Sitting atop a small rise in the topography of Spring Street sits the Elizabeth Taber Library, an elegant fixture in the community since 1872. The library was gifted to the town by philanthropist Elizabeth Taber. The posted history of the library states that Taber was considered the “fairy godmother” of Marion. The childless widow was a sharp financial investor and generous in giving Marion and other organizations outside the town boundaries money used to benefit the cultural and social integrity of this seaside gem.
Taber gifted the town additional monies to ensure the library could operate with financial stability into the future.
Two wings were added to the original building in the 1980s that increased the much needed stack space, that’s library-speak for book shelves. As time has marched forward into the twenty-first century, the growing needs of the community for a host of library services, meant considering renovations. Fortuitously in 2024, an anonymous doner stepped forward with a generous gift sufficient to fulfil many of the identified improvements.
The architect working with the town and the library staff to identify and refine space needs, and the aesthetic look of the interior spaces is David King, a Boston based architect. We talked to King to better understand the process and the plans. “It’s important to keep the historic look and feel of the space,” he began. And while the overall footprint of the two-story building (the Marion Natural History Museum is located on the second floor) will not change, “…meeting space will be opened up, a fresh and airy breakroom will be configured in the basement, and flexible partitions will be used.” King also noted that the children’s room will see improvements as well.
Coming into the library through the front doors, King said a new circulation desk will greet visitors. All architectural elements that speak to the age of the building will be honored. Decorative moldings and Corinthian-like columns will remain in place.
Planning wrapped up a few weeks ago and now the library staff is ready to move to their temporary headquarters in the Marion Music Hall. Nothing short of monumental, Library Director Liz Sherry is excited with what the future holds in store. In the meantime, she wants the public to know that nearly all library services will be available at the Music Hall with the exception of copying and computers and other network-based services.
Sherry said “…it is gratifying to make these improvements.” She believes it speaks to the community’s support and appreciation for the library. Of the updated spaces she added, “It will be fresh and accessible.”
Sherry also shared the exciting news that the library had recently received a grant from The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. The grant in the amount of $30,000 (Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) will fund a year-long art education project. Starting in March, this year-long project will bring free professionally led crafting workshops to the community of Marion and help the library build a collection of crafting tools and materials.
The first craft workshops in March will be led by fine jewelry maker Heather Beck, who will be teaching copper stamping in a variety of formats. Beck will lead the following workshops: Saturdays in March at the library from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm: Marth 8 copper bookmarks, March 15 copper key chains, March 22 copper pendants, and March 29 copper night lights.
Beck’s classes are aimed at young adults and adults and participants can attend one or multiple workshops. Anyone interested in registering for these workshops can email the library at ETLibrary@sailsinc.org or register in person at the library’s temporary location at the Marion Music Hall. Spaces are limited and participants must be aged 12-or-older.
Future crafting education workshops include basket weaving in April, glass blowing in May, jewelry making in June, machine and hand sewing in July, and wood carving and scrimshaw in September.
For more information and updates, visit the library’s website elizabethtaberlibrary.org.
By Marilou Newell