Abby Dunlap has been volunteering at Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library since 2018. “I really didn’t start reading for pleasure until I was a teenager,” says Abby, “then I discovered Robert Ludlum and everything changed! Murder Mysteries and Historical Fiction by the likes of Bernard Cornwell are my favorites.

“We used to live in Bath, and we were within walking distance of the Patten Free Library. First I would take the kids to storytime, then I volunteered to read and finally, I joined the board. When I retired, we moved to Edgecomb full time and it just seemed like the perfect opportunity to volunteer here. It’s a great way to meet and reconnect with people too. It’s an important institution for the community. I feel passionate about it continuing to grow.

“My Mom and Dad have always loved this library. Mom remembers coming here as a little girl sometime in the 1940s and my dad is a voracious reader to this day, so it’s always been important to our family.

“It always amazes me to hear people say ‘Are libraries still vital?’ Of course they are! Libraries are at the heart of the community. They are accessible to all. A lot of what we do here is free and people don’t really understand that. If it disappeared, it would be a huge loss to our community. We must support it so it's around for generations to come.”

Upcoming events

• Halloween Parade: Tuesday, Oct. 31, 4-5 p.m.
• Booktoberfest: - Saturday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Read & Watch Discussion: Saturday, Oct. 28, 10:30 a.m.
• Grandparents Group: Wednesday, Nov. 8, 4-5 p.m.
• Grandparents Group: Friday, Nov. 10,11 a.m.-noon

For more information visit bbhlibrary.org