Gwen Reichert, president of the Randolph Caldecott Society of America, and Michael Rouse, director of the Public Library, hold the plaque which will mark the children’s room at the St. Johns County Library.
Randolph Caldecott Children’s Room was dedicated last week at the St. Johns County Public Library.
Randolph Caldecott, born in Chester, England, March 22, 1846, is described as one of the great 19th century artists, yet most people today know him best for his contribution to children’s literature through his ageless illustrations.
He is also known through the Caldecott Medal, given annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. It is presented to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
Caldecott is buried in St. Augustine in Evergreen Cemetery.
Joining with library officials for the dedication were members of the Friends of the St. Johns County Public Library and members of the Randolph Caldecott Society of America. Gwen Reichert, president of the Caldecott group, described the naming of the children’s room as “truly a dream come true.”
The dedication, she noted, was the culmination of Resolution No. 90-99 adopted May 22, 1990, by the St. Johns County Commission, in which it was agreed that the library’s children’s room would be known as the Randolph Caldecott Children’s Room.
(The above photograph and complete article were printed in THE ST. AUGUSTINE RECORD, Community Page 2B, Wednesday, November 20, 1991.)
The Randolph Caldecott Society continues to enjoy a cooperative partnership with the main library, located at 1960 North Ponce de Leon Blvd., St. Augustine, Florida. The library is presently under the direction of Mary Jane Little, with Valerie Peischel serving as the Children’s Librarian. The Public Library Conference Room usually serves as the meeting room for the R.C.S.A.’s Caldecott AGM/Birthday Celebration, held annually during March - Caldecott’s birth month. R.C.S. A. makes an annual donation of the Caldecott Medal winning books to the Caldecott Children’s Room.
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