Letters

When I was young, my friends and I would walk to the library after school and do our homework up in the beautiful rotunda of the John Jermain Memorial Library. As an adult, years later, I have fond memories of taking yoga classes in that same space.

I am an avid reader, so I am in the library quite often. I love the warm greeting I get from the staff, and I love the spaces that I utilize there. I find it extremely peaceful.

When my daughter was a toddler, I found myself there several times a week, taking her to children’s programs or just simply to read, play with Lego and Barbies, and to meet other children. An avid reader herself, she also is a familiar face there to the warm staff. She partakes in the plethora of teen programs. She especially has loved being part of the library’s team for Battle of the Books and teen trivia.

There is something for everyone at a public library. Public libraries are a sacred space for some. You can enjoy books, DVDs, periodicals, group meetings, language courses, tax and health insurance help, art classes, musical performances — and, yes, even exercise classes.

My mother-in-law is a library director in a small upstate New York town. Their library is also an important hub to their community. While visiting, I sat through some great lectures and even once attended one about a local wildlife rescue program that brought birds of prey into the space.

That library, like all public libraries, offers a diverse range of programs like John Jermain offers. Most programs are geared to the needs of that community. The beauty of a public library system is that we all can go to other libraries if one is not the right fit for you. It’s fun to visit and partake in programs at different libraries.

Our library provides a wealth of knowledge for all. Libraries do not discriminate, and they offer opportunities to the community in whole, unbiased of race, religion or economic status. Not all of us can afford a membership to a private gym, so to be able to take an exercise class at a library is a blessing to some.

During the height of the pandemic, the John Jermain Memorial Library was a beacon of hope for me and many others. I still took out books and DVDs, and I still took classes like Zumba and yoga by Zoom in the comfort of my home.

Much thanks for providing a safe space and friendly staff at the John Jermain Memorial Library that I have grown to know and love as a lifelong member of the Sag Harbor community.

Jennifer Glass

Sag Harbor