The Wareham High School library has slowly, but surely, been transforming into a 21^st-century facility, thanks in part to the generosity of one local business.

For the past four years, Gateway Tavern owner Joe Sauro has been donating the money raised during the restaurant's annual golf tournament at Little Harbor Country Club to the library's multi-media center.

This year, the charity golf tournament raised $7,000, which will be used to update print materials and add new technology.

“Joe is a very generous man, and he wanted to give back to the community,” said Wareham High School librarian, and Gateway Tavern employee, Judith DeBonise.

Sauro said simply: “I felt like the library needed a little bit of help."

But the library has received more than a little bit of help.

Over the past four years, Sauro has helped raise more than $20,000 for the library.

“As the number grows, you just want to do more,” Sauro said.

As a result, an area of the library was renovated to provide a place where students can give presentations, and the number of computers has increased from a paltry ten to 30.

“In our regular classes, the teacher will have a desktop, but the students don’t have one,” explained DeBonise. That's where the library comes in.

Sauro gave credit to Gateway Tavern employee Jo Ann Salamone, who also works as a substitute teacher. “She does the majority of the organizational part,” he noted.

Salamone said she felt compelled to help after comparing Wareham's resources with her hometown's.

“I have always been involved with the schools," Salamone explained. "I’m from Plymouth, and I saw what Wareham had compared to them."

Enriching the library with new technology will benefit the entire school, DeBonise explained, because it is used by everyone.

“You can give back to everyone if you give to the library," she noted, "instead of to one sport or club.”