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"A Family Tradition for 132 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 8, 1998 - 9 36 dedications made already > Buy-A-Book plan helping § stock shelves at library By Chris Hall Port Perry Star More than three dozen local residents have a permanent place in the Scugog Memorial Public Library, thanks to the Buy-A-Book program. In an effort to continually stock the shelves of Scugog's only public library, organizers have implemented the Buy-A- Book plan. It offers people the opportunity to make a donation towards the purchase of a new book for the library, says Patrick Melligan, chair of the library board. The minimum donation of $25 allows the library to purchase a quality new book. Donors may honour anyone they choose with a commemorative book plate, which is placed in the new book. Due to government cutbacks, the library was facing a cash crunch and could not afford to purchase a large num- " ber of books for the coming year, said Mr. Melligan. "The government has re-evaluated its rograms and the library will lose about 10,000 in government grants," he explained. The library board began plan- ning the Buy-A-Book project in June, and launched it in September. "We wanted to maintain the ability to buy new books for the users of the library -- best-sellers, reference... we want to keep adding to our collection." The plan provides an opportunity to support the library, and pay tribute to someone special in their lives, Mr. Melligan said. "With their donation people can list their book in memory or in honour of someone, or they can just commemorate births, marriages, graduations... they can have pretty much whatever they want on it, or nothing at all," he said. "It's a great way to remember any fam- ily event or the departed; it remains in the community and honours a loved one or a lasting achievement." The only restrictions on the program is that the library reserves the right to pick the title of the book. "Donors can specify the area or the subject of the book, but the library gets to pick out the exact book due to availability, content and suitability," said Mr. Melligan. Judging by the positive response the library has already received from the public, Mr. Melligan says the plan could play a lasting role in the library's future. Thanks to donations ranging everywhere from $25 to $200, more than $900 has been raised, and 36-books have been pur- chased to date. Also glad to be part of the program is Tom Bonanno, CEO of the local library. "I think it's great," he said. "It's really giving something to the library and the community in general that is needed." Using rough numbers, Mr. Bonanno estimated that just under 2,000 people use the local library each week, and that book circulation is around 200,000 each year. "People really like to check out the current fiction titles; they tend to read more quality fiction than the best-sellers," added Mr. Bonanno. Anyone interested in participating in the Buy-A-Book program can call the library at 985-7686-or stop by the front desk for more information. Scugog Memorial Public Library Board chair Patrick Melligan (left) and library CEO Tom Bonanno are thrilled with the success of a Buy-A-Book pro- gram that was introduced here earlier this year. So far 36 books have been donated to the library through the initiative. begin in' DOWN TO! >ORT PERRY Don't miss a single weekend event during our special Seca fashion show, meet the artist, fear n to knit a fur at home, along with many other terrific holiday ideas. Featuring these downtown Port Perry participating merchants: Perry St., 189 Queen St, 178 Queen St. v 0 erry Port Perry Port Perry kA (905) 985-9786 (905) 985-0143 (905) 985-8334 = Sat. Dec.I2 ® 4pm Sat. & Sun. Dec. 12 & 13 r= B d [2 Sat. 9:30-5:30 & Sun. noon-5pm In Store Fashion Show FREE SHOE SHINE FOLK ART CLASSES St 4 h Winter Boot Protection Spray ~ Demonstrations ~ ( ¥) Kids 10-noon * Adults 12:30-4 @C id Saturday, December 12th BOUTIQU O . gy PORCELAIN Holiday i DoLL MAKING Table - Christmas Decorating o DEMONSTRATIONS Decorating Ideas throughout (| 88 "Ideas in the M. aking us QUILTING & SEWING the day! i Sun.. Dec. 13 * 1-3pm Sat., Dec. 12 » 10am to 5pm Sat., Dec. 19 : ' p Come watch our designers! 7 Ad Country Craft Supplies Laerlasting M, ounliy ' 139 Queen St., Unit 3 ver ting emores Port Perry 985-7425 Ill 305 Queen St., Port Perry 985-8208 160 Queen St. 985-8902