Dear Friends,
It’s that time again. Vassalboro Public Library’s Annual Appeal is here.
We know this year has been very challenging for everyone, affecting so much of our daily lives. It has also changed the way that our Library serves the community. The Library was closed from March to June, which turned out to be an advantage of sorts. Brian and Alex, the Director and Assistant, worked through this time reorganizing the interior of the Library, getting new library policies in place and stocking up on necessary personal protection items. This work allowed us to accommodate the State’s new rules and reopen safely.
There were several disappointments, including postponing special programs that had been planned and scaling back our biggest fundraising weekend – the book sale, silent auction and bake sale – in September. We appreciate those of you who turned out for our outdoor book sale, made special donations, and have returned or became new patrons since our reopening.
Despite challenges, we launched a STEM kit (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) lending library that encourages students to develop and use skills while having fun and being creative. We have established a Book Sale room within the Library that is open during Library hours. We also sponsored a “ChalkFest,” which we hope will become an annual event. Also new this year, tee shirts with the Library logo are for sale along with our usual mugs and holiday ornaments.
This year, we especially value your generosity. You keep the Library open and viable by borrowing the books, STEM kits, movies, audio books, puzzles and other items we offer to enjoy and enrich your life. We are looking forward to resuming all our regular activities as soon as we can. Until then, you can help by making a donation to our Library fund and by encouraging the staff and volunteers who keep our Library an interesting and welcoming place.
Your generosity and patronage has kept us going and each of you is very important in helping the Vassalboro Public Library serve the community as a living resource. Thank you.
Sylvia Michaud, Member
Vassalboro Public Library Board of Trustees
Dear friends, members of the Library, and neighbors,
As a long-time Library Board member, I’ve volunteered to write this year’s annual appeal letter. I’ve not exactly been avoiding the assignment, although I would rather edit someone else’s copy, and so the theme of my letter turns out to be “Contributions.” I’ve made many contributions to our Library over the years, even though they tend to involve hobbies of mine. I did a hitch starting the stove fire on Saturdays, but mainly I’ve tended the clocks over the years, and most of all repaired books that break apart or otherwise need mending. (Let me take this occasion to urge you not to use scotch tape for mending! It does not last, and cannot be removed without doing more damage.)
I wish I could say I’ve contributed more to the Board’s work, but we each have our role to play. However, I am very pleased with our recent history. Last year Donna, our former Librarian, took a job closer to home, and our Assistant Librarian, Brian, moved into the post quietly and very effectively. We have a new Assistant Librarian, Alexis, who has many good ideas for offerings involving young folks. Brian is committed to increasing services for the benefit of the community, and Library hours changed as a direct result. We found that very few library members used our evening hours from 6 to 8 p.m. So we decided it would be best to have shorter hours and add an extra day: four 6-hour days instead of three 8-hour days. Since the summer, Brian has increased our children’s programming and the library has hosted a Story-time two days a month. Our new Assistant, Alexis, is very active in creating crafts for children to complete in the library or to take home. We will soon offer more programs for adults (including an upcoming Book Club) and a small book-sale during the winter months.
The income from the annual Book and Bake Sale is an important contribution to our budget, and the Silent Auction is another. We appreciate the support the community shows us during these times. In cash and in kind works, contributions allow our Library to live, thrive and serve. The list of contributions is long. It starts with the Town’s annual appropriation, then into becoming a new volunteer yourself, or even an interest in becoming a prospective Board Member. I hope you will also join us as members and supporters of the library with a financial contribution of your own. Please help us make the coming year another good one for our Vassalboro Free Public Library. On behalf of the Board, thank you in advance.
Yours,
Chuck Ferguson
The Vassalboro Public Library is a non-profit organization under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Your donation may be tax deductible. For your benefit and as required by law, we state that the Vassalboro Public Library did not provide any goods or services in consideration, in whole or in part, for this contribution.
