Letters are going out to local patrons. Thank you for you support in 2025. We will see you all on in the new year.
To the friends and supporters of the Vassalboro Public Library,
We are very fortunate to have supporters like you. I know that you value the library and the many services it provides to our community. We strive to make our library available for everybody to use and enjoy. My family moved to Vassalboro in 1990 when our children were 5 and 7 years old. The library was one of our first warm and welcoming new places to frequent and meet people. Now so many years later with grandchildren living in town I see how the library still brings people together. It is wonderful to enjoy so many programs the library offers, alongside my daughter and grandchildren, such as the summer reading program, and the many events throughout the year like LC Bates, STEAM, Mad Science and many more. I had the privilege of going with my daughter and granddaughters to the Chewonki Owls presentation this past summer. This was such an amazing event as we were introduced in person to the Owls of Maine and New England. The wonderful experience was shared by a good-sized crowd of the young as well as several seniors like myself. The library also recently had a great response with our fundraiser play – Murder by the Book- which is wonderful, with about 230 people attending overall. It was amazing to see all the people get together for the entertainment after the huge commitment of the great cast and all who worked on it. We first planned on two shows and were able to host a third after the great response of the first shows. Another example of how many amazing events the library plans, which enhances our local camaraderie and helps bring our community together.
My time as a trustee has been a true eye-opener as to what it takes to make “Our library” continue to be there for us now and for generations to come. The library is a non-profit, not town run, which means the volunteer trustees share the governance and responsibility of running, maintaining and continuing library service. We rely on our library director, library staff and volunteers to keep the library running smoothly. The Town and your yearly votes thankfully support us every year by covering a large portion (about 2/3) of our yearly budget. The trustees and director cover the rest through our fundraisers and this annual appeal letter. A good example of how important fundraisers are is because the library is a non-profit the library building was not able to benefit from the energy efficiency upgrades through the Town and receive heat pumps. We must find a way to purchase them out of pocket, find a grant, or rely on fundraisers to raise the funds. We most importantly need heat pumps for the summer. With the high humidity and heat our staff and patrons have felt the difference to go without. Summers are not so cool anymore. We kindly ask for you to help support us a little more this year so we can install heat pumps. You can help by donating extra this year for that purpose, because you know how handy heat pumps are in your own home. Or you can support us through a separate fundraiser the library will begin in 2025. It is our goal to have them installed by next summer!
I know that I don’t speak just for myself, but I believe that many who live in this wonderful town find going to the library a great destination. It is a very warm, relaxing place to spend time. One of my favorite things is meeting up with fellow townspeople and sharing a moment or two chatting. I volunteered to help at past bake sales and book sales and love seeing the community get together and talking with people. I know many of you see the library gatherings and programs throughout the year and appreciate all the library does to hold us together. The staff and director are always so pleasant and knowledgeable, ready to help when needed. They even helped me when I could not figure out some photo computer transfer issues, and I know they help many older and not so “tech savvy” people throughout the year with many important tasks. The library director received a grant in years past to help host remote workers with work spaces and updated all our computers. The library also joined a library consortium that allows the library and its patrons to lend and borrow books from other libraries all over the state. The library is growing and as it grows, we grow alongside it. I am proud to see all the library does for the community and to be a part of it.
All this good work is made possible by your continued generosity and support. I hope we can count on your donation this year.
Best regards,
Therese Young
Vassalboro Library Board of Trustees
