December 1, 2022
Dear Friends of the Vassalboro Public Library,
Greetings! The Library has had a fantastic and fruitful year due to your interest, participation and generosity in 2022. Thank you! We would like to keep this momentum going into the new year and are sending this Annual Appeal Letter to request your continuing support. We appreciate any and all support either through volunteering and/or financial support. In this past year, YOUR support and generosity has helped result in:
- - A much-appreciated increase in the Town’s contribution to the Library budget. A big thank you to all who brought this about by voting for it at the annual Town Meeting, and by making the Town office staff and select-board aware of your support of the library.
- -Well-attended STEAM programs utilized by area home-schooled groups, and a well-attended weekly Storytime for area preschoolers.
- -A number of well-attended speaker and author events for adults, and the addition of a new Hands-on program which occurs once a month.
- -Very well attended programs from Northern Star Planetarium, Chewonki, LC Bates and the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers. We also sponsored Mad Science of Maine for both our homeschool groups and a school-wide assembly at Vassalboro Community School.
- -Books and Bikes Summer Reading Program that resulted in 1622 hours of reading time and the award of 12 bicycles to well-deserved readers. We again thank the local Masonic lodge who funded the purchase of these bikes.
- -In May we worked with the school librarian to organize a field trip for students to learn about alewives.
- -A great turnout for the Vassalboro Days Book and Bake sale. A special thank-you to the numerous bakers in the community that donated the baked goods. And thank you to the book donors and buyers for your generosity as well.
Other welcomed changes and improvements included the hiring of a new Library Assistant, Marisha Bernard, at the first of the year. We also increased our Library hours to include open hours on Tuesdays. A number of altruistic donations were also received through the library which allowed us to sponsor many programs in the past year and in the years to come. Through these generous donations we will update our website, repave our driveway and make a large purchase of books to supplement our collection.
In addition, improvements were made to our library building including;
- -Moving the children’s section to the front of the Library, resulting in a warm, welcoming area used by families for play and Story-Time. We ultimately maximized our open indoor space, for community gathering, by moving our book stacks.
- -Improving the lighting through newly installed fixtures and LEDs.
All these positive improvements have helped make our library into a community hub. We have seen our circulation and patron numbers increase, and many families have utilized and enjoyed the new children’s space. We have welcomed tutors, students and local groups to utilize the library. It is so nice to see families gather and play inside the library and see our space being used. All these changes are in a big part due to YOU, our patrons and volunteers. We hope you can support the library, and its staff, through an Annual Appeal Donation so that we can welcome the new year with more positive growth. Thank you again for your continued generous donations and patronage!
Respectfully,
Denise Fournier Behr, Member
Vassalboro Public Library Board of Trustees
Friends of the Library,
After a dynamic and fruitful year comes to a close with the cold winter drawing near, the Vassalboro Public Library remains dedicated to being a hub of information and learning for our community and a provider of engaging and innovative programs and services for all ages.
As one of the newest members of the Board of Trustees, I have had the pleasure to be introduced into a sincere and hardworking team that has a genuine passion for improving the community by expanding the capabilities and outreach of our library. I have volunteered to write this year’s Annual Appeal letter to attest to the kindness and faithful determination of the Trustees and our librarians in our efforts to increase library access to information, enhance programs and bolster our services to meet the modern needs of our neighbors and visitors alike.
In the past year, the library strived to offer interesting programing for children and their families to learn and have fun together, as well as, hosting a place for neighbors and new friends to gather safely, fostering a unifying sense of community. We appreciate all those who have given generous donations during these free events and for all of your participation. Towards the end of summer and in the midst of fall, we saw many come to support our Book and Bake Sale during Vassalboro Days. We are also striving to improve and modernize our catalog of books, audio, and video media so that our collection remains solid and useful for every patron. Anything we don’t have we offer on the interlibrary loan service. Many of you also know if we don’t have the book or information you are looking for we will find it for you, and oftentimes buy it for the library.
However, we have not forgotten that these endeavors in the past year were only possible with the generous donations and support of our patrons and volunteers. During this critical year, we are ever more appreciative and in need of the community’s support. Moving forward with our ambitions to enhance and develop programs is owed to those we seek to serve. The library has grown in no small part thanks to you in our community who have shown your support by your altruistic and kind donations or by simply helping us make the library a welcoming and warm place.
Two additional notes from our librarian. Please be prepared for an upcoming library closure for a renovation. January 10-28, 2022. Our librarian feels now is the time to do a remodel of the interior of the library in order to maximize space. Many of our bookshelves are well beyond the ADA recommendation of 36” and if we move our bookshelves we will create more space for people to gather. We are also looking to increase our annual contribution from the Town. Any support you can show here would be appreciated, along with a note of your support in your return donation, which we can then compile. You can also make aware- how much you support the library - to the helpful staff at the Town Office and your Select Board and Budget Committee members. Please also make this reinforcement visible to the town by continuing to visit and support us.
Please join us in these exciting new steps as we evolve our role in the community to provide a centralized and friendly place to gather and for the library itself to continue its ongoing mission to serve. Speaking on behalf of the Vassalboro Public Library, we are humbled and eternally grateful for your patronage, encouragement, and generous donations.
With the utmost respect and gratitude,
Conor Quincey, Member
Vassalboro Public Library Board of Trustees
December 1, 2020
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
