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Marla Kahn McConnell Book Acquisition Fund

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Marla and Terry McConnell have lived in Shelburne Falls since 2006. Marla succumbed to liver disease on July 21, 2017 at the age of 65.Marla could feel the heart of every child she met. She began her professional career in special education. She had the ability to see and understand each child’s unique needs and create unique learning strategies for them. Marla reached each child with art, laughter, and by any other means that could promote their independence.

A creative spirit, Marla liked to have fun, play games, listen to music, discover new words and challenge the boundaries of the possible. As an expert quilter, she translated personalities into color and textures, crafting each gift to reflect its recipient.

Marla wanted every child to feel safe and live in a secure environment. The public library is a safe haven for everyone. As children, colorful storybooks rouse our instinct to reach out and connect with a new world – a world of shapes, letters, words, images and stories. As adults, the public library shelves offer us a window into a world of unlimited knowledge.

Marla’s family and friends have donated resources to the Arms Library to be used specifically for book and media acquisitions. It is a celebration of Marla’s spirit, extending her belief in library as community to searchers for knowledge of all ages for years to come.