Writers speak out for the West Tisbury library

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Children's librarian Nelia Decker, library director Beth Kramer, and literary agent Rosemary Stimola (left to right) were interested onlookers, to say the least. — Photo by Susan Safford

The West Tisbury Library hosted its second “Library After Hours” Sunday evening in the yard behind the library. The spirited crowd was treated to hors d’oeuvres donated by Island caterers and music by Al Schackman, Dan Waters, and Hal Garneau, followed by a main course of short presentations by ten local writers.

The event acknowledged the continuation of the campaign to raise the funds needed to match the $2.9 million state grant to construct an addition to the library.

The authors who spoke were children’s book author Kate Feiffer, historians Robert M. Fogelson, Mary Beth Norton, Paul Schneider, and Ellen Weiss, and historian and biographer Elizabeth Hawes (Betsy Weinstock), local chronicler Holly Nadler, cartoonist and graphic novelist Paul Karasik, comedy writer Marty Nadler, and psychiatrist and author Paul Kramer.

They spoke of the value of libraries in the production of their own work, the importance of libraries in general, and some spoke of the specific importance of the West Tisbury Library to them.

David McCullough, the honorary Chairman of the West Tisbury Library Foundation, and his wife and “editor in chief,” Rosalee, were among those in attendance.