It’s good to have friends – library’s donate $18,000 to various projects

‘Books are good’ as a well-known reader once said – and so are friends who help finance Samuels Library reading and other programs and projects. Photo/Roger Bianchini (Pictured are an F. Scott Fitzgerald anthology, ‘Out of Africa’ by Isak Dinesen, ‘1876’ by Gore Vidal, and ‘A Conrad Argosy’ as in ‘Heart of Darkness’ author Joseph Conrad, from the photographer’s personal library)

Friends of Samuels Library (FOSL) were, indeed, “friends” again this past year, donating $18,000 for library programs, including summer reading, improvements to the children’s play area, a new plaque in the library garden, and other expenses outside the library’s operating budget.

According to its August newsletter, proceeds from FOSL’s new Epilogue book store, staffed by volunteers to whom FOSL president Melody Hotek extended a special thanks along with library volunteers, were among fund-raising proceeds ($14,000) that the organization passed along to the library.

“In this edition (of the newsletter),” Hotek wrote, “We celebrate library and bookstore volunteers so vital to the success of our wonderful library and begin a campaign to recruit more of you!” She encouraged interested people to pick up volunteer applications at the library which needs, among other programs, people to help with shelving, teach ESL, bookstore sales, and clerical workers.

During the fiscal year, July 2017 to June 2018, Hotek reported 924 programs were held at Samuels Library, attracting more than 30,000 attendees. A number of the programs were hosted or supported by FOSL, Hotek said, enumerating some of them.

She announced the annual FOSL meeting would be held on Thursday, September 6, at 6:30 p.m. at the library.

For information, the FOSL website may be found at www.friendsofsamuelslibrary.net. If you have ideas for programs or questions on existing ones, email: fosl@friendsofsamuelslibrary.net.