MFPL gets an early Christmas present

Laurie Palmeira receives the LCHIP award from Doug Cole, president of the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program. The presentation was made on Thursday in Concord, N.H. (Courtesy photo)

CONCORD, N.H. - Governor Maggie Hassan announced on Thursday that Milton Free Public Library was the recipient of a Land and Community Heritage Investment Program grant. LCHIP awarded the Library $14,789 which the library will match with $18,086 to restore and paint the library exterior. LCHIP is an independent state authority that makes matching grants to New Hampshire communities and non-profits to conserve and preserve New Hampshire's most important natural, cultural, and historic resources.

Milton Free Public Library has enjoyed a number of extraordinary successes in 2014. In addition to the overwhelming support of voters in March approving library repairs in the amount of $25,000, the library garnered a number of grants paving the way for additional library building repairs and community programs.

The Friends of Milton Free Public Library received a generous $3,000 small community fund grant through New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, enabling the library to sponsor a daylong event at Nute High School entitled "Exploring the Graphic Novel" with author Alexander Danner, M.F.A. In addition to the event itself the library received a new collection of graphic novels.

The library also received a Libri Foundation grant for children's books. The Library Friends pledged the maximum amount to the Libri Foundation which resulted in the library receiving over $1,050 in new children's material. In addition to this generous grant, the library also received $350 in math and science books thorough Libri Foundation supporters Bill Strawbridge and Meg Walhagen.

In June of this year the Library Friends were awarded a $1,000 grant through New England Grassroots Environmental Fund which sustained the vegetable and garden beds at the library. The funding from this organization will also aid the library in expanding community involvement and education in organic gardening practices and informed food choices.

In August the library received $8,000 through the Cultural Conservation/Moose Plate Program and the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts for repair of the access ramp which will greatly improve community access to the library.

Receipt of a $200 grant this summer supported the "Magic of Science" performance "Kids, Books, and the Arts" event. The grant was funded through the Jack and Dorothy Bryne Foundation, CHILIS, Cogswell Benevolent Trust, and is supported in part by a grant thought the NH State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as funds administered by the NH State Library and provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The Trustees of Milton Free Library said they were happy with the support and wanted to thank the community, including a special thank you to the Library Friends and Laurie Palmeira for all of their work and perseverance in securing funding and making 2014 a great year for Milton Free Public Library and the community it serves.