The Friends of the Norfolk Public Library
2007 Annual Letter
Dear Friends
It’s traditional at the end of a year to reflect back on what the year has brought, what you did and how you did it, and then to decide if you want to repeat those efforts in the current year.
I can truthfully say that if we can repeat 2007 in 2008, as far as the money we were able to raise and return to the library, we would certainly be fulfilling one of the mandates of our Charter. We supported the library in a significant monetary way and provided items beyond the library’s operating budget.
This year our FRESH Membership Drive was successful in a big way. We raised over $15,000. This money is used in a variety of ways, each year a little different from any other. In 2007, we refurbished the library sign which had served us well for many years, but which was looking tired and in need of new paint. The new sign reflects well the new library building to which it directs library users each day.
Last year we spent some of our donations on the landscaping in front of the library. Since the re-opening of the library in November 2005, no landscaping work had been performed in front of the library. Weeds were everywhere and seemingly very healthy in contrast to some of the plantings. Landscaper Cecelia Shipley of Landscape Solutions reduced her hourly rate and did all of the planning and the backbreaking work. The Friends and the Library Trustees joined forces to pay for cleaning up the entrance to our beautiful new building. This will be an ongoing project, so that the initial visual impact of a beautiful entrance will welcome all who enter our building.
Another over the top fund-raiser this year was our Annual Book and Bake Sale. The 2007 sale was the most profitable one the Friends have ever held. Our efforts returned another $15,000 in profit.
With this money, we purchased a Book Collection Shed from Tri County in Franklin, and we placed it at the transfer station. This adds a second collection point for people to make book donations. The Friends Closet at the Library is one place to drop off books and the other is now the shed at the transfer station. There should be no reason why books the public is finished with should be lost to the Friends Book Sale.
The Electronic Bulletin Board was purchased with funds raised at the book sale too. We provided monies for children’s programming and $2,000 toward adult programming. We also gave miscellaneous donations for prizes during the year, and the children of Norfolk enjoyed Ed Morgan for another year of singing and dancing each month.
So reflecting on the year just past, I would say that whatever we did in 2007 we should continue to do in 2008. It was successful beyond our hopes. When other towns are struggling to support their libraries and many area towns are actually loosing theirs, the Friends of the Norfolk Library, year after year, help to shine the crown (or cupola) of our library making it one of the jewels of the public library system in Massachusetts.
Sincerely,
Mary Jo Gothorpe
President, Friends of the Norfolk Public Library
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