Special Collection At Library—

Precious Moments In Our Lives

In honor of Cyrenius H. Booth Library’s 75th birthday, Newtown resident Carole-Lee Berlin has on display for the first time her Precious Moments figurines collection. The exhibition is called “Precious Moments In Your Life” and takes up the display cases in the corridor near the first floor elevator and staircase, as well as the one within the children’s department. It will remain on view until July 13.

Ms Berlin received her first figurine, called “Loving Is Sharing,” while dating her future husband, Maurice. Thirty years later her collection includes more than 150 figurines.

The Precious Moments collection is about life, says Ms Berlin. Each figurine has a special message to convey that may relate to a happening in life or while viewing the figurine. In one of the display case within the children’s department, Ms Berlin has placed figurine of a little girl holding a cake. Next to that figurine she has placed a handwritten notecard saying. “Happy 75th Birthday Booth Library.”

The Precious Moments story began with Sam Butcher. In the beginning, Mr Butcher only intended for his drawings of teardrop-eyed children to encourage and comfort family and friends. He called them “Precious Moments” because they spread endearing messages of loving, caring, and sharing.

It was in 1978 that Enesco Corporation founder Eugene Freedman first saw Mr Butcher’s simple drawings on a line of greeting cards. He envisioned the drawings as three-dimensional figurines, and took some of Mr Butcher’s artwork to his friend, the master sculptor Yasuhei Fujioka, who transformed the illustrations into beautiful figurines.

In 1979 the first bisque porcelain figurines were introduced. Since 1981, Mr Butcher has chosen a sacred symbol to grace the bottom of each Precious Moments figurine produced each year. Figurines produced prior to 1981 bear the Jonathan & David logo.

Today, Mr Butcher’s artwork has touched the hearts of millions around the world through the Precious Moments Collection by Enesco.

This will be the only time Ms Berlin’s collection will be seen in public in its entirety. There are retired pieces, suspended production ones, and others still in circulation. Her collection includes Members Only figurines, and the library display also includes Precious Moments clocks, photo albums and address books, a small candle holder, and other commemorative pieces. There are also two frames within the cases, one called “How Do You Spell Mom & Dad? L-O-V-E,” which features a photo of her parents, and the second, called “The Road To A Friend Is Never Long,” with a photo of Ms Berlin and her dear friend, the late Terri Jossick.

The exhibit — which represented Ms Berlin’s entire collection when she put the figurines within the display cases (she has since ordered two more figurines) — can be seen during regular library hours: Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 8 pm, Friday from noon to 5 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm.

The library, at 25 Main Street, can be reached for additional information by calling 426-4533.