The As You Like It Library Café opens. People are allowed to consume their beverages in most areas of the Library, a rarity among public library practices. Over 900 children register for the summer reading program, another new high. Shirley Land receives the first ever Special Friend Award. The Westport Library Award is established to honor those whose work nurtures the love of learning and enhances our understanding of the world. NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw is the first recipient at the “Booked for the Evening” event.
The video collection expands to over 13,000 titles, the largest collection in the state. Circulation is up 16 percent over the previous year and average daily visits rise 31 percent to 1,582 people per day. The Library has the highest annual circulation per capita in the state at 24 items.
