The Quarterly Newsletter
The High Plains Library District Friends & Foundation Newsletter
August 19th, 2022, Issue 3
Meet Friend of the Library: Gretchen Ayala
In honor of 10 years of volunteering with Carbon Valley Regional Library, HPLD Friends & Foundation interviewed Gretchen.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Northern Colorado?
I am from Pennsylvania, moved to Louisville, Colorado in 1972 and to the Firestone area in 1988 when I got my horse and needed rural property.
What are your favorite hobbies?
I love gardening, traveling (especially to the Caribbean, Europe, and USA National Parks), reading, and making Stampin' Up greeting cards.
Do you have any pets?
I have been blessed with many cats, dogs, horses, and burros throughout my life, all perfect and loving. My favorite lap cat was Sammy.
What is your favorite book and genre of books?
My favorite book is "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett. I have read all of his books, plus all David Baldacci, Leon Uris, most of Ann Cleeves. I usually read mysteries, both very serious ones and Cozy Mysteries.
What is the most memorable day you've had volunteering?
I loved working Santa Saturday. The children are all dressed up and so excited to see Santa (me too). My job was to keep them occupied with holiday crafts until their number was called to see Santa.
What is your favorite task to be assigned within the library?
I love shelving because it introduces me to so many authors and movies I did not know existed.
Why do you choose to volunteer and how does it impact you?
When I retired from technical writing, I wanted to do something to keep in touch with people and my mind working. The library was the perfect choice because our library is the core of the community, offering wonderful programs for every age.
A special thank you to Gretchen for all of her volunteer work at Carbon Valley Regional Library over the past 10 years and for participating in this interview.
How to Volunteer at Your HPLD Library
When you volunteer over 25 hours, you become a member (or Friend) of the HPLD Friends & Foundation. If you are interested in volunteering at your HPLD Library, go to hpldfriendsandfoundation.org/volunteer and see if your library currently has a need for volunteers. If it does, fill out the application. If you don't see an opportunity at your library listed on our webpage, that means there is no need for a volunteer at this time. We encourage you to check back on this page to see if an opportunity has opened.
Quarterly Update
The HPLD Friends & Foundation has been busy this quarter participating in the planning of two events and launching our biggest venture yet, the LINC Capital Campaign.
2022 YES!Fest
Free In-Person STEM Festival on September 17th at the Greeley Recreation Center
YES!Fest is a STEM Festival that serves historically underrepresented and underserved populations in STEM fields by providing families with the opportunity to engage in hands-on STEM learning experiences that aren't always available in the classroom. Local and national STEM focused businesses and non-profits will have booths and interactive presentations that will captivate children of all ages. HPLDF&F serves on the YES!Fest Committee. For more information about this year's festival, go mylibrary.us/yesfest2022
Links for Literacy Golf Tournament
HPLDF&F's Biggest Annual Fundraiser
The 12th Annual Links for Literacy Golf Tournament takes place on September 27th at the Eaton Country Club. The golf tournament is a partnership between the HPLD Friends & Foundation and the Kiwanis Club of the Rockies. We solicit sponsorships from local businesses and in-kind donations for our virtual auction. The funds raised from the tournament support childhood literacy in Northern Colorado. If you are interested in donating a basket or item to the virtual auction, please contact foundation@highplains.us before September 1st.
LINC Capital Campaign
Have you noticed an increase in email communication from the HPLD Friends & Foundation? That is due to our biggest campaign to date: the LINC Capital Campaign. We are raising $1 million dollars for a new, modern library in Downtown Greeley. If you are interested in being part of something big, you can donate at coloradogives.org/HPLD
Do You Love Your Library?
We want to hear from you!
If you have an outstanding memory (big or small) about your library, we would love to know about it. You can simply reply to this email with the details of your special moment. You might get a shout out in our next Newsletter or on our Facebook, @hpldfriendsandfoundation!