When we moved from Durango to Bayfield in 2000 I went to the old Bayfield library but was disappointed.
Since then our beautiful new library was built, redesigned and was named "the best small library in America" in 2014. I brag about it to friends all over the country. Our amazing director, Shelley Walchak, seems to have endless energy! Her new ideas make our library the vibrant center of the Bayfield community for adults and children. She has assembled a stellar staff who have developed a wide array of special events and on-going programs-something for everyone!
I most appreciate the collection of audio-books I love to listen to while driving. I have attended presentations in the big new meeting room, and fun outside parties like the zucchini festival. And our beautiful new park and playground was funded 87 percent by grants! I love to volunteer with the Friends of the Library. Our sales provide very inexpensive books and I enjoy giving books away free on Mill Street during summer Block Parties. I hope that everybody who values our library will support the mill levy in November, the first in 19 years.
Revenues have shrunk with the decline in oil and gas profits and our library will no longer be able to offer all the events or even basic services without a small increase in the mill levy. It is certainly worth it to me to pay less than $4 more a month to keep the Pine River Library flourishing.
Gail Grossman
Bayfield
