National Volunteer Week

Every day of the year, the Ridgefield Library benefits from the efforts of scores of volunteers, but once a year, during National Volunteer Week, we pause to thank them publicly. Simply listing all the individual names would exceed the word limit for this column, so we will have to acknowledge them collectively.

Our enormously popular Summer Reading Program would not be possible without the countless hours put in by teens and adults assisting young readers. It would be much harder to find desired material without the ongoing efforts of volunteer shelvers. And special events like last weekend’s author festival mobilize the talents of dozens of people doing everything from wearing storybook character costumes to serving punch.

Certainly the Friends of the Library deserve special mention for their continued support. Not only are the Friends a valuable source of assistance with everything from mailings to receptions, their book sales provide the financial support for some of the Library’s most cherished programs, such as Ridgefield Folk, Reading is a Family Affair and, of course, decades worth of Summer Reading.

In the past year, volunteer involvement with the Library has expanded significantly, as many members of the community have signed on to assist with the myriad tasks involved in planning for our proposed building project and in evaluating and developing a broad range of library services. The entire town will benefit from their efforts to make the Ridgefield Library truly a model of excellence, now and for years to come.

Many volunteers come to the Library individually, but others are part of fruitful partnerships with the National Charity League, the Ridgefield Men’s Club, ABC House, the Volunteer Center serving Western Connecticut, numerous Scout troops and community service programs at schools, churches, synagogues and other organizations. However they come to us, the Ridgefield Library salutes and thanks every one of them!