The Guild of the Carmel Clay Public Library Foundation - Carmel Monthly Magazine

Writer / Janelle Morrison The Guild of the Carmel Clay Public Library Foundation will proudly host its Writers at the Pavilion evening event on Wednesday, October 19 from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Ritz Charles Garden Pavilion and the 12th Annual Guilded Leaf Book and Author luncheon on Thursday, October 20 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Ritz Charles in Carmel. The Writers at the Pavilion and the Guilded Leaf Book and Author Luncheon are annual fundraising events that support the programs offered by the Carmel Clay Public Library. The Carmel Clay Public Library Foundation Guild was formed in 2004 by Donna Adams, Marianne Brocke, Mimi Brookie, Julianne Hunter, Karee Petruzzi, Jan Stanich, Karen Vanneman and retired foundation director Ruth Nisenshal to assist with developing and hosting a signature fundraising event for the benefit of the Library. The Guilded Leaf Book and Author Luncheon is a popular and engaging event for its attendees and its guest authors. Their Carmel Clay Public Library Foundation Director Elizabeth (Liz) Hamilton credits the Guild for their dedication and extraordinary efforts in organizing the two events. “The Guild is an amazing group of volunteers who value the library and what the library does for our community,” Hamilton said. “Out of the goodness of their hearts, they have the willingness to be an event arm of the foundation. This is their way to give back to the Carmel community and to the library to make sure that we can continue to offer the depth of programming that we can. While the library is funded by tax dollars, there is no way to sustain the depth of our programs with tax dollars alone. Last year, we had just over 1,700 programs that we offered to the community. “The Guild works all year long planning these two events to raise as much money as they can to support the library’s programs. This year, the Guild started the Visiting Authors Series that they host at the library. It has been very successful, and people are enjoying it. I support the Guild in any way I am able to help them be successful, but they really are the driving force and the ones working in the trenches to make these events successful and enjoyable.” The Carmel Clay Public Library Foundation Guild President Ginny Purvis is immensely proud of the 90 volunteers that are working as a conglomerate to host the two upcoming events. “We, the Guild, could not exist without the overwhelming support and time of all our volunteers. have 90 … volunteers who all have different skills and talents,” Purvis said. “We have committees working on the various pieces that make up the events, such as selecting the guest authors, ordering copies of the authors’ books to be sold at both events, organizing the silent auction and several other tasks leading up to, prior to and during the events. “We invite authors that are releasing new books just prior our events and want to be able to offer hardback versions of their books for sale. We invite authors representing different genres to have something that appeals to everyone, and of course, we have to have authors who are willing to come here and donate their time to speak with our guests. When we explain to the authors that we host these events to support the library, we find that many of them grew up in libraries, and it was their love of books and writing that led them to become authors, so they often jump at the opportunity to give back to local libraries.” Purvis and her family moved around a great deal due to her husband’s career, and she said that the first thing that she and her children would do would be to get their library cards from the local library. Only then would they feel that they were a part of their community. “I actually got my library card before we even had our house here in Carmel,” Purvis said. “I was just so excited to be a part of this community, and it was a way for me to get involved and meet new people. My kids used it as resource when they were in high school and would walk across the street all the time with their study groups. We, as a family, are huge readers, and it was just a way for all of us to get involved. “This year, we are looking forward to hosting for the second year the Writers at the Pavilion evening event at the Ritz Charles Garden Pavilion. We added the event last year as a way to broaden our demographic. The same authors are present and speak for a shorter period of time but are able to socialize with the guests a little more than at the luncheon. The evening is more of a cocktail/social event that appeals to younger adults and couples. Approximately 150 people attended that evening and enjoyed a wine auction, art auction, craft beers and an opportunity to purchase copies of the authors’ books. “The next day, guests can expect to hear the authors speak for 15-20 minutes about their books and their experiences while enjoying lunch at the Ritz Charles. The authors’ presentations will be different from what they will discuss at the event the night before. We are very excited to be hosting both of these events again. Ultimately, our goal is to bring more people into the library and the library into people’s lives.” To learn more about the Guild, contact Liz Hamilton at 317-814-3905 or ehamilton@carmel.lib.in.us. Visit carmel.lib.in.us/foundation/foundation.cfm.

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