KENT, Conn.—At a luncheon on Sunday, Nov. 9, to honor the many volunteers who are essential to the operations of the Kent Memorial Library (KML), library director Sarah Marshall beamed when she spoke of the myriad contributions volunteers made this year.
When compared to other libraries in Connecticut, Marshall said, “we have the most volunteer hours by a mile.” For the most recent fiscal year (2023-24), Kent boasts 1.81 volunteer hours per capita. The towns with the next highest library volunteer hours per capita are Hampton (0.9) and Canaan (0.87).
In introducing 2025’s KML volunteer of the year, Marshall noted that each year, the Connecticut Library Association announces state-wide awards to recognize excellence in library services.
“One of the major categories is for community engagement, and the chair of our Community Engagement Committee has just done incredible work at bringing people into the fold,” Marshall said, naming Sharon Norton as KML’s volunteer of the year.
Norton serves on the KML board of directors and is the chair of the community engagement committee, which formed in 2024. Of note, the community engagement committee sponsored this May’s New Neighbor bash and a civics lesson at town hall in 2024. “We’re hoping [Sharon] can receive some recognition at the state level.”
Volunteer board members, their committees, and 100-plus other volunteers assist with programs, daily tasks and fundraising.
Kent Memorial Library receives a grant from the Town of Kent each year, which covers only about one-quarter of the library’s operating budget. The library relies heavily on its own fundraising efforts to meet its financial obligations. Marshall reported on the net gains from the top three fundraising activities of 2025, all of which are made possible by volunteers.
The new Great Giftcard Giveaway, a replacement for the long-standing Car Raffle, netted $10,197. Advertising for the re-invented raffle was hugely successful on social media, with Marshall and Kent Chamber of Commerce members starring in a series of short videos.
“Not only do we feel like we’ve won the lottery, but when I go into the local stores and say, ‘I want a $500 gift card,’ they feel like they’ve won the lottery, too,” Marshall said.
The annual June benefit, themed Southwestern Hues & Views this year, netted $61,462. The benefit is chaired by board of directors Dana Slaughter and Ellen Gutierrez.
“It’s a huge team effort,” said Marshall, noting almost 300 people attended and/or sponsored the benefit this year.
The popular summer-long outdoor book sale, which also has year-round online and indoor display components, has so far netted $78,228 in 2025.
Marshall explained that library programs, events and fundraisers are run by committees, and it takes a committed chair to make them successful. As an example of a dedicated chair, Betty Krasne was highlighted for running the KML book club for over 25 years.
Of the honor, Norton expressed surprise, stating that it is really the staff who have been doing the work of implementing the committee’s ideas.
“All I’ve been doing is making sure we stuck to the charge… that we were just reminding ourselves what the mission is, and what we were reaching out to do,” she said. “It’s so rewarding, and it works.”
At the end of the lunch, Janet Rivkin, executive vice president of the library’s board, spoke on behalf of the board of directors, to thank the volunteers assembled.
She noted that when she moved to Kent, she got involved in the library as a way of getting to know the community.
“I realized,” Rivkin continued, “the library is community.”
For more information about KML, visit their website.
