17th Annual Celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week
The Charleston County Public Library (CCPL) will be spending the week of Oct. 16-22 celebrating its Charleston Friends of the Library (CFOL) group as part of the 17th annual celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week.
The Charleston FOL were established more than 30 years ago, and since 2008, they have raised more than $1.2 million for CCPL. The FOL is a volunteer-run organization, from the Board of Directors to the sorting room and throughout the community at book sales and programs. Every year, these volunteers donate thousands of hours to make the Charleston community a better place to live, work, and learn.
The CFOL hosts several book sales, staffed by hundreds of eager volunteers, each year including “That BIG Book Sale,” which raises tens of thousands of dollars annually. Each year, the friends use funds from these sales to make a financial gift to CCPL. The library then uses these gifts to fund programs and to provide extra training for staff.
“Charleston Friends of the Library is excited to celebrate National Friends of the Library week with CCPL,” said CFOL Operations Manager Nulani Bennett. “Our book sales are back in full swing, which in return has helped fund CCPL programs such as Summer Reading, as well as resources for programming. We’re thrilled to continue growing our partnership with CCPL and helping out our local libraries!”
FOL day-to-day operations are led by Bennett, with support from a volunteer-run Board of Directors. Board officers and members include President Carin Jorgensen and past President Susan Hoffius, as well as Treasurer Brandon Reid, VP of Book Sales Reagan Wacker, VP of Marketing Amanda Bunting Comen, VP of Membership and Development Rebecca Hoffman, Sorting Room Liaison Susan Wallberg, and board members Merideth Bonvino, Savannah Frierson, and Gail Golightly.
“The Friends are a vital part of our libraries. I think most patrons would be surprised to learn how many of the services and programs they enjoy are made possible by the Friends,” said CCPL Executive Director Angela Craig. “They help our community in a big way and supporting them means supporting us.”
CCPL will be showing its love and appreciation for its Friends all week on the library’s social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter). CFOL will also be visiting one of our branches to meet and greet with patrons in-person, so keep an eye on the Library’s social media accounts out for more details on how to show your support!
Through book donations, volunteering, book sales, and more, there are a number of ways that you can help support your local library through the Friends. Donations are currently accepted at the Main, Johns Island, and Wando Mount Pleasant libraries. Large donations (typically more than two boxes, depending on the size of the box) should be dropped off at the Main Library at 68 Calhoun St.
One of the easiest ways to show support for your local library and our Friends is to just become a Friend yourself. Just visit charlestonlibraryfriends.org to learn about all of the ways you can support the friends, including how to become a member and how to donate books. You can also follow the Friends on Instagram and Facebook.
The Charleston FOL also hosts the annual Black Ink Festival, which helps amplify the voices of African American writers. The festival will be hosted virtually on Jan. 12-14, 2023. Visit blackinkcharleston.org for more information.
National Friends of Libraries Week is coordinated by United for Libraries, a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ala.org/united.
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