Pequot Library Association

“Any person who shall make an appropriate annual contribution shall be a member.”

“Members elect the library's officers and members of the board of trustees at the annual meeting.”

“There are no committees that have the authority to act on behalf of the governing body.”

“The form 990 is presented to the finance and investments committee prior to filing for approval. The form 990 is then presented by the finance and investments committee to the board of trustees for final approval prior to filing.”

“The association's officers, executive director, key employees, and trustees are required to fill out conflict of interest statements annually and are reviewed and monitored yearly at a board meeting.”

“The executive committee of the full board of trustees, which also acts as the compensation committee, has the responsibility to annually review and approve the president, officers and key employees' compensation, which process, and approval is documented. The committee reviews comparable compensation from similar area not-for-profit organizations. This process was last completed in 2024.”

“The organization makes its governing documents and financial statements available to the public upon request.”

“Historic building: pequot library is proud to be the steward of a historic building designed by noted american architect robert h. Robertson, commissioned by pequot's prominent founder, virginia marquand monroe. The library was the philanthropic gift of mrs. Monroe to the village of southport, who hoped it would be a center of learning and culture with programs as "free as air to all". Pequot library's historic building is a late 19th-century romanesque revival stone structure featuring a two-story stacks wing with a glass floor and a nearly acoustically-perfect auditorium with a modest 1970s addition and a great lawn suitable for a variety of outdoor activities. Pequot is listed on the national register of historic places and, in 2018, received the connecticut treasures award from the american institute of architects, ct chapter. Library services and circulating collection: pequot library curates a circulating collection of more than 101,000 items with books for adults, children, and young adults, plus media items like audiobooks, adding 1,719 new items in 2024-2025. Pequot library circulated 30,189 items from its collections to the public, including interlibrary loans and seed library, with 43% of those items being children's materials. Public programs and community outreach; in 2024-2025, pequot library offered a total of 580 programs and events to patrons of all ages, including 27 school programs, which reached 1,042 students, and 194 self-directed activities like crafts for youth visitors, which garnered 3,545 participants. Year-round programs include author talks, exhibitions, musical and live performances, workshops, book clubs, scholarly presentations, lectures, school and university student tours, walking tours of historic southport, and numerous children's literacy programs. The library also collaborates with the two other public libraries in town, local schools, and countless peer organizations in the area. Community programs have expanded to include online exhibitions and virtual author talks. Pequot designs these programs and exhibitions using its notable special collections of rare books, manuscripts, and archives as inspiration. Special event fundraisers include used book sales, a party inspired by derby day, the southport garden stroll and other events unique to pequot library like author talks and community art shows. In 2024-2025, program attendance totaled 32,216 (includes 3,545 participants in self-directed activities and views of pre-recorded programming); 26,244 patrons utilizing library services in person and when combined with web users visiting the library's website, pequot served a total of 142,460 patrons. Pequot further serves the community through the books for teachers' program, supported by grant funding from the rene b. Fisherfoundation. This program allowed the library to provide free books to 313 teachers in bridgeport, new haven, and other low-income communities who shopped at the annual summer book sale and the annual midwinter book sale. The library also donated books to area senior centers and other groups in need of gently used books. Special collections and exhibitions; the special collections of rare books, manuscripts, and archives are part of the original legacy of pequot library. Virginia marquand monroe, in collaboration with her husband, elbert monroe, and her advisor, reverend william holman, carefully selected and gifted to the library an extraordinary collection of americana materials centering around the founding of the nation. Mary catherine hull wakeman, another southport philanthropist, also funded and contributed an incredibly valuable portion of the library's original collection. In 2024-2025, pequot library's special collections around 30,000 rare books, manuscripts, and documents from the 15thcentury and earlier to present, that help illuminate the history of the local area and beyond. Nearly 2,000 of the rare, published works and manuscripts are currently on long-term l”