Oak Parker Gather for the Re-Opening of the Adele Maze Library
© Oak Park Journal photo
The Adele Maze Library is Re-Opened on a Delightful Day to the Smiles of Many.
by Ed Vincent
Program
9:30 am
Musical Welcome by
Steckman Jazz Ensemble
10:00 am
Speakers:
Janet Kelenson, Library Board President
Jim Madigan, Assistant Director and
Maze Project Manager
Peggy Swanson, Maze Branch Director
10:15 am
Richard Christiansen, Keynote Speaker
Ribbon Cutting by Library Board
“Maze Ditty”
by Hakim Murphy, Maze Branch Assistant
Performed by Dr. Steckman
Steckman Jazz Ensemble will play until 1:30
Smith and McMahon will perform until 3:00
Refreshments will be served in the Meeting Room
Balloons for children
9:30 am
Musical Welcome by
Steckman Jazz Ensemble
10:00 am
Speakers:
Janet Kelenson, Library Board President
Jim Madigan, Assistant Director and
Maze Project Manager
Peggy Swanson, Maze Branch Director
10:15 am
Richard Christiansen, Keynote Speaker
Ribbon Cutting by Library Board
“Maze Ditty”
by Hakim Murphy, Maze Branch Assistant
Performed by Dr. Steckman
Steckman Jazz Ensemble will play until 1:30
Smith and McMahon will perform until 3:00
Refreshments will be served in the Meeting Room
Balloons for children
Oak Park State Senator Mr. Don Harmon visits the Adele Maze
Library on the Day of Dedication.
© Oak Park Journal photo
Jim Madigan, Assistant Director of the Oak Park Public
Library addresses the Citizens assembled at the Adele Maze
Library and thanks all for their efforts and help.
© Oak Park Journal photo
The distinguished Richard Christensen, writer, author
of thousands of artistic reviews, and friend of learning
was the Keynote Speaker.
© Oak Park Journal photo
Richard Christensen, relates a humorous time as a youth in
the library.
© Oak Park Journal photo
Mr. Christensen recalled his early trips to the library, and
his eventual meeting with Adele Maze. He enjoyed his
early expeditions to the library and perhaps his interest
in the written word led to his love of art and writing itself.
I spoke with Richard Christensen later and we discussed
which books he first enjoyed at the library. He told me
that he always liked fiction the best and the area he enjoyed
the most were sports stories.
The Oak Park Public Library Board of Trustees and President
Janet Kelenson (on the left) cut the ribbon in perfect timing .
© Oak Park Journal photo
State Representative Deborah Graham with Oak Park
Library Trustee Matthew Fruth enjoying the newly renovated
interior of the Maze Branch Library.
© Oak Park Journal photo
Ms. Beverly Bresline Martin remembers her youth at the Maze Branch Library, and points out her photo from an earlier photo where she sits
with a doll.
© Oak Park Journal photo
Ms. Beverly Bresline Martin (front row, eighth girl from the right with white stockings ) remembers the 1927 Doll Story Hour at the South
Branch Library-the Maze had not been built yet.
© Oak Park Journal photo
Ms. Beverly Bresline Martin enjoyed her time in the library
so much she became a librarian herself, though several years
after the photo above. Ms. Martin lived near Oak Park and
River Forest High School and when her husband died in
1958 she worked as Clerk at the High School and went back
to school to get her degree in Library Science. She already
had a Masters in Science and had been working as a
bacteriologist before her marriage. She got her Library
degree and then went to work for the University of Illinois in
the research library for medicine.
The books she enjoyed the most as a young child were the
classics that many kids read, Pinocchio, Heidi, and others
like Swiss Family Robinson. She enjoyed fiction, but
spent most of her working career in non-fiction - science.
A moment after the official opening and folks are already
searching for book titles while a gentlemen in a striped
suit makes balloons for the kids.
© Oak Park Journal photos
New paint, new lights (the hanging fluorescent fixtures are
all recycled somewhere) replacing the fluorescent lights
that are bright and attractive.
© Oak Park Journal photo
Many residents have not made it to this region of the library
yet, many paused to listen to the music and taste the treats.
© Oak Park Journal photo
© Oak Park Journal
published by Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
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