By Meghan Peterson.
At Haddam’s Brainerd Memorial Library (920 Saybrook Road), you will find books, newspapers, movies, music, and a vivacious group of people who help to make all that possible: The Friends of BML. A committee of the Library’s Board of Trustees, it serves the institution and broader community in a number of ways.
Before we get to the work of the Friends, let us meet the people behind that work. On a recent bright, sunny Thursday morning, the Friends graciously spoke with me about who they are and what they do to assist the day-to-day operations of this town’s community resource. In particular, I met with four dedicated Friends who shared a bit of their background and what magnetized them to become involved with Brainerd Memorial Library. Their energy effervesced throughout the discussion – enough to bring the books to life on the shelves surrounding them.
Kaycee Blancaflor has lived in town and called it home since 1992. In 2016, after Kaycee filled out a request for Friends of the Library volunteers on the back of a Friends fundraising flyer, Cheryl Czuba, Chair of the Friends, reached out to Kaycee. As they say, the rest is history: Kaycee has been involved with the Friends ever since. Even during Kaycee’s move to Utica, NY, she remained in active contact with the Friends and helped organize various events – albeit remotely. Indeed, Kaycee speaks about the “strong connection” that she and the Friends maintained despite the distance. Now that she is back in Haddam, that connection has only continued. Kaycee also fondly recalls the community service hour project her son did in organizing old, worn books within a building the Friends affectionately refer to as “The Shed.”
Cheryl Czuba, Chair of The Friends, has been with the group since 2013. She also serves on the Library’s Board of Trustees. Cheryl notes that “the previous President of the Friends was Mary Aduskevich, who served in that role for over 20 years. She and her husband Peter were recognized with the BML Long Time Support of the Library award. in 2020.”
Cheryl points out the importance of community and how vital the Friends are to fostering as well as preserving the Library’s robust presence within Haddam. Moreover, while it is a very literary group, the Friends also has a presence in the tech world. To wit, BML Assistant Director Robbie Marshall and Circulation Assistant Jenny Law sell books on Amazon – on behalf of the Friends. Czuba explains, “[t[hey are incredible supporters. They help us dream up great ideas for Friends projects. The staff and Friends are a team!”
Kit McKinnon is a recent retiree, bidding adieu to her nursing career of 43 years. Upon her retirement in August 2021, Kit saw in crystal clear fashion the urgent mental and physical health linkages that reading – and reading within a closely-knit community – provide. “Reading is healing,” she explains. Being a part of The Friends and being a part of a book group at BML “feed that well-being level,” according to Kit.
Donna Brinckerhoff has been living in Haddam since 1991. Upon her “renaissance” (what Donna lovingly refers to as her retirement from a long career as a flight attendant with IBM, Donna has been a Friend for five years or so. Donna also sits on the BML Board of Trustees. She describes the vibrant role the Friends play both in the library community and Haddam community at large. In no uncertain terms, Donna makes clear how the Friends prove the value that BML brings to Haddam – as a common good: freely available to the public.
Betty Devlin was unable to attend Thursday’s meeting but writes: “I’m impressed by the longest-serving members’ continuity of involvement, their institutional memory, their awareness of the history of the library and the town, and their dedication. It’s good that new people continue to join, too. New members bring something special to the group – new perspectives or certain skills (financial or artistic organizational, for example)…Each Friend has his or her own new ideas. The BML Friends is a group of kind and agreeable citizens who volunteer their time and efforts to make life better for others. We enjoy each other, we love the library and our town, and we welcome new members.”
The Friends supply the fundraising momentum and organization throughout the year, raising approximately $9,000 each year on average through a variety of events. The group regularly stocks and replenishes the little free libraries stationed throughout Haddam. As mentioned earlier, the Friends sell used books on Amazon as well as in “The Book Nook” – located on the first level of the library. Finally, this team has its own colorful merchandise, such as t-shirts available for perusal and purchase at the library.
Tom Piezzo, Director of BML also states: “The Friends of the Library has for decades been an integral part of our library’s operation. They sponsor special purchases which would otherwise fall beyond our budget, they financially support our programing for all ages, and they represent another facet of our library: one which helps to advocate for our sustainability, and engages community members at a level of their own choosing. I cannot overstate how valuable the Friends are to our success, and am grateful for their enterprising energy, creativity and generosity.”
Interested in joining this dynamic team of individuals? Visit BML for more information or fill out the back of the Friends of BML fundraising mailing sent to all Haddam households earlier this month. Also, Donna urges us to “stay tuned for May 15,” as a number of Friends will be volunteering at the Library that day. While she cannot elaborate at this time, the crux is this: keep the date open. Stay tuned.
Better yet, stop by BML and/or take a peek at the website to learn about upcoming events. After all, there just may be some of your favorite things coming down the pike from one of your favorite community hubs.
All photos by Meghan Peterson except photo of four Friends, taken by Tom Piezzo.
