Board - Ridgefield Library

Library Board of Directors

The Ridgefield Library is operated by the Ridgefield Library Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a Board of Directors dedicated to ensuring excellent library service to the community. The Board’s major responsibilities are to set policies and directions for the Library; manage its financial and intellectual health; and provide oversight to the administration of the Library.

From the Board Chair

As I begin my term as Board Chair, the Ridgefield Library is thriving! It has been a community destination since 1903 when James Morris gave the E. W. Morris Memorial Library to the town, in memory of his wife Elizabeth. The lovely Morris Building is still a part of the Library, but the building continually expands and evolves to meet your needs. In 2022, the Dean and Theresa Miller Terrace opened, providing an outdoor space complete with seating and Wi-Fi.

Library Director Brenda McKinley and her staff of 43 employees welcome as many as a 1,000 patrons per day. I am often asked what brings people through the door and the reasons I give are diverse. Here are a few: children come to read to the dogs from ROAR; adults with developmental and intellectual challenges participate in book discussions; artists arrange exhibitions and promote themselves; those of us with old VHS videos come to get them converted to a digital format; and patrons without technology at home come to use the Wi-Fi, computers and printers.

In addition to continually updating the collection of physical and digital books, and managing over 250,000 checkouts per year, the Library offered almost 2,000 programs last year, enabling you to learn and engage. When the doors open in the morning, people are often waiting outside to enter.

While the Town of Ridgefield provides significant funding, the Library needs to raise funds to cover approximately 30% of its annual operating budget. Whether you are new to town and a first-time donor, or have donated for many years, we need your help. Your thoughtful donation will cover the costs required to develop impactful programs and ensure the maintenance of our beautiful building and substantial collections. Please consider donating to the Library’s Annual Appeal.

On behalf of the Ridgefield Library Board of Directors, we are grateful for the opportunity to serve you and thank you for your support. It is with your generosity that the Ridgefield Library continues to be a community destination.

Warm Regards,

Carrie R. Wells

Ridgefield Library Board of Directors

RL Board 2022-23 — Back L to R: William Magill; Brian Egge; Marc Vigliotti; Paul Mellinger; Carrie Wells.
Front L to R: Art Leaderman; Nicole Agius; Jennifer Crowl; David Smith; Tom Main; Kim Welton.

2022-2023

Carrie R. Wells, Chair

Rob Ellis, Vice-Chair

Paul S. Mellinger, Treasurer

Marjorie Davidson, Secretary

Nicole Agius

Jennifer B. Crowl

Brian A. Egge

Arthur Leaderman

William H. Magill

Tom Main

Danielle J. McGrogan

Gary R. Rapp

Jeet Sandhu, MD

David B. Smith

Marc R. Vigliotti

Kimberly Welton

Tom Madden, Friends of the Ridgefield Library representative

Carroll W. Brewster, Emeritus

Peter T. Coffin, Emeritus

Barbara Dobbin, Emerita

The Library Board meets on the 4th Monday of most months at 7:30 p.m. in the Library’s Dayton Program Room. Click here for FY 2022-2023 Meeting Schedule.

Library Board meetings are open to the public. Anyone requiring special accommodation due to disability is asked to contact the Library Director at 203-438-2282.