To: Charlotte Zimmerman, Library Assistant
From: Maida Tilchen, Resident of Somerville, MA
I have become a great admirer of your wonderful city's library system, due to the zoom book group that has been held weekly by the Sage Branch, hosted by your wonderful librarian, Charlotte Zimmerman.
I love to read books about New Mexico, even though I live in Somerville, which is right next to Boston, Massachusetts. When I got locked down by Covid more than a year ago, I googled many of the libraries in New Mexico to try to find a zoom discussing books set in New Mexico. The only one I found was the Sage branch group, and what a great treasure I found!
All of this difficult Covid year, during which I have been very socially isolated, I've had my wonderful Thursday afternoon group, talking about books. More than that, I have made friends in Las Cruces and enjoyed learning about life there.
Charlotte did an incredible job not just selecting diverse and fascinating books, but having many authors join our zoom to tell us about their writing life and answer our questions. I am an author also, having published two historical novels set in New Mexico. Charlotte invited me to speak about my books and my award-winning New Mexico book collection back in September, which was a great experience for me, and even led to my being interviewed on the NPR station in Las Cruces recently.
I am writing to let you know how much the Sage branch Thursday book discussion zoom has meant to me in this difficult year. I have just learned that the group is going to end as of next week. I am shocked and saddened as I will miss this so much.
I am writing to suggest that you officially recognize Charlotte Zimmerman for all she has done for me and the other regulars and occasional visitors to the group, giving us a wonderful experience every week, creating a silver lining of this terrible year.
Thank you and respectfully,
Maida Tilchen
Somerville, MA