Hello American!

Dear Ashland (and beyond!),

I hope you, your family, and your friends are finding time this holiday season to just enjoy each other. I love this time of year, because it’s a great opportunity to pause and reflect on the things we’re grateful for. And at Ashland Public Library, we have so much to be thankful for.

Meena Jain
Library Director
[email protected]

We are Thankful to YOU!

Our patrons are the best!! In 2022:

• 51,866 - Visitors to the Library
• 84,071 - Physical Materials Checked Out
• 4,992 - Digital Downloads (Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy)
• 10,962 - Attendees to our programs for Kids, Teens, and Adults
• 29,242 - Views of our Program Videos on our YouTube Channel
• 60 items added to our Library Of Things
• 600 items added to our Foreign Language Collection

Community Challenge:

We'd like to challenge you to get a library card or give a library card! If you or someone you know does not have one (I know, how can that be!), come in and bring (or send) your friend, neighbor, acquaintance to sign up. We'll be happy to tell you (and them) so much more about what we can offer and how much money you (and they) can save on a yearly basis by borrowing, not buying!. You can also get a temporary online card until you get a chance to come in.

I hope the first words that came to your mind were "CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!".

We are Thankful for the support of the Ashland Town Administration and the Select Board

From the Town Administrator all the way to our facilities folks, we are grateful for their support and the work they do so we can do so much more than keep the lights on.

Town Manager, Michael Herbert, with items he won at the Friends Children's Illustrators Auction

We are Thankful for the Library Board of Trustees

Who worked tirelessly this last year to update all of our Library Policies and refine our fantastic Strategic Plan.

We are so proud of this plan - completed in collaboration with the support of a diverse coalition of community members, after receiving 1130 responses to our survey, and created in several formats to make it accessible to all ages.

APL Strategic Plan FY23-28

I am Thankful to the Library Staff!

In addition to being welcoming to all who enter the library, the staff cheerfully fulfill all of their duties and help create new initiatives when they see a need. They are a joy to work with and the true reason the Ashland Public Library is considered such a community gem. 

Just a few of our initiatives this last year:

In the Children's Room

• Added a cozy reading nook to our Children's Room
• Hosted our First Annual Children's Book Festival
• Added nearly 400 items in our Children's Foreign Language Collection

For Teens:

• Created a Discord Server
• Hosted a three week graphic novel workshop

For Adults:

• Hosted our First Annual Rom Con
• Added a courtesy charging station in the reference area
• Hosted our first Local Author Book Fair (in 2021) in collaboration with the Framingham Public Library

We are Thankful to the Friends of the Ashland Public Library!

Did you know that donations to, and fundraising by, the Friends funds 100% of the programs at the APL? It's true! So, next time you renew your membership or buy a gently used book from the book sale, you are supporting our programs, museum passes, summer reading initiatives, and so much more! 

This year our Friends: 

• Completed 1 full year in their permanent Book Sale space, in addition to revamping the upstairs ongoing Corner Sales area into an attractive, popular, and highly successful sales space
• Started holding monthly Mini Book Sales in April and every month thereafter raising funds to support library programming and services
• Were awarded a BAA grant to support an all Town postcard mailing informing more than 7500 residents of what the Friends do as well as Book Sale dates and a coupon for free book (have you come in yet for your free book?)
• Sponsored a booth at the Ashland Farmers Market with a wildly popular button making activity for children
• Provided hundreds of free books to supplement Ashland Public Schools classroom shelves
• Hosted a very popular online auction in which people could bid on asking an author 3 questions and, if they won, the author would send them a LETTER with the responses. 
• Re-invigorated our very popular art displays, giving local artists, students, and seniors a place to show off their creativity

We are Thankful to our Community Partners!

We have been fortunate and happy to work with so many organizations and people in town, because a library is only as good as its community! Here is just a sampling of who we've partnered with:

Arts!Ashland
Ashland Community Center
Ashland Forest Committte
Ashland Gardening Club
Ashland Historical Society
Ashland Human Services
Ashland Indians
Ashland Moms Group
Ashland Police and Fire
Ashland Public Schools
Ashland REIKI & Wellness Center
Ashland Residents for Equity and Action
Ashland Senior Center
Ashland Sustainability Coordinator and Committee

And, so many businesses and individuals!

Happy holiday, Ashlanders (and all!), we look forward to seeing you in 2023!

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