Wareham residents of all ages came out on Saturday to show their love for the Wareham Free Library. Guests enjoyed performances by local resident Jackson Gillman and a library-wide display of arts and crafts.

"We had lots of people come in," Library Director Denise Medeiros said, touting the success of the rally.

A highlight of the event was the "The Wareham Free Library means to me" cards hanging on the walls of the library. The cards featured quotes from children and adults who frequent the facility.

Lily Shipley wrote: "The Wareham Free Library means to me.... a place where we can be peaceful and hangout." A local parent, Susan Galloway wrote: "It's a great place to come with my kids, hang out, and get great books."

Everyone who visited on rally day received a small door prize and, if they filled out a "Wareham Free Library means to me" card, a chance to win Love Your Library gift baskets provided by the Friends of the Wareham Free Library. The drawing for the three baskets will be held on Tuesday, February 15.

The goal of the rally was to drum up support for increased state funding for public libraries in Massachusetts. One-tenth of 1 percent of the state’s budget goes to support libraries, but library usage across the state is up. There were 503,279 new library cards issued in Massachusetts last year, but state funding for libraries and library resources has dropped by 39 percent in the past decade. Signature sheets were available at the door to show State Senator Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton) and State Representative Susan Williams Gifford (R-Wareham) that funding the library matters to a lot of residents.

On Sunday, February 20, golfers of all ages are invited to play eighteen holes of miniature golf throughout the library as a part of a fundraiser hosted by The Friends of the Wareham Free Library. For more information on that event, contact Denise Medeiros at 508-295-2343, extension 1010. The library is located at 59 Marion Road.