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Hello!

I've been thinking lately about how effort and progress are not really correlated. Sometimes a great deal of effort is required for a bit of progress, and sometimes a little effort makes something big move forward.  

Parents who read every day to their kids may not notice many changes. It's a ton of effort to get a book in front of a kid and then actively read it to them. It may feel like a significant effort for a bit of progress. Yet, those 15 minutes are closer to a little effort for a significant change. Kids who have consistent active reading in the first five years outperform their peers in everything from academics to grey thinking to job success. An investment that truly pays off with huge dividends.  

Along those lines, our long-awaited stove is finally here! Applications for our commissary kitchen will open in January, and we will get things rolling. A big effort that hopefully over time feels small.

Finally, our Nintendo Switch 2 has proved particularly popular in the teen room. Earlier this year, the foundation made this investment, and this world of online lives is a nice community activity for teens.

Thanks for supporting the library,
Isaac Huffman

Giving Tuesday 2025 

The Mount Vernon Library Foundation has spent a busy year raising over $63,000 and spending even more. Our new library needed to be outfitted with equipment and program materials. The most expensive equipment, for which we’ve been raising money for several years, is paid for. We’re nearly finished outfitting the new commissary kitchen, a sizable expense. We’ve also supplied new books to the Children’s Room, the adult collection, and to our outreach program.

As usual, 2026 will mean requests from library staff for books and materials to keep programs exciting and inviting, and perhaps more importantly the Foundation’s support allows staff to think beyond essentials, imagine possibilities, and build on popular offerings in order to better serve people.

We have been hugely successful in supporting the increased use of the library and we ask your help to continue in that success. Library use continues to grow and we have to keep up. 

Please give as generously as you can for Giving Tuesday 2025. You will be supporting literacy, community, and love of learning for all ages. Give what you can on December 2nd – we’ll be accepting donations that whole week. In fact, we will never turn down a contribution that enhances the wonderful services our library offers to this community.

Gratefully,
Suzanne Butler, President
Mount Vernon Library Foundation

¡Hola!

Últimamente he estado pensando en cómo el esfuerzo y el progreso no están realmente correlacionados. A veces se requiere mucho esfuerzo para lograr un pequeño progreso, y a veces un pequeño esfuerzo hace que algo grande avance.

 Los padres que leen a sus hijos a diario pueden no notar muchos cambios. Es un gran esfuerzo poner un libro delante de un niño y luego leerlo activamente a ellos.  Puede parecer un esfuerzo significativo para lograr un pequeño progreso. Sin embargo, esos 15 minutos son casi un pequeño esfuerzo para un cambio significativo. Los niños que leen de forma constante y activa durante los primeros cinco años superan a sus compañeros en todo, desde lo académico hasta el pensamiento en gris y el éxito laboral. Una inversión que realmente vale la pena con grandes dividendos.

En ese sentido, nuestra tan esperada estufa para la cocina finalmente está en camino. Las solicitudes para nuestra cocina de comisariato se abrirán en enero y empezaremos a poner las cosas en marcha. Un gran esfuerzo que, con el tiempo, esperamos que se sienta pequeño.

Por último, nuestra Nintendo Switch 2 ha demostrado ser especialmente popular entre los adolescentes. A principios de este año, la fundación realizó esta inversión, y que este mundo de vida en línea es una actividad comunitaria muy interesante para los adolescentes.

Gracias por apoyar a la biblioteca,
Isaac Huffman