The Mary B. Grogan Fund, housed at the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, has committed multi-year grant funding totaling approximately $7,500 over three years to the Millbury Public Library to support its programming.

The fund, established in 2001, was created in honor of Mary B. Grogan after the closure of the Worcester County 4-H chapter, which Grogan helped establish. The purpose of the fund is to support recreational and educational programs for youth in Millbury, focused on various aspects of environment, agriculture, horticulture and animal life.

The Millbury Public Library has offered many different science and environmental programs throughout the years, including animal petting zoos, reptile programs, owl programs, and sled dog programs. Now, with multi-year support from the Mary B. Grogan Fund, the library will be able to offer and sustain two science and environmental programs for youth in Millbury. 

A three-person advisory committee currently made up of Elaine Loehman, Mary Lou Mulhane, and Peter Keenan makes the grant recommendations. 

A Mission of Science: The Millbury Public Library hopes to serve up to 60 youth for each of the five science programs offered through A Mission of Science, designed to educate youth on various environmental/science topics with a special  focus on the April 8 eclipse. The programs include:

Astronomy for Everyone: Eclipses and Other Mysteries of the Universe will take place on Wednesday, March 20 at 6 p.m. Participants of this virtual program will go on a cosmic journey explaining the mysteries of solar and lunar eclipses. This 90-minute presentation will be led by Kevin Manning, former consultant for NASA and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, a space telescope with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. All participants will receive their very own solar glasses sponsored by the SEAL (Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries Community) program.

High Touch, High Tech of New England- Life on Mars on Tuesday, April 2 at 6 p.m.

Science Heroes – Saving Earth Together on Saturday, April 13 at 11 a.m.

The Importance of Bees on Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m.

Animal Adventures on Tuesday, July 9 at 6 p.m.

Programming will be free and will run through July 2024.

Community Sensory Garden: To encourage its young patrons to explore and appreciate nature, the Millbury Public Library will be creating a sensory garden this summer that will include planting and maintenance by youth and community members. Each of the four garden beds will be dedicated to one of the senses: scent, taste, touch and sight.

“We are thrilled to be able to expand our free programming for youth in 2024,” says Ann Dallair, Library Director. “Many young patrons are drawn to attractive and innovative science education that allows them to explore and learn. We are deeply grateful to Mary B. Grogan Fund for the ongoing support of our work, and to the Friends of the Millbury Public Library for committing to provide any remaining funding needed to support our Sensory Garden project.”