Fellowship of the Mural

FELLOWSHIP OF THE MURAL PROGRAM

Once there was a young person, who simply wished to read the best, and, so, sought the wisdom of the great sage, Rar Librian, the Mural Master. So, opens the general information brochure for “The Fellowship of the Mural”, a year-round reading program of the Petoskey Public Library. The program is tied to classic and favorite children’s books that are portrayed in the mural that adorns the Children’s Room at the Carnegie library.

Children read these books at six different levels, called orders, at their own pace and at a time of their own choosing. For the Pre/K, First and Second Orders, parents may read the selections to the child. The child should generally read the books for orders Three, Four and Five. The parent maintains an active role by dating and signing off on each book as it is read. As a child finishes each level, he/she is given a ribbon and his/her name is added to that level’s list in the Fellowship of the Mural display cabinet, built by Bill VanBerlo with the financial assistance of the Friends of the Petoskey Public Library. When the Fifth Order is completed, a certificate is issued to the child and his/her name is added to the Fifth Order of the Fellowship of the Mural member list in the display case and to the The Book of the Fifth Order of the Fellowship of the Mural. Names will also be entered into the “Virtual Shrine” on this web site. All levels need to be completed by the end of middle school in order to qualify for this achievement.

A general information brochure is available at the library, as are brochures for each order or level, which is roughly tied to grade level. A test is being developed for those who wish to demonstrate exceptional knowledge of the mural and receive a special Mural Master certificate after they have completed all six orders. Please come back to this page often; downloadable PDF files, Level requirement and shrine pages for each level will be created.

The mural was painted in the summer of 1979 by Kari Bradford to honor the late Ruth Todd, a long-time Library Commission Member. The program was originally conceived and developed by Gene Poppink, Children’s Librarian, in 1985 and implemented with the support of Mrs. Todd’s husband, Dr. Raymond Todd. Ron Fowler, Children’s Librarian from 1986 to present, revived and restructured the program in 1997: “I really think that reading all of the books at each level is an accomplishment that deserves a special place of honor, let alone reading all six orders.” said Fowler, “And I think that mural display case is a suitable place of honor; I wish to thank the Friends and Mr. VanBerlo for this wonderful gift!”

Don't forget to come back here often! Downloadable PDF files, Level Requirements, and Shrine pages will be developed in the future.

FELLOWHIP OF THE MURAL

SHRINE OF ACHIEVEMENTHere is one of the places where your achievement in the mural program will be honored. The other place is in the mural cabinet at the library. Reading all of the books for all 6 levels by the time that you finish the 8th grade is a significant achievement and deserves the title of "Muralmaster"!

Click on the links below to see who has mastered the various levels of the "Order of the Mural":

Fellowship of the Mural

FELLOWHIP OF THE MURAL

K ORDER

FIRST ORDER

SECOND ORDER

THIRD ORDER

FOURTH ORDER

FIFTH ORDER