My daughter tells me that one of her most pleasant childhood memories is of the summer reading program at our library in Babylon, New York. She cites both discovering the joy of reading the books and the pleasure of being acknowledged as a reader with her own unique tastes.

Last month the Greenfield Public Library marked its first birthday in a brand new home. On a sunny Saturday, more than 500 people gathered to celebrate their own relationship with an institution they love with cake, live music, arts and crafts, and a special family story time with Mayor Ginny Desorgher.

What many didn’t notice was the number of volunteers who made this party happen. On that day alone, at least 40 people volunteered their time and energy to make sure that this was a party that everyone could enjoy. People gave library tours, they assisted librarians with craft projects, and they even scooped ice cream. Neighbors from throughout the whole community contributed a bit of themselves to honor and show their appreciation for this priceless resource.

As the president of the Greenfield Public Library Foundation, I basked in the shared appreciation of this remarkable resource. It was this community, after all, that raised $2 million to help build this library.

On that day of celebration, I and other members of the foundation were in the Local History Room to show off a special work of art. A framed and mounted list of all the named donors who contributed to the New Library Building Campaign now graces that room. From 50-cent donors to $500,000 donors, there are over 700 names on this list.

We make the future together

As our newly expanded library enters its second year, it deserves and needs our continued support. The Greenfield Public Library Foundation was originally created to raise the community’s contribution to the building of the new library. Because Greenfield is a community that cares deeply about community, education and learning, we were able to help the library open on time and on budget.

Today the foundation is run by a volunteer board of community members to help ensure the long-term success of the library. Think of the foundation as the library’s capital committee. We’re here to help the staff and trustees anticipate and meet financial expenditures that are not covered by city, state or federal government support.

Helping close a critical gap in funding

In the first year of operation in our new facility library visits were up 264%, support by reference librarians increased 219%, and tech help was up 170%. Yet in the same year city support of the library increased less than 8%. We help close that gap.

And consider that much of the support the library received to build our new home was in the form of non-recurring grants, most notably the construction grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. This generous grant covered nearly half of the construction costs, but as with many grants, use of the money was restricted.

As recently retired library director Ellen Boyer explained, “The MBLC always told us to think about opening all the windows and doors, lifting the building up, turning it upside down, and shaking it. Anything that fell out was not covered by the original construction grant. So, the computers, for example, were NOT paid for with grant money, but instead were paid for with local funds, either Greenfield taxes or private donations to the foundation.”

Yet computer use alone is up 394%. This is where we come in. The library foundation supports the larger capital needs — whether for staff training or replacement furniture — not covered by city, state, and federal government support.

Albert Einstein once said, “The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.” And we know right where ours is.

Before I brought my daughter Liz to our library, my mother brought me to ours in Yonkers, New York. Ever since, wherever I am, I’ve depended on my public library as an always-there treasure trove of history, culture and learning. As we learn to live in the digital age, there is even more to contextualize and understand. And perhaps most importantly, in this time of polarization and disconnection our library is an essential hub of social interaction and engagement.

This is why I support Greenfield’s library, and why I hope you do, too.

A resident of Greenfield, Jeanne Canteen is a lifelong supporter of public libraries. She is president of the board of directors of the Greenfield Public Library Foundation.