The Heart of Town

A Letter from the Director of Whitefield Public Library, Courtney Vashaw . . .

In 2018, when I came on board as the director of the Whitefield Public Library, I had the impression that libraries were mostly about books. That was the vision I had in my head from when I used the library as a child, and it was the experience I had with the library as an adult.

But within days of taking on the position, I realized how much more really goes into not only the job, but the building and institution. This beautiful 1904 Carnegie library is like the living, beating heart of this little community. The role that it plays in the 21st century is constantly changing to meet the ever-increasing needs of our society.

Understanding the diverse ways in which the library serves our community, in 2020 the Board of Trustees voted on a new mission statement for the Whitefield Public Library: Connecting people with the resources they need to live their best lives. It is our job to recognize what our community needs and to evolve with those needs. We will always “do books,” and we are very proud of our 10,000+ item collection. But we will also help people navigate the internet, fill out job applications, take a workshop on health insurance or energy efficiency that could result in hundreds or thousands of dollars of savings, get some free Covid tests and masks, learn a new skill, or simply come in to read the newspaper and chat. We take great pride in the fact that ALL are welcome.

The last years have been a whirlwind and a joy, and it is my honor to serve this town in such a position of trust and privilege. I look forward to helping our library be the best it can be and finding new ways to help us grow for many years to come..

Courtney Vashaw, M.Ed, CAGS, Director