Travels with Bill

Let's Meet Bill

"Bill" is a $1 bill making its way to all 50 States, one rural library at a time, one in each state. The project aims to bring awareness of small rural libraries and their value to the communities that they serve. Bill has traveled thousands of miles and has still not finished his journey. When he returns to Rupert, Vermont, I hope to print a record of his journey with host libraries history and photos of his hosts' facilities and communities. This project began in the spring of 2022 as a way of easing stress and anxiety of emerging from the pandemic which had a serious impact on small, rural libraries. The first "Bill" Project was local here in Vermont and involved one library in each of the States' 14 Counties. Everyone really enjoyed the project and have been extremely supportive in this current project. "Bill" is more than a rather silly adventure, "Bill" is the spirit of small-town America! Some of the towns participating in the ALL 50 2022 Project have populations of less than 1,000 souls! One of the libraries serves an entire COUNTY!! "Bill" is imagination, hard work, innovation, and dedication all rolled into one cool little symbol. Don't underestimate his impact.

Bill's Travels

Let's Meet Bill

'Bill's journey to all 50 States started in Mid May 2022. From Wells VT. went to;

Saguache, CO.
Bisbee, AZ.,
Eagle Nest NM
Bloomville, OH.
Whitmore Lake MI
Story WY,
Shoals IN,
Glenns Ferry ID,
Van Horn TX,
DeFuniak Spring FL,
Fairfield AL,
Yountville CA.,
Carlin NV,
England AR,
Milton DE,
Sutton NH.
Cave Spring's GA.
Gordonsville TN.
Pearisburg VA
Burnsville WV.
Granville NY.
W. Dennis MA.
Cass Lake MN.
Unalaska, AK.
Colville/Kettle Falls, WA.
Philipsburg, MT.
John Day, OR.
Langley, OK.
Honea Path, S.C.
Ellerbe, N.C
Boyce, LA
Silver Lake, KS.
Caribou, ME.
Bison, SD.
Ridgeland, MS.
Camden Point, MO.
Broken Bow, NE.
Max, ND.
Eldon, IA.
Lancaster, KY.
Mifflinburg, PA.
Honolulu, HI

Bill's Friends

Bill has been getting a lot of attention from some wonderful people who support the library representing their State for the ALL 50 2022 Project. Here are

some of them: The Honorable Governors and U.S. Senators:

Doug Ducey (AZ)
Jared Polis (CO),
Brian Kemp (GA),
Kim Reynolds(IA),
Andy Beshear (KY),
Charlie Baker (MA),
Gretchen Whitmer (MI),
Tim Walz (MN),
Pete Ricketts (NE),
Steve Sisolak (NV),
Chris Sunnunu (NH),
Phil Murphy (NJ),
Doug Burgum (ND),
J. Kevin Stitt (OK),
Tom Wolf (PA),
Dan McKee (RI),
Bill Lee (TN),
Phil Scott (VT),
Jim Justice (WV),
Tony Evers (WI),
Mark Gordon (WY)
Janet Mills (ME)
Spencer J. Cox (UT)
Eric Holcomb (IN)
John Carney (DE)
Brad Little (ID)
JB Pritzker (IL)
Michelle Grisham (NM)
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (IL)
Mike DeWine (OH)
Sen. Tim Kaine (VA.)
Sen. Jon Tester (MT.)
Sen Richard Blumenthal (CT.)
Tate Reeves (MS.)
Michael L. Parson (MO.)
Josh Green M.D. (HI.)

NEWS

Bill's Friends

The Host library for this project is the Wells Village Library, in Wells Vermont. This is where the journey started and where it will conclude after all 50 States have hosted "Bill"

4/20/2023

If one should wish to help out any of the libraries, as of now, the best thing would be a donation of (in kind) this means physical items that patrons could borrow for a short time. With warmer weather approaching outdoor activities are more spontanious if one has access to things like: bikes, camping equipment, metal detectors, entry level fishing gear, Bacci balls, family adventures and community exploring become ever more possible. Look up your local library and ask how you can donate, it doesn't need to be the

most expensive item, but no junk either.

5/1/2023

After a whirlwind tour of the South, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, "Bill" is heading North to Granville, New York. This small town is not too far from my home and I expect to stop by and see if he has been behaving himself! Kristen DeSantis will be his hostess and I'll get some pictures to share with everyone. Keep checking in here to see what's happening with our little buddy

7/17/2023

From New York "Bill" traveled to Massachusetts, then off to Minnesota, and as of today he is northward bound to Alaska and The Unalaska Public Library, Karen

Kresh, Director.

8/20/2023

Our little buddy left Alaska and is headed for Washington! In Alaska "Bill" came across some spectacular berries, Salmon Berries, they look like red raspberries but are MUCH larger. I don't know if they will grow here in Vermont (zone 4) but might try them next year. Alaska had a lot of interesting sights for "Bill" to visit, very cool!!!

9/13/2023

"Bill" made a whirlwind tour of Washington State stopping at 2 libraries. Colville Public and Hunters. Hunters is a little unique for the project because it is located in and serves mainly a retirement community!! that's what

diversity is all about. "Bill" left Washington and traveled to Philipsburg, Montana where he is as of today (9/13).

10/2/2023

While in Philipsburg MT., somehow Bill ended up in jail! Luckly, he got out and continued with his visit. he found some gems in the Philipsburg area, a Saphire I

think. Now he is off to Langley Oklahoma,

and the Langley Public Library and the director, J. Norman

11/10/2023

We are waiting for "Bill's" arrival in Honea Path from Langley, OK. Honea Path is a lovely little town in N.W. South Carolina, I'm sure Bill will find some sort of trouble to get into!

1/4/2024

Bill has departed South Carolina and is on his way to North Carolina! He will be a guest at the Kemp Memorial Library and Ashley Scott the branch manager.

2/7/2024

"Bill has left Ellerbe, NC. after visiting the town where Andre the giant had a ranch! You should remember him if you ever saw "The Princess Bride" movie. "Bill is on his way to

Boyce, Louisiana (my wife's maiden name is Boyce!) cool coincident. This will be the 31st state "Bill" has visited. Good news from New Mexico, Debbie Espie at Eagle Nest library received funding that will allow her to increase the staff of the library, congratulations Debbie, well done!

2/20/2024

Coming soon the original 'Travels with Bill' book will be available here.

3/14/2024

"Bill" Arrived in Boyce Louisiana and had a wonderful visit at the Alfred Boyce Wetterman Library and spent some time with Deborah Boerboom, Director of the library. His next stop will be Silver Lake Kansas.

3/21/2024

"Bill" made it to the Silver Lake Public Library in Silver Lake Kansas where he played a little chess with Brynne Lassiter, the new Director.

3/31/2024

Brynne sent him on his way to Caribou, Maine and the Caribou Public Library and Peter Baldwin, Director who will make sure he has a 100% totality view of the 4/8/2024 eclipse! Next eclipse won't happen until 2079 so this will be quite exciting!

5/10/2024

"Bill" stayed in Maine most of April and was able to get a super view of the April 8th eclipse!! He had a swell time visiting Caribou, Maine and has moved on to Bison, South Dakota to visit Kallie Kronberg and the staff at Bison Public Library serving a community of 302 people.

June/20/2024

"Bill headed South to Mississippi to visit Evanne Flanders of the Elsie E. Jurgens Library in Ridgeland MS. and Governor Reeves has sent them a nice note for participating in the project.

July / 10/ 2024

"Bill" has moved a bit north to Camden Point, Missouri to visit Tiara Dixon and her staff near Kansas City.

August/ 18/ 2024

"Bill" made it to Broken Bow Nebraska

and Megan Svoboda and will visit the newly remodeled library. Broken Bow was a Carnegie Library @ 1916

September/ 9/ 2024

The "way faring stranger" moved on to Max, ND. and visited with Amy Hauf. Amy was given a nice pat on the back by Governor Bergam. Class act.

September /16/2024

"Bill" arrived in Eldon, IA. and will spend some time with Suzanne Streeby.

October/ 22/2024

"Bill" began his visit to Lancaster, KY. and

the Garrard Co. Public Library, Laura

McWilliams, Director.

November/ 12/2024

"Bill" arrived at the Herr Memorial Library in Mifflinburg, PA. Corrie Post, Director. Mifflinburg was noted for its Carriage Works

and "Bill" got a tour!

December/ 6/ 2024

"Bill" is visiting a friend of mine in Honolulu, HI. John Odle and his family are hosting him and will take hi to the Hawaii National Library, another Carnegie Library, established @ 1913. Lots of history.