Taber Library Reopens its Front Doors

            The new front entrance to the Elizabeth Taber Library is finally complete.

            The doors were opened on Monday, May 27, when town officials, volunteers, library staff, patrons, townspeople, and family of the project’s benefactor, Peggy Repass, converged upon the handcrafted stonework for a special ribbon cutting celebration.

            “Is this not the most unbelievable entrance to a library that you’ve ever seen?” asked President of the Board of Trustees Jay Pateakos. “Classic and classy” is how he described it. “It’s ‘Marion’ and it’s exactly what we wanted.”

            It was no easy task, though, said Pateakos. But “volunteer extraordinaire” Bob Raymond was an essential builder in the project, Pateakos said, who was there at the library every single stone step of the way.

            “The curveballs came fast and furious,” said Raymond, but they were handled by the team with patience and grace. “This is a very special construction,” he said, and the design and all that it entailed was something quite new, even for the architects and builders. The “reading circle” and the encircling stone benches was a suggestion from Repass herself who saw something similar at a library she passed in Maine.

            “This all started with an automatic door opener,” said Raymond, “and it grew and grew.” He thanks Repass, all the volunteers who contributed time and efforts, the Repass family who worked closely on the project with the library, and those “angels and heroes” who preferred anonymity. “This (design) is very unique. You won’t see this almost anywhere else – not like this,” said Raymond.

            Repass’ family reports that she is in good health at 99 years old and still as voracious a reader as always. Repass worked as the librarian in Marion for five years in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s and during the past few years found it increasingly difficult to ascend the stairs and open the old heavy door to get inside. She decided she would do something about it and approached the Town three years ago, offering her generous donation.

            Repass was unable to join the selectmen and the community at the base of those beautiful brand-new steps Monday morning, “But I know she is here in spirit,” said Sally Christine. “This was her vision.”

            Repass selected the titles of the granite ‘books’ that encircle the grand entrance “to remind everyone of the favorite wonderful books of their childhood,” said Christine.

            Inside the new entrance, the library had on display some relics of Elizabeth Taber’s life, including one of her dresses. Guests stayed to enjoy the summery morning, admiring the stonework while munching on cookies and other refreshments.

By Jean Perry

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