By Jeremiah Walter 

Volunteers are an essential part of any library. Their time and dedication make a huge difference not only for staff, but also for the communities they serve.

“Our staff are extremely thankful for all of our volunteers,” says Mariah Martin, senior library assistant at Monument Library, who coordinates volunteers at that location. “They help us with our day-to-day operations so much.”

When Kate hosted a party for her son Rory’s first birthday, she booked the Venue at Library 21c, a space with plenty of room to set up tables, a small ball pit, and a play area.

“The Venue at Library 21c is great for the kids, because it’s so big, and they like to run around,” she says. “It’s a lot more space than we have at home.”

Kate reserved the room for four hours, allowing two hours for the party, plus an hour prior for setup and an hour afterward for cleanup.

It's the first Thursday of the month, and I am excited, embarrassed, and feel a little guilty. Life got the better of me, and I didn’t finish the book. Luckily, my group doesn’t take this whole “Book Club thing” too seriously. Creating a book club can be a great way to foster a love of reading while connecting with others…. and just having fun!