August 2026 Newsletter

Many hands are building an extraordinary community.

Over the past several weeks, I've been reflecting on just how fortunate we are to be surrounded by people who believe in our mission and generously give their time to make this library the welcoming, vibrant place it is. To every volunteer—past, present, and future—please accept my heartfelt thanks.

To our longtime volunteers, some of whom have been serving this library for decades, thank you for your unwavering commitment. To our Board of Directors, who quietly devote countless hours behind the scenes making difficult decisions, raising funds, serving on committees and ensuring this library remains strong for generations to come, thank you for your leadership and dedication.

To our newer volunteers who have begun stopping by each week to lend a hand, thank you for becoming part of the library. I especially love seeing multiple generations of the same family volunteering—a wonderful reminder that community service can become a family tradition.

And then there are the heroes of our biggest events. Every year, when we ask for "all hands on deck" for Bike for Books or our annual Labor Day weekend Gigantic Book Sale, you answer the call. Whether you're hauling boxes, sorting books, directing traffic, setting up tables, selling raffle tickets, greeting attendees or simply doing whatever needs to be done, you make these events possible. These fundraisers don't happen because of one person—they happen because many helping hands come together with a shared purpose.

Recently, I asked of you in an email: What talent could you share with your community through the library? The response has been incredible. Community members stepped forward to teach Mahjong, lead this Saturday's cake decorating class, offer Medicare guidance, provide free tutoring services and share knowledge and skills that enrich all of us. These programs exist because someone in our community was willing to say, "I'd love to help."

We've also welcomed several community members to our library committees, where they are generously contributing their time, professional expertise, fresh ideas and life experiences to help support both the Board of Directors and the library's mission. Strong organizations are built by people who care enough to get involved, and we are grateful for every committee member who has chosen to invest in the future of our library.

So, from all of us at Pope Memorial Library: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

If you've ever wondered how you can support your library, the answer is simple: share what you have. Maybe it's an hour each week. Maybe it's helping for one afternoon at the book sale. Maybe it's space in your truck bed on your next dump run. Maybe you have a skill you'd love to teach, professional expertise that could strengthen a committee or simply a willingness to lend a hand when needed.

Every volunteer matters. Every hour makes a difference. Every act of kindness helps ensure that Pope Memorial Library continues to be More Than Books—a place where neighbors help neighbors, lifelong learning thrives and our community grows stronger together.

If you'd like to become part of our amazing volunteer team, we'd love to hear from you. There is a place for every talent, every schedule and every helping hand.

As always, we hope to see you at the library soon and often.

Angela Callahan

Executive Director

Read our August newsletter to discover all that is happening this month.

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