Annual Appeal 2026-2027

October 2026

Dear Friends,

What a wonderful year it has been at the Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library!

We:

- Hosted more than 300 programs for children, teens, adults, families, and our community. Events included evenings with Ken Burns, Wally Lamb, Jean Becker and Tom Collamore, Lisa See, and others!

- Circulated more than 25,000 items, connecting readers with books, resources, and stories.

- Welcomed more than 40,000 visitors through our doors.

Behind every one of those numbers is a person—a child discovering a favorite story, a family enjoying a program together, a patron finding the information they need, or a neighbor simply finding a welcoming place to spend time.

These moments are what make our library truly special.

As I look back on the past year, I am filled with gratitude—not only for all that our library has been able to accomplish and for the people who make it possible, but also for the trust you placed in me to step in as the new director of your beloved library. Our library continues to be a vibrant and welcoming place because of the commitment and generosity of people like you.

And we need your help to keep that momentum going.

An extraordinary 60% of our operating budget comes from the generosity of supporters like you. That means your support is not an added benefit to what we do—it is essential to our ability to serve our community.

As we begin this year's annual campaign, I humbly ask you to make a gift to the Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library. Whatever amount you choose to give, your contribution matters. Every gift strengthens our library and the services we offer our community.

When you give, you are helping make possible another wonderful year at the library.

We hope you will join us in this year's campaign and help us reach our fundraising goal of $110,000. Your gift will make a lasting difference and help us continue the wonderful momentum of the past year.

Thank you for supporting your library and for recognizing the important role it plays in our community. We are grateful for your partnership, your generosity, and your belief in the power of our “small but mighty” library.

Because without you, only 40% of our story is written.

With gratitude,

Loretta Swift

Director