Wilton Library Association (WLA) was proud to host its 130th Annual Meeting for Friends on the evening of Wednesday, June 18, 2025. This year’s Annual Meeting included the election of officers, a celebration of those retiring from the WLA Board of Trustees, awards for the Library’s outstanding Volunteer of the Year and Staff Person of the Year, and a presentation by the Library’s award-winning robotics team, Singularity Technology.
The meeting also featured a surprise announcement, where the Library unveiled a new and significant partnership with ASML. An expansion of their generous support of the Library over the past several years, ASML’s partnership will now provide both multi-year funding as well as volunteer support for a variety of initiatives that will enhance Wilton Library’s ability to serve as Wilton’s cultural and intellectual center. The total amount of the grant is approximately $810,000 over three years.
ASML Society and Community Engagement Program Manager Brian Amero joined Wilton Library’s Executive Director Caroline Mandler in sharing the news.
“ASML’s core values are Challenge, Collaborate and Care, which drive our belief that innovation and responsibility must go hand in hand. The spectacular growth of the semiconductor industry has been fueled by innovation. For over 40 years ASML has been part of that, breaking down technological barriers on our way to becoming one of the world’s most valuable tech companies. With that honor comes a responsibility to make a positive contribution to the communities where our employees and their families live, work, and learn. Today, I am pleased to not only share in the announcement of this partnership, but to do so as a Wilton Library cardholder,” Amero said.
Key initiatives of the partnership include funding for an annual jazz festival, an ASML Author Series, a new monthly children’s music program, the addition of a Bloomberg Terminal, a Digital Navigators program offering one-on-one tech assistance, additional funding for the Library’s robotics team and staff development, and a variety of technology enhancements.
“We are truly appreciative of ASML’s support, and for their belief in the Library’s mission and vision,” Mandler said. “Many of these initiatives come directly from our Strategic Plan, and now thanks to ASML we are able to execute them at a higher level than we could ever have originally imagined. We look forward to launching these programs and services for the community in the coming months.”
As part of the regular business meeting, Wilton Library Association President Carol Johnson shared remarks highlighting the Library’s 130th Anniversary, and thanked the community for its longstanding support. She shared the Library’s history, which started in May 1895 with 150 books and has now grown to become the cultural and intellectual center of the community.
In her remarks regarding the Fiscal Year 2024-2025, WLA Treasurer Penny Maxwell noted the Library’s two successful fundraisers, which were Autumn Aces in partnership with the Riverbook Regional YMCA, and the Spring Gala.
“These events, in conjunction with our annual appeal and book sales managed by an incredible group of volunteers, allowed us to achieve our revenue goals for the fiscal year,” Maxwell said.
Maxwell also mentioned that since the current year’s operating expense budget from the Town was only 2%, the Library was pleased with the town’s support in securing a 3% budget increase for the next fiscal year.
Mandler thanked the library’s community partners, donors and the Board of Selectmen for their essential support of the Library through the Public-Private Partnership. Mandler also shared several highlights from the past year. She noted the multiple awards that the Library received recently, including the Connecticut State Library Award for Community Engagement, and two awards for the Brubeck Collection: the Award of Merit from the Connecticut League of Museums, and most recently the prestigious Award of Excellence from American Association for State and Local History. The Library held several high-profile programs over the past year, including former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins, bestselling author Fiona Davis, and most recently award-winning author Daniel Mendelsohn with a new translation of The Odyssey. Mandler closed by thanking the staff for their dedication and collaboration throughout the year, as the Library continues to achieve the ambitious goals set forth by its Strategic Plan.
Each year, the Library acknowledges a Staff Person of the Year. In her remarks, Mandler announced that Seema Saksena, who has been part of the Library staff for 20 years, was selected for her exemplary customer service, and her commitment to ongoing book processing and special projects while working in multiple departments.
Johnson announced the selection of Volunteer of the Year, which went to the entire Book Sale Team. The approximately 45 volunteers of the Book Sale Team, who work year round, were recognized for their deep dedication and their level of knowledge and detail that goes into producing multiple annual book sales that attract buyers from Fairfield County and throughout New England.
During the business meeting, attendees re-elected Johnson as president and Maxwell as treasurer, and elected Stephanie Johns-Clark as vice president and Andrew Purcell as secretary for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
Current trustees nominated and approved to serve continuing terms on the board are Matthew Greene, Mark Kaduboski and Purcell.
New trustees nominated and approved to serve on the Board are Pamela Carlson, Thomas Clark, Robin Clune and Jennifer Kendra.
Retiring trustees were honored with books that were purchased for the Library’s collection. The books will carry bookplates acknowledging their service as trustees. Those retiring are Roberto De Feo, Jennifer Longmire, Sandy Stein and Christine Wachter.
The meeting also included a presentation and demonstration by WLA’s robotics team, Singularity Technology. The team won a spot at the FIRST Technology Challenge World Championship this past April. They were one of only two teams in the State of Connecticut to qualify at this level, placing them in the top 3% of teams internationally.
About Wilton Library
For more than 130 years, Wilton Library has served as the cultural and intellectual center of Wilton with the mission to inform, enrich, connect and inspire our community. The Library is located at 137 Old Ridgefield Rd. in the heart of Wilton Center. For more information, visit or call 203.762.3950.
