In June, the James Prendergast Library will dedicate its new patio in memory of Jim Roselle. Submitted photos

The James Prendergast Library will be dedicating a new patio in memory of a library supporter and advocate during its Community Block Party at the end of June.

Jim Roselle was a radio personality who worked at WJTN in Jamestown from 1953 until he passed away in 2016. He spent 41 summers doing a daily broadcast from Chautauqua Institution, including shows such as “The Jim Roselle Show” and “The Time of Your Life” program with his good friend Russ Diethrick. He was inducted into the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 2010.

Roselle was an active member of the Jamestown community, including at the Prendergast Library, which is why the decision was made that the new patio be dedicated in his name.

“In addition to his hall-of-fame career as a broadcaster, Roselle was active in the greater Jamestown community,” said Jenn Champ, library special programs and facilities manager. “He was a member of the Board of Directors for the Lucille Ball Little Theatre, the Jamestown Boys and Girls Club, and the James Prendergast Library. He was also the chairman of many community events.”

Champ said Roselle was a user and supporter of the library and often encouraged young people to read, research and visit the library — enough that Champ said his daughter, Julie, said that they always knew to find him at the library.

The patio will be dedicated in a ceremony beginning at 10:30 a.m. on June 24. The second annual block party begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m.

“In addition to several community organizations with tables and activities, the library will have a Summer Reading Celebration tent offering prizes and free books; a plant swap; a unique outdoor book sale with new books, vintage books, games and records; lawn games; an art tent; music from Infinity; two food trucks — Off the Stick Ice Cream Company and Foodies Sweets n Eats; outdoor makerspace activities; and more,” Champ said.

Organizations that will be in attendance include St. Susan Center, Audubon Community Nature Center, Southern Tier Environments for Living, Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardeners and Food Educators, Northwest Arena, Prevention Works, Southwestern Independent Living Center, American Red Cross, Girl Scouts of WNY, Chautauqua Blind Association, Chautauqua County Humane Society, Goodwill, Jamestown Tarp Skunks, Aspire, Jamestown Historic Marker Committee, Chautauqua County Weavers Guild, and the YWCA.

The YWCA will host its own special storytimes at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to bring their BookMARK program — which is designed to encourage young minds to think about themselves and others, learn about being kind, and appreciate each other’s differences — to the library.

The Jamestown Tarp Skunk’s mascot, Whiffy, will also be there, handing out free tickets to that day’s game.

The library is also partnering with the Jamestown Public Market — operating downtown on Third Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — to connect the two events. The market will have their own tent at the block party and library volunteers will be handing out information about the market.

The special event for the day though, is the dedication of the patio, something that the library decided was needed to follow the increase of new outdoor programs.

“Over the last several years, outdoor programs at the library have grown, with increased attendance at outdoor storytimes, summer lunches, and special events,” Champ said. “In addition, the Jamestown Mobile Market visits the library every Wednesday from June to September. Wednesday at the library has become a big hit, with outdoor crafts, storytime, games, and more for the community to enjoy. Due to this enthusiasm, we applied for and received a State Aid for Library Construction grant to install a new patio, lighting, and walkway around the library. We also received matching funds from the Sheldon and Lenna Foundation.”

The increase in programs led to a messy lawn area, Champ said, and the new patio is meant to provide a new space, not only for outdoor programs but for people to enjoy the library. The patio will have built-in benches, trash receptacles and a new bike rack. New lights have already been installed and in early June when everything for the patio is in place, community gardens will be planted.

“A grant from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation supports the gardens, which will have native plants and raised beds,” Champ said. “We are working with the Chautauqua Watershed and Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners for the garden design and implementation. In addition, the organizations connected us with Royal Fern Nursery, out of Fredonia, who will supply several native plants for the project.”

Programs and events that will use the patio include; storytimes, crafting classes, book clubs, music classes, and more. It will also be a place for people to relax, enjoy a book or meet with friends and family. Champ said it is meant to be a special place for the community to enjoy.

The library’s grant that is being used for the patio also includes updates to the HVAC system, specifically for, temperature control, installing a SMART building management system, updating the HVAC with a dual filtration system with MERV-13 filters, and replacing the old system’s chiller with a modern high-efficiency chiller. The library will also be exploring more options for increasing sustainability operations and improving accessibility in and around the building.