Connie Schofield has lived in Auburn for 42 years and is a treasured visitor to the library. We are amazed and grateful that she dedicated hours of creativity to write the following poem in honor of our 133rd birthday.
A COMPILATION OF MY THOUGHTS ON THE GRIFFIN FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY IN HONOR OF ITS BIRTHDAY #133
Together a frugal Yankee in his generosity and town fathers had spoken,
solidified by way of an official deed.
He bequeathed after the passing of hands to him a dollar, considered the proverbial token,
after the powers that be, along with he declared, “Agreed!”
Let me tell you the true tale of this sale
that gave way for the creation of this library
with a one-hundred thirty-three year long history…
This humble structure built not of bricks and mortar but of wood,
means different things to different people as it should.
Sebastian Griffin, wise as can be, firmly stipulated
this library must be public and free.
Said he, “No subscription need be paid,”
that was his rule of which he laid
and will forever remain for you and me.
Going against the norms of the day,
he insisted this had to be done his way.
Come through the door, rich or poor or in-between
Come one, come all– elderly, middle-aged, toddler and teen.
So in 1892 what was planted as a seed in his mind,
meant that on April the 28th 1893 sprouted into Auburn’s little library
the Griffin building and contents of many books awaiting for people to find.
With no plumbing, you know what that meant—
into the cold or the heat to the outhouse you went.
Without any water there was no need for a sink,
So Edie had no way to wash her hands of any ink.
With no electricity, meant no lights or heat,
But the trusty old woodstove couldn’t be beat!
Those volunteers had to feed its belly,
kind of like when you go to the deli.
Having no electricity meant no lights for the Auburnites by which to read
so out the door for volunteer and patron by a certain time they had to take heed.
Thirteen decades worth of our ancestors died
having probably at one time or another gone inside.
(What other Auburn organization can say that?)
133 years has taken its toll on your building’s bones that are so old,
but you still stand and would be familiar to all those gone before us
located near the Town center— still beckoning to come enter.
Volunteers still are a great part of our library day-to- day,
but times changed decades ago and people needed a pay.
There was a time the Director had the sole role of making it all run smoothly, you see,
along with the Trustee Board of three.
A new declaration would be to open more hours and do even more,
no more outhouse, create more room inside, make an addition,
and try to bring you somewhat into the last century; because for now the 21st has yet to be.
So now in addition to the Director, you’ve got a staff of five,
and they certainly are alive;
and with their varied expertise to help and please, they all do strive.
Today the Director is a man by the name of Dan
with his staff of five women:
Children’s Librarian Miss Mary who’s not contrary
Then there is Wendy
followed by Jess, Maddy and Teigin.
In the village we find on this special birthday celebration April 28th, 2026
you are still here as a gem for all, I must say
available to cozy on up in a nook to read and stay.
Dear library, you are governed by a Board of Library Trustees–
and there’s another group The Friends of the Library who are busy as bees
who all in great measure give you and us their time, talent and treasure.
Enter through the doors and walk on the original floors,
browse the shelves by yourselves,
find books galore and in present day what there is to explore
you will find is so much more.
The Griffin Free offers thee… are you ready?
* meet people for a plethora of reasons throughout the seasons to
> share ideas that can spawn results that enhance our community life
> be a safe zone to meet an unknown for the first time
> play group board games and the like
>broaden your horizons hearing speakers on various subject matter
> bring your little ones to Miss Mary’s many sessions to create and take home items
> meet other mothers of toddlers who are brought over to hear Miss Mary read to them
> attend workshops you may find fitting; clubs to join : book, cookbook, and knitting
> register on the Beanstack app to be part of a reading challenge for teens and adults
> join in age- appropriate activities for teens and tweens
*there is computer availability which like books, opens up a whole new world of info
*and today, the more that you look you will find to sign out an assorted library of things, other than a book!
Fellow townspeople, whenever the yearn to read is made by thee,
availability of books has always been there during the last one-hundred thirty-three.
When there’s a will, there’s a way
we can’t let those old bones decay
due to wear and tear
for the end result would not be good, I fear.
Major improvements and meaningful additions fall upon the local taxpayer
with an understanding of its value for future generations and not be a naysayer.
It falls upon “we the people,” not to let you be a bygone relic of what was,
but to have the foresight as to how great a legacy we can make you be for the next 100 and 33.
You, Mr. Griffin, had six years until 1899 to watch the “comings and goings”
of your fellow Auburn neighbors, who all were on equal status to utilize what you bequeathed.
To think, eight generations later, your descendants live across the road in the family homestead
still, where they can see what you saw so long ago but with so much more insight
as to the seed you had sown, all on your own,
which is sad now to have to say, albeit a good thing as to reasons why,
Auburn has now outgrown.
Your library namesake has served the community well,
but the structure does tell, we’re bulging at the seams
and it is seriously time to add a lot more beams.
We should get it done,
so the library can be ready to tackle what our people need in century 21.
And so this long ode, if I may call it,
to the importance and history
of Auburn’s Griffin Free Public Library
comes to an end,
I can’t help but quote from the Book of Sirach 6:14-15
“A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter;
he who finds one finds a treasure.
A faithful friend is beyond price,
no sum can balance his worth…”
The library is a place where you may enter with strangers.
But if you are open to it, you may end up leaving as friends.
How valuable a possibility is that?
Composed with warmth in my heart by a relative newcomer to Auburn of 42 years, Connie Schofield