— from Martha Farish —
The last time the Orcas Library expanded I wasn’t registered to vote here but my now 97 year-old mother was. She campaigned vigorously for approval then believing the library would benefit Orcas, her children, and maybe even her children’s children. Then, as now, young families needed to create ways to afford to raise children here. She had no idea if our generation would be able to pull it off.
She made the bet on the future and believed the library was something her family, and any other island family, would need and use no matter what happened. By 2016 my mother has lived long enough to see her hopes and vision realized, and then some. Her great granddaughter, Kiyomi, has grown up here surrounded by stacks of books checked out from that same library.
My mother is now, and was then, a wise and far-sighted woman. Hers is a lifelong commitment to Orcas Island, the library and especially books and learning. Her willingness to continuously invest in Orcas is one of the strongest and most heart-felt legacies she will leave me.
It is gratitude that often comes to mind. We are so blessed to be able, even in these deplorable national political times, to use our dedicated, Orcas-only, vote to enrich our lives and build democratic institutions of long lasting value us. Approve the levy for us and for the generations yet to come.
Thank you Martha. So beautifully stated.
Well said, Martha, and truly the library is a great community asset. How far we have come from those earlier years when our library was in the boutique-phase across from Emmanuel Church. Today’s library serves so many needs of our island life, from gathering spaces, computer usage and book collections. Our young readers, especially, deserve access to learning and with the many new babies & toddlers in our midst, our expanded library will benefit this mewest generation, and beyond.
Paul and I are with you on this!
Martha’s mother, Margaret Philbrick, served as volunteer librarian of the private library that became the public library we have today. Private in the sense that it raised its own funds, and did not rely on a public vote; it served all those living on Orcas and visitors as well, provided interlibrary loan service and microfiche(!) as well as a good, if not large, collection of books. Margaret’s unselfish service is remembered as well as her vision.
Martha,
Yes, we can pull it off. Looking forward to the Grand Opening.
s