The Story Behind the Ellison---Phyllis Harkness was hired to work as the Assistant to the Children’s Librarian at Livingston County Library in July 1989 and shortly after she started working, two of her nieces introduced her to the Ellison Cutter. She thought it was a wonderful tool and easily convinced the staff that one was needed at the library. When the request was made to the Library Board members, they agreed to purchase it and allow annual funding to purchase a collection of dies. Dr. Orlo Shroyer thought it would be useful to teachers as well and believed that the library made a good central location for teachers to use it, so he too pledged annual funding for the purchase of dies. One die cutter was purchased along with an alphabet and the first shape die, an airplane to use during the next summer reading program. The public is allowed to use the equipment with their own paper during regular library hours. Dies are chosen each year by the children’s library staff members to support library programs and patrons sometimes donate shapes of their choosing. Now, after twenty years, the library collection includes 4 Ellison Cutters, over 400 shapes and 9 alphabet sets.

When Phyllis retired in December 2008, the decision was made to dedicate to her the room in the Children’s Library in which the dies and cutters are stored and used. However, less than a month after her retirement, work began on the remodeling of the library, so the dedication plaque was placed in the vault for safe-keeping.

In 1989, the first program Phyllis helped with was July 26, the final day of the summer reading program and so it was decided that July 28, the final day of this year’s summer reading program was a perfect day to celebrate the official dedication of the room to Phyllis Harkness.