A mission moment is a short, inspiring story that shows how someone’s work directly connects to and advances an organization’s mission by making a tangible, positive impact on a person or community. Below both patrons and staff have shared what makes the Adamstown Area Library so special.
Patron Shared Moments
“I have always dreamed of going to Longwood Gardens. Because of your program (Grab & Grow), I grew sprouts from seeds and won free tickets. Thank you so much!” – Jessica V.
“Thank you so much for the baby story times last school year! The Adamstown (Area) Library holds some of the best memories of my maternity leave. Baby story time also connected us with my first mom friend and my baby’s first baby friend! Thank you for all that you do for our community!” – Sam R.
“When we first moved to Adamstown my youngest was 7 years old. He was in that whimsical exploring the world age everything was an adventure. We found and checked out an explorers bag which had all sorts of neat items. Magnifying glass, identification books, other tools for exploring like a compass. We explored the park and explored the walk home. It was a great day and I did not know it was going to become a day of exploring until we had stepped foot into the library. I’m grateful for the library and the adventures they bring everyone in the community.” – Amanda M.
Staff Shared Moments
“Recently a young patron recognized Shelly, one of our circulation assistants, for her kindness and attention to detail. When Shelly calls to communicate a hold is ready for pickup, she will sometimes leave a message in the voice of the book character. This young patron has grown to love listening to Shelly’s voice messages leaving quite an impact. She brought a thoughtful gift specifically for Shelly, an upcycled trophy from her dance class, rebranded as “#1 Voice Message,” complete with her own artwork. This speaks to the deep connection our patrons share with our community, a connection impossible through artificial intelligence or other technology. It is the direct human connection strengthening communities, especially at libraries.”
“A patron entered the library asking to make copies. Partway through the process, they became emotional and shared with the staff member that was helping her that her mother had recently passed away. The staff member listened thoughtfully, and simply offered support in that moment. Our staff wear a lot of different hats and sometimes, we are a kind and friendly shoulder to lean on for community members who need it.“
“After Cupcake Wars, I stopped to talk with a patron about the program. She raved about how much fun she had and shared that she’s a retired art teacher. She loved having the opportunity to be creative in such a fun way! She also shared that she comes from outside our service area because she values the work our library does. She shared a lot of other libraries in the area feel “impersonal and corporate”. She also mentioned that she enjoys that we are community-oriented and the creative programming that we offer.”
