Library dedication scheduled for Oct. 11 at 2 PM

The Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association is pleased to announce the dedication of the new Library/Depot building to house the Mojave Desert Archives will occur on Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 2:00 PM during the 29th annual Mojave Road Rendezvous being held at the Goffs Cultural Center in Goffs, California.

PROGRAM
(subject to change)
1:45 p.m. Spectators assemble east of the Library / Depot loading dock. Bring a chair.

2:00 p.m. Welcome by MDHCA President Steve Mongrain

2:00 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance

2:05 p.m. Introduction of guests and dignitaries by Steve Mongrain

2:10 p.m. Remarks by Dennis Casebier – Introduce and recognize Chris & Leslie Ervin

2:20 p.m. Remarks by Chris Ervin, Director and Project Manager

2:30 p.m. Remarks by Dennis Schramm, Superintendent Mojave National Preserve

2:40 p.m. Remarks by Brad Mitzelfelt, San Bernardino County Supervisor, First District

2:50 p.m. Dedication of Dennis G. Casebier Library by John M. Fickewirth

2:55 p.m. Christening of the building with champagne by Jo Ann Casebier

3:00 p.m. Ceremonial presentation of building keys by Secretary Hugh Brown to President Steve Mongrain.

3:00 p.m. Ribbon Cutting by MDHCA Board of Directors with photo opportunity

3:05 p.m. Opportunity for everyone to tour building

4:00 p.m. Dinner at Flywheel Cafe

7:00 P.M. Raffle Drawing - North porch of Route 66 building

Funding for the Mojave Desert Archives Library/Depot construction was made possible by a grant from the California Cultural and Historical Endowment and the membership of the Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association.

Security cameras installed

Report by Dennis Casebier

The Electronic Eye Security camera guys, Josh and Michael, arrived at about 9:30 AM. They said they'd be here about four hours. They finished and left at about 1:15 PM. The cameras are all installed and I believe they are operating.

New furniture begins arriving

Report by Chris Ervin

FedEx delivered the first two pieces of new furniture for the Reading Room. They are a two side-by-side computer workstation tables. The plan is to install a computer on one side for searching the Library's online finding aids and a microfilm reader on the other side.

File cabinet shipment delivered

Report and photos by Dennis Casebier

Lopez Trucking, under the command of Fernando Lopez with Hesus Rivera as copilot, arrived at the Library just before 1:00 p.m. By 3;00 p.m. they had 48 file cabinets unloaded and in place in the north Freight House Room and they have now departed Goffs.

Two Hispanic gentlemen and one 84-year-old gringo (Gail Andress) did the job in two hours. The cabinets look just fine. Jo Ann and Donna have already made use of about four of them to store the Russell Collection, so that collection is now off the floor in safely stored away in cabinets.

O. A. Russell Collection delivered to Library

Report and photo by Dennis Casebier

The O. A. Russell Collection was delivered to Goffs from Tucson, AZ today by Chales A. Corder and his daughter Christine. Actually they arrived yesterday evening and were our house guests until about noon today.

Carol and Hugh were on hand to assist Jo Ann and I and the Corders in unloading. The collection is on flattened cardboards on the floor in the first floor of the Depot, except for a particular collection of negatives that are considered to be especially critical. Those have been removed to a file cabinet in the Court House.

Since we now have a collection of value in the Library/Depot, Hugh said he would activate the security system. We are scheduled to receive 48 file cabinets on Wednesday of this week. After they come we plan to relocate the Russell Collection into several of those cabinets for temporary storage and protection.