(Canastota, NY- April 2014) With the recent passing of former Library Director Helen Chariton, the Canastota Public Library Board of Trustees has elected to name the children’s room in her honor.
Chariton’s family has provided a bronze plaque adorned with her image that has been hung on the wall as you enter the children’s room. The inscription is as follows: Helen Chariton Memorial Children’s Room.
A lover of books, Chariton served as the Library Director from 1960 to 1986 where she was known for her Story Telling, innovative Summer Reading Programs and dedication to the Library. “If I changed one person’s life then I’ve got it made. But I hope I’ve done better than that.” December 5, 1921 –January 22, 2014.
The library has also received numerous donations from family, friends and library patrons in Helen’s memory. A portion of these funds was used to purchase a child safe glider rocker for the story time area in the children’s room. Some of the funds will be used to supplement the children’s book collection with classic fiction titles and the remainder will be used for new children’s non-fiction books.
During her tenure, Chariton brought great programs and speakers to the community including the author of Roots, Alex Haley, who was a writer-in-residence at Hamilton College in the 1970’s. She organized youth in the construction of parade floats, transformed the library into a restaurant with her “Dinner in the Stacks” and was at the helm in 1962 when the library received the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award from the book of the Month Club.
Mrs. Chariton, as she was affectionately known by the children who visited the library, was a positive force in the lives of many youth. However, she assisted young and old alike in their quest for knowledge and she aspired for excellence in all that she did. The community was enriched by her years of service.