John Updike Society

PRESERVING LEGACY & CULTIVATING COMMUNITY: A PROPOSAL FOR THE JOHN UPDIKE CHILDHOOD HOME [THE JOHN UPDIKE CHILDHOOD HOME IN SHILLINGTON, PA., OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE JOHN UPDIKE SOCIETY, RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS FUNDING TO ENHANCE OUR VISITOR ENGAGEMENT, EXPAND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, SUPPORT COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, AND MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THIS IMPORTANT LITERARY SITE IN SHILLINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA. FUNDING WILL SUPPORT THE PURCHASE OF MULTIMEDIA TOOLS, A GARDEN SHED FOR A STUDENT-RUN VICTORY GARDEN, UPDATED SIGNAGE, AN UPGRADED SECURITY SYSTEM, DIGITAL CATALOGING SOFTWARE, A SPEAKER SERIES, A SUMMER WRITING CAMP FOR TEENS, AND A VOLUNTEER DOCENT APPRECIATION EVENT. THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL ENRICH THE MUSEUM EXPERIENCE, ENGAGE YOUTH AND SCHOLARS, AND SUSTAIN OUR MISSION TO HONOR AND SHARE THE LITERARY LEGACY OF JOHN UPDIKE. FUNDING WILL SUPPORT: 1) MULTIMEDIA INTERPRETATION?PURCHASE/INSTALLATION OF 3-4 SMART TVS FOR LOOPING UPDIKE INTERVIEWS, LECTURES, AND READINGS; 2) STUDENT-RUN VICTORY GARDEN SUPPORT?PURCHASE/INSTALLATION OF SMALL SHED TO STORE TOOLS AND SUPPLIES FOR A COMMUNITY GARDEN MAINTAINED BY LOCAL STUDENTS/TEACHERS; 3) UPDATED EXHIBIT SIGNAGE?PROFESSIONALLY PRINTED SIGNAGE FOR ARTIFACTS AND DISPLAYS ADDED OVER THE PAST DECADE; 4) DIGITAL CATALOGING SOFTWARE?ACQUISITION OF MUSEUM-QUALITY CATALOGING SOFTWARE TO DOCUMENT AND MANAGE OUR GROWING COLLECTION OF ARTIFACTS/ARCHIVAL MATERIALS; 5) SPEAKER SERIES?FUNDING TO COVER HONORARIA/PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE A MONTHLY SPEAKER SERIES; 6) SUMMER TEEN WRITING CAMP?FUNDING TO PROVIDE MATERIALS AND STIPENDS FOR QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS TO TEACH ON-SITE WRITING WORKSHOPS, CRITIQUES, AND TOURS; 7) UPDATED SECURITY SYSTEM?PURCHASE AND INSTALL SYSTEM THAT  WOULD INCLUDE REMOTE MONITORING CAPABILITIES TO SAFEGUARD PROPERTY OUTSIDE OF PERATING HOURS; AND 8) VOLUNTEER DOCENT APPRECIATION DINNER?TO FUND A FORMAL DINNER TO HONOR VOLUNTEER DOCENTS WHO GIVE UP THEIR TIME YEAR-ROUND TO GIVE TOURS TO THE PUBLIC, AN ACT OF APPRECIATION THAT HELPS US RETAIN VOLUNTEERS.]