From the Director
Dear Friends,
We often say that great libraries build great communities. It’s a reminder of our mission to serve as a place for lifelong learning, to be a destination where curious minds come together over shared interests and new ideas. But great libraries are only made possible by a community that values and supports literacy and free access to information, high-quality resources, and a broad range of perspectives.
Public libraries are unique institutions. We are not motivated or guided by profitability, ideology, or politics. Our aim is simply—powerfully—to keep our community educated, informed, entertained, and connected. Darien Library is not just a welcoming physical location filled with a collection of world-class books and resources, staffed by the most intelligent and compassionate information professionals, where you can receive assistance with anything from filing your taxes to researching your family history. It is also a place where people of all ages and stages come together to learn, explore ideas and perspectives, play, craft, and meet their neighbors.
Over the past year, over 40,000 people attended one of our over 1,200 free events, including a visit from an Olympic Gold Medalist and a bevy of New York Times bestselling authors. Our skilled reference librarians and technology specialists answered over 100,000 queries and requests. And over 480,000 books and materials were checked out by readers of all ages.
You helped make all of that possible! Generous support from our Friends fuels all that we do each year. In addition, our longstanding partnership with the Town of Darien, in the form of an annual grant from the Board of Selectmen, funds the salaries and benefits for our exemplary staff as well as the annual maintenance of the Library building and grounds. We are so grateful for the support of our taxpayers, elected officials, and our generous donors. Thank you for fueling the heart of Darien!
As we look ahead at the many ways that Darien is changing and growing, we are excited for the future and the possibilities on the horizon. With your continued support, we will remain poised to respond to this community’s evolving needs and expectations—be they the rise of work-from-home schedules and the growing popularity of our private meeting rooms to continuing to serve as a safe and supportive space for our tweens and teens to hosting erudite authors and expert speakers on topics that illuminate and inspire.
With Hope and Gratitude,
Kiera Parrott
Director
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