We'll start with the Thank You's and leave the Please's for later. Why? Because the Windsor Library is very fortunate to have the support and ongoing services of so many individuals, businesses, and organizations, from Windsor, from neigboring communities, and from far afield. This section honors those who are selflessly serving the library today!

Thank You, Volunteers!

The library has many volunteers staffing its front desk! They check circulating items in and out, schedule computer time, notify patrons who are on waiting lists when their turn has come, and perform a host of other tasks that free up paid staff for administrative tasks and direct patron services. Naturally, the library is always eager to recruit more volunteers.

Thank You, Friends!

Since 1990, the Friends of the Windsor Library have supported special projects and purchases in the library through tireless and innovative fundraising efforts. Their long-running Author Luncheon Series was one of the best-known literary events in the state, and their annual Book Sale (on Heritage Days weekend) provides funding for much-needed special projects and programs in the library which could not otherwise be easily obtained. In 2000, for instance, their gifts provided the lion's share of funding to recarpet the entire library—upstairs and down.

Thank You, Taxpayers!

A public library must be publicly funded. In 2006, at Town Meeting, Windsor voters provided the library with $55,000 in tax funding, covering approximately 70% of the library's operating expenses. Without this annual assessment, the library couldn't begin to offer the products and services you have come to expect from your local public library, including books, magazines, tapes, Internet access, and a full calendar of child and adult programming.

Thank You, Donors!

From the few cents dropped into the “Conscience Box” at the front desk, to large annual donations, the library enjoys the generosity of many individuals, philanthropic organizations, and businesses that understand the value of an adequately funded public library.

Thank You, Trustees!

The Trustees of the Windsor Library serve without remuneration for three-year terms. Besides attending monthly meetings, many of them contribute significant amounts of time, expertise, money, and other resources to the library.

Your library wants your patronage, needs your help, and lives or dies by your financial support. As you will see in the old Five-Year Plan for 2001-2005 (the new one is in production), the library has ambitious plans to improve services to all patrons, including a major expansion in space and significant enchancements to technology offerings. These improvements won't happen by themselves. They will require the concerted efforts of all the fine folks mentioned in the “Thank You!” section above, as well as many more. Read on for ways you can help.

Volunteers

Windsor Library enjoys one of the most active library volunteer programs in Vermont. We are constantly on the lookout for folks who are willing to put in two hours a week staffing the front desk and to provide many other valuable services that help us keep down our need for paid staffing.

In-Kind Contributions

Are you a licensed architect, contractor, plumber, electrician, carpenter, or someone skilled in other areas requiring professional expertise? The library may be able to arrange mutually beneficial in-kind contributions of your services. These services may be especially crucial when the library begins its ambitious expansion plans. Let the library know if it can put your name down as a resource to call upon in this context.

Creative Giving

The library supports day-to-day operations and capital improvements in a variety of ways, many of which are mentioned in the “Thank You!” section above. In order to realize its ambitious plans for the coming five years, the library needs to expand its donor base and levels of giving considerably. If you can help the library do this, then the library needs you! Call today.

Patron Services

Look to the library for all your “literacy” needs—informational, recreational, historical. If the library doesn't seem to have what you want, don't be hesitant to ask for it. The Interlibrary Loan program and growing Internet services provide access to enormous resources around the state, the nation, and the world.

Web Site Assistance

The Windsor Library Web Site is an all-volunteer effort. If you would like to learn how easy it is to produce web pages, we're ready to teach you! Right now, we are seeking volunteers to maintain various existing web pages as well as new ones. This may involve some writing and/or formatting material in HTML, the language of the Internet. It's a lot easier than you might think, and all it takes is access to a Windows-based computer and an email account.

Adopt-A-Book

Tiny, eager hands can take their toll on the sturdiest of books. And the more popular the book, the more often it has to be replaced. Now you can help, by taking part in Children's Librarian Sarah Tufts' Adopt-a-Book program. Look for titles that are up for adoption/replacement near the front door in the library, and donate the purchase price of the book(s) of your choice (some are very inexpensive). All such donations are tax-deductible, and the library will put a bookplate in the front of the book, with your name on it (or the name of the person you wish to donate the book "in honor of" or "in memory of").

Cartridge Recycling Program

The Windsor Library Earns Free Technology Equipment Through Cartridge and Cell Phone Recycling. Bring your empty ink-jet and laser toner cartridges and used cell phones to the Windsor Public Library. Through FundingFactory, we are participating in a special recycling program. FundingFactory will give us points for empty cartridges and old cell phones, points which we can exchange for over 10,000 educational technology and recreation products, or even cash! For your convenience, drop-off sites have been set up at the library.

Says Library Director Jennifer Cary, "With over 300 million cartridges thrown away last year alone, it should be easy to help the library acquire newer technology while at the same time reducing landfill waste." Go to For additional ways to help out the library, call Library Director Jennifer Cary at 802 674-2556.