National Friends of Libraries Week, Oct. 21 – Oct. 27

In recognition of National Friends of Libraries Week, Oct. 21 – Oct. 27, the Howland Public Library in Beacon wishes to thank the Friends of Howland Public Library for raising funds to purchase items for the library that are outside the budget voted on annually by residents of the Beacon city school district. With public library budget increases restricted to 2 percent or less, and with most of that increase eaten by mandated costs, supplemental Friends funds are more important than ever.

Recent Friends purchases include new library tables, T-shirts for HPL’s winning teen Battle of the Books team, a historical-document scanner, a hanging system for our gallery spaces, an HDTV for programs, and coming soon — e-readers loaded with bestsellers. We couldn’t have purchased these items without Friends donations.

Many thanks to Friends President Stacy Dedring, Vice President Elsa Franco and Treasurer Marion Imperatore; to Vickie Raabin for co-chairing the Friends Fabulous February Family Fundraiser; and to Marcia Frahman, Vicki Blucher, and the best bunch of bookstore volunteers ever! They’ve made the Beacon Reads Bookstore the success it is today.

Finally, thanks to HPL Board Liaison Prue Posner, for helping the Friends attract and keep great people.

Everyone in the community who has supported the Friends of HPL membership drive this year and in years past is a Friend of HPL.

All Friends – those who volunteer and those who raise funds and those who write checks – make a real difference in our community.

Fanny Keaton

HPL Director

An Appeal from Friends President Stacy Dedring

Dear Friends,

Friends of Howland Public Library is grateful for your past support of this important community space in Beacon. I am writing to invite you become a Friend or to renew your membership.

We are involved in many exciting projects at the library and as Friends, supporting the library in its activities. As you know, the library budget, like all public budgets at this time, is very tight, and it is thanks to the fundraising of Friends that some of the new equipment has been purchased. It is also thanks to Friends (and other library supporters) that our outstanding children’s and teen programs have been consistently funded.

We hope you will also attend the Friends’ Annual Membership Meeting to be held on Thursday, October 11th at 4 PM in the HPL Community Room. I have agreed to continue as President of the Friends Board, Elsa Franco will continue as Vice-President, and Marion Imperatore will continue in her position as Treasurer.  Marcia Frahman will be nominated for the post of Vice-President for Beacon Reads Bookstore. We invite nominations for the position of Secretary.

At this meeting, we will also begin planning our Fabulous February Fundraiser for Presidents’ Day, Monday, February 18, 2013 from 3-5 PM at the library.

Thank you in advance for continuing to support our public library through membership in Friends of Howland Public Library. We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Membership Meeting on October 11th.

Sincerely,

Stacy

Friends of HPL Fabulous Fundraiser!