Lyme Library Draws 26% More Visitors, Seeks Sponsors for Town Mailing

Lyme Public Library hosted 26% more visitors through August than during the same stretch last year, according to board minutes posted by the Town of Lyme. Library Director Melissa Fournier also reported to the board that the library ran 46% more programs, with program attendance running higher than it did in 2025.

Fournier and board Chair Laura Mooney are now looking for advertising sponsors to pay for a direct mailing on fall and spring events, with an emphasis on Opening Doors. The Town Board supports the effort, according to the minutes. The mailing would go to every household in town.

Opening Doors works to ease loneliness and insecurity by distributing information, placing outreach phone calls and building friendship connections, the minutes state. The library's front desk stocks memory kits and other packages for people who are isolated. Laurette Klier has trained staff on communicating with people who have memory loss.

Library Friends representative Holly Rubino told the board the group's book sale cleared $4,200. The group put about $5,000 toward adult programs, $1,200 toward Oscar events and $1,400 toward refreshments over the year.

Volunteers can still sign up to bake for Sweet Spot. The Opening Doors community outreach group meets at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, and the library board's October meeting has moved to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10.