Wilton Library Association Incorporated

WE ARE THE CULTURAL AND INTELLECTUAL CENTER OF WILTON. WE INFORM, ENRICH, CONNECT, AND INSPIRE OUR COMMUNITY.

THE WILTON LIBRARY ("LIBRARY") HAS SERVED AS THE PRINCIPAL PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THE TOWN SINCE 1895. THE LIBRARY AND ITS CONTENTS ARE OWNED BY THE WILTON LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, INC., WHICH IS GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF 24 MEMBERS. EIGHTEEN OF THE TRUSTEES ARE ELECTED DIRECTLY BY THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION AND SIX ARE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN PRIOR TO THEIR ELECTION BY ASSOCIATION MEMBERS. SINCE 1919, THE LIBRARY HAS RECEIVED PARTIAL FUNDING FROM THE TOWN. CURRENTLY APPROXIMATELY 75% OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET IS FUNDED BY AN APPROPRIATION FROM THE TOWN'S GENERAL FUND. THE BOARD CARRIES OUT AN ANNUAL APPEAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE PURCHASE OF ALL LIBRARY COLLECTION MATERIALS. THE REMAINDER OF OPERATING COSTS AND SOME MAJOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ARE FUNDED BY THE ASSOCIATION THROUGH FUND RAISING EVENTS, SPONSORSHIPS, GRANTS AND FEES. NINETY PERCENT OF THE CONSTRUCTION COST OF THE LIBRARY BUILDING, IN 1973, CAME FROM PRIVATE DONATIONS. THE BALANCE WAS PAID FOR WITH FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING FUNDS. IN RESPONSE TO GROWING USE OF ITS FACILITY AND SERVICES, THE LIBRARY COMPLETED AN $11.4 MILLION EXPANSION AND RENOVATION IN MARCH 2006. FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT INCLUDED $4.8 MILLION FROM BONDING AUTHORIZED BY THE TOWN MEETING IN MAY 2003. ADDITIONAL FUNDS CAME FROM THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000, PRIVATE DONATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $6.1 MILLION, AND PLEDGE PAYMENTS OF $6,065,400 NOT INCLUDING THE GRANT. A PURCHASE OF ADJACENT PROPERTY IN 1996 ENABLED THE EXPANSION TO BE LOGISTICALLY FEASIBLE. IT WAS FINANCED WITH $305,000 OF TOWN BONDS. THE LIBRARY HAS REIMBURSED THE TOWN FOR THIS DEBT SERVICE. THE LIBRARY IS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF WILTON CENTER. CURRENTLY, 647,385 PRINT AND AUDIOVISUAL RESOURCES, ELECTRONIC DATABASES, PRINT AND ONLINE MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, DVDS, VIDEOS, MUSIC CDS, PUZZLES AND OTHER ITEMS COMPRISE ITS LENDING COLLECTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE LIBRARY OFFERS A COLLECTION OF DOWNLOADABLE E-BOOKS, AUDIOBOOKS, MAGAZINES, TUTORIALS, STREAMING MUSIC, AND STREAMING MOVIES. THE LIBRARY WAS VISITED BY 187,080 PEOPLE TO USE MATERIALS AND COMPUTERS OR ATTEND PROGRAMS FROM JULY 2022 THROUGH JUNE 2023. OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THERE WERE 64,837 VISITS TO THE LIBRARY'S WEBSITE, WHICH INCLUDED LOCATING, RESERVING, AND RENEWING ITEMS, DOWNLOADING AND STREAMING MUSIC AND LITERATURE, USING ELECTRONIC DATABASES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC RESOURCES, AND INTERACTING WITH ITS REFERENCE STAFF. THERE WERE 802 PROGRAMS ATTENDED BY 23,554 ADULTS, TEENS, AND CHILDREN. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDED CONCERTS, LECTURES, TRAINING PROGRAMS, LITERARY DISCUSSIONS, STORY TIMES IN-PERSON, AS WELL AS VIA ZOOM AND YOUTUBE LIVE. PATRONS ALSO ATTENDED MAKERS' WORKSHOPS IN THE INNOVATION STATION WHICH OFFERED 3D PRINTING, ROBOTICS, AND OTHER STEAM RELATED INITIATIVES. IN FEBRUARY 2023, WILTON LIBRARY ANNOUNCED THE RELEASE OF ITS STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2023-2026. THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS A ROAD MAP FOR THE LIBRARY'S FUTURE, HIGHLIGHTING THE LIBRARY'S CORE PURPOSE, MISSION, AND VISION, WITH FOCUS ON PROGRESS AND WORKING TO SUCCESSFULLY MEET THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF THE EVOLVING WILTON COMMUNITY.THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, CONDUCTED WITH CONSULTING FIRM PLAN A ADVISORS, TOOK SIX MONTHS AND INVOLVED DEMOGRAPHIC AND STATISTICAL RESEARCH, 22 CONFIDENTIAL INTERVIEWS AND FOUR FOCUS GROUPS. THE ENTIRE LIBRARY STAFF AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES COLLABORATED TO CREATE FOUR KEY GOALS THAT WILL GUIDE THE LIBRARY'S WORK OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS: WILTON'S CENTER POSITION THE LIBRARY AT THE CENTER OF WILTON AT A TIME OF GROWTH AND CHANGE; CORE CONSTITUENTS MEET THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF WILTON RESIDENTS AT EVERY LIFE STAGE; THE BRUBECK COLLECTION ACTIVATE THE BRUBECK COLLECTION AS A MARQUEE ASSET AND POINT OF PRIDE FOR WILTON; OUR CAPABILITIES ENSURE THE LIBRARY'S STRONG FUTURE AND ITS CAPACITY TO SERVE SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS EFFECTIVELY.