___________________________
THE YARDARM
Yarmouth Port Library
The Year in Review 2025
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THE YARDARM
Yarmouth Port Library
The Year in Review 2025
___________________________
Dear Patrons, Supporters and Friends,
Looking back over my first year as president of the Board of Trustees, I want to start by thanking all our donors and volunteers. As a public library that’s privately funded, your patronage and financial support allows us to continue to serve the community…we could not do it without you.
In late June, we held our Annual Book & Plant Sale which raised over $4,000 for the first time! Special thanks to Sally Hockenbury, Sue Bonnell and Dinah Wolff for their efforts, as well as to all who helped with preparations and worked at the sale. In July (our current fiscal year), we participated in the Hydrangea Festival which raised over $3,700. A BIG thank you to Melissa Wilson and Mary Smith for heading up this event, and for all the local businesses that donated items for the raffle, and especially to the local garden owners who agreed to participate in the festival on YPL’s behalf. I’d also like to thank our program coordinators, Leslie Altman and Jean O’Toole, for arranging all of the interesting and varied programs over the past year. Please plan to attend one of our upcoming programs this year.
We’ve made some recent updates to the library starting with some new furniture for the reading room, new trees for the front yard and an initial spruce up of our exterior landscaping. We have also started the thoughtful process of investigating some interior and exterior facility alterations by meeting with a local architectural firm, Catalyst Architecture Interiors of Yarmouth Port, to discuss updating our library while maintaining its charm. We are also working with a landscape architect to improve our outdoor space.
In the communications arena, some additional changes are underway. Many thanks to Lee Peters for maintaining and updating our website and for serving as the editor of our quarterly newsletter THE YARDARM for the past eight years. With our monthly newsletter (initiated two years ago and sent via Constant Contact), combined with the fact that YPL is perhaps one of few libraries on the Cape still mailing newsletters; we are transitioning our quarterly Yardarm to an annual Yardarm sent electronically. This version of the Yardarm will be sent in July/August each year and will feature the year in review and acknowledge donors to our annual campaign.
The most current library information will appear in our monthly newsletter and on our website. Lee Peters will continue to maintain our website, where updated new book releases will be posted as well as a list of annual donors to the library. If you have not signed up to receive our newsletter electronically, you can do so at the library, send us an email, or give us a call. We will always have printed copies of our monthly newsletter, the annual Yardarm and new-release books for pick-up at the library for those who prefer a hard copy.
Finally, we appreciate the continuing support from all our corporators and trustees who meet monthly to ensure that the Yarmouth Port Library remains a viable privately-funded public library. Special thanks to Mike Poissant who serves as our treasurer and who helped initiate the use of credit cards, and keeps our bills paid in a timely manner. Also, a special thank you to Les Peat, our former treasurer who now oversees donations and donor acknowledgements, and Mary Anne Hailer who is being tutored by Les to assume these responsibilities in the future.
As I have noted throughout this letter, the efforts to keep the Yarmouth Port Library open, thriving and serving our community are a team effort. This library is truly a local asset, and I am so thankful to be part of this Yarmouth Port institution.
Sincerely,
Susan M. Kiehnau
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Looking back over my first year as president of the Board of Trustees, I want to start by thanking all our donors and volunteers. As a public library that’s privately funded, your patronage and financial support allows us to continue to serve the community…we could not do it without you.
In late June, we held our Annual Book & Plant Sale which raised over $4,000 for the first time! Special thanks to Sally Hockenbury, Sue Bonnell and Dinah Wolff for their efforts, as well as to all who helped with preparations and worked at the sale. In July (our current fiscal year), we participated in the Hydrangea Festival which raised over $3,700. A BIG thank you to Melissa Wilson and Mary Smith for heading up this event, and for all the local businesses that donated items for the raffle, and especially to the local garden owners who agreed to participate in the festival on YPL’s behalf. I’d also like to thank our program coordinators, Leslie Altman and Jean O’Toole, for arranging all of the interesting and varied programs over the past year. Please plan to attend one of our upcoming programs this year.
We’ve made some recent updates to the library starting with some new furniture for the reading room, new trees for the front yard and an initial spruce up of our exterior landscaping. We have also started the thoughtful process of investigating some interior and exterior facility alterations by meeting with a local architectural firm, Catalyst Architecture Interiors of Yarmouth Port, to discuss updating our library while maintaining its charm. We are also working with a landscape architect to improve our outdoor space.
In the communications arena, some additional changes are underway. Many thanks to Lee Peters for maintaining and updating our website and for serving as the editor of our quarterly newsletter THE YARDARM for the past eight years. With our monthly newsletter (initiated two years ago and sent via Constant Contact), combined with the fact that YPL is perhaps one of few libraries on the Cape still mailing newsletters; we are transitioning our quarterly Yardarm to an annual Yardarm sent electronically. This version of the Yardarm will be sent in July/August each year and will feature the year in review and acknowledge donors to our annual campaign.
The most current library information will appear in our monthly newsletter and on our website. Lee Peters will continue to maintain our website, where updated new book releases will be posted as well as a list of annual donors to the library. If you have not signed up to receive our newsletter electronically, you can do so at the library, send us an email, or give us a call. We will always have printed copies of our monthly newsletter, the annual Yardarm and new-release books for pick-up at the library for those who prefer a hard copy.
Finally, we appreciate the continuing support from all our corporators and trustees who meet monthly to ensure that the Yarmouth Port Library remains a viable privately-funded public library. Special thanks to Mike Poissant who serves as our treasurer and who helped initiate the use of credit cards, and keeps our bills paid in a timely manner. Also, a special thank you to Les Peat, our former treasurer who now oversees donations and donor acknowledgements, and Mary Anne Hailer who is being tutored by Les to assume these responsibilities in the future.
As I have noted throughout this letter, the efforts to keep the Yarmouth Port Library open, thriving and serving our community are a team effort. This library is truly a local asset, and I am so thankful to be part of this Yarmouth Port institution.
Sincerely,
Susan M. Kiehnau
___________________________
The Year in Review
It has been another great year here at Yarmouth Port Library. We have welcomed over 14,000 people to the library this year, added 175 new patrons, and acquired more than 650 new titles (books and DVDs). Amazingly, the library had over 19,300 checkouts on site and over 10,000 checkouts of eBooks and audio books on Libby. We filled requests for 336 curbside pick-ups, had over 1000 people enjoy the comfort of the Simpkins reading room, and offered free notary services to 44 people.
We happily hosted over 24 special programs throughout the year ranging in topics from shipwrecks to Hot Wheels and from engaging authors to Pups & Pizza! We enjoyed the smiles and laughter (mostly!) of over 1600 kids in the Mary Burr Thacher Children's Room, and hosted an average of 4.98 (!) kids per storytime each week. We have two very active and enthusiastic book groups along with a special winter cookbook group, a great gathering of chess players every Thursday afternoon, a twice-monthly knitting group, and a dedicated group of puzzlers and Scrabble players.
We participated in community events including Around the Common, Halloween on the Common, the Yarmouth Port Christmas Stroll, and the community read at Station Avenue Elementary School. Fundraisers such as our Spaghetti Supper, Annual Book and Plant Sale and the Hydrangea Festival brought the community together to raise funds for the library.
And finally, a year-end summary of a successful year would not be complete without a thank you to our wonderful staff, volunteers, and Board of Trustees and Corporators. It is such a pleasure to know that all aspects of the library are in such good hands. A special thank you to staff Leslie Altman and Alice Lucey (working remotely on Adult Collection Development), Susan Saposnik on Tuesday and Wednesday (Circulation Coordinator), Carol Riley on Thursday and Friday (Marketing and Volunteer Coordinator)...such a wonderful group to work with.
And of course, a heartfelt thank you to all of our patrons who are so kind, patient, and simply the best! Thank you to everyone who helped make this year so special and successful.
Carrie Bearse
Administrative Director & Children's Services
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Donor Contributions & Special Events Fundraising
Contributions from individuals and businesses, and money raised through our special events help support the library by supplementing our operating budget. Throughout this fiscal year we have hosted special fundraising events including our Spaghetti Supper, the Book and Plant Sale (a very special thanks to Sally Hockenbury!), and the Hydrangea Festival. These events combined to raise more than $10,000 in support of the library. Our membership/annual fund raised almost $50,000 (a significantly increased goal this year to offset increased expenses) from more than 300 donors; we are so appreciative of all who contributed to sustain YPL, such an integral part of our community.
Thank you to our 2024-2025 donors!
July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025
July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025
Founders' Circle Gifts of $1000 or more
|
Mrs. Alexander Catto
Mr. Sean Greenhow The Hugh and Jean Hilliard Fund Susan Madigan Kiehnau and Michael Kiehnau Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Lodders |
Mr. W. Leslie Peat and Ms. Dinah G. Wolff
Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence Venezia Ms. Doreen Vreeland Anonymous |
Benefactor
Gifts of $500 to $999
Gifts of $500 to $999
|
Ms. Heather Campbell and Mr. Vincent Miles
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Carroll Dr. and Mrs. Paul Fitzgerald Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Grader |
Ms. Susan W. McKinley
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Perera Ms. Brett Warren and Mr. John Parke Anonymous |
Sustainer
Gifts of $250 to $499
Gifts of $250 to $499
|
Ms. Karen Alexander
Ms. Carrie Bearse Ms. Frieda Bilezikian Ms. Susan Bonnell Ms. Kathleen Borofsky Mr. Peter Brightman and Ms. Leslie Altman Ms. Suzanne Costello and Mr. Jeffery Keffer Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Coughlan Ms. Sharon Donegan Ms. Janet Edmonds Ms. Dorothy Halmstad Ms. Nancy Haskell and Ms. Sara Widdicombe Dr. and Mrs. Theodor Herwig |
Ms. Susanne Hewitt
Mr. and Mrs. David Lucey Mrs. David MacEachern Mrs. Roy Morton Ms. Regina Mullen Ms. Jean O'Toole Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Oliver Ms. Carolyn Sartory Mr. and Mrs. William Simpson Charles and Lindsay Spooner Mr. and Mrs. Paul Vasington Ms. Margaret C. Wilson Anonymous (2) |
Patron
Gifts of $100 to $249
Gifts of $100 to $249
|
Mr. and Mrs. John Arthur
Mr. Gary Babineau Ms. Elizabeth Bader Mr. and Mrs. David Barbo Dr. and Mrs. Albert Barrows Mr. and Mrs. Bob Barsch Ms. Mary Beth Bell Ms. Frances Bigda-Peyton Dr. and Mrs. Peter Bono Mr. Ernest Bourassa Mr. Donald W. Bourne Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brazeau Ms. Marcia Carlson Mrs. James G. Cavanagh Ms. Mary Clarke Ms. Ina Clayman Mr. and Mrs. Ross Coppelman Ms. Monica Cornelia Ms. Janet Crimmins Mr. James Dannhauser Ms. Karen Davidson Ms. Denise DeLorey Mr. and Mrs. John Dennehy Mr. and Mrs. John Duggan Mr. and Mrs. Edwin D. Duvall Mr. E. Granger Dyett Mr. and Mrs. Peter Eichmann Mr. Francis Farrington and Ms. Suzanne Hayden Mr. Bart Guiney and Ms. Elaine Gardner Ms. Caroline Gilmore Mr. Larry Gordon Ms. Margaret Gorton Mr. and Mrs. Robert Greiss Mr. and Mrs. Gary Gyss Ms. Mary Anne Hailer Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Hammond Mr. Jacob Harrison Mr.& Mrs. Philip Henderson Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Holland Ms. Marieluise Hutchinson Anthony and Susan Jarek-Glidden Mr. and Mrs. James F. Kaiser Ms. Maxine Kane Ms. Margaret Keany Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kemple Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kenyon Mr. William Keohan Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Kozik Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Krukowski Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Kunhardt, Jr. Ms. Deb Lear Mr. and Mrs. Robert Leaversuch |
Mr. and Mrs. William Leitch
Ms. Linda Levis Mr. David Lewis and Ms. Denise Martin Mr. Robert Lewis and Ms. Lori Lewis Ms. Jane Logan Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Lovelette Mr. and Mrs. Rick Lubov Ms. Nancy Maizite-Clausen and Ms. Lisa Maizite Mr. and Mrs. John Mara Ms. McCarthy Mr. and Mrs. Gerald McClellan Mr. and Mrs. Paul McDonough Ms. Jane McGimsey Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey McKeon Mr. and Mrs. Mark McManus Mr. and Mrs. Terrence Milka Ms. Lida Miner Mr. Jim Morris Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Mudie Mr. and Mrs. Frank Murray Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Northup Ms. Maribeth O'Hara Mr. and Mrs. Philip O'Mara Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Olson Ms. Marie Pereto-Hedin Mr. Robert Peretti Mr. and Mrs. William Peters Ms. Benita Pierce Ms. Joyce Raiskio Mrs. Paul Rand Mr. John Rice and Ms. Lyn H. Geikie-Rice Ms. Carol Rose Mr. and Mrs. John Rukstalis Susan and Stuart Saposnik Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Smith Ms. Marilyn Swenson Ms. Kimberly Terrio Mr. and Mrs. Henry Teuwen Ms. Beatrice Thenault Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Treiber Ms. Carolyn Turchon Mr. and Mrs. Jim Warren Mr. and Mrs. Norman Weare Mr. Raymond Weishaupt and Ms. Carole Green-Weishaupt Mrs. Edward Weissberger Mr. and Mrs. Everett Wilson Ms. Emily Wood Mr. Richard Woods and Ms. Linda Coffey Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woodward Ms. Sandra Young Anonymous (3) |
Friend
Gifts of $50 to $99
Gifts of $50 to $99
|
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Barry
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Beless Mr. Dennis Brisson and Ms. Maureen MacAdam Mr. and Mrs. James Bundy Mr. and Mrs. Neil Burke Ms. Maryann Burns Mr. and Mrs. Mal Condon Mr. Humberto Cordero and Ms. Heather McElroy Ms. Kathleen Cotte Mr. and Mrs. Richard Cowmeadow Ms. Cynthia Craig and Mr. Daniel Roberts Mr. and Mrs. Frank D'Agosta Mr. and Mrs. William Davis Mr. and Mrs. Ted Deckel Richard and Kathleen Donovan Mr. and Mrs. Michael Dwyer Mr. and Mrs. Robert Earl Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Fahey Ms. Margaret Finn Ms. Carol Forest Ms. Elaine Frongillo and Mr. Joseph Saltzman Mr. and Mrs. John Gilligan Mr. Walter Goodrich Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Gordon Mr. and Mrs. John Grady Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gray Mr. and Mrs. John Hannon Ms. Mary Hansen-Joyce Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hawley Mr. and Mrs. William Hemr Mr. and Mrs. John Hill Mr. and Mrs. Paul Huggins Mr. Warren Johnson Tyndale-Biscoe and Ruth S. Johnson Mr. and Mrs. James Kastritis Mr. and Mrs. Sterling Kelley Ms. Teresa Kelley |
Ms. Tracey Klepacz
Mr. and Mrs. David Knauer Ms. Christine Kopec Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lawton Ms. Celia Lees-Low Ms. Maureen Loynd and Mr. Don Steele Mr. and Mrs. Tom Lundquist Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Lyman Ms. Marlena Marino Mr. and Mrs. Mark Mason Ms. Lindsay McGrath Mr. and Mrs. Michael Menton Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Moreau Mr. Charles Moser Mr. Jonathan Najarian Ms. Paula Nobili Mr. J. Brian O'Toole and Virginia Fox O'Toole Ms. Jean Orser Mr. and Mrs. Paul Orvis Mr. and Mrs. Richard Palmer Mr. and Mrs. John Parker Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Patterson Mr. and Mrs. Shane Peros Mr. Richard Pinkham and Ms. Karen Seibert Mr. Vincent Pizzo Mr. and Mrs. Dennis M. Prebensen Dr. Judith Recknagel and Rev. Dr. Anne Ierardi Mr. and Mrs. David Richards Dr. and Mrs. Keith Richards Mr. and Mrs. Paul Rivard Ms. Aj Rodriguez Mr. and Mrs. A. David Sarney Mr. and Mrs. Paul S. Sledzik Mr. and Mrs Harvey Wright Anonymous (2) |
Contributor
Gifts $30 to $49
Gifts $30 to $49
|
Ms. Jane Aide
Ms. Lynda Anello Ms. Kathleen Baker Ms. Lisa Bartran Mr and Mrs. James Baxter Ms. Jody Bayer Ms. Carolyn Bell Ms. Marilyn Berner Ms. Patricia Bois Mr. and Mrs. William T. Brogan Ms. Ann Carosso Ms. A. Barbara Clancy Ms. Karyl Clemens Mr. and Mrs. James Cooke Ms. Phyllis Cooper Ms. Mary Craig Ms. Ardis DeCamp Ms. Catherine Dolan Ms. Margaret Donlan Mr. Albert Dunn Ms. Sylvia K. Furash Mrs. Donald Gallucci Mrs. Stephen Gavin Ms. Janet Golden Ms. Laurie Hauber Ms. Sally Hockenbury Ms. Irene Holmes Ms. Sallie Irwin Ms. Betsy Johnson Ms. Mary Joyce Ms. Susan Kelliher Ms. Janet Kinahan Ms. Kathy Kuck Ms. Elizabeth Lauria & Estelle Jorgensen |
Mr. Arthur Liatsos
Ms. Dianne Lyons Ms. Natalie Mahar Ms. Linda Martin Ms. Christine Marzigliano Ms. Paula McBride Ms. Sandra McGrath Mr. Ralph Menconi Mrs. Donald Merino Mr. Robert Moran Ms. Cynthia Neely Ms. Marjorie North Ms. Patricia Nye Ms. Jane Parker Mr. Peter Pasquaretta Ms. Laura Peck Ms. Ann Petrou Ms. Ann Pinkham Ms. Ruth Piscitelli Ms. Joyce Reddy-Bradbee Ms. Margaret Regan Ms. Pamela Rego Ms. Carol Riley Ms. Karen Roberts Ms. Nancy Rytina Ms. Susan Singer Ms. Carol Smith Ms. Pat Taylor Ms. Christina Therrien Sgt. Major Joseph Trabucco Ms. Judy Tyler Ms. Suzanne Wall Ms. Adrianne Wytas Anonymous (3) |
Business Contributor
Gifts of $100 or more
Gifts of $100 or more
|
Bass River Pediatrics
Buyers Brokers of Cape Cod/Churchill Associates Down Cape Engineering GreenHow, Inc. Horgan Insurance John Grant, Esq. Just Picked Gifts |
Kinlin Grover Compass
Marshall K. Lovelette Insurance Agency Royal II Restaurant Talin Bookbindery Viola! Designs by Frederique Matthew Wiencke Piano Instruction |
In Kind Business Partners
Mark Baker House Painting
Jack's Outback
Sesuit Landscaping
Memorial Contributions
In memory of Mark Baker
William and Jane Lemonds
In memory of Norman Constant
Robert and Linda Barsch
Robert Cooper and Suzanne Maggiore
Winifred Sue Rowe
In memory of Jean and Hugh Hilliard
The Hugh and Jean Hilliard Fund
In memory of Duncan Oliver
Carrie Bearse
Maria Burke
Brian Casey and Family
Jackie Duane
John Duggan
Robert and Meryl Earl
Easton Educators
Henry Geissler
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Leaversuch
Scott Morrison
Les Peat and Dinah Wolff
Beth Shanker
John and Peggy Shea
Patricia Symes
Marie Tardo
We have worked very hard to make sure our donor information is accurate.
If you have been accidentally omitted or your name is spelled incorrectly,
please accept our apologies and PLEASE do let us know so we can correct our records.
Yarmouth Port Library
297 Main Street
Yarmouth Port, MA 02675
508.362.3717
https://www.yarmouthportlibrary.org/
Mark Baker House Painting
Jack's Outback
Sesuit Landscaping
Memorial Contributions
In memory of Mark Baker
William and Jane Lemonds
In memory of Norman Constant
Robert and Linda Barsch
Robert Cooper and Suzanne Maggiore
Winifred Sue Rowe
In memory of Jean and Hugh Hilliard
The Hugh and Jean Hilliard Fund
In memory of Duncan Oliver
Carrie Bearse
Maria Burke
Brian Casey and Family
Jackie Duane
John Duggan
Robert and Meryl Earl
Easton Educators
Henry Geissler
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Leaversuch
Scott Morrison
Les Peat and Dinah Wolff
Beth Shanker
John and Peggy Shea
Patricia Symes
Marie Tardo
We have worked very hard to make sure our donor information is accurate.
If you have been accidentally omitted or your name is spelled incorrectly,
please accept our apologies and PLEASE do let us know so we can correct our records.
Yarmouth Port Library
297 Main Street
Yarmouth Port, MA 02675
508.362.3717
https://www.yarmouthportlibrary.org/