MEMORIAL AND LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF WESTERLY

LIBRARY - THE LIBRARY PROVIDES ESSENTIAL RESOURCES,SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT ENRICH THE LIVES OF ALL ITS PATRONS; CHILDREN OF ALL AGES ARE WELCOME,& INTRODUCED TO THE MAGIC OF READING; IT IS A CENTER FOR CIVIC PRIDE & COMMUNITY; IT IS A THRIVING, BUSY, WARM, BEAUTIFUL, & WELCOMING PLACE. WE HAVE 11,916 PATRONS WITH ACTIVE LIBRARY CARDS & THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR FREE OFFERINGS, NO CARDS REQUIRED. OUR TOTAL CIRCULATION LAST YEAR, INCLUDING EZONE BOOKS, WAS 310,828 ITEMS,WE HAD 13,103 COMPUTER USERS & 37,860 WIRELESS SESSIONS. WE ARE PART OF A LIBRARY CONSORTIUM, SHARING DIGITAL MATERIALS AND A PATRON CATALOGING AND CIRCULATION DATABASE. WE ARE ALSO PART OF THE LIBRARY OF RI NETWORK MATERIAL LENDING, AND ASK RI SUBSCRIPTION DATABASES. WE PROVIDE EBOOKS AND RESEARCH HELP,TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE,ACCESS TO THE INTERNET,A LIBRARY OF THINGS AND A WCAG 2.0 AA COMPLIANT WEBSITE THAT SERVES AS OUR VIRTUAL SELF AND PRIMARY MEDIA INTERFACE.

WILCOX PARK - WILCOX PARK IS A NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT ARBORETUM AND DESIGNED LANDSCAPE, AND ONE OF THE CORNERSTONES FOR OUR SENSE OF PLACE IN THE REGION. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL, PRIVATE PARK THAT ALSO SERVES AS AN OUTDOOR COMMUNITY SPACE. THE ASSOCIATION MAINTAINS AND PRESERVES THIS HISTORIC RESOURCE AND, THROUGH THAT, IN KEEPING DOWNTOWN WESTERLY LOOKING BEAUTIFUL AND WELL-MAINTAINED. THE PARK CONTAINS VARIOUS EDUCAITONAL GARDENS, MONUMENTS, CHAMPION TREES AND A COTTAGE THAT HOSTS SEVERAL ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE PARK'S EDUCATIONAL POTENTIAL IS REALIZED THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE A VARIETY OF THINGS INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS, WELLNESS, AND COMMUNITY. PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE ANNUAL GARDEN MARKET FAIR, THE VIRTU ART FESTIVAL WHICH SHOWCASES THE WORK OF 200 ARTISTS, THE SUMMER POPS CONCERT BY THE CHORUS OF WESTERLY, AND THE ANNUAL THEATER IN THE PARK PRODUCTIONS.