Please consider contributing to our Annual Appeal

Dear Friend of the Chelsea Public Library,

What a year we have all shared!  This year the library has served over 4,500 visitors.  We have circulated more than 8,000 items including print and digital materials, and borrowed over 500 items from corners of Vermont near and far for Chelsea Public Library patrons through the interlibrary loan system.  

The library has been reaching the community through more than books.  The library expanded programming for our youngest patrons, reaching science lovers with live birds with help from the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, magic lovers with a library magician, and those who just needed to kick something with an inter-community literacy-themed kickball event cohosted with the Tunbridge Public Library.  The library also remains committed to quality adult programming including weekly yarn & craft circle, visual and performing arts events, hosting local authors and drop-in tech hour for those seeking assistance with technology.

Our major initiative this year has been increasing library accessibility.  We grow each time we reduce barriers to library access and welcome new people.  Among the innovations this year of which we are most proud are: 
  • A 24 hour free WiFi service which was extended this year for greater outdoor and town hall coverage to support community members who rely on that resource.  We have also added a wheelchair accessible picnic table next to the library for patrons to enjoy WiFi or a good book outdoors.
  • An expanded large print collection, we have partnered with the state’s ABLE Library to provide the community with access to a rotating large print collection to offer patrons variety despite our small library space.
  • Library-wide accessibility improvements including better lighting for our fiction section, large-print labeling throughout the library, a keyboard with large lettering, hearing aid-friendly headphones, a trackball mouse, and LED full page magnifiers.
  • A Living Well Discussion Group cosponsored by SafeArt to bring community members together to explore and celebrate wellness in its many forms.
  • A rotating small gallery space in the front of the library that has featured local artists this year, including Carrie Caouette-DeLallo, photos from Hannah Dennison’s Quarry Project, our youngest artists from the Orange County Parent Child Center, Nick Defrieze, and Neysa Russo.  Please keep an eye out for our upcoming artists in 2023, starting in January with paintings by Tanya Libby.  Artists interested in having a show should inquire at the library.   
  • Community Programming Partnerships with the Orange County Parent Child Center, First Branch Unified School District, SafeArt, Chelsea Arts Collective, Chelsea Farmers Market, and the Vermont Department of Libraries.

  The Town of Chelsea generously supports the library annually by providing over 60% of the budget, and the Chelsea Public Library Board of Trustees raises the rest through fundraising.   You can help us continue to offer programs like these, and more, by donating to the library. We hope you’ll help us meet our goal this year by:
  • making a tax-deductible donation to the Chelsea Public Library
  • contacting the library about planned giving opportunities
  • including the library in your estate planning
  • volunteering or joining our Library Friends Group 
  • donating online at http://www.chelsealibrary.com

You keep this library growing.  Thank you for your support, it is important! 

With gratitude,
The 2023 Annual Appeal Chelsea Public Library Board of Trustees

Mark Lembke, Vice Chair, Acting Chair
Phyllis Hayward, Treasurer
​Jessica Anderson, Secretary
Suzanne Turner, Trustee
Veronica Golden, Library Director
The Chelsea Public Library is a tax supported municipal library and is considered a governmental entity. Charitable contributions to governmental entities are generally tax deductible under Section 170 (c) (1) of the Internal Revenue Code, if made for a public purpose. Gifts to the Chelsea Public Library will be used exclusively for a public purpose. The Library's employer identification number (EIN) is 03-0278521.
Current Library Board of Trustees:
Kezia Frayjo, Chair
Chintana Herrin, Treasurer
Jessica Anderson, Secretary
Suzanne Turner, Trustee
​Nick Defriez, Trustee
Brian Anderson, Trustee
The Chelsea Public Library is a tax supported municipal library and is considered a governmental entity. Charitable contributions to governmental entities are generally tax Deductible under Section 170 (c) (1) of the Internal Revenue Code, if made for a public purpose. Gifts to the Chelsea Public Library will be used exclusively for a public purpose. The Library's employer identification number (EIN) is 03-0278521.