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HomeMy WebLinkAboutattachment 1331 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh WI 54901 • 920.236.5799 • oshkoshmuseum.org MEMO TO THE MUSEUM BOARD December 9, 2021 To the Board, What an incredible first week- thank you all for making me feel welcome as I find my footing in my new museum home. This has proven to be a time of great change. As I come in, our steadfast Curator of Exhibitions, Debra Daubert, is transitioning into retirement. Hired in 1981, Deb’s work has touched every aspect of the Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM). Our current registrar, Emily Rock, will be moving into the role of Curator of Exhibitions. The time Emily and Deb have worked together allowed for a great exchange of knowledge and a very smooth hand-off. We wish Deb all the best in her retirement! Over the last week (December 1- December 7th) the Museum hosted 744 visitors and two community groups. Feedback we’ve received for White Christmas: The Exhibition has been very positive. Upcoming exhibit program Holiday Letters, on December 18th, features pieces from the OPM archival collection. Letters from military members written over the holidays (dating as far back as the Civil War) will be read aloud for those in attendance. We are excited to loan two artworks to the Cedarburg Art Museum. These two pieces, The Old Settler (1849) by Alonza Leach, and View of Island Park, or Garlic Island and Hancock Island (ca. 1878) by John Frank Waldo, will be featured in their exhibition The History of Wisconsin Art Exhibition: A Creative Place. Images of items from our archeological collection and of the Apostles Clock were also provided for the exhibition. This exhibit focuses on the state’s rich artistic history. We’re happy to share our collections with other institutions, and look forward to new audiences seeing pieces from our permanent collection. It is with great gratitude that I thank Anna Cannizzo for her work as interim director over the last many weeks. Her consistency, compassion, and helpful nature have been mentioned to me multiple times, and I certainly echo the sentiment. A special thank you to the entire museum staff and board- I look forward to working together and learning from one another! Sarah Phillips Museum Director Oshkosh Public Library Highlights December 2021 1. Local residents love to hear stories of Oshkosh past. Never was that more evident than on Nov. 30, when a presentation by local history librarian Michael McArthur drew an unprecedented crowd of 130 people to learn more about the Athearn Hotel. The program was moved to the Culver Family Welcome Center on the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh campus to accommodate the group from Learning in Retirement and the Oshkosh Seniors Center. The Athearn Hotel, which was designed by local architect William Waters in the late 1800s, operated in downtown Oshkosh until its demolition in 1964. The Athearn will also be featured in Michael’s next episode of Librarian Learns, which premieres Dec. 17 on OPL’s YouTube channel. 2. The library’s Wild Winter Read Off is just around the corner, with reading adventures planned for all ages. The program runs Dec. 20 through Feb. 26. Participants track their reading to earn prizes using the Beanstack app or paper reading logs available at any service desk. As a special treat, children’s author and illustrator Rick Chrustowski will visit OPL on Feb. 19. New this year – we’re challenging the community to read a combined total of 300,000 minutes during the WWRO! We’ll celebrate reaching that goal at the Hip Pop Hooray for Reading event on March 5, with goody bags handed out throughout the day. Thanks to our community sponsors Caramel Crisp Corner, OshPop Gourmet Popcorn and New Moon Café for their generous support. 3. It’s the time when readers (and librarians) reflect on their favorite books of the previous year. At OPL we’ve got you covered, with Top Staff Picks of 2021 in our December eNewsletter and our annual Great Reads program, set to premiere on OPL’s YouTube channel on Dec. 15. Whether you like fiction, mysteries, poetry, sci-fi or memoirs, you’re sure to find titles for your own “To Be Read” list and maybe even discover that perfect book to gift your favorite reader this holiday season. 4. Carl Traeger Middle School students participating in National History Day learned how the library could support their research recently. Community Engagement Librarian Sandy Toland prepared a video highlighting useful online resources and participated in a live Q&A session with the students. OPL will look at pursuing a broader collaboration with the Oshkosh Area School District for National History Day during 2022. 5. The library has proven to be a fruitful collection site for Operation Waverly, the Oshkosh Public Museum’s collection for homeless veterans. Since Nov. 13, the library has emptied the collection box four times for delivery to the Day by Day Warming Shelter, with another two deliveries scheduled in the coming week. Operation Waverly will accept donations of personal hygiene items, warm clothing, backpacks, sleeping bags and more through Jan. 23. Other partners in this effort are the DAV Auxiliary and Miss Wisconsin’s Outstanding Teen. 6. A recent episode of Eye on Oshkosh included a segment on OPL holiday happenings and more. Community Engagement Librarian Sandy Toland talked about Operation Waverly, our Santa Meet & Greet, the Mitten Tree, DIY Ornament Kits and the Wild Winter Read Off. She also highlighted our games collection and TIY kits as activities for families during the holidays and shared information about community events being presented by OPL partners including the Time Community Theater, Downtown BID and Oshkosh Public Museum. The episode can be viewed on the Eye on Oshkosh YouTube channel. 7. The library is accepting donations of new or handmade mittens, hats and scarves to keep Oshkosh area kids warm this winter. Items may be placed on the Mitten Tree in the Children’s Department by Dec. 15. Donations will be delivered to the Salvation Army for distribution. 8. Library cardholders may now sign up for free access to the Wall Street Journal. Once registered, patrons have three-day access to the newspaper and need only sign in again every three days to continue reading the WSJ online. This resource is funded by the Winnefox Library System.