Few librarians can say they brought a facility back from the ashes.
Hopkinton Town Library Director Donna Dunlop, along with a team of volunteers and professionals, was able to resurrect the town’s reading center after a lightning strike set the building of fire in August 2018.
The building wasn’t reduced to ash, but the cupola and ceiling panels were scorched by flame, while the rest of the library smelled like smoke, and its books waterlogged by sprinklers and fire hoses. Rebuilding required removing every book from the building and re-imagining the space.
With the library reopened and restoration work complete, Dunlop was recently named the New Hampshire Library Director of the Year by the New Hampshire Library Trustees Association.
The town celebrated her award on Sunday from 5 to 6 p.m. at the library.
“Dunlop embraced a newly complex, significantly expanded, and suddenly very public role as she skillfully led efforts to rebuild and restore the town’s beloved library. Dunlop led with intelligence, compassion, vision and an inspiring spirit of collaboration and optimism, and her leadership was central to the library’s re-opening in June 2019,” the award announcement read.
Dunlop has been director of the Hopkinton library for 11 years, and before that was on its board of trustees. She started her career as an art librarian at Rutgers University and then spent about 30 years working in philanthropy in New York and New Hampshire before becoming Hopkinton Town Library’s director.
Never was she more of a public figure than after the fire when the rebuilding efforts were in full swing. Community groups and surrounding towns joined in the effort to fundraise for the library and offered space and resources to fill the need while restoration was underway. Going beyond restoring the library to its original condition, Dunlop was among those to envision new improvements to the library while it was under construction.
When the library reopened this spring, it had new study spaces and a cafe area among other improvements.
“We are so happy to be back in our new (and improved!) space,” Dunlop said. “We have gotten great feedback from the public: our new quiet study rooms have been particularly popular and people have been very happy with our new layout. … The whole space just seems more welcoming, which is just the way it should be!”
Dunlop was nominated with unanimous support by the library’s board of trustees, said Nancy Skarmeas, a member of that board.
“Our letter focused on Donna’s skills as a leader for her staff, our volunteers, and for the trustees and also praised the strong connections Donna has built during her years at HTL with other community agencies (town, select board, schools, senior center, social services),” Skarmeas said in an email. In addition to the four-page letter, the board submitted letters written by a community member, another local library director, and the president of the Friends of the Library group.
Dunlop said her award and Sunday’s event was really a celebration of the library’s new space and the efforts of her colleagues who made it possible.
“For me this is more about celebrating the whole library and its wonderful staff, but I’m happy to give the excuse to do that!” Dunlop said.
This week, the library will continue it’s unique and enriching programs. All week long, Tibet’s Drepung Gomang Monastery will offer cultural, artistic and historical presentations.
A primary purpose of their trip is to raise funds for the care of 2,000 Tibetan monks now living in exile in India.
Monday, 6 – 8 p.m.
Authentic Tibetan program that offers a blend of ancient cultural, religious and artistic expressions. The Snow Lion and/or Yak dance, Tibetan debates, and chanting. Suggested donation $10- $15
Tuesday through Sunday, 8 – 2 p.m.
Construction of the Chenzerig (Peace) Sand Mandala. Tuesday’s event includes opening ceremonies, informal conversation, and time to ask questions. Open viewing of this amazing process.
Friday, 5:30 – 8 p.m.
“Taste of Tibet” Dinner and Cultural Presentation. An authentic Tibetan dinner with cooking lessons to begin at 5:30, dinner will be served about 6:30. The compassion mantra chant at 7:30 will be followed by the closing prayer. You must register for this event. Suggested donation $25.
Sunday, 9 a.m. – noon
Completion of Compassion Mandala. The closing ceremony at 10 a.m. will include prayers, chanting, deconstruction of the mandala, and sharing of the blessed sand. We will walk with the monks from the library to Marklin Candles to disperse the remaining sand in the river.
All events are open to the public. To register call the library 746-3663 or email info@hopkintontownlibrary.org.
(Jonathon Van Fleet contributed to this report.)