Thank you and Happy National Library Week 2025!

For 2025 National Library Week, each day I wrote a blog spotlighting different groups that contribute to our library’s success. I have to fit in one more, since our library would not be what it is without the following people:

Chris Cross, the best neighbor we could ask for. Last year he built a sturdy platform for our trash cans to sit on—he knew they needed one because the day after trash days he almost always beats us to dragging them back (to their often muddy) home behind the building. He weeds, he has collected walkway stakes in the spring, he was one of the few non-Trustees who helped build the “underdrain” a few years ago, he lets us put outgoing mail in his box any days it doesn’t come before we close, and I’m sure there are other helpful things he’s tackled with no fanfare so we haven’t even known. He’s even been known to check on me with a quick call on the occasions he sees me working especially late. The library is fortunate to have him and Cyndi as neighbors.

Paul Pelletier, former Trustee, who takes our recycling, and occasionally, bulky trash items, to the transfer station every week.

Randall Bush, who, along with his dad, Steve, have loaned their technology skills to the library during the library expansion and later, with Steve as a Trustee and Randall as a volunteer, supplementing our paid tech support. Randall formally replaced that tech support a few years ago, since by then I knew he was more tech savvy than both the former tech guy and possibly everyone else I know (even though my husband does tech support for Comcast, and I’m a previous “technology librarian.”) Program attendees at the library have seen me call him in more than once in the last ten years, almost certainly during his dinnertime, any time I exhaust my efforts at making the projector/sound system/laptop cooperate. He has never once not figured it out, at times bringing his own cords or adapters from home!  Randall is fighting cancer right now, making trips to Boston for chemo, and still makes time in between to handle our tech needs. We are so fond of him, and very grateful.

Two Jeremys—Jeremy Nicol (former Newington Fire Dept, now library handyman) and Jeremy Boston (Newington Building Inspector) Jeremy N. does small repairs and maintenance in the building and grounds a few times a year, more when needed, including rebuilding our outdoor Book Drop a few years ago when it was leaking from being hit too many times. Modern book drops are monstrosities and outrageously expensive (Google it—you’ll see) so we were lucky we had someone with the welding skill to rehabilitate our existing one. Jeremy B. has also been a great resource ever since he started at Town Hall, sharing his expertise and contacts, giving us a heads up about lower energy costs, checking in with us about safety issues, even making a trip over to bring us some sand and a scoop to use on the walkways in the winter.

The Stratham Library, for being our “van stop!” The State Library’s van delivery service doesn’t deliver Interlibrary Loan items to every library, so some of us share a “van stop.” The Wiggin Memorial Library in Stratham is a van stop for themselves, Newfields and Newington. Twice a week they sort our three libraries’ deliveries, over 80 items a week, over 4,000 a year! On the rare occasions I have to sort them myself because I arrive to pick up our items before they get to it, they are unnecessarily apologetic. I appreciate the friendly, helpful welcome I receive at their library twice a week!

Lillian and Alan Wilson, Lillian served as a Trustee and Treasurer and now an alternate, and she and her husband Alan have taken on the annual winterizing of the historic “Urn” (historically a drinking fountain for horses) in front of the library, and in the spring addingdecorative plants and flowers to it. Over the years, Lillian and Alan have also both spent hours working in the “rain garden” by the Library driveway. The library grounds are even more beautiful thanks to their efforts.

And finally, YOU, our library patrons! You visited us 7,174 times last year, you checked out 6,840 physical items and 3,945 digital titles, you came to programs and called us and used our computers and printers and meeting space. The word “patron” to describe library visitors has become a little old-fashioned, the term “user” has grown in popularity. I prefer ‘patron’ because it means one who “supports” the library. In today’s world, libraries are often accused of becoming obsolete, and it’s our loyal patrons who prove that wrong. Every time you turn to us for information or entertainment or community or art, you demonstrate our value, and we appreciate it! Thank you, and Happy National Library Week, to all of you!