A Different Kind of Quilting Circle

Enter the New Milford Public Library on any given day and you are bound to see a number of groups: students working on homework, children attending story time, adults looking to pick up the latest bestseller and people bustling in and out to use the library’s meeting rooms.  Included in those groups are the New Milford quilters and the Friends of the Library.

The quilters are a happy group.  The library comes alive when they arrive - there is talking, laughing and lots of good cheer!  Sometimes they can be found in the Reference area, looking for a special quilting book, or by the Circulation Desk, making photocopies of a beloved pattern.

The Friends of the Library are just as cheerful.  They meet the second Tuesday of the month to brainstorm fundraising ideas for the library. Their discussions are always lively and boisterous - many voices talking at once, trying to find the right project.  Over the years, they have shown their support through the annual book sale, concerts, author talks, basket raffles, and many other programs.

This year marks 20 years that the library has been at 200 Dahlia Avenue.   The library planned an open house to say thank you to the community and to showcase what the library has to offer.   But something was missing; something that would mark the occasion in a special way.  Enter the quilters and the Friends. 

The two groups have joined together in an extraordinary way to show their support and appreciation for the library.  

The Friends are providing refreshments for the open house and selling tickets for a special raffle.  Not an ordinary basket raffle, but a raffle of a very unique item. 

In 2010, the quilters worked very hard on a special quilt, one made with love, for a very special place.  This unique blue and white lap quilt was made to benefit the New Milford Public Library. Stitched onto the back is the inscription “Made by the New Milford Quilters for the New Milford Public Library 2010.” It is a beautiful work of art.

Although for different reasons both groups really enjoy the library. The quilters use the library to make their wonderful works of art. The Friends want to help make the library the best it can be for the residents of New Milford.   

The quilt raffle has drawn both groups together into a different kind of quilting circle with the New Milford Public Library as the center.    

Thank you to both groups :)

Terrie 

P.S. The quilt is currently on display in the library.  Tickets for the raffle are available at the Circulation Desk for $5.00 a piece or $20.00 for a book.  The drawing will be held on Saturday, October 1st.  For more information call the library at 201-262-1221.