By Stephen H. Cowles

Special to the News-Herald

The Windsor Library honored its friends with a reception and distribution of gifts of appreciation on Sunday afternoon.

Marion Neighbours explained to all present that the work to create a library for the town began 21 years ago. He’s been president of the Friends of the Windsor Library for the past 19 years; his wife, Joyce, has served as treasurer from day one.

Isle of Wight County’s government gave $50,000 for what would become the front part of the building at Duke Street. It took one year to build the library, Neighbours said, adding that students from Pruden VoTech (now the Pruden Center for Industry and Technology) in Suffolk did the construction.

But the money for the fixtures, such as the shelves, came from the Friends, which at the time numbered a little more than 10. He recalled that the women helped set up those shelves.

“We had fundraisers such as steak suppers, auction sales and other means to pay for the interior,” he said, adding that the Blackwater Library furnished the books themselves.

The back part of the library, where the children’s section is located, was done in 1999. The County again gave $50,000, but got $5,000 back since the total cost was $45,000.

As a fundraiser, the Friends sponsor an annual breakfast with Santa Claus. In addition to the opportunity to have their photograph taken with him, everyone gets a book. Last year, 400 people attended the breakfast on the first Saturday of December.

In addition to adding new books, the library regularly offers various programs, such as storytime for children, a knitting group and computer tutoring, to name a few.

“We have been steadily increasing in the use of the library,” Neighbours said.