Upon entering the doors of Bowlby Library, many of the young readers immediately scan the entryway for the calico curator named Molly. For the past decade, Molly has welcomed visitors and graciously accepted their affection.
Kathy McClure, the library’s Executive Director for the past 31 years, recalled the story of how the stray became a beloved member of the staff. “She just followed me all the way to work one day. She was so friendly and sweet, I had to feed her.”
At that time, the library had recently lost another cat who had become part of the family. Libby, another calico, had been a presence in the stacks for 15 years before she passed. The staff knew immediately that Molly would be a great fit.
However, the transition was a bit shaky at first. Although Molly was extremely friendly, her people-skills needed some polishing. She was prone to pouncing on unexpecting patrons who were engrossed in their book or research.
On more than one occasion, McClure was awakened during the night by the library’s security company who had been alerted something was afoot among the books. Molly’s nocturnal kitten antics eventually subsided, and the alerts came to an end.
Last year, the library adopted another stray into the fold. Thomas was another affectionate soul and loved being part of the literary lives of the kids. However, there was one individual who was less than thrilled with the addition.
Molly was not impressed with her new acquaintance and refused to spend time in the same surroundings no matter how capacious they were. She prowled the exterior of the grounds and eventually sought solace in a couple of neighbors. Bob and Sharon Belesky began to feed Molly and developed their own special rapport with the “runaway” refugee.
With winter coming on, the staff at the library knew they had to make things right for Molly. Fortunately, a little girl bonded with Thomas and asked if she could take him home. By the time the first snowflake fell, Molly had returned home and settled back in as the queen of the castle.
After the homecoming, Molly’s new friends approached McClure with an idea. They would donate materials and work with Direct Results to design a line of Molly-inspired drinking tumblers. The proceeds will benefit Bowlby’s operating fund. Additional funds are always needed to sustain and expand the many services the library provides.
“We are so grateful to everyone who donated their time and services for us to have this opportunity,” McClure concluded. The staff hopes Molly’s merchandise will be a cat-alyst for their all their fundraising efforts.
