Earlier this year, the Robert A. Frost Memorial library completed an extension to the children’s area including a child-friendly computer, puppet theater, felt board, and most notably two cozy reading nooks.
The nooks, called “Kathy’s Corner,” were made possible by a generous donation from Barbara Obar and her family in memory of Barbara’s daughter, Kathy Obar Albert. Barbara visited the library in May to see the completed project.
Contributed photo
Barbara Obar, right, and her family recently donated a set of reading nooks for young readers as part of the new children’s area extension at the Frost Memorial Library in Limestone. Obar and Librarian Jessica Givens show off the new area, which will provide a cozy place to curl up with a book. The Obar family’s gift is in memory of Barb’s daughter, Kathy Obar Albert.
Over the last several years, the Obar family has made donations to the library’s memorial fund in Kathy’s memory, which have been used to purchase books and equipment for the children’s section. Many of those books now sit on the shelves within the reading hideaways of Kathy’s Corner.
Librarian Jessica Givens and assistant librarian Angel Boyd, with the support of the Board of Trustees, planned and constructed the children’s extension in an oversized closet just off of the kids’ room. The project began last fall when it was decided to create a special nook in memory of Kathy. It was opened to the public in February of this year. The extension, and the reading nooks in particular, have been well-received by children who visit the library.
“We are extremely grateful to Barbara and her family for making this project possible,” Givens said. “The children love the additions, especially the kid-only hideaways. I think offering kids a special space will make them feel at home in the library, a feeling I hope they will carry with them throughout their lives.”
“I am filled with so many emotions as I personally see the unique area of the Frost Memorial Library in Limestone, our hometown, which has been dedicated to my daughter, Kathy Obar Albert, who lost her second battle with cancer five and a half years ago,” Obar commented.
“She was a loving wife and mother and an inspirational third grade teacher to students at W.A. Porter in Hurst, Texas. Some of those same students are now graduating from high school and her legacy continues with the presentation of scholarships to deserving high school seniors in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area every spring.”
Obar added, “I want to extend my sincerest thanks to librarian, Jessica Givens, her staff and the trustees of the library for creating a reading nook in memory of Kathy where children may come and discover the wonderful world of reading.”
Givens explained the room will be an ongoing project. The most recent addition is a puppet theater, added in late May. The space will also allow the library to house more developmental toys for younger patrons–other new arrivals include Tinker Toys and Pattern Blocks.
