Page 13 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - June 2016 - 23-06

Senior Times - June 2016 Louise Sweet Volunteers
Page 13
at the Art Center
By: Maureen Reed, Education Coordinator
The Art Center of Battle Creek counts on the support and talents of many volunteers, and has since 1948. Volunteers have provided invaluable services, often working diligently behind the scenes. Today the Art Center continues to thrive from the contribu- tions made by volunteers.
Louise Sweet stands out as a volun- teer for her commitment to preserving and promoting the arts. She began as
a volunteer at the Art Center in 1995, after her retirement as librarian at St. Phillip’s High School in Battle Creek. When the Art Center staff became aware of Louise’s skill as a librarian, she was asked to help establish a lend- ing art book library.
Louise stepped up to the daunting task of organizing the collection of donated art books by establishing a tracking system. The library was relo- cated from a small office to a larger space with the studios in the lower level at the Art Center. Her husband, John Sweet, a former Lakeview High School English teacher, volunteered his carpentry skills to build enlarged book shelving to hold the rapidly growing collection of art books.
Louise continues to manage the lending library and serves as historian for the Art Center by archiving newspa- per articles and printed materials in spe- cial binders, capturing the rich history of local arts and artists.
Children’s art books, instructional painting and drawing manuals, and
books of museum art collections are among the approximately 2,000 books, available to be checked out by Art Center members and the public. Louise noted that the Dewey Decimal System continues to be used as the means
to document the art books. Hand- written cards are signed for books to be checked out, relying on the “honor system” for safe return to the library stacks. The Art Center library serves as a valuable resource and reference for area artists and educators.
Throughout the years, while the faces and art has changed at the Art Center, volunteers like Louise Sweet, carry on the legacy and commitment to educate future generations on the ben- efits of art.
Pet Loving!
Thank You for Sharing
Sue & Fred Bachman with cat Milly
Keith & Mary Ann Tolf with dog Winston
Amber Bornie-Laberdee with dog Tobi
Brittany with horse Rapunzel
Keith & Sherii with dogs Bella & Chloe
Larry B. Semears with dog Masco