Montville Town councilor Rosetta Jones has been elected to serve on the Raymond Library Board of Directors she announced to the Town Council last week.
“To me libraries lighthouses of knowledge that can transform communities,” Jones said.
Of her election to the Raymond board, she said, “I am truly honored." In its more than century-old history, Jones is the first African-American named to serve on the library board.
Jones has been a friend of the library and its mission as evidenced by her support as a trustee on the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, which, she said, bestowed grants of $100,000 each to 13 area libraries, of which the Raymond Library was one. Jones explained that the grant enabled the library to become fully automated. She also serves as founder of the ‘Lets Read Fund’which supports local programs that promote a love of reading and support to help all children to be reading at grade level by third grade. And Leonard B. Tyl Middle School was recipient of funding for their One Book/One Grade Program, she said.
“So, as a believer in lifelong learning, I'm excited to have the opportunity to assist the dedicated staff, Friends of the Library Volunteers, and distinguished board members in their efforts to promote literacy through greater accessibility, and expanded programs and services throughout our collective community,” she said.
Raymond Library opened in 1885 at a cost of $2,606. The library is still operating on the original endowment and additional town funding. The private institution is run by a board of directors, headed by Sherwood Raymond, a descendant of the man who started it all.
