Old Lyme residents know their Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library is a safe and friendly place where the thoughtful staff always tries to meet patrons’ needs. But do those residents know that a library visit may be the only human interaction some people have all day?

When a regular patron isn’t seen for a while, staff often phone the house to check. If a patron’s favorite authors or topic are known, staff will put books on hold until the patron’s next visit. Services offered to homebound patrons include delivering books, DVDs or making a house-call to help download books to a phone or Kindle. Sometimes staff carry books to patrons’ cars and even jump start car batteries.

Library staff often attend memorial services for patrons whose friendship will be missed. Staff have met patrons at the Duck River Cemetery to help find an ancestor’s gravesite. They have helped a geologist locate and visit a small, local, historic quarry.

Staff is always willing to go the extra mile to support the library patrons.

We are deeply grateful to all the Old Lyme-Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library staff who help make it the library we know today: a comfortable community gathering place that enhances the quality of residents’ life as it assumes its increasingly important role as a technology provider.

Janet G. Sturges

Former president, Library Board of Trustees

Old Lyme