08/28/2026
New Haven Community Library Summer Reading Wrap Up Letter–
To all of our amazing readers, participants, volunteers, partners, donors, and community:
First, thank you to EVERYONE who participated in our programs in any way this summer! We are so grateful for everyone and had such a blast!
We were honored to be able to offer 38 programs and activities (!!!), with a combined 1,439 attendees and participants. We worked with 16 community organizations to offer everything from weekly free gleaned produce to a Community Storytelling night; from a live animal presentation by VINS to a table at Field Days; from local agencies sharing information and resources to themed story times and crafts for the public and children attending the district summer program; from a local author visit with free books to a magic show! We learned about birds, dinosaurs, archaeology, local history, paleontology, macrame, and so much more. Our library was filled with people of all ages this summer; reading, learning, creating, exploring, playing and enjoying being together. We were also able to get out into the community ourselves and join the fun at Summer Fest and Addison County Fair & Field Days (the biggest gathering that happens in our county all year and is right here in New Haven!).
For our Summer Reading Challenge we had 59 participants, with 33 people completing the program. Through our ‘Reading for Good’ Challenges readers raised $70.00 for new books for the library and $132.00 for Homeward Bound.
We were also able to put books and other resources directly into the hands of our community. We gave away 68 new and 100s of used books, as well as 20 backpacks filled with school supplies, 34 Passport to History Challenge books, and 100s of pounds of gleaned produce.
All of this requires planning, performers, supplies, prizes, books, activities, volunteers, and countless other resources. We could not have done this without the wonderful and generous support of individuals, businesses, and local organizations. A huge, huge thanks to our generous program sponsors: Vermont Department of Libraries, Vermont Book Shop, Friends of New Haven Community Library, Children's Literacy Foundation, Stark Mountain Woodworking, Silver Maple Construction, and Institute of Museum and Library Services. Please support these institutions who support us! And also thank our dedicated volunteers: Samara Anderson, Annie Watson, Annie Perkins, Darcy Cummings, Harry Chaucer, Kim Callahan, Kristin Swartzentruber, Lynn Goldsmith, Molly Bull, Otis Devoid, Samara Anderson, Sujata Moorti, Susan Schweppe, and Wesley Devoid.
Thank you so very much everyone!
Raffle Information:
With so many participants, it does mean of course that for those who entered the raffles, the chances of winning were lower compared to previous years–sorry! Also, each participant could only win 1 item this year. Starting Saturday 8/29/2026 prizes can be picked up at the library. There is also a table from which those who did not win can choose 1 prize. This table has items received too late to be part of the raffle, decorations and crafts left over, and 1 item which was part of the raffle, but everyone who entered had already won something.
Prize Winners:
A Founding Mother - Jo L.
Dinosaur Encyclopedia - Cyrus C.
Dinosaur Lady - Evander C.
Dinosaur Sticker Book -Roan L.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight - Iris S.
Journal - Amelia R.
Journey to the Center of the Earth - Shelby L.
Jurassic Park - Jordan L.
Lost Cities - Shena L.
Midsummer Sisters - Evelyn D.
Minecraft: Stonesword Saga - Evan R.
Old Bones - Madge A.
Peter Lee's Notes from the Field - Jannah W.
Pizzasaurus - Muhammed W.
Pocket Microscope - Wilder G.
Rechargeable Booklight - Addam W.
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs - Christy W.
We're All Gonna Die-Nosaur - Laura F.
Weird but True Ancient Egypt - Wesley D.
What is an Archeologist - Abdulmalik W.
What the River Knows - Molly D.
Who Would Win: Dinosaur Destruction - Otto C.
