Arts & Entertainment
Big Sky Community Library enters 20th year
Published
4 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Michael Somerby EBS STAFF
BIG SKY – Nearly 20 years ago, “The Big Sky Weekly,” then the preeminent local news publication in Big Sky, featured a story about a new library enhancing education for Ophir School’s students.
“Ophir School Embraces New Library,” read the Feb. 11, 2000, headline, and the article chronicled the nine years of progress witnessed by the community as a result of the efforts of Head Librarian Kathy House.
When House arrived at the school in the early 1990s, according to the piece, the library was nothing more than a segmented portion of a classroom, where a curtain delineated where classroom ended and the library began.
Crammed like sardines, the books, students and House managed to eke out a functioning relationship with the space; while the conditions were less than ideal, it was a start, but to anyone with prior knowledge of what a school’s library ought to look like, they underscored a real need for improvement.
In September 1999, House and the students’ dreams were realized when a new library graced the growing school’s facilities and presented new avenues for scholastic and personal relationships with literature for Big Sky’s youth.
With the new space, however, came new responsibilities and challenges.
“Before that move, we had this janky little space, and when we moved into the bigger space I looked around and thought, ‘I don’t know how I’m ever going to fill this with books and resources with our small budget’,” House said in a recent interview with EBS. She’s still head librarian at the community library she started all those years ago.
She even imagined bringing Internet to the library, then a relatively high-tech ask.
Turning to the Resort Tax for a $25,000 appropriation, House, with the help of the newly minted Friends of the Library Committee, began to stock the shelves and buy computers for the library.
Then, as “The Big Sky Weekly” piece detailed, House and the FOL began to set sights on not only improving the library’s student offerings, but to also pave the way for a community library where adults could also access the wealth of academic information, poetry and prose found on the spacious shelves under a sheet of natural lighting.
Yet, a new setback emerged: There were concerns that opening the doors to the public would present a safety issue for the school and students, so an agreement was made with the school that allowed for public access on certain hours of specific days.
Once that accord was reached and set into place, on Oct. 24, 2000, the library hosted a grand opening that commemorated the entire Big Sky community’s ability to enter the library doors.
Voila: The Big Sky Community Library was manifest.
Oct. 24, 2019, marked the official start to the 20th year the greater Big Sky community was granted access to the library, a landmark moment considering the history and humble beginnings of the town’s library space.
Moreover, the milestone solidified the notion that Big Sky is a community with real and growing bones, and with dedicated members of the community driven to make it so.
“I think that the library is a great example of the community showing its sustainability and people’s desire to live here permanently, year round,” said Amy Hunter, assistant community librarian. “There’s something so calming and peaceful about walking into the library … It gives me hope and perspective about the world, and I think it brings that to the community too.”
The Big Sky Community Library is a resource that should not be taken for granted—this fall, be sure to celebrate the hard-wrought stacks of literature, sure to inform and transport to worlds known and new.
“We’re really proud of what we’ve accomplished,” House said.
Show your support for The Big Sky Community Library at the Scholastic Book Fair and Friends of the Library used book sale, a major annual fundraiser, held in the Ophir Elementary Gym on Nov. 7, 8:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m., and on Nov. 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
march, 2024
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Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
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Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
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My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
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My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
Time
15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
Location
Verge Theater
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Area parents are encouraged to bring their young children to Symphony Storytime with a Bassoon which will be presented at the Bozeman Public Library’s Community Room during
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Area parents are encouraged to bring their young children to Symphony Storytime with a Bassoon which will be presented at the Bozeman Public Library’s Community Room during their regular Toddler and Preschool Storytime on Wednesday, March 20, at 10:15 a.m. The free program, presented by the Bozeman Symphony is especially for children ages 3 to 5. Children will be able to listen to Montana Shakespeare in the Parks actor Emma Rather, who will be joined by Bozeman Symphony Bassoonist Sam Macken. The goal of the program is to encourage a love of music, literacy, and discovery. Additional programs are scheduled at the Library on April 10 and June 12. For more information, visit www.bozemansymphony.org or call 406-585-9774.
Time
(Wednesday) 10:15 am - 10:45 am
Location
Bozeman Public Library
626 E. Main St, Bozeman, MT