Opening Doors

Check out the latest addition to the Lyme library’s collection…..

Human connection specialist Simone Heng’s new book “Let’s Talk About Loneliness” explores the global loneliness epidemic and how we can change our lives to make more meaningful connections. We have all at one point or another felt lonely and isolated, but in the modern world, saturated with technology and “connections” we aren’t actually building the skills to be connected on a meaningful level. Loneliness in the modern world doesn’t look like what we’ve been raised to believe it would look like, and yet human nature still thrives on deep, interpersonal connections. How you go about making those connections and why it is important is explored in this book. Simone explains how to distinguish authentic relationships from fake substitutes and shines a gentle light on the path to help you move ahead and build meaningful relationships with those who do, or will, matter the most to you in the long run. An important book to explore and share.

Participating Organizations

Click the links below to find out more about the organizations participating in and supporting Opening Doors.

Lyme Public Library Board of Directors
Lyme Public Library Director
Friends of the Lyme Public Library
Lyme Congregational Church
Old Lyme Congregational Church
Lyme Selectpeople
Lyme Board of Education
Lymes’ Senior Center/Meals on Wheels
Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau
Lyme’s Social Services
St. Ann’s Episcopal Church
Yale clinical health psychologist
Ledge Light Health District
Lyme/Old Lyme Lions Club
Lyme Ambulance/Special Needs
Lyme Land Trust
Lyme Fire Company
Hadlyme Public Hall
Lyme Public Hall
Connecticut College Student Health and Counseling Services

Opening Doors at the Lyme Library
In May 2023, Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy released a report entitled Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation. It revealed that about half of the adults in the US experience measurable levels of social disconnection, which can lead to an increase in various health issues. In it, Murthy urged, “We are called to build a movement to mend the social fabric of our nation. It will take all of us—By taking small steps every day to strengthen our relationships, and by supporting community efforts to rebuild social connection, we can rise to meet this moment together.”
As the Library Board and the library director were planning the library’s 2024-2029 strategic plan, they decided it was critical to find out how the library could help with this issue So how could the library assist in opening doors for people? An outreach committee made up of library board directors, Friends of the library, the library director, and residents was formed in January 2025 to start exploring the answer to this question. These are some of the “Opening Doors” activities that we now have in the works. We would love to have the community participate and help us “open doors” and reach out to our neighbors .