Betsy Dunton began volunteering at Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library nearly 20 years ago, after her husband, Mike, died in 2005.

“I was walking with Marge Creaser, a former library trustee, one day and was complaining to her about some slight that happened there,” she said. “Marge said ‘Well, why don’t you just volunteer there,’ so I have been here ever since.”

She started out volunteering at BHML just on Fridays as she was still working at Tugboat Inn, where she did everything from waitressing to hosting, bartending and more. Now retired, she volunteers three days a week (Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays) for four hours a day. She also worked with Head Start years ago.

“It keeps me out of trouble,” Dunton said with a smile.

Though she thinks of herself as not being a “people person,” she admits the people she has met through the library are why she loves volunteering there.

“They are the cream of the crop. They come from all walks of life, all ages. I love working with them.”  

When not checking out books for people or helping them with services, she does other projects the staff needs help with, such as events.

“I like to keep busy so whatever needs to be done, I do.” She said the days vary on how busy she is, depending on the time of year (slower in the winter), or whether the library is holding an event (where it tends to get busier).  

Joanna Breen, the library’s executive director, said Dunton “is always willing to learn new things and will catch anything we throw at her (from golf balls to beach balls, to stick with the analogy).  She's great with patrons and is as dependable as the sun. We work together at the library; but we're also friends, we walk our dogs together – our dogs love each other! If it weren't for Betsy and our dedicated crew of volunteers, we simply couldn't do all the things the library does today. The library and this community are so fortunate to have volunteers like Betsy.”

In addition to her duties at the library, Dunton is an active member of Boothbay Harbor United Methodist Church. There she runs the Clothing Closet, takes care of the altar, takes care of the prayer book, updates the church calendar and more.

Being around books 12 hours a week, is she an avid reader? 

“Yes. I love to read mysteries. Sometimes I read the more involved mysteries and sometimes I enjoy the ‘cozies’ which I call the ‘light and fluffy’ mysteries, like the ones Barbara Ross writes.”

Dunton likes to read mysteries taking place in other countries, such as England, France and Ireland. Reading about Ireland prompted her to take a couple of trips there.  

“The first time I went to Ireland, I went with a tour, but I didn’t get a feel for much of the country. The second time I went with a younger woman. We got lost the first day … It was a way of getting to know the people better,” she said with a chuckle.

Betsy and Mike raised three boys, Eric, Patrick and Jon, at their Lakeview Road home in Boothbay Harbor. Though they didn’t frequent the library as the family grew, they did read but Betsy said her job with Head Start at the time was tiring and, when she got home, she didn’t pick up a book like she does now.  

A couple of years back during the pandemic, Head Librarian Joanna Breen suggested Betsy get a dog to keep her company.  

“When we – my son, my grandson and my great-grandson – went to get the dog, I wondered what we should name her,” said Betsy. “Well, my great-grandson spoke right up and said, ‘Just name her Princess because that’s how you are going to treat her,’” Betsy said as she showed me a photo of Princess on her phone.  

“She is a great dog and companion,” she said.  

Betsy said she has a “really good life” and considers it a blessing that she has lived in the “middle” of Boothbay Harbor in the same house for over 50 years and meeting all the people.  

“I love living in the neighborhood where the people help each other out,” she said. 

She enjoys working with the other volunteers and staff at the library. 

“We have fun. I love listening to the staff when they are doing something in the other room, and they are having fun doing it.” 

When asked what advice she would give to someone interested in volunteering at the library, she did not hesitate.  

“Bottom line, you’ll love it.”