At 129th Annual Meeting, Wilton Library Celebrates Year of Program Expansion and Community Collaborations

The following article was compiled from a press release from the Wilton Library Association.

Wilton Library Association (WLA) hosted its 129th Annual Meeting for Friends on Thursday evening, June 20. This brief business meeting included the election of officers, a celebration of those retiring from the WLA Board of Trustees, and a presentation of awards for the Library’s outstanding Volunteer of the Year and Staff Person of the Year. The meeting concluded with a conversation with CT State Librarian Deborah Schander.   

In her introductory remarks, Wilton Library Association President Carol Johnson offered several thank you, to “the Town for its continued support of our library, the Board of Trustees for their guidance and expertise, and especially the Wilton Library staff for their unwavering commitment and their dedication in ensuring that our library is the cultural and intellectual center of our community.”

Treasurer Mike Boswood gave a report on fiscal year 2023-2024, noting the “strong response” to the Annual Appeal, excellent book sale results, and the successful Casino Night and Spring Escape fundraisers. He said that while the library had been able to manage regular expenses due to diligent oversight and a one-time savings in benefits, it would end with a small deficit due to a “surprising” but mandatory elevator repair. Boswood also noted that looking ahead to next year, the library will “start FY’25 [with] a double challenge: paying for the remainder of the elevator cost, and covering the reduction in the increase in the Town grant from the proposed 2.7% to 1.7%.”

Wilton Library Executive Director Caroline Mandler expressed her appreciation “to all of our donors for your generosity which allows us to expand our programs and collections, and to the Board of Selectmen for their essential support of the library through our public-private partnership.” She noted growth “in all of the areas which indicate that our mission and vision are strongly resonating with the community,” including maintaining the highest percentage of resident cardholders out of all libraries in Fairfield County, and achieving a 15% increase in visits, 17% increase in digital circulation, and 40% increase in program attendance.

Mandler shared several highlights from the past year. She noted the creation of the new Cornerstone Writer-in-Residence program, made possible by the generosity of the library’s Endowment Fund donors, as well as the international launch of the digital archive for the Brubeck Collection, which has now been featured by NBC New York, The GRAMMY’s, International Day of Jazz, The Detroit Jazz Festival, the OC Register, Charleston Hub and many others.

She also said that the Library continues to work towards its vision centered on “fulfilling the diverse needs of our changing community, and providing opportunities to explore, learn, and create in an environment where everyone is made to feel safe and welcome.” Examples of impactful community collaborations over the past year included co-sponsoring the “Confronting Hate” panel at the Riverbrook Regional YMCA, programs with Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, being “active participants” in Wilton Youth Council’s Mental Health Task Force, and co-hosting Wilton’s successful 2nd Annual Pride Festival with Wilton Pride, which Mandler called a “true community celebration.”

Mandler closed by thanking the library staff, who she called “true professionals who live out our mission and vision every day.” 

Each year, the library acknowledges a Staff Person of the Year. Mandler announced that Sue Stengrim was selected for her efforts as part of the Development team, and called her the “creative genius” behind the Development department’s marketing materials and social media strategies. Mandler also noted that “Sue always comes up with new ideas to make our fundraising events the best experience possible for all who are attending.”

Johnson announced that current trustee and Board secretary, Betsy Huffman, was selected as Volunteer of the Year for “her many years of her commitment and dedication to serving our mission and our vision” and for sharing “her incredible artistic talent,” most recently as part of the Spring Escape fundraiser where she created the Eiffel Tower, a windmill, a giant wave, a gondola, and an incredible Chinese dragon, which now hangs in the Children’s Library.

During the business meeting, attendees elected Johnson as president, Marty Avallone as vice president, Huffman as secretary, and Penny Maxwell as treasurer for fiscal year 2024-2025.

Current trustees nominated and approved to serve continuing terms on the board are Lianne Griswold Acosta-Rua, Avallone, Tim Flanagan, Huffman, Jung Soo Kim and Maxwell.

New trustees nominated and approved to serve on the Board are Daniel Darst, Sara Sclafani, David Tatkow and Sara Zawoiski.

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 Boswood, Thom Healy and Juliette Leavey. 

The meeting concluded with special guest Schander. Mandler led a thoughtful conversation with her on the role of libraries in cultivating a culture of civic engagement.

For more than 129 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 Road in the heart of Wilton Center. For more information, visit the Wilton Library online or call 203.762.3950.