Update of 2008 at H.A.R.L.
Bob is doing well for a 90 year old man. His writing skills are slipping as is his eyesight. But with the summer on us he is in his office. The most wonderful news is that we have a Masters Library Sicence Student, Nathaniel who has offered to get the library back on track. He is opening all the boxes, identifying the contents, and getting the material on the shelves. Bob is thrilled as is Joanne. Bob is working closely with Nathaniel, and Nathaniel is caring for Bob. Nathaniel has come to us from Simmons College. He is also going to continue with us through the fall.
My job now is to keep the building and repairs on track. This week we will clean out the garage, rebuild the floor, make storage racks, move more boxes out of the main library room so that we can get at the stacks. I am still looking for more volunteers for the moving and lifting. Nathaniel has said that before we can put our material on CD we must get it all in the stacks. I am so pleased with him, he is making my work much easier.
Last year we got the office in place with the scanners and computer. We have 12 ft of work space for unloading boxes and sorting material. It is now possible to work. This year we are planning to make a large set of porch stairs, repair a window sill and reroof the porch roof and make repairs to part for the foundation under the office. All of these repairs are badly needed. I am still asking for you donations of time and money to save a one-of-a-kind research library. I was asked to give an interview to a newsletter that is circulated to area colleges for students looking for information on special opportunities. HARL is considered a one-of-a-kind opportunity.
We want to thank all of you who have offered your help in past years, we couldn't have gotten this far without you. We are again looking for help in volunteers and money. My home is open to any that want to come and stay for free as long as you give time at the library. In a few years we should have the library guest room open and ready for guests again.
Love and Hugs,
Bonnie Lee (blee) Nugent
Update of 2007 summer work at H.A.R.L.
This has been a very busy and productive summer. Starting on the Memorial Day weekend Barbara, her daughter Amy and two of Amy's friends came to help move boxes and clean. The office was sparkling when we left.
The next job was to repair and paint the office walls a beautiful yellow.
Then with the help of Bill and Kathy Koppenhaver, who came and stayed for 6 days, we rebuilt the kitchen porch and shored up the side porch. Replaced broken windows and pulled vegetation away from the foundation of the house. Kathy explained to Bob how we would place information on to the searchable CD's. Plus along with Ruth and Sarah Holmes, Bob was made aware of the power of a laptop.
The next week I was able to finish off and paint the kitchen porch. A table and two chairs have been added for the quite times.
Our next job was the sanding and finishing of the maple hardwood office floor. I talked my honey into handling the big sander while I worked the corner sander and the baby sander. What a job. Great looking floor!
This last week Ed, a good friend of mine, volunteered to help me rebuild the cellar stairs which took us two days and donated wood. (The wood was 3 pickup loads of 2 by 6 s, 7, 8 and 12 ft. long, plus ¾ inch plywood, about 12 pieces. It took a day to move the wood.) Good thing we got them finished, for it now is time for the new furnace, which will be in place before cold weather.
All this years fundraising has put the monies in the building fund to pay for the furnace, computers, scanners, and software that we needed to get started. Thanks to all you wonderful people who have donated money and volunteered your time to make this summer such a success. You all make me proud to be one of you.
I also want to thank all of you that have started to send us copies of your searchable CD's. Each time you donate from your private stock we don't have to take the time to do it and can get more of the information that we have on CD's. The library's searchable CD's will be in Adobe Acrobat PDF's.
