A Library that Thrives, not just Survives

The last couple of years our library has been fighting to survive. The shutdown in 2020, concerns of books, and operating procedures all caused a rift in the functioning of our “Best Small Library in America”. I am running because I would like to help our library thrive again. Libraries are institutions for obtaining information, ideas, and literary enjoyment. I want to ensure all visitors are able to safely search and check out books that meet their interests; regardless of their age or background. I plan on doing this by supporting what has historically worked for our library.

Our library offers some successful activity-based learning programs. Some of my favorites are the summer and winter reading programs, reading hour, library in a box, the Libby App and of course… the Fab Lab! Our library has also done an excellent job at being a second home for Boundary county’s large home-schooling community. I plan on continuing and expanding these amazing resources.

My name is Mary-Esther Wilson. I am running for Boundary County Free Library District Zone 5 (Naples) Trustee. My husband and I have 5 amazing children ranging from 5 to 27 years old. This last year we were also blessed with our first grandson. When we moved to the area in 2009 and discovered our Boundary County Library, it soon became a favorite hangout spot. It was a comfortable place for us to do our homeschooling lessons while we built our off-grid homestead. I have been a volunteer of the South Boundary Fire Department, Naples Helping Hands and the Treasurer of Boundary Search and Dive. I recently sat on the committee that updated the library’s Collections Policy.