SWAMPSCOTT — Swampscott Public Library is creating a time capsule, which won’t be opened for another 100 years, to cap off its yearlong centennial celebrations.
The time capsule program will be held at the library, located on Burrill Street, on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. The capsule, once sealed, won’t be opened until 2117.
The capsule, a container that was created by the town’s Department of Public Works department, will be kept for safekeeping on the landing of stairs inside the library with a sign on it to mark what it is, according to Susan Conner, assistant library director.
Conner said items put inside the capsule will be representative of 2017, which could include a cellphone, pair of glasses, library card and a current copy of the newspaper that features news about Swampscott. Who knows what a phone will look like in 2017, she said about the reasoning behind the items.
At the library’s 100th birthday party in September, Conner said people were asked to write down suggestions for things to put in the time capsule and to write down on paper what the library means to them — the latter descriptions will also be put in the capsule. She said more than 100 suggestions were received.
“We thought that be kind of fun to see library things and things representative of 2017,” Conner said. “This is supposed to be a light, fun program. We’re hoping people will enjoy watching and seeing what we were able to find … We hope people come and help us celebrate this final event of our centennial year.”
People attending the event are asked to bring some small token of memorabilia from the year 2017, which will possibly be included in the capsule. Doubles of items or things that are too large will not be included. People are asked to put their name and telephone number on whatever they bring so the items can be returned to them if they won’t fit in the capsule.
As part of its centennial celebrations, the library will also be exhibiting its gicleé prints of its Beach Painters paintings on Dec. 2, which will go on sale. Five of the library’s paintings have been copied and prepared for sale.
There will be three works from Edward A. Page, one piece by C.E.L. Green and one by Edward Burrill. The copies that will be exhibited on that Saturday have been matted and framed so that everyone can see what the finished product would look like. The library will be taking orders for these limited prints on that Saturday and throughout the year.
“Prints can be ready in time for the holidays,” reads a library press release. “Stop by the library on (Dec. 2) to see these amazing copies and to help us fill our time capsule.”
The time capsule and Beach Painters event wraps up a year of the library’s centennial celebrations, which kicked off last January, and featured events celebrating the history of the library that were planned and funded by the Trustees and Friends of the Library. On Jan. 20, the library building on Burrill Street turned 100.
“We wanted to showcase the library in the best light, remind people that we’re here and that we’re an important part of the community,” Conner said.
