`75th anniversary celebration marks SV library's current page in history`

Many events are planned for Shenango Valley Community Library's 75th year.

The celebrations began with the annual Bookmaker's Ball, which was in January, and plenty more activities will highlight the year.

Saturday arts and crafts sessions for children in kindergarten through sixth grade are planned the second Saturday of each month during the school year.

Preschoolers throughout the Shenango Valley were asked to make birthday cards for the library. The cards will be displayed during the year-long observance.

Students in seventh through 12th grades will be asked to imagine what libraries will be like 75 years from now and to illustrate their visions in a poster contest. The winners will be awarded gift certificates for art supplies.

Students at Sharon, Hickory and Kennedy Christian high schools are eligible to compete in an essay contest with the theme of ``The Importance of My Public Library in the Next 75 Years.''

For adults, a reading and discussion group on women's literature will be held in the spring.

Also, the library will sell blocks for a signature quilt to commemorate supporters of the library. The Rev. Emily Byrd conceived the idea for the quilt, which will be displayed in the library upon completion. The proceeds will be used to purchase a new carpet for the library.

``I love the idea of having a historical document, which will be passed on to future generations,'' Karen Spak, library director, said about the quilt. ``People will be able to see who supported the library in 1998.''