Happy December
Melissa Beaulieu
December 11, 2025
Melissa Beaulieu is the Library Director at Baldwin Memorial Library in Wells River, Vermont.
“The rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned, and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting.” ~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
Happy December from the Librarian/Director of Baldwin Memorial Library. This has been a big year for our little library. We have welcomed many new faces, offered a variety of programs, and made lots of changes. We have so much to be grateful for!
We partnered with several organizations to improve our space and services. With support from the Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL), we replaced our windows and doors. With support from the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF), we hosted two children’s author visits, distributed over 100 books to local children (for them to keep), and updated our children’s spaces. . . which led to a lot of rearranging. With support from 302 Cares, we have expanded our after school activities for local students and brought more young people into the library. With support from Ocean State Job Lots and Hunger Free Vermont, we have been able to keep our food shelf stocked and provide free summer meals to area youth.
We welcomed the efforts of an amazing group of volunteers. These dedicated individuals (and families) help run the library, assist with events, and clean and organize our space. . . even if it means rearranging the whole library, cleaning out our storage space, and installing new shelves for book sale items. Additionally this year, with the support of volunteers, Baldwin Memorial Library was able to offer more outreach services including leading activities at 302 Cares’ Family Dinner Night and BMU School’s Kindergarten Transition Night and distributing books and treats at the West Newbury Summer Festival and Newbury Recreation Department’s Trunk or Treat.
Our mission is to offer a welcoming and engaging environment that serves our community by providing equitable access to enriching and educational activities and resources. We serve patrons from all across the area from Fairlee to Barre and St. Johnsbury, Vermont, and from Lisbon to Lincoln to Lyme, NH, and many places beyond. Community is at the heart of what we do and HOW we do it. As a non-profit organization, our budget relies on grants, fundraisers and donations, and our operation depends on volunteers. This Giving Tuesday, I want to encourage you to make a donation to Baldwin Memorial Library. Your donation, be it time, money or both, can have a profound impact.
“The rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned, and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting.” ~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
Happy December from the Librarian/Director of Baldwin Memorial Library. This has been a big year for our little library. We have welcomed many new faces, offered a variety of programs, and made lots of changes. We have so much to be grateful for!
We partnered with several organizations to improve our space and services. With support from the Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL), we replaced our windows and doors. With support from the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF), we hosted two children’s author visits, distributed over 100 books to local children (for them to keep), and updated our children’s spaces. . . which led to a lot of rearranging. With support from 302 Cares, we have expanded our after school activities for local students and brought more young people into the library. With support from Ocean State Job Lots and Hunger Free Vermont, we have been able to keep our food shelf stocked and provide free summer meals to area youth.
We welcomed the efforts of an amazing group of volunteers. These dedicated individuals (and families) help run the library, assist with events, and clean and organize our space. . . even if it means rearranging the whole library, cleaning out our storage space, and installing new shelves for book sale items. Additionally this year, with the support of volunteers, Baldwin Memorial Library was able to offer more outreach services including leading activities at 302 Cares’ Family Dinner Night and BMU School’s Kindergarten Transition Night and distributing books and treats at the West Newbury Summer Festival and Newbury Recreation Department’s Trunk or Treat.
Our mission is to offer a welcoming and engaging environment that serves our community by providing equitable access to enriching and educational activities and resources. We serve patrons from all across the area from Fairlee to Barre and St. Johnsbury, Vermont, and from Lisbon to Lincoln to Lyme, NH, and many places beyond. Community is at the heart of what we do and HOW we do it. As a non-profit organization, our budget relies on grants, fundraisers and donations, and our operation depends on volunteers. This Giving Tuesday, I want to encourage you to make a donation to Baldwin Memorial Library. Your donation, be it time, money or both, can have a profound impact.
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