While we're waiting for Ms. Newton to answer some of the questions and we wrap up this month's contest (Drawing on May 1), I would like to share with you another way that Basloe Library has had an impact on my family.

Gabrielle

My daughter, Gabrielle, has always been a reader.  One of her sixth grade teachers, I think it was current library trustee Phil Kane's wife, once told her that she didn't have to read so much.  

That seems like a funny thing for a teacher to say, but you need to know the background.  For the summer before sixth grade, all of the kids had homework: to read SOME books and do a one page report on each. This was to start them on a contest to see who could read the most books.  On the first day of school, Gabrielle had already read close to, I think, 100 books, and continued to read so much that she was even reading on the playground.  She was clearly obsessed!  

(By the way, the teacher made the right decision because while reading is important, so is socializing and developing communication skills.)

In light of that, it's no wonder Gabrielle has always loved Basloe Library!  

So much so that as a young girl she volunteered for the library and last year she worked at Basloe.  

Last year she was thrilled to have had the opportunity to put back the genealogy research room after the renovations at Basloe.  

This summer she will be back at the library AND helping Deb West at the Herkimer County Museum behind the library.  

Her Career Choice was impacted by Basloe

She is finishing up her first year at SUNY Geneseo where she is double majoring in History and Art History.  She is planning on studying in museums in the UK for a semester. She has a whole plan mapped out once she finishes at Geneseo that involves her masters and PhD in museum studies. 

Her dream job is to work at either the National Archives or the Smithsonian, but knows that she has many options open to her such as working at any museum, historical society, the U.S. Parks Department-or even a librarian.

She once toyed with the idea of becoming a librarian, but she also loves history and wanted to find a way to combine her two great loves, so she decided on museum studies.  In her opinion, it's the best of both worlds.

Without frequent trips to Basloe and her involvement there over the years, I am not sure what she would have chosen for a career, but I am certain that Basloe and the people who work there have had a large impact on her life and continue to.

So, from one grateful parent, thank you Basloe Library for helping Gabrielle to find her passion!