Bethel Public Library Announces Recent Award Winners

From Bethel Public Library:

The Bethel Public Library is pleased to announce recent award winners for service to the town of Bethel. On April 9, the Bethel Democratic Town Committee honored Mary O’Leary, longtime member of the library’s Board of Directors. O’Leary was presented with the Bill & Jane Shannon Community Service Award for contributing to the growth and improvement of the town of Bethel. Among her many civic and public activities, she has served on the library Board of Directors for many years as chairman and library supporter and remains an active board member. She was a founding member of the Friends of the Bethel Public Library and currently serves as secretary.

On Monday, April 25, the Bethel Public Library Board of Directors recognized two Bethel Public Library employees for their service to the library. Chairman Ted Stevenson presented a certificate of appreciation to senior library assistant Olivia Von Kohorn for her role in making the Library's participation in Fairfield County Giving Day a success, helping to raise more than $2,500 in a single day. Chairman Stevenson presented a certificate of appreciation to teen services librarian Amy Schumann for writing and receiving a $7,500 grant for the library to bring a variety of technology and cultural programs to young adult patrons.

On Saturday, April 30, the Bethel Republican Town Committee honored Lynn Rosato, director of the Bethel Public Library; Stuart Carlsen, member of the Bethel Board of Education and Don Goodrich, chairman of the Bethel Inland Wetlands Commission.

Lynn Rosato, director of the Bethel Public Library, was presented with the John L. Thiele Distinguished Service Award for her 16 years of dedicated service to the Bethel community and for moving the library’s $10 million project to completion, making it the crown jewel and cornerstone of our community.

Stuart Carlsen received the Republican of the Year Award for his dedication to the community, having been a member of the Bethel Board of Education for 14 years as well as and board member and treasurer for the Bethel Visiting Nurse Association. Don Goodrich, chairman of the Bethel Inland Wetlands Commission, received the Denis J. Riordan Award for 20 years of service on the Bethel Inland Wetlands Commission. He has served for the past 12 years as the commission's chairman.

Further information is available through the Bethel Public Library website.