TORRINGTON – Did you know Wyoming boasts the highest number of library visits per person in the entire country?

It’s clear the Goshen County Library is a cherished resource for our community. From the Summer Reading Program and Early Explorers preschool group to vibrant adult book clubs and craft sessions, the library offers something for everyone. Plus, it provides crucial support for those needing computer access, a safe space for telehealth appointments, and services for the visually impaired. How does the library manage to do all this? A big part of the answer lies with the Library Foundation.

Founded in 1986, the Goshen County Library Foundation was created to support the Goshen County Library. When the property directly to the north of the library became available, the Foundation was able to purchase it as its base of operations. 

Using matching funds from the state for gifts given from 2015-2022, the Goshen County Library Foundation was able to grow again by establishing an endowment which will ensure the library continues to be supported for many years. 

Looking ahead, the foundation is continuing to grow. It is currently renovating a space in their building to create a “Maker’s Room” which will be equipped with a sewing machine and other crafting supplies for community projects and crafting groups. This year, the foundation was also able to fund many library initiatives, including the beloved Summer Reading Program.

The heart of the Goshen County Library Foundation is its dedicated volunteers. One of their biggest efforts is the book sales, held three times a year. These sales not only offer the community access to affordable books of all genres but also raise around $6,000 each time to support the library. They breathe new life into books which have been donated by individuals, estates, and the public and school libraries. To pull off these book sales, the Foundation relies on a core group of six amazing volunteers who come in every Monday to process, price, and shelve the donated books. In addition, two volunteers help sort and move books throughout the week leading up to each sale, while a team of 50 volunteers rotate through during the sales themselves. In total, these dedicated individuals have contributed nearly 600 hours of service to the foundation!

As the year comes to a close, consider supporting the Goshen County Library Foundation with a financial donation. Your generosity goes a long way in enhancing our library’s programs and resources, ensuring everyone in our community can enjoy and benefit from what the library has to offer. As a registered 501(c)(3) organization, all contributions are tax-deductible, making your support even more impactful. As far as a charitable donation goes, you can donate to the foundation knowing almost every penny is going towards literacy in Goshen County. The foundation has no employees or overhead other than its building, so donations are largely used to support the library events and programs. 

In addition to monetary donations, you can also donate your gently used books for the upcoming book sale in January. Whether it’s a favorite novel you’ve already read, children’s books your kids have outgrown, or non-fiction gems which are gathering dust, your contributions can help give these books a new life. Not only do they provide affordable reading options for others, but they also support vital library programs which foster literacy and learning in our community. The book sale could not happen without so many people generously donating books. 

The Goshen County Library Foundation is a cornerstone both for the library and for the community. The resources and programs provided at the library are relied on by many Goshen County residents and are enjoyed by countless others, and many of these programs could not happen without the tireless work of the Goshen County Library Foundation volunteers.