To the Editor:

For over 45 years, the Friends of the C.H. Booth Library organization has been a bedrock of support for the community’s public library. These dedicated, cheerful, and loyal volunteers spend countless hours receiving books and media and working to get them into the hands of a book lover. The annual book sale is an event to behold, featuring well over 120,000 items and hundreds of volunteers working hard. Annually, the Friends raise a substantial portion of the library’s book and materials budget and also contribute to technology, databases, and special projects.

I hope that residents join me in celebrating the Friends of the C.H. Booth Library during National Friends of Public Libraries Week, annually the third week in October, and all year round. Anyone can join the Friends by paying inexpensive annual dues. Those who join the Friends contribute to the use and promotion of the library and to cultural and intellectual activity in our community. Information can be found at tinyurl.com/y6mwqqg5.

Even more important than the generous sums raised for the library, the Friends always have a smile and kind words for all. Like the library itself, this is an organization of people helping, including, and caring about other people.

This is a great group of Americans and a nonprofit organization of which the community can be proud.

Douglas Lord

Director, C.H. Booth Library

25 Main Street, Newtown October 18, 2019