Sixteen years ago, when our family was looking for a permanent home, I brought my then-two-year-old to the Ilsley Public Library. It was summertime, and the children’s room was cool and busy with families checking out books. There were flyers for children’s summer reading programs, craft projects laid out, and welcoming librarians who didn’t mind my toddler’s wild exuberance for the many new books and spaces. He climbed right into the bathtub with a stack of books as I looked around.

It’s not too much of a stretch to say that Ilsley Public Library sold our entire family on moving to Middlebury and our three children have more or less grown up in the library — like so many other Middlebury children. For the last 100 years, Ilsley has been a cornerstone of our community, enriching lives and building community connections through its programs, services, resources and spaces. Last year, Ilsley had 91,510 visits, making it the third busiest library in the state. Unfortunately, it also boasted 58 service calls to deal with the boiler, the plumbing, the elevator, and a series of roof leaks.

The upcoming enhancements proposed in the renovation and expansion project will significantly strengthen the library’s capacity to serve our community even more effectively: doubling the space for youth services, offering a new “Wiggle Room” and stroller parking, creating separate spaces for middle and high school students, and building flexible indoor and outdoor programming spaces. The planned improvements will center the library as an intergenerational community gathering space.

One hundred years ago, the new Ilsley Public Library was dedicated as a result of the combined $50,000 gifts of Colonel Silas Augustine Ilsley and Mary Emily Osborne Ilsley. Like our family, Colonel and Mary Ilsley visited Middlebury in the summer and eventually moved here — providing the first investment in our public library. On Sept. 21, we will celebrate Ilsley’s 100th anniversary with a “Birthday Bash” — a day of events for all ages that celebrate our community and our library, and which will culminate in cake and ice cream for all!

The Birthday Bash marks the kick-off to the public phase of the Capital Campaign for Ilsley. Please consider a “birthday present” in whatever amount you wish. Your gift is an investment in the bright future of our public library and our community.

While the toddler I brought to the library 16 years ago is now in his first semester at college, new generations of children will have a space for growth and learning in the renovated and expanded Ilsley library building. I look forward to seeing the positive impact these improvements will bring and am excited for the future of our library. Capital campaign donations can be given using pledge envelopes at the library or online at the library website (tinyurl.com/5yhpfvut). I hope you’ll join me in investing in this future!

Meg Baker

Middlebury

President, Ilsley Board of Trustees