Challenging, creative and chock full–that’s the Library’s last year in a nutshell. With the general loss of federal funds supporting libraries and the changing environment, all libraries had to be nimble, adapt to unexpected as well as anticipated changes, and draw on the skills and resourcefulness of their staff and volunteers to carry on. Meekins was no exception. For Meekins, this was a time to reaffirm our commitment to serve all our patrons—and be your true community library.
The new 2026 year offers a time to look back over 2025 and to forge ahead with renewed energy and ingenuity. 2025 was a jam-packed year for Meekins—full of all kinds of library visits and assorted activities, programs, events and exhibitions for patrons of all ages—in person and virtually. To keep the stacks full, behind the scenes we selected, ordered, cataloged, and processed new books, magazines, audio books, DVDs, puzzles, hotspots, Discovery Kits for kids and more. We got them ready—and then checked out (and checked back in again) thousands of items. We telephoned, texted, e-chatted and e-mailed—answering reference questions in-person, by phone and online near and far. We promoted our online sources and coached and encouraged use of Kanopy, Hoopla, Libby, research databases, and a variety of tech devices too. As Williamsburg’s school library, every week we welcomed Anne T. Dunphy School classes for introduction and instruction about finding and using library materials and of course the chance to borrow lots of books—encouraging reading from the youngest to the oldest students. All year we had a rotating series of exhibitions of local artists shown throughout the library, each hosting a special opening. Community groups made good use of the Hawks-Hayden Community Room for meetings and programs open to all. And the Meekins grounds were well-populated for quiet moments and for fun by multiple generations in every season—a real oasis in the center of town.
Technology, in its many permutations, filled the year. Meekins developed a new website that is much more accessible and easier to use for our patrons and better reflects all library resources available and is a platform for more digital offerings. The website features the newly designed library logo, which quotes from the building’s beautiful historic stained-glass windows, with a decidedly modern look to the future. As part of the Hilltown Tech Connect Grant, and in partnership with the Senior Center, the Library provided technology services and support to seniors in our town and local communities, with monthly Tech Days and training. As a member of the Alliance for Digital Equity, Meekins made tablets and Chromebooks available to those who need them. Behind the scenes, the Library did some selective technology replacement of ancient tools and survived the staff catalogue modules move from Evergreen to Aspen.
It was mostly a quiet staff year. In June, library assistant Wenny was lured to the Granby Public Library and by summer Grayson had joined the Meekins, our newest face on the library’s service desk. Staff were able to participate in professional conferences and in local and online training for library tools. And volunteers continued the behind-the-scenes tasks supporting the Library’s services.
We took special care of our historic library building and grounds. Inside, infrastructure was the key, focusing on how systems work and keeping them going. With special funding from a lighting grant, and coordination with town departments, the library added new lights to dark corners of the parking lot and along the path to the original oak front door. The beautiful Meekins grounds were not forgotten. For 4 months, Brian Burke, from the Conway School of Landscape Design, studied and assessed the Meekins grounds—providing a project report that will help the Library plan for the evolution of the gardens and grounds to welcome more community use. During the June Mill River Resilience Fair, 3 trees were planted honoring grandmother and grandson victims (Sarah Snow and William Tilton) and hero (Collins Graves) of the 1874 Mill River Flood, part of the ongoing Mill River Flood Memorial Tree Project. And the Meekins has been an active participant in the MVP (Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness) grant flood mitigation discussions.
Special programs filled the year. The Heart of the Valley, “Love is in the Air” February concert was a winter evening of wonderful barbershop quartet music. In March Meekins hosted at Town Hall with Massachusetts State Representative Lindsay Sabadosa. May started with a Sunday of solo cello music by Stephen Katz. In the fall, Jess Marton and Kim Hoff offered music and poetry with their “Echoes of Nature” program. Betsy-Dawn Williams and Josh Gordon made their November musical evening rock. In April, the virtual Ross Gay poetry reading kicked off National Library Week. And the poetry “Open Mic” event closed poetry month. The April mending workshop was full, as was the Seed Starting Workshop and Steve LaValley’s Orchid Care Workshop in May. Metal sculptor James Kitchen unveiled the base of his “in process” Metamorphosis sculpture on the Meekins Lawn, with a talk and musical event. Author Emily Everett drew a crowd for her “All That Life Can Afford” book reading. Author Lara Tupper’s October workshop encouraged people to pick up a pen and write. The Poop Museum was a sellout. The Meekins was bustling inside and out, as the site of the MVP (Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness) Resilience Fair in June. And the year ended with the bright “Magical Winter Lights” program by Jonah Knight.
Art exhibitions filled the Hawks-Hayden Room: including “The Drunken Bicycle” photographs by Frank Ward, travel landscapes by painter Dick Zimmer, “Take Two” photographs, Greg Bodner’s woodworking, and painter Chuck Stearn’s “Portraits, Landscapes and Still Life” works. The “Crochet Coral Reefs” installation by Ricki Carroll intrigued all visitors. The summer exhibition, “Aprons Tell Family Stories,” showcased the practical and beautiful aprons from the collections of staff members and included a community tea for apron-wearing guests. Under the rotunda in May, a display of flood-themed art and poetry by Anne T. Dunphy 3rd-graders commemorated the 1874 Mill River Flood.
The fairy houses workshop was jammed. The new Spice Club with its edible “examples” was popular. Chess Club offerings brought people together to play. Several months of “Reading to Dogs” paired readers and canines at Meekins. The adult library book club read and discussed a new book each month—“The Frozen River” by Ariel Lawhon, was a favorite. The “Color Our World” summer reading program for kids and adults, was in full force—with wildlife and STEM program “Beyond Billy Goats” and “Terrific Turtles” visits. Thursday night poetry lovers came together to read monthly. On the second Sunday afternoon each month, Yarnspinners knitted and chatted and indulged in treats. We moved with world Tai Chi Day and celebrated poetry in April. “Ask an Archivist Day” for all your historical, genealogical, and family papers questions returned in October.
School classes came every week—spring, fall, and winter. All year, parents and children joined the always popular story hour. In September Prudence March read from her adventures of Pippa the squirrel. Painted rocks, suncatchers, and more brought kids together for creative enterprise. And every creature loved the Library “stuffie” sleepover.
The Friends had their annual October book sale. Halloween festivities were held in the entire spooky decorated library and hundreds visited that night. We shared “Day of the Dead” bread with those who visited the memorial photos and mementos by the fireplace. The Cabinet of Curiosities featured Library stuffies, and staff collections of Dr. Who, Barbies, vintage animal planters and decorative hammered aluminum.
At the end of the year, the 17th annual Meekins Market filled the rotunda as our patrons discovered “new” old treasures to share. The 2025 10-puzzle raffle had people eagerly awaiting the December drawing. The decade-plus annual warm clothing drive filled boxes in the library and added coats to the permanent food collection box in the library supporting the Neighbors-Helping-Neighbors local pantry. We participated in the “Christmas in Williamsburg” festivities—with happy children (and adults) making special ornaments while waiting to visit Santa. The 18th annual Holiday Reading by the fireplace, was a lovely interlude in a crazy season, this year supplied with cookies from the first annual Spice Club cookie exchange the day before.
Kids of all ages undertook the very popular monthly scavenger hunts. “Take & Make” crafts flew out of the library. And every week during the year, new Throwback Thursday moments appeared on Facebook, sharing bits of town, stories, history and place, remembering townsfolk, and quirky Meekins tidbits. All 5 years are now collected and available on the new Meekins website.
While the loss of IMLS funding at the state level has meant fewer resources for smaller towns and Meekins faced reduced access to research data bases, and a shrunken universe of electronic books and more, the Library continued to offer as many materials and programs as possible, creatively using and promoting all its available resources. Throughout the year, the Library was full physically and virtually, with community members of all ages seeking books, doing research, attending programs, looking at exhibitions, just relaxing and more. Meekins was in the midst of all this—serving as your community library. Wishing you a peaceful 2026 year with joyful moments. Daria D’Arienzo, Meekins Archivist and photographer. #throwbackthursday; #tbt.
Posted to Facebook 1/15/2026
