RE ACHING OUT
LOBBYING FOR
THE LIBRARY The
founding members
and trustees of the
new Wayne Free
Public Library
Foundation are
(clockwise from the
top) Allison Peckham,
Louise Newton,
Roberta Loniewski
and Catherine
Herman.
Not Just for Books
Wayne Library Foundation offers area residents a place to gather as community
he Wayne Free Public
Library Foundation is
striving to enrich the
lives of Wayne residents
through community
connections. “We have
to look at how our world is changing,
and we have to change our library,”
says Roberta Loniewski, who along
with Catherine Herman, Allison
Peckham and Louise Newton, are the
founding members and trustees of the
new Wayne Free Public Library
Foundation. “We’re not just books,”
says Loniewski.
According to Herman, although
the idea of a library foundation is not
new, it is new to the residents of
Wayne. It provides a think tank and a
way to generate new ideas. The
Wayne Free Public Library
Foundation recently formed to make
the Wayne Public Library a destination, explains Peckham. Fundraising
is one of its main goals, but new and
engaging events will entice people of
all ages to come and enjoy the library
34
WAYNE MAGAZINE MAY 2016
as a central meeting place.
The foundation committee hopes
to partner with businesses to sponsor
fundraising events or donate to the
library. “There are good things to be
done on both sides,” Newton notes.
“The corporations become part of the
community and we give them their
money's worth,” she says.
Recently, the foundation hosted a
financial literacy expo, a book signing
with mystery writer Mary Higgins
Clark, a magic show with Wayne
Valley High School’s famous alumnus,
Michael Turco, and a barbeque feast
with local craft brews, live music and
dancing coordinated with Packanack
Lake Fire Company No. 5 and
Taphouse Grille. There’s a new book
club for young adults with special
needs and other children’s programs.
Future enhancements will include
digital books, new software,
advanced technology equipment,
classes in art and music, and seminars on how to start a new business.
The library hopes to serve as a com-
munity center for the town where
people can connect to share ideas,
says Loniewski. “We’re coming away
from the idea that our core business
is curating a collection of books,” she
explains. “We’re also curating a space
that meets the needs of the community in different ways. We’re trying to
steer the ship in a different direction.
It’s going to be exciting,” she adds.
As liaison to Friends of the Wayne
Public Library, Loniewski says that
the Wayne Free Public Library
Foundation was created “to enhance
what we already do in the Wayne
Public Library. It’s intended to complement and augment public funding.” The Foundation’s tax exempt
status encourages personal and
corporate donors to fund specific
enhancements. All events are listed
on www.waynepubliclibrary.org, cable
broadcast Channel 77, and on the
library’s Facebook page. For
Foundation information, to donate or
volunteer, contact Roberta Loniewski
at [email protected]. ■
CHRIS MARKSBURY
T
WRITTEN BY CAROL BOTT JARGER PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS MARKSBURY