Richards Free Library Blog

At the annual Volunteer Tea, the Board of Trustees and the staff of the library presented the Pamela Gay Award for Volunteerism to Nelson Aldrich. Nelson keeps us in flowers and freshly painted walls. Thank you Nelson!

The New York Times announced their 100 Best Books of 2006 List. It is a great list for your Christmas gift buying. We have many of the books on our shelves, but if we don't have the one you want, please ask us to get it for you. We can borrow it from another library for you. We try to buy what our patrons want, so always feel free to make a request. We have forms at the front desk or just e-mail us. If we get two requests for a book and it meets our selection guidelines we will buy it and the requester gets the book first.

Raymond and Barbara Holden started the Friends of the Richards Free Library in 1955. Their vision was that the Friends of the Library would help make the library even better. Over the years the Friends have funded much need items from shelving to books to new carpet. They have furnished the library with chairs, tables and drapes. They have sent staff to national library conferences. They sponsor the summer children’s performances. They make it possible for the library to try new technology…from fax machines, e-books, scanners, digital cameras and computers to M3P players. Yesterday was the annual meeting of the Friends of the Library and I am delighted to report that Barbara Holden Yeomans was in attendance. President Stacy Tyo-Bartlett led an outstanding fundraising effort and with a great deal of support from the Centurions (Centurions give at least $100) of the Friends raised over $18,000. This year the Friends will • redecorate and re-carpet the Sarah Hale and the Tomie dePaola Rooms • provide supplies and snacks for children and teen programs • buy books and audio books • underwrite speaker fees • buy new tables for ballroom • purchase membership in audio and video co-ops • replace the old listening center and headphones • add to the library book endowment