Vassalboro Public Library: transition and support

Vassalboro library

by Elizabeth McMahon – Trustee President
Brian Stanley – Library Director

If you haven’t been in the Vassalboro Public Library in recent years you are in for a pleasant surprise! Long gone are the days of hushed voices, shushing librarians and card catalogs.  There are signs on the doors for library programming sponsored throughout the year, where children and adults gather to be entertained, get information and to socialize.

Upon entering the library, you will find a large, welcoming children’s area with educational toys and books, next to a computer terminal for you to access the library catalog and to access library materials and services throughout the state.  Friendly librarians are here to help you find what you are looking for.  There are tables and chairs all over to set yourself down, and several gathering areas for families and friends.

There are often other families to meet, or you may have the entire library to yourself. There is free library Wi-Fi to connect to, and remote worker rooms in the back of the library for privacy to work and study.  As you browse the shelves, you might want to pick out a DVD to watch at home or find a good book. Yes, we still have books, lots of good books for children through adults!

Are you looking for a book we don’t own?  No, problem! We’re part of a statewide group of libraries who share their collections via interlibrary loan. No matter what informational resource you are looking for, we can locate it and get it for you free of charge.  Do you like online books and or audiobooks? There is a link to the Cloud Library on the Vassalboro Library webpage that will give you access to hundreds of audiobooks that you can download to your device and listen to at your leisure. Do you or your child enjoy comics and manga?

Check out Comics Plus on the website.  There is also the Digital Maine Library that provides access to thousands of newspapers, magazines, reference books, professional journals and so much more.  If you are interested in genealogy the library has free access to Ancestory.com when you visit.  All of these resources are available through support of the Maine State Library, which makes these online services available through state and federal funding.

As you may know, a recent threat of cuts to the Institute for Museum and Library Science (IMLS) has put the Maine State Library, and access for public libraries to many of these state and online services, in jeopardy. The status of these funds is still uncertain and there has been an outcry in support of libraries nationwide.  The Maine State Library was forced to temporarily close and lay-off 13 staff members instead of curtailing services and increasing rates to state libraries. Some funding has been restored, at least for this year, and a few of these staff members have been called back to work. Yet, what we have come to rely on is still in jeopardy in the near future.  Continual cuts to IMLS, attacks on public libraries nationwide, and abrupt staffing changes at the Library of Congress will have broad implications for Maine libraries, especially rural libraries, in the coming years.  The cost of our services will rise, including access to many of our currently free or subsidized services.

There will be fewer grants to libraries including those awarded by the Maine State Library for services such as those for remote work stations, upgrades to technology, and joining the MILS consortium.  Without those grants many of these services would have been outside your local library’s normal monetary means. This will mean fundraisers, donations, and local municipal support will be increasingly important to provide enough staff and resources to maintain programs and core services that have become a regular part of the library.

I promise you, as library board president, that the director, staff, and trustees are committed to provide high quality services and resources to the community even when faced with an uncertain future.  Now, even more, we need your continued support. Our library was founded in 1911 by community members to provide a free, public library with support of the town. For well over 100 years, it has remained a nonprofit, governed by community members and library trustees.  We receive generous financial support from the Town of Vassalboro for providing an essential community service.

Although we receive town financial support, we are independent and own and maintain our building, property and manage all core services.  The town’s contribution is enough to cover staff salaries. We must raise additional funds to manage and maintain our building, utilities, book orders, program expenses, insurances, equipment costs and upgrades.  The list goes on. We are grateful for current town and community support, and for the services we are able to provide through our library.  Last year 2,474 children and adults attended programs the library sponsored, 14,448 total books circulated, and 9,668 people visited the library (more than the population of Vassalboro!).  The library staff helps people every year with employment searches, computer access, tech assistance, and research.  We support homeschoolers and partner with the local community school and community partners.

We are proud of our accomplishments, but they come at a cost. The library director and staff take care of a lot of the day to day work. The director and trustees guide and govern long term library interests, and are accountable for all financial management and resources of the library. Our all volunteer board of trustees is active with fundraising, planning, and supporting library staff throughout each year. We are looking for new, active members and ideas to help us with projects and fundraisers we sponsor on behalf of the library.  If you would like to learn more about becoming a trustee, please contact us at the library.  Meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m., (time can be adjusted to accommodate members’ schedules). Minutes of what we are working on and discussing each month are posted on our website.

Several of the current trustees have been active for many years, and would be happy to welcome new members’ ideas to help us reach our goals.

Libraries are being tested nationwide.  Is it because a good library is democratic, serves its entire community, and is essential to an informed populace?  Is it because libraries are tied into today’s atmosphere of competing and conflicting information?  We believe it is a solace to know that accurate up-to-date information from trusted, respected sources continues to exist.  That information can still largely be found in books and your local library is a source to the infinite scope of that information.  A good library will greet any patron, young or old, and provide them with the right resource, the one they are looking for, whether it is a book, a newspaper or magazine article or a website without regard to background, politics, or opinions.  That resource is an anchor, a door, and a light to help us as people navigate the world and introduce us to each other.  This service cannot be understated – it is truly essential.

For all of you who have seen the good work at the library, attended a program, or received the right reading material over the years, please consider joining us and asking how you can help.  If you live outside of Vassalboro consider joining your community library.  I am sure they, too, could use your support.  If you are not ready to volunteer as a trustee please consider showing your support by donating, and continuing to visit the library and use its services.  Go to the town office and speak with the town manager or attend a select board meeting.  Tell them why you appreciate the library.  Without your continued support, none of this would be possible and we thank you all.  I encourage you to visit the Vassalboro library website to see what is in store for you: https://vassalboro.lib.me.us

On behalf of the Vassalboro Library we thank you for supporting us and ask that you continue to support us into the future.