Driving in to work this morning, with the low November sun slanting through the leafless trees along Route 27, I couldn’t help but think how fortunate I am to live in this little piece of paradise called Midcoast Maine. We have our problems for sure. There are too many people out of work, the rate of illiteracy is too high, and drug abuse is a scourge that sorely impacts the communities we live in. These are significant, sadly long standing issues for the place we call home.

But there is a bright side to this picture, too. Looking through the Boothbay Register and the Lincoln County News one can see, alongside the latest news of some local criminal act, accompanied by a sad glassy-eyed mug shot, any number of stories highlighting the best in our communities. Efforts to fight hunger, volunteers banding together to maintain local hiking trails, and individuals and groups making plans to donate Christmas gifts to families in need are just a few examples of the kindnesses that far outweighs the sad news that unfortunately grabs our attention.

The Library is another place where the best comes out in people. We are a small organization able to do a big job because of the volunteers that show up faithfully every week. With a staff of 3.15 full-time employees, we couldn’t possibly manage to do what needs doing to run a professional library without the many hours of volunteer help we are fortunate to have. Ordering books requires hours of reading reviews, then more hours to catalog and classify for shelf display; keeping current with the latest in technology in order to provide the best tech for our patrons requires time, as does developing our extensive programming for adults and children. It isn’t back-breaking work, but it requires time to do well. Our staff is able to focus on these critical elements of our work because our volunteers free us up to do so.

I can’t mention here every one of them individually, but I can say a collective thank you to them for making the Library the place it is because of their dedication. At this time of recalling the things we’re thankful for I can’t say thank you enough to this collection of folks that make what we do possible.

This week’s Library tidbit: Did you know the Library provides access to thousands of free eBooks and audiobooks? True! You’ll need a Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library card to access and download them, and that’s as easy as dropping in and signing up as a member of the Library. It’s all free and we do it with a smile. Hope to see you real soon at the Library!