Member Ann Cassar, who was a classmate of John Updike’s, informs us that she’s wanting to honor him by acquiring copies of his books for the local library—the Rachel Kohl Community Library, 687 Smithbridge Rd., Glenn Mills, PA 19342. To that end, she’s hoping that Society members who have extra copies will donate them. “He would appreciate this institution, which was founded by a local lady, Rachel Kohl, who was not library-trained nor had experience in obtaining grants, but had a zeal for libraries,” Cassar writes. “She managed to sweet-talk state legislatures, local businesses, and citizens into whatever she needed. You couldn’t say no to Rachel. The library started in a spare closet of the elementary school, moved to a classroom (at which point I became involved), then moved to three trailers donated by the electric company (you had to keep buckets handy for rainy days). Presently, the library is a modern, bright facility, part of the township building, and serves more than 6000 patrons.”
The library’s current collection contains only three Updike books, Ann says, “and they are on a bottom shelf so that you have to lie on your stomach to see what’s there. We have a nice glass-enclosed display case available for featuring various subjects, such as books on tea (teacup collection), mushroom recipes (mushroom figure collection), quilts. I visualize John’s picture and perhaps some mementos, along with some of the books, in a future display.”
So, John Updike Society members, here’s your first outreach opportunity. Please send new or used books in fine condition to Ann Cassar, whose address is listed in the comments section of this post. If members use the comments feature of this website to let others know what book(s) they’re sending, perhaps we can avoid duplication. Non-members are also welcome to participate.
UPDATE: Ann reports that the library has more books than were displayed on the shelf. They currently have (in alphabetical order, with edition year in parentheses): A Child’s Calender (1999), Couples (1968), The Early Stories, 1953-1975 (2003), Gertrude and Claudius (2000), Odd Jobs (1991), Rabbit, Run (1996), Seek My Face (2002), The John Updike Audio Collection (2003), Still Looking: Essays on American Art (2005), Terrorist (2006), Villages (2004), and The Witches of Eastwick (1984).
Sounds like a wonderful library – I hope they acquire all the books they need and more!
June 8–I would be happy to have books sent to me at 319 Brinton Lake Road, Thornton, PA 19373. This will prevent duplication and allow new acquisitions to be posted on the website. As yet, I haven’t informed the Librarian of this project because who knows how many books will appear. When my book bag gets full enough, I will make a trip. Also I will gladly reimburse donors for the shipping costs. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Jack DeBellis writes that he plans on donating Licks of Love, In the Beauty of the Lilies, Rabbit Is Rich and Bech is Back.
I’m going to donate Memories of the Ford Administration. (Apparently Jack has more duplicates than I do!)
Thank you so much, Jack and James, for your offers. This week our librarian said that she ordered My Father’s Tears and expects it to arrive shortly.
I will send you Buchanan Dying, Toward the End of Time and Facing Nature. I’ll dig around — I probably have more duplicates too. These are all HB in DJ in VG condition.
To Jack Ruttle: I’m delighted to hear you can supply these books, and I’d be happy to reimburse the postage/shipping costs. Can’t believe we are approaching the one-year anniversary of John’s death. Two people of my acquaintance have started reading John’s books from the library as well as buying some of their own copies. No doubt there are others. I told John at one of our high school class reunions that I was so delighted to see a creative person who could earn a living in his field and be recognized during his lifetime. The township offices recently moved to a new location, leaving office space as well as a large meeting room. I hope our library, which is in the same building, can lay claim to this.