July 25, 2019 - When Gail Dreifus read an article about ukuleles being checked out to patrons of a Nashville library, she decided she wanted to do something similar in Mariposa. So, she started a fund-raising campaign that brought in donations from friends, family members and strangers in places as far away as Arizona, Vermont, Hawaii and Philadelphia, as well as Mariposa County. The Ohana Ukulele Company also sponsored the project with a generous donation.

The handcrafted instruments were delivered last week and will be cataloged for check out by Mariposa County Library patrons in time for their unveiling at a ukulele song circle on Wednesday, July 31. The after-hours event will be held in the main library from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. for ages 12 and older and will feature members of the Ukuladies & Gents, a group of uke enthusiasts who have been meeting every Monday for the past two years. In addition to leading a sing-along, the group will help with instruction on how to use a tuner, read a chord chart and hold a ukulele. Light refreshments will also be served.

Check-out procedures will also be explained during the event, and the instruments will be available for check-out by six lucky patrons that night. In the event that more than six want to take a uke home after the event, a drawing will be held. Those whose names are not chosen will be able to place a hold on the items.

For more information about the ukulele program, call (209) 966-2140 or email karen.dusek@mariposalibrary.org.

Source: Mariposa County Library

See YouTube video (below) by Susan Robinson

9-22-18 Ukuladies +1 perform at The Grove House in Mariposa for the California Women's Music Conference.