Life

Donation helps library launch art program

With the support of Pennsylvania Skill Charitable Giving, a project of Miele Manufacturing of Muncy, who recently contributed $2,500 to our Local Student Art project, leaders of W.B. Konkle Memorial Library in Montoursville said they are excited to move to the next phase of utilization of the library for the community.

"We think it is crucial and exciting to get students of all ages to experience and utilize the library, as well as to have them understand their connection to this community resource," Dennis Correll, volunteer board president, said, according to a news release. "Konkle Library already has a very active summer reading program (171 participating in 2023) and active fall and spring story times and children's programs, but we want to expand services to even more community members of all ages, including teens. … When we re-designed the library, we deliberately left walls with white space to showcase poster and photo-frame size displays for various age groups. The board and staff envision that the high school students will create the poster size artwork and the younger students the smaller 12"x12" size. The smaller sized frames will be displayed as various collages on the walls to showcase the art."

In the Spring of 2023, board members met with Nicole Hoinowski, Kacee Reitz, Holly Fuller and Robyn Smelko, all Montoursville School District art teachers, to present the ART in the LIBRARY project to begin in the spring 2024. Not only did they enthusiastically agree to participate, but, according to the news release, the art project has received the blessing from the Montoursville schools administration as well.

Art teachers will make the selections with the students'/parents'/guardians' approval to display the artwork in the library.

"We plan a six-month rotating display, where we will invite the public, families, and students to come to the library where everyone can see the showcased art, provide opportunities for short presentations, and recognize students for their efforts," the news release said.

Donations for this ART in the LIBRARY project will be graciously accepted and placed in a restricted special fund, created to support the initial cost of the framing materials, needed art supplies by the students, event costs and student recognition, with the idea that a sustaining fund be established. Contributions can be sent to Konkle Library, indicating-Student Art, 384 Broad St, Montoursville, PA 17754