Stand Up for Standout Friends Spotlight: Kasson, Minn.

William Lambert is well known to regulars at the Kasson Public Library, and so is his trusty GMC Sierra 1500 pickup. Both are central to the success of the Friends of Kasson Public Library’s biannual book sales. “Will manages the sales from start to finish – planning, scheduling, and staffing,” shared group treasurer John Talcott.

Will and wife Maryann volunteer their trusty truck for the movement of merchandise and tables beforehand, and for the removal of unsalable books afterwards.
 
Will served on the board of the Friends of Kasson Public Library for nine years, including productive terms as president and secretary. His presidency coincided with the pandemic lockdown. During that tumultuous, uncertain time, many Friends groups paused their book gathering and sale operations altogether. Kasson took a different tack entirely.

As a substitute for the usual summer and spring book sales, the Friends held free book giveaways in September and October 2020. This drew in takers from as far away as Oronoco and Zumbrota. In an interview with the Rochester Post Bulletin, Will explained the group’s generosity as follows: “We’re here to serve the community… and everyone [needed] some extra reading that winter."