An ambitious project by Leadership Morgan Hill members has
raised $16,000 to purchase two bronze statues to adorn the city’s
new library when it opens next year.
Morgan Hill – An ambitious project by Leadership Morgan Hill members has raised $16,000 to purchase two bronze statues to adorn the city’s new library when it opens next year.
The 23 local residents and professionals working on the project had originally planned to donate one statue, but expanded their goal when leftover money became available thanks to a gallant fundraising effort that started in last winter.
While the statues won’t be installed at the new library until it opens in summer 2007, they are expected to arrive within the next few weeks and will be displayed at temporary locations by the end of September.
City Hall has been pegged as one location while the second spot has yet to be determined.
One statue depicts a mother and child sitting on her lap serenely perched on a park bench reading a book.
Its companion piece is a humorous rendition of a small boy plopped on a giant globe with his nose in a book wearing an oversized cap, glasses and magnifying glass reading a book.
Both pieces are intricate in detail and durable enough to stand the test of time, similar to the bronze statues of Hiram Morgan Hill and his wife and daughter that will be installed next year at the Caltrain station on Depot and Third streets.
The latter project was commissioned in 2004 by the nonprofit Morgan Hill Community Foundation with support from the City of Morgan Hill.
Leadership Morgan Hill is a training and development program for local residents and other members of the community.
It was launched in 1995 under the auspices of the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, but now operates as its own entity with a separate board of directors.
Each year members of the community have the opportunity to enroll in a nine-month-long program including seminars, retreats and the chance to work on a community-based project.
Morgan Hill resident Maureen Drewniany, a member of this year’s class and one of two project managers, said the group’s goal is to make a strong impression that can be enjoyed by future generations and convey a sense of history as the city celebrates its centennial year.
While the city’s library isn’t quite as old as the city itself, Drewniany said Morgan Hill has enjoyed library services for more than 90 years.
The current library on Peak Avenue opened in 1973.
This year’s leadership class convened in January and is scheduled to “graduate” in September.
Almost immediately after the leadership students first met as a group they started brainstorming ideas for their community project.
A list of 34 ideas was soon narrowed down to five, and by April the class decided it would raise money to purchase public art for the city’s new 28,000-square-foot library.
The $19 million facility is currently under construction and is scheduled to open next year next to the existing library on Peak Avenue.
Librarian Rosanne Macek, a member of this year’s Leadership Morgan Hill class, said she is thrilled her classmates have pitched in to enhance the library.
She added she would have gladly supported a number of other worthy projects her classmates had proposed.
“We’re just thrilled there’s so much interest in making this a special community resource,” Macek said. “It takes the facility to the next level. We have books, we have videos … but the addition of public art makes it more of a cultural experience for community.”
Drewniany said the class was attracted to the project because the library budget did not include funds for artwork. “It’s something that will be enjoyed by the whole community,” Drewniany said.
On a personal level, Macek said the most rewarding part of the project has been getting to know her fellow Morgan Hill community members better.
“I wanted to learn how to do my job better in the community,” she said, adding she commutes from Campbell. “Also, separately, I wanted to raise awareness in the community about the new library.”
