Alan Sussman Donates 1,200 Books and Large Naming Grant for Community Room at 10 Dixon Avenue
Long-time Woodstock resident and book connoisseur Alan Sussman has donated a major sum of money to the Woodstock Library for the construction and furnishing of the Community Room at the new Library at 10 Dixon, along with 1,200 books from his private collection.
The large community room on the second floor of the new Library will be used for community meetings, Forums, readings, concerts, and other large group activities. It will be lined with custom bookcases underwritten by Mr. Sussman, which will hold his special collection of 1,200 books. These books will be allowed to circulate with the public. The room will be accessible by elevator as well as stairs.
In honor of his gift, the room will be named the Sussman-Blythe Community Room. (Victoria Blythe is Alan Sussman's wife).
Library Director Ivy Gocker stated, "It has been a pleasure working out the details of this generous gift with Mr. Sussman, a true book lover and philanthropist. Thanks to his contribution, we can proudly report that we have now raised well over $200,000 in private donations to the new library project."
Victoria Blythe and Alan Sussman have lived in Woodstock for more than 50 years. Both were partners in the legendary Kingston law firm Ricken, Goldman, Sussman and Blythe. Victoria obtained a PhD degree in English while practicing law and later taught literary theory at New York University. Alan obtained an MA in Jurisprudence and taught law and philosophy at Bard College, where he established Bard’s Rare Book Collection. They were married in Vijayanagara, India, on December 31, 1999.
Other recent gifts to the new Woodstock Library have included $50,000 from Neal Smoller of Village Apothecary and $25,000 from author Neil Gaiman.
There are numerous naming opportunities still available, beginning at $2,500, and legacy bricks can be purchased and custom engraved for only $250. Visit www.10DixonAve.org for details, or contact Sam Taylor at sam@reputation-dynamics.com.
New York Times-Bestselling Author Neil Gaiman donates $25,000 to fund Reading Circle in the Children’s Wing of the new Woodstock Library
The Woodstock Library will get a children’s Reading Circle thanks to a $25,000 donation from celebrated author and library advocate Neil Gaiman. A welcoming and whimsical gathering spot for storytimes and group activities, the Reading Circle will be a centerpiece of the Children’s Wing at the library’s new 10 Dixon Avenue location when it opens next year.
Neil Gaiman is the New York Times-bestselling author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre, and a screenwriter. His works include the comic book series The Sandman and the novels Good Omens, Stardust, Anansi Boys, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book.
A resident of Woodstock, NY, for the last 10 years, Neil Gaiman was born in Hampshire, UK. As a child he discovered his love of books and stories in his local library and credits libraries and librarians with raising him. "I wouldn't be who I am without libraries. I was the sort of kid who devoured books, and my happiest times as a boy were when I persuaded my parents to drop me off in the local library on their way to work, and I spent the day there.” Speaking at Woodstock Library’s 92nd Anniversary Library Fair this past July, Neil said, “The Woodstock Library is a delight … Woodstock is going to be one of the luckiest towns in the world to have the library we’re going to get.”
Top 5 reasons to be excited about 10 Dixon
The Junior Friends of the Woodstock Library give a whirlwind tour through our future library at 10 Dixon Avenue and highlight some of the exciting features we can expect to enjoy once the building is open to the community.