Bookworms

The Longboat Library has hundreds of books to check out and for sale, 733 yearly members, 104 lifetime members and only 23 summer volunteers who keep it running.

“I can’t believe how many people don’t know about us and that we’re here,” volunteer Connie Hilwig said. “It’s all volunteers here running this, and it’s a nice place to volunteer.”

With season finally over, year-round Longboat residents are visiting the library to find a book to relax with on the beach.

Seven volunteers share their favorite summer reading books.

Ruth Strauss

From: Atlanta

Volunteer for: 20 years

Favorite book genre: Fiction

Favorite summer read: “I like David Rosenfelt books because he includes stories about his dogs. I also like Stuart Woods’ books about a lawyer.”

Memorable experience: “I got an email about things that have gone away with time and technology, and a card catalog was on there. We still use a card catalog.”

Jack and Carole McMahon

From: Buffalo, N.Y.

Carole

Volunteer for: 16 years

Favorite book genre: Mystery and historical fiction

Favorite summer read: “I love the Anne Perry Series. I love Victorian mysteries.”

Memorable experience: “I was training my husband to become a volunteer, and someone was in the library using the computer. When I was done training, the man was surprised he was my husband. He said, ‘Oh! You were very nice to him.’”

Jack

Volunteer for: One year

Favorite book genre: Mysteries

Favorite summer read: “I like the series of Archy McNally books by Lawrence Sanders and ‘To the Hilt’ by Dick Francis.”

Memorable experience: “People use our Internet for anything. Some even do their income taxes here.”

Connie Hilwig

From: Pennsylvania

Volunteer for: Four years

Favorite book genre: Historical fiction and nonfiction

Favorite summer read:
“‘Let Sleeping Dogs Lie’ by Rita Mae Brown. I’m a horse-lover, and I love her books. I also like Anne River Simmons for light reading. I read very different types of books in season.”

Memorable experience: “Many of our volunteers are people who come in as patrons and then want to become volunteers.”

Carolyn and Joel Mangel

From: Maryland

Carolyn

Volunteer for: Five years

Favorite book genre: Fiction
and historical fiction

Favorite summer read: “‘Unaccustomed Earth’ by Jhumpa Lahiri and any other book by Jhumpa Lahiri. An award-winning author shares a collection of short stories. It’s a perfect summer read.”

Memorable experience: “One time, we closed, and a man fell asleep in the back of the library, and nobody thought to look. He was locked in and couldn’t leave the library. He found a door he could unlock from the inside but called the police because he didn’t want to leave the library unlocked for the night. Now, when we turn out the lights, we check and make sure no one is here.”

Joel

Volunteer for: Five years

Favorite book genre: Novels and history

Favorite summer read: “I enjoy Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series and also Michael Connelly’s ‘Boys in the Boat.’”

Amy Roth

From: Rochester, N.Y.

Volunteer for:
12 years

Favorite book genre: Fiction

Favorite summer read: “‘The Boston Girl’ by Anita Diamant. It’s a wonderful story about a woman who tells her granddaughter about her experience in an immigrant family.”

Memorable experience: “I’m a retired school librarian, and I select and order the books for the library. There’s a lot of reading that’s available.”