Gail Antokal
gala627@juno.com
Mr. Henry Thomas III
c/o The
Dear Mr. Thomas,
Working as a library volunteer has been a rewarding and enriching experience. The three C’s, caring, compassion, and creativity, mean so much to me. The caring I felt was when children looked at me and realized I was a library volunteer. The little unspoken smiles lit their small faces looking at me. There was quiet excitement from the children when they colored or did a craft project I had created. They had something totally different to do. I put so much caring, compassion, and creativity into everything I do. The posters that I made for “Now Read This!” had comic characters on many of them to bring a smile to a child if they glanced at it. The poster covers were made for the adult reviews for “Now Read This!”
The compassion I tried to share. It is easy to get into trouble nowadays. I really cared and made projects for them to do. The children probably didn’t realize where the crafts
and the educational projects came from. But that didn’t matter to me. I couldn’t make enough activities. I made a lot of coloring projects, and then I would re-visit the same project and make it different. It was a terrific fun for me too! The library workers always welcomed me with warm, pleasant greetings and friendly smiles.
The creativity I brought from my original artistic and writing ability. I made the projects as cute as I possibly could. It got their attention! They would always ask for a coloring project. On a hot summer day sitting in a cooler environment helped some of these kids. Many didn’t have air conditioning in their homes. I put lots of love into every project I did. It was always MY big or small group of children. It didn’t matter if it was one child or many. Just to watch them color, cut or paste just brought so much joy to me. They never knew, or maybe they did!
I was watching one fourteen-year-old girl make a flower mirror for mom for mother’s day. She asked me why I volunteered. I said, “Because many of the children who come in here don’t have a lot. Whatever I can do to bring a smile to them. It is all worth it.” She said, “ I want to volunteer too!”
I worked with some children making the projects I designed. I donated some of the materials. I had the cloth and the felt shapes already cut out. The children applied the shapes to make a mother’s day plate card and a flower mirror for mom. A young girl and boy were making the project. I noticed how dirty they were. I wondered if they were homeless. I was concerned and realized they were neglected.
It all started in Spring 2001,
when I saw Mr. Reginald Wilson at the Quadrangle’s Springfield Library and
Museums, located at
The tools I used were my artist and writing ability, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Publisher. I helped type and set-up the layout reviews, proofreading, graphics, illustration, craft, educational projects, and a children’s contest, and designed the poster book review covers for “Now Read This!” I was previously responsible for monthly library posters, pages three and four on “Now Read This!” The four page publication, for public access on the Springfield Library website, was available before at the Web address www.springfieldlibrary.org.
In October 2001 I relocated with Mr. Reginald Wilson to
the Mason Square Branch Library located on
If you have a good heart, your mind is intelligent enough, you can lend you kindness to children who are less fortunate then you were growing up. What a terrific thing to do with your life. To be selfless brings its own reward.
I am compelled to say stop this sale! The Mason Square Library is a fine library. It is in the hub of this community.
As a volunteer for the libraries since April 2001 I have seen many things. Mr. Reginald Wilson was a highly professional supervisor for the Mason Square Branch Library. I saw him intervene many times when children were having problems. He is terrific with the children and the elderly. He guided borderline teenagers to follow the right path, and to stay out of trouble. He ran a first-class library. You couldn’t be more wrong! That library under Reginald’s supervision was bustling. All the local schools came in for the reading programs. They planted flowers in the beautiful gardens that Reginald nurtured. Children played with the puppets and enjoyed the craft programs. The students researched their homework on the computers, and much more.
Reginald honored many famous people’s birthdays, and made it a celebration for the children. He honored Martin Luther King’s birthday. He ran a movie presentation that
day. Cake was provided for all who came in to watch the historical speeches of Martin Luther King. He ran many educational, and inspirational programs.
I made a children’s contest, and forty-eight children
participated. The librarians handed out
prizes! I was there! Where were you? If you were there you would have seen this is
one of the most utilized libraries in the City of
Mr. Thomas how could you make such a statement that the
I have honored my commitments above, and beyond as a volunteer for the Mason Square Library. So have the many countless volunteers, and library workers throughout the Springfield Community. To have respect for others is to do the right thing. The right thing would be to not go thru with this sale.
The people of this community cry out! I speak for the countless children who are too little to speak out. Why aren’t you listening! Don’t take the light from their faces! Don’t take my children!
I implore you to purchase another property. Work hand, and hand with the soon to be City owned libraries for the strength of the community. That would be wonderful! Put your best foot forward! History records what people do. Mr. Thomas wouldn’t it be wonderful if it could say one of your accomplishments was he let the Mason Square Library flourish for the future! The only possible future is our children’s!
Where were you! I was there!
Sincerely,
Gail Antokal