Trustees Allegra Griffiths and Denise Easton have been elected Co-Presidents of the Board of Trustees.
Allegra Griffiths, a Stonington resident since 2012, has served on the board of Stonington Free Library for 5 years. With a background in business and
finance, Allegra and her family lived in London for 13 years and, upon returning to the US, chose Stonington as home. She is deeply involved in several local organizations, including NESS and the Stonington Garden Club.
Allegra explains her dedication for the library with a story: “The Stonington Free Library has a special place in my heart. The first time that my family ever set foot in Stonington back in 2004, our 6-year-old daughter – until then a reluctant reader at best – spent the entire summer running back and forth to the Library checking out books under my temporary library card. She became so well known at the Library that when I tried to check out a book myself later in the summer, the Library staff refused to allow
it – they told me that I wasn’t Allegra Griffiths; they knew Allegra Griffiths and she was a small child who came to the Library every day!”
“I see this story as an example of two things: first, the power of a library to turn a reluctant reader into a lifelong learner (that 6-year-old is now halfway through college and still loves to read); and second, the role of the Stonington Free Library in our community. What made the difference for my daughter was being recognized, being welcomed and having the freedom to explore the Library’s resources.”
Denise Easton, moved to Stonington in 2013 and joined the board of the Stonington Free Library in 2015. Denise is an entrepreneur and business consultant who appreciates the opportunity to live in Stonington and work with clients around the world.
“The first time I visited Stonington I thought, who wouldn’t love a community that proudly located its Library front and center for everyone to see? I actually visited the Stonington Free Library on that first trip, and knew I belonged here.”
“The Stonington Free Library is an enduring link from our past to our future and is emblematic of the values, creativity and commitment of the staff, Board and supporters to keep knowledge and learning freely available to every member of our community.”
“We are looking forward to tackling the difficult things – which we can do quickly with the help of our extraordinary Board. The impossible may take a little longer.”
Libraries provide access: to information and technology, but most of all to knowledge and opportunity. Unusual in this day and age, libraries are open to everyone and free of charge. Their combination of information resources and the assistance of skilled staff provides a level playing field and equality of opportunity for everyone, whether it involves academic research, job searches, assistance filling out tax forms, or simply learning to use new technologies.
