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Giving Matters: The Library Is A Town Hub in Gilmanton

The Gilmanton Year-Round Library opened in 2009 -- entirely the product of volunteer labor and donated funds. Jenn MacLeod and her four kids could not imagine the town without it. “My son, who’s 3, comes into the library, takes off his shoes, hangs up his coat and says ‘I’m home.’”

 

McLeod and her kids take advantage of almost every club and service offered by the library. “My little kids go to story hour, music time and craft time.” While the older kids enjoy Lego club and are voracious readers. “Aiden read all of the animal encyclopedias in the library. My daughter Corina, who’s 9, wants to be a writer someday and our librarian has been kind enough to order her books about how to be a writer.”

But MacLeod points out that the benefits of the library are felt far beyond her family. “Our entire community uses the library for a lot of different purposes.” For example, the library is the only place in town with public computer access. And while many patrons use these computers to look for jobs, and write resumes, there are others who lack basic computer literacy. MacLeod says, “our librarians are excellent at helping those who don’t have those computer skills to learn them.”

Gilmanton passed a budget at town meeting this year that will directs some funds to the library, acknowledging its significance to the town. MacLeod says, “I really feel that this library is crucial to our town. It’s the only community center, the only gathering place that we have. It’s how people moving into the community and get to know others in the community. It means so much to so many different people.”

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