School Chorus
directed by William MacMullen, Jr.
Presentation of the American Flag
Boy Scout Troop 61
"Star Spangled Banner"
Norton High School Chorus & Ensemble
Introduction of Guests
Herbert R. Ellison, Vice-President,
Library Board of Directors
SPEAKERS
Greetings from the State
Representative of Governor William Weld
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
Patience K. Jackson
Norton Public Library Head Librarian
Robin Glasser
Keynote Speaker
Elizabeth Farquar
Free Lance Writer, Boston Globe
Presentation of the Keys
John N. Schneider, Jr., Chairman
Building and Design Selection Committee
Anne T. Hiltz, President
Norton Public Library Board of Directors
RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY
Benediction
Rev. John Pegnam, St. Mary's Church
Tour of the Norton Public Library - L G. and
Mildred Balfour Memorial
TO THE CITIZENS OF NORTON AND GUESTS
Without doubt, most librarians have embarked on their
library careers, stemming in part, from fond memories of
childhood days spent in town libraries. am no different.
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grewupin Hollywood, Florida, andthe public librarytherewas
my haven. recall attending story hours. When grew older,
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wasthe self-appointedchiefhelpertothechildren's librarian.
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recall hours of study and research-hours of ferreting out
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hundreds of books to read.
Since those days, have lived and worked in South
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America and Eastern Europe, and was sure to visit libraries
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wherever I went. It didn'ttake long to discoverwhat a unique
and valuable resource we have in the American concept of
public lending libraries Othercountries have large reposito-
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riesofbooks,which insomecases maybeborrowed, but most
often, may be used only within the building, and then only
under the watchful eye of a stern curator.
The public library is an integral part of every American
community. Theinstitutionofapubliclending library has been
a part of our culture that spans several centuries. In orderto
meet the needs of an ever-changing society, public libraries
have had to grow and change with the times. Traditionally, a
library isa placewhere people goto obtain information. In the
times of our forefathers, the word "library" was synonymous
with the word "books"; indeed, many libraries were called
"reading rooms".
As the format ofcommunicating information changes, so
too must libraries change. Now it is commonplace to find
records, cassettes, CDs, books-on-tape, video tapes, and a
variety of other materials. Libraries are no longer the place
where children are "shushed" by the stereotypical librarian
with a bun. Rather, they are a vital component of the
community; they are an adult's informal educational center;
they are achild'sgatewaytothewondersofreading. Whether
for education, personal growth or simple pleasure, the library
is available to all.
On the brink of the twenty-first century, the age of
technology, librarians mustagain changewiththetimes. New
technology, which allows faster access to an infinite array of
information, isconstantly being developed. Libraries must be
on the cutting edge-ready, willing, and able to deliver these
new resources to their communities.
The fine building that we are dedicating today gives the
Norton Librarydirectors and staffthe spacethat is essential in
orderto provide accessto information, programs and ideas.
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look forward to the challenge of keeping pace with the ever-
changing technology and formulating a comprehensive plan
which will provide the framework to develop the library as an
integral source of expanded knowledge and culture.
On behalfofthe entire library staff, invite each and every
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citizen of Norton to avail him/herself of the marvelous facility
that you so wisely voted to build.
Sincerely,
Robin A. Glasser
Head Librarian
SOME THOUGHTS ABOUTTHE NEW LIBRARY
When was a boy, growing up in Foxboro, spent many
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hours exploring the stacks of the old Boyden Library. The
library was alwaysthere; always a part of my life. It seemed,
then,totallyappropriatethat itshould be housed in amemorial
to our Civil War dead. It was a place where the culture and
traditions we inherited were guarded by the ghosts of those
who gave their all to defend that way of life.
In October of 1985, came to Norton as the new Head
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Librarian. The old building profoundly reminded me of my
childhood experiences as a library user. Although the build-
ings have little in common architecturally, they are both
imbued withthe spiritofthe nineteenth century. Builtto bethe
cultural hearts of their communities, they are monuments to
ourpast. It always struck me as ironicthat my primary charge
as librarian was to assist the library's Directors in realizing
their hopes for a new facility because to secure the new, the
old would necessarily be left behind.
This is how it has always been; the age-old sequence of
the passing of generations. know too, that many in this
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community feltthe coming ofchange as an irreparable loss.
I
heard countless comments from people about how terrible it
was to lose such a beautiful old building. The Directors and
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heard and we understood. But, even as young families out-
growtheirfirst houses, sotoodo institutionsgrowbeyondtheir
homes.
first
Letitbeasourceofpridetothepeople ofNortonthatgreat
carewent intothe design ofthe newbuilding. Additionally,the
questions surrounding the disposition of the old facility were
handled with equal care.
The building you sit in today was designed to honor the
heritage and traditions of our past. It was designed to fit into
the community as though had grown there; to compliment
it
and complete a municipal center; to be a recognizable public
building without calling attention to itself. It was designed to
house notonlythe library'scollection butalsoaproud heritage
ofmemories, ofawayoflife, ofservice. It is notaccidentalthat
the Community Room, where Eliza Wheaton's portrait now
hangs, isalmost exactlythe same size asthe library's original
home. The generous gift of a farseeing benefactress is
incorporated into the new.
But, this building is more than a monumentto the past. It
is agateway. Asthe nineteenth centurycherished allthat had
been, the twentieth century celebrates all that can be. This
library building is here for the future.
Let mecall yourattentiontothedesign ofthe entry. There
isan interestingbalanceatworkinthatdoorway. Functionally,
theextensiveglassfacade servesto bring natural lightintothe
building while minimizing the risk ofdamage to light sensitive
paper. Its almost monumental scale marks the building as a
public facility. Aesthetically, its curvilinear design serves to
soften the visual impact of a wall ofglass and harmonizesthe
doorwaywiththe nineteenthcenturyovertonesofthebuilding's
overall design.
But, in a hundred years, this building will also be a
heritage from the past. Generations of citizens will have fond
memories of pleasant hours spent within its walls. We will
rememberthegenerousgiftofthe BalfourFoundation andthe
farseeing wisdom of the citizens who voted to make the
building a reality. My congratulations on the dedication ofthis
wonderful new library building.
Sincerely,
Jay Scherma
