From the Director
Over the past year, Darienites have found new ways to come together, share interests, and build community during challenging times. We are proud that so many of you have been able to do this right here at the Library. Whether in person or online, you’ve explored what you’re passionate about at our author events, hands-on workshops, lectures, field trips, storytimes, family film nights, and music programs. You’ve met your neighbors, made new friends, discovered great reads, and found common ground to strengthen a community that is resilient and compassionate. Recently, a visitor shared with me that Darien Library is her “happy place.”
In the following pages, we highlight just some of the many ways that Darien Library continues to evolve with you, including one-on-one technology training, comfortable work and meeting spaces, a new and vastly improved website and online catalog, and an engaging Storywalk© at the Darien Nature Center for our littlest readers.
This past year, over 23,000 of you attended one of our over 1,000 free events. Nearly 123,000 of you logged onto our computers or made use of the free high-speed WiFi. Over 97,000 of your research questions were asked and answered by our librarians. And you checked out over 500,000 books and materials. It is no surprise, then, that Darien Library remains one of the most well-used public libraries in the state and nation, consistently ranked as a Star Library.
All of this is made possible by you. Donations to our annual campaign and special fundraising events enable the purchase of all of the books, digital materials and resources, technology, and all of the events, classes, workshops, and special programs we host for children, teens, and adults of all ages. Our longstanding public-private partnership with the Town of Darien, in turn, funds our award-winning staff and the annual maintenance of the Library building and grounds.
Whether you’re new to town or a longtime resident, we want you to know that Darien Library is YOUR library.
Stop in, visit us online, and discover your own “happy place” at Darien Library.
With Hope and Gratitude,
Kiera Parrott, Director
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