GPL Thanks Volunteers With A Reception

The Groton Public Library held a well-attended reception honoring its 45 valued volunteers on Thursday, September 27th. Volunteers of all ages generously share their time and talents to help make the library the place to be in Groton. They help with internal work such as reading and indexing Groton’s history in the Town Diaries, repairing and recovering books, keeping the book sale shelf organized and withdrawing older books to keep the collection current. Recently many volunteers have been adding colorful labels to over 16,000 books as the library reorganizes the non-fiction floor into 12 major areas to simplify browsing. The physical rearranging of these new areas is happening soon. Some of the work that’s done is external – such as weeding, trimming and caring for the newly created Katie Madigan Garden.

Volunteer facilitators lead children, teen or adult book discussion groups, Spanish or French Conversation Groups and new this year, TED Talks and Justice Life-Long Learning Seminars. And, by serving on the town-wide outreach program—GrotonREADS, they help the library offer programs around town that are fun for everyone.

Young people who give to the library comprise almost half of the library’s volunteers as there are 23 who either serve on the Young Adult Advisory Council or come weekly to assist with compiling reading suggestions and other projects.