Lilly the Librarian Is Always Booked Up

Lilly the Librarian Is Always Booked Up

By Leonard Shapiro

Middleburg Library Branch Manager Lilly Newton

Photo by Vicky Moon

Lilly Newton has only been on the job as branch manager for the Middleburg Library since September, 2021, but she’s already had a significant impact on expanding its seemingly countless services and programs. You can even do yoga—floor or seated—in a corner of the 2,200-square foot building, with no reading required.

Newton, a Maryland native, commutes to Reid Street from her home in Summit Point, West Virginia. She took over from beloved Sheila Whetzel, who had retired as the library’s first and only manager since 1988, at a time when Covid restrictions were starting to ease.

For many months, children’s story times, adult book clubs and other popular programs had been suspended. But these days, with Newton and her dedicated six-person staff showing the way, the library once again clearly is thriving.

This past summer, library weekly summer reading events partnered with a dozen community organizations, with nearly 450 participants. Newton also arranged monthly mobile library visits to Levis Hill House senior residence at Windy Hill, with books, newspapers and magazines available to be checked out right at their front door.

The staff visited local schools to promote summer reading in May and June and also created over 75 new accounts during its library card sign up in September. In the last year, they’ve added more story times, a Pre-K skill building class, chess club, an English conversation group, and an all ages art session on Saturday mornings.

There’s a winter reading challenge for adults, who can win gift cards if they complete 16 books between December and February. And how about Rambling Readers, a monthly gathering to discuss a book while walking around town.

“Lilly has been a wonderful addition not only to our fantastic library, but to our community,” said Alix Coolidge, president of the library’s advisory board. “She put together the most incredible series of programs in the past year… and she has been very involved in the community, making sure that those who cannot get to the library have the library come to them.”

Newton also likes to emphasize that, “Everything here is free and open to everyone. That’s our rule.”

And clearly, more people are taking full advantage. This past September, 1,953 people walked through the front door. The previous September, the number was about 1,600. Newton is obviously delighted. “The reason I got into library work was because I wanted to help my community,” she said. “When I finished college, I worked with the military in government contracting, but I didn’t feel I was making any kind of impact. When I switched careers, I wanted something challenging that would actually help people.”

She got a Masters in library science at Clarion University in Pennsylvania and eventually ended up as head of children’s services in Shepherdstown, WVA. After two years, she moved to Leesburg’s Rust Library and was promoted to head of children’s services. She spent seven years there, and when she learned Whetzel was planning to retire, she was intrigued by the possibility of moving to the Middleburg branch.

There also were openings in Purcellville and Lovettsville, “but Middleburg was my first pick,” she said. “I thought it was a great opportunity, and it reminds me of Shepherdstown—a small town, everyone knows everyone. I like that small town feeling.”

And after less than 15 months on the job, the feeling about Lilly Newton among countless library users is mutual.