Latest news with #FriendsoftheLibrary
Chicago Tribune
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Waukegan library launches summer program; ‘A celebration of reading of all genres'
Now that the local school year has drawn to a close, the Waukegan Public Library moves into high gear with its summer reading program and a panoply of other events over the next three months, with many geared toward youths. Though the reading program is designed for all ages, library executive director Tiffany Verzani said that for young people it helps the youngsters keep their reading skills sharp while they are out of class during the summer months. 'It's important for kids and teens to keep reading poetry, graphic novels and the things they like over the summer after the school year,' Verzani said. 'Our summer reading program is a celebration of reading of all genres.' The library's summer reading program starts this week, giving people of all ages an opportunity to read library books or volumes from elsewhere, thus qualifying for raffle tickets and a prize. Continuing through Aug. 10, the reading program is one of several at the library this summer. Weekday free lunches start this week for those under 18 and run through Aug. 8, concerts begin on the first Friday in June and the annual used book sale takes place May 31 and June 1. Labeled 'Color Our World,' Claire Quin, the library's youth and teen services manager, said the reading program has three divisions. One is for all youngsters under 14, another for teens between 14 and 18 and the third for adults. The requirements are the same. Rubi Arreola, a youth services assistant, said each participant keeps a log to show what they are reading. Reading five books qualifies for a raffle ticket, where one person will get a $50 gift card. If they read a sixth, they get a second raffle ticket. 'They have to read or listen to five books,' Arreola said. 'Kids who complete the program get a box of crayons, teens get colored pencils and adults receive a colorful poster. They can read what they like, or we can help them find something.' Quin said there will be a kickoff party sponsored by the Friends of the Waukegan Public Library from 2 to 4 p.m. on June 1. Participants will be able to engage in a community art project, take pictures in a selfie booth and more. Quin said the program grows each year. Last year, more than 300 participated. During the school year, students in Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 receive free breakfast and lunch. In the summer, the library offers supplements to the school lunch program with meals, plus an activity. On Fridays, lunch moves outside with a picnic at the concert. 'We want to make sure the children have food security during the summer,' Verzani said. While the children are getting a free lunch at the concerts, Verzani said the Friends of the Library, who organize and fund the events, sell cookies and drinks. The music includes a wide variety of genres. Mary Rose Strubbe, a member of the Friends of the Library who organizes the annual book sale, said it takes place from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on May 31, and from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on June 1. The first three hours on May 31 are reserved for members of the organization. 'It's not a problem,' Strubbe said. 'You can join for $10. There are thousands of books, mostly gently used.' For those who want a bargain, Strubbe said people can fill a bag with books for $5. Bags will be available, but she urges people to bring their own reusable shopping bags.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
LGL: Friends of the Erie County Public Library
Borrow a book, buy a book, or share a book. It all happens at the Erie County Library. And this week, the Friends of the Library got a visit from Loving Giving Local. There is so much more to the Erie County Library System than just books. But it's the books that keep the place going. Thanks to a volunteer group called the Friends of the Library. 'This is kind of a community center as I see it. It's a place where people can enjoy lifelong learning. You hear the pitter-patter of little feet coming in. Parents and grandparents bringing their kids in, but also adults come in, and they can learn all kinds of wonderful opportunities. learn through the idea lab, how to make things, even how to start a business,' said Many of those opportunities are not funded by tax dollars. That's where the friends come in. They've been helping support programs since the 1980s. 'We're kind of a merry bunch of volunteers. None of us are paid staff. We've got probably over 400 members who help us with our book sales, they help us in our store, they help us collect books,' said Marcy Bencivenga of Friends of the Library. Those donated books from the public are sorted and recycled at a number of used book sales throughout the year. The next one is the Great American Book Sale at the Flo Fabrizio Ice Center. Mark your calendar, June 15-19. Here you can pick up a summer of great reading for just a few bucks. While it's the friends that raise money for the library, it's the library director and staff that decide where to spend it. 'So we use that funding to do programs for children, to do our regular story time, to fund things that happen in the idea lab,' Jessica Spitulski, Erie Co. library director. 'All of the programming that the library does is funded by the Friends, and so we here refer to them as the fairy godparents of the library because they're the ones that help us create the magic.' The friends got a helping hand in the form of a financial donation from Loving Giving Local. 'Well, the Friends of the Erie County Library have been in our community for over 40 years. So, for us to be able to deliver them a donation today, and learn today, this donation we bring will go into one of their youth programs, that's what Loving Giving Local is all about,' Joe Askins of Auto Express Resale Center went on to say. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Kingsville library benefits from lawn sale.
KINGSVILLE TOWNSHIP — Kingsville Public Library Lawn Sale fans were up early Saturday morning waiting outside the library by 8:30 a.m. for the scheduled 9 a.m. start to the sale. The event was celebrating 49 years of social interaction in the community that draws a loyal crowd to the event. The Friends of the Kingsville Public Library organize the event, which usually earns about $8,000 for the library, organization president Catharine McKibbin said. She said the organization hopes to make it even more special next year celebrating 50 years. On Saturday, many people wandered Kingsville Township Park grabbing a bite to eat, learning of community projects on tap, purchasing items from crafters and attending the twice-a-year book sale in the Simak Welcome Center. McKibbin said 57 raffle baskets were donated by area businesses, individuals and civic groups. She said the Friends of the Library donated almost $18,000 to the library last year. The lawn sale is the group's biggest fundraiser, but it also hosts a fall harvest book sale and other events that contribute to the library, which uses the money for children's programming and other activities. 'It is a labor of love, and we started [putting things together] a week ago Thursday,' McKibbin said of the set up. She said the organization meets at 1 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month at the library, and would love to have more members to assist. Dave Kelley, a Kingsville Township resident, was selling a variety of wooden sculptures, including American flags. 'It's great,' he said. 'It gives me something to do.' A small group of community members had a booth at the sale detailing fundraising plans to build a new gazebo on the township square. Sharon Huey, Kady Infield, Debbie McCumber, Shawn Brunell and Jim Branch recently completed the creation of a 501(c)3 to help make the goal a reality, Infield said. Infield said the group is in the infancy of fundraising, but the budget for the project appears to be in the $80,000 range, and would include a handicap ramp and materials designed to last longer. 'If it is successful, we can add to it,' Infield said.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Despite power outage, Springfield library sale brings in fourth highest profit to date
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Springfield-Greene County Library District's Friends of the Library completed another highly annual successful book sale from April 30 through May 4, generating a total of $204,739.85. That profit total marks this year's sale as the fourth-highest sale to date. However, in the minds of the Friends, the sale presented the biggest challenge yet, according to a Friends press release. Due to April 29 storms in Greene County, the Friends of the Library Preview Night was canceled because of a power outage. The preview sale typically generates around $60,000, so book lovers had to spread their shopping over the next five days. The Friends of the Library have over 1,800 members, and many donate countless hours to the bi-annual book sales by sorting, cleaning, pricing and hauling boxes of books. The Spring sale featured six tractor-trailers full of items. 'The Friends of the Library volunteers are the most dedicated and hardest-working group of people I have ever had the pleasure of working with during my many years of being involved with various organizations,' Shirley Lawler, Friends of the Library President, said in the release. 'It is absolutely unbelievable that we recovered from not being open on Friends' Night due to the power outage,' Lawler said. 'Volunteers came together and opened on Wednesday morning (many volunteers didn't have power at their homes), and there were large crowds all week. These volunteers are truly amazing — I'm overusing that word, but there is no other word to describe them.' Vickie Hicks, the Library's community relations director, stated, 'We are deeply grateful to the Friends of the Library for all their hard work.' The Library District uses book sale funds for capital improvements, the Summer Reading Program, music programs at the branches, as well as special events such as the Oh, The Horror! series. Most recently, the group committed $500,000 to the Republic Branch Library's new construction project. The Springfield-Greene County Library District is a 10-branch system serving the residents of Greene County, MO. For more information, visit or contact Vickie Hicks, community relations director, at 417-616-0564 or vickieh@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR -
Los Angeles Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Huntington Beach City Council, claiming library nonprofit misused funds, launches investigation
Huntington Beach City Councilmember Chad Williams had a Bible verse, Matthew 18:6, attached to his laptop on the dais at Tuesday night's meeting. 'If anyone causes one of these little ones — those who believe in me — to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea,' reads the verse. This imagery perhaps set the stage for an electrically charged meeting in the Central Library's theater. The political heat continues to rise in Surf City with the approach of the June 10 special election, when voters will be asked to weigh in on two initiatives related to the local public library. Measure A would repeal a children's book review board populated by appointees of the council while Measure B would require voter approval before the city outsources the library's management. More than 100 people gave public comments Tuesday, two weeks after a political action committee formed by Williams put large signs containing the word 'porn' up around town, urging Huntington Beach residents to vote 'No' on both measures. An audience member, bottom left, makes the first public comment during a raucous and vocal Huntington Beach City Council meeting on Tuesday. Now, Williams is seeking an investigation into the nonprofit Friends of the Huntington Beach Public Library, alleging a possible misuse of funds. The council unanimously voted 6-0 to pass the agenda item, brought forward by Williams, Mayor Pat Burns and Councilmember Butch Twining, and launch an investigation. The IRS website states a nonprofit may not make a contribution to a political organization, such as a candidate committee, political party committee or PAC. Williams' suspicions concern more than $23,000 total that Friends of the Library gave to the Citizens for Good Governance PAC on four different occasions last year. Citizens for Good Governance then gave $10,000 to the Our Library Matters committee, seeking a 'yes' vote on Measures A and B, earlier this year. An audience member holds up a sex education book during a raucous and vocal Huntington Beach City Council meeting on Tuesday. The item asks the mayor to work with City Atty. Mike Vigliotta to file complaints on behalf of the City Council with the state Fair Political Practice Commission and the IRS. In a statement, Martha Elliott, president of Friends of the Library called the allegations 'false, misleading and baseless.' 'These false allegations are a political stunt intended to distract from the fact that the overwhelming majority of Huntington Beach residents want our beloved library — one of the finest in the country — to remain public, free of government censorship, and a civic resource available to all city residents and families,' Elliott said. 'Since 1971, Friends — a 501(c)(3) organization that is non-partisan and pro-library — has, through our many community members and volunteers, donated millions of dollars to support our Library. Despite the City Council's unfortunate and false attacks, Friends remains committed to our mission of supporting our library for the benefit of our entire Huntington Beach community.' Huntington Beach resident Cathey Ryder, a co-founder of Protect Huntington Beach and proponent of the library petition that eventually became Measure A, formed Citizens for Good Governance in 2022 to oppose three earlier ballot measures. Citizens for Good Governance then changed to a general purpose committee. Mayor Pat Burns, City Atty. Mike Vigliotta, and Councilwoman Gracey Van Der Mark, from left, confer during the Huntington Beach City Council meeting on Tuesday. Ryder said in an interview after Tuesday night's council meeting that she welcomed the investigation. 'You have to remember that during the time period when there was all of those donations, all of those odd figures, that was when we were printing the ballot petitions,' she said. 'Citizens for Good Governance was having everything printed, with the agreement that we would split the printing costs. 'It was actually reimbursement for services. It wasn't a donation to Citizens for Good Governance ... I think they're going to discover that there's been no wrongdoing.' Audience members hold up 'tell the truth' signs during Tuesday's Huntington Beach City Council meeting. Burns gave each public speaker Tuesday one minute to speak, telling some of them to address the council as a whole rather than individual members. Slightly more than half of them supported the ballot measures. Many of the speakers against the ballot measures read from books containing what they considered explicit material, which they said was available in the library. The meeting also contained comments from Karen England, a Tennessee-based conservative activist whose website advertises a toolkit 'to successfully find and challenge pornography in your local public schools' libraries.' Audience members line-up for public comments during Tuesday's Huntington Beach City Council meeting. 'There is never a justifiable reason to expose children to pornography, erotic materials, or sexually explicit content, especially behind the backs of their parents,' she said. 'History is not kind to those who blur the lines between education and exploitation.' Other public speakers, including Sue Kingman, continued to object to the use of the word 'pornography' in the rhetoric. 'I'm asking the council to just leave the library alone,' Kingman said. 'Don't plaster it with a MAGA plaque, don't sell it to the highest bidder and don't attempt to undermine the expertise of librarians. And leave Friends of the Library alone, too. If you're really worried about campaign violations of IRS law, maybe you shouldn't be peddling your political views as a pastor and telling people how to vote during church.' Williams is a youth pastor at Calvary Chapel of the Harbour, a church in Huntington Harbour. During Sunday's service there, Williams, Burns and Councilmember Gracey Van Der Mark, along with England, discussed the impending special election at length. Members of the City Council listen to public comments on Tuesday night. Williams said in an interview Wednesday that he saw nothing wrong with that, even as detractors mentioned the Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment. The Johnson Amendment, established in 1954, changed tax code to prohibit nonprofits from participating in campaigns for a candidate for public office, but Republican lawmakers are trying to remove it. In 2017, President Trump signed an executive order seeking to make it easier for churches to participate in politics. Williams said that a church was never prohibited from lobbying on behalf of a ballot measure. 'Jesus tells us to be the light of the world, but he also reminds us that when you are light, everyone who practices evil hates that light,' he said. 'There's people out there that hate God, they hate the Bible and they hate Christians, period. They're entitled to their opinion, and Christians are entitled to practice their religion, and that religion is that they have been commissioned to go to all the world and speak the truth.' A full audience attends Tuesday's Huntington Beach City Council meeting. Longtime Ocean View School District Board of Trustees member Gina Clayton-Tarvin pushed back against Williams' agenda item. In an email to city clerk Lisa-Lane Barnes, she alleged that Williams was violating rules himself by running two separate political action committees, 'Chad Williams for City Council 2024' and 'Protect our Children with Councilman Chad Williams, Vote No on A & B.' Section 2.07.080 of the city's municipal code states that a city officer shall have no more than one campaign committee. 'This is a flagrant abuse of power by Mr. Williams and it must not be allowed to continue,' Clayton-Tarvin wrote in an email, which included its own Bible verse, John 8:7: 'Let anyone of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.' Williams said Wednesday that he had talked to lawyers who told him that 'campaign committee' in the code did not apply to his PAC.
