woodward memorial library

Elementary schoolchildren in Le Roy at the Woodward Memorial Library were honored last night with the Mary Hadley Love of Reading Award.

The new award is presented in memory of Mary Hadley, who worked for the library for more than 30 years. A member of her family made the donation for the award after she passed away.

The winners were selected by a committee of library staff after receiving nominations from teachers and library staff.

"They are elementary students who just love reading and share that same enthusiasm that Mary had as a way to honor her memory," said Library Director Betsy Halvorsen.

Award winners, and their grades, were: MacKenzie McLaughlin (K), Meredith Ianni (second). Grant Northrup (third), Nathaniel Staley (fourth), Tate Hempel (fourth), Emma Offen (fourth), Evan McAllister (fourth). Marin Kemp (third). Anna Kent (third), and Noah Hurley (third).

The winners received a certificate, a $25 gift certificate for Bridge Books in Brockport, and a small gift bag of prizes.

Photo by Andrew Hempel.

File photo from the April 29, 2017 ribbon-cutting event at Woodward Memorial Library in Le Roy, marking the opening of its new Children's Room.

Press release:

The Woodward Memorial Library in Le Roy is hosting its 21st annual Dessert In The Stacks fundraiser from 7 to 8:30 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 9. This is an adults-only event.

"This is the first year back since our Children's Room renovation and we're very excited!" says Samantha Bortle, senior library clerk at Woodward library.

Local restaurants, bakeries, caterers and stores are donating desserts and attendees will get to sample as many of them as they would like. This year there will be more savory treats to choose from -- including pizza! And, as always, they'll have coffee and hot tea available.

Tickets are $8 each and can be purchased at the front desk of the library through 5 p.m. on Friday! Hours until the event are: tonight, open until 8:30; Thursday, 9 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.; and Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The library is located at 7 Wolcott St. in the Village of Le Roy. 

Here's a list of donors for the event:

• Gre’gry’s Bakery, Bergen
• Wegmans of Brockport
• The Divine Tree, Le Roy
• Oliver’s Candies, Batavia
• Mooney’s, Le Roy
• Dessert First, Corfu
• Buttercrumbs Bakery, Corfu 
• Gam’s Simply Sweet and Savory Bakery, Batavia 
• Weldon Service and Repair, Le Roy
• D & R Depot, Le Roy 
• Elegant Cakes, Le Roy 
• LB Grand, Le Roy 
• TOPS Market, Le Roy 
• Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, Stafford
• BJ’s Wholesale Club, Batavia
• Capish! Brick Oven Pizza & Ristorante, Le Roy
• Pastore’s Pizzeria, Le Roy
• Le Roy Country Club, Le Roy
• Farmer’s Creekside & Tavern Inn, Le Roy

Librarian Sue Border cut the red ribbon today to celebrate the opening of a remodeled child's library room in the bottom floor of the Woodward Memorial Library in Le Roy.

The library was a project supported by community members, with state grants secured by Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer and Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

At the ceremony today, Hawley said he has three issues he always keeps in front of him, veterans, ARCs, and libraries.

"For all 12 years that I’ve been in the Assembly, each of the governors, from Pataki to Spencer to Patterson and Cuomo, have always seemed to cut the library allocation at the state level," Hawley said. "So every year I circulate a letter asking for restoration to the speaker, to the majority and each year it actually works."

Board President David Frost speaking.

Steve Hawley

Woodward Memorial Library clerk Samantha Bortle delivers donated food to the Le Roy Food Pantry on Jan. 21. (Courtesy of Woodward Memorial Library)

Library late fees have helped fill the shelves at the Le Roy Food Pantry.

Woodward Memorial Library’s first-ever “Food for Fines” event resulted in donations of nearly 200 nonperishable food items. The library forgave $1 in previously existing fines for every food item donated during the second week of January.

Library clerk Samantha Bortle delivered the goods to the pantry this past Thursday.

“At this time we are unsure whether or not ‘Food for Fines’ will be an annual event,” Bortle said, “but we are incredibly happy with how this first year went.”

Woodward Memorial Library also offered a fine forgiveness week through Jan. 9, during which patrons were not charged fees for returning overdue materials.

Previous story: “Le Roy library begins year in a forgiving mood”

Woodward Memorial Library clerks Samantha Bortle, left, and Trisha Riggi, center, are pictured at the circulation desk with Children and Teen Librarian Betsy Halvorsen.

If you have an overdue library book or DVD, then Woodward Memorial Library has a deal for you.

The Le Roy library will begin the new year with back-to-back fine forgiveness weeks.

During the first week — from Monday through this Saturday, Jan. 9 — patrons will not be fined for returning overdue Woodward Library materials.

The library cannot waive fines on books from other libraries, or outstanding fines on previously returned books.

But anyone with an existing fine on their account, should be patient — because the library will trade “Food for Fines” during the second week of January. The library will forgive $1 in previously existing fines for every nonperishable food item donated to the library from Jan. 11-16.

The library will trade up to $20 in fines per account.

Patrons are advised to bring donated food to the library circulation desk, rather than the outdoor drop-off box, to receive credit.

Of course, food donations are welcome even if no fines are owed. All the donated food will be given to the Le Roy Food Pantry.

This is the second year the library has offered a fine-forgiveness week.

Betsy Halvorsen, children and teen librarian, said she’s not sure exactly how many long-overdue library items have worked their way into private collections over the years.

“But it’s a lot,” Halvorsen said. “There are things that have been gone so long they’re assumed lost.”

When that happens, usually after three months, the replacement cost is charged to the patron’s account.

“It’s easy for stuff to get mixed into your own collection, especially DVDs,” said Samantha Bortle, library clerk. “Then there’s this mindset, ‘It would cost me as much to buy it, as it would to return it.’ ”

So beginning Monday, getting back in the library’s good graces will make good financial sense.

Woodward Memorial Library, 7 Wolcott St., is open from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays; and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. For information call (585) 768-8300.