Outlines achievements and plans
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
The Lennoxville Library held its Annual General Meeting on Feb. 11, highlighting a year of growth, community engagement, and financial responsibility. Library board president Heather Thomson, treasurer Ron Coughlin, and director Christian Collins presented their respective reports, detailing accomplishments and future plans.
President’s report: A year of improvements and community support
Heather Thomson, president of the board, opened with a note of gratitude for the library’s volunteers, whose 2,000 hours of work equate to that of a full-time employee. “Our volunteers are the backbone of the library,” Thomson emphasized. The library currently has about 50 volunteers, with 10-12 offering weekly assistance. Volunteers assist with cataloguing, shelving, interlibrary loans, and event organization.
One of the key highlights was the reorganization of the library’s physical space. Thanks to financial support from the Tillotson Fund, the City of Sherbrooke, and Global Excel, significant improvements were made, including the acquisition of modular tables, new study carrels, comfortable seating, and beanbags for the children’s area. The library also installed a retractable screen, which had been provided by the City of Sherbrooke but had not yet been put in place. “We’ve reimagined the space to better serve our patrons,” Thomson said.
The library also expanded its outreach with the enhancement of the Espace Biblio at Square Queen. With the help of the Townshippers Foundation and the Tillotson Fund, a new tent, outdoor seating, and children’s play materials were added, enriching community engagement at the Lennoxville Farmers Market. Over the summer, Espace Biblio hosted 21 activities, drawing in 1,017 visitors, including 696 children and families who participated in programs such as storytelling and arts and crafts.
Fundraising efforts brought in over $11,600, primarily from book sales at the Lennoxville United Church and the Salle Amédée Beaudoin. The “Adopt-a-Book” program and local business sponsorships contributed an additional $4,800. “Our community’s generosity makes everything we do possible,” Thomson noted. Additionally, the Supporting Member Program raised $5,535, reinforcing financial stability for the library.
The library also saw success in program development, hosting 105 children’s activities and 55 events for adults. Programs such as family book clubs, pajama storytimes, author visits, and history talks helped bolster engagement. “Our goal is to keep expanding our offerings while maintaining the quality of service,” Thomson said.
