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We held our Annual Meeting on 11/14/24 and gave the library an additional gift of $5,000 toward their programming. As of the end of 2024, the Friends of the Kent County Public Library have raised and given over $770,000 to support the library, its programming and literacy in Kent County!
The Friends of the Kent County Library describe themselves as a group of people who “donate hearts, hands, and more to the library we love.” This week, the Friends demonstrated the “and more” when they presented Kent County Public Library with a check for $15,000 in unrestricted funds to contribute to the library’s 2024 fiscal year budget.
On Thursday, November 2, 2023, the Friends of the Library made the announcement of a special year-end lagniappe, which took the form of a $10,000 check of unrestricted funding that was presented to Kent County Public Library’s executive director Arnessa Dowell. This “extra and unexpected gift” brings the total Friends 2023 contributions to the library to $30,366.00.
Over the past 50 years, the Friends have given $738,752 to support the Kent County Public Library’s staff, services, and operations. Over the years, their donations have provided funding for programming, furniture, the signature light for the Wave Room teen space and the Chestertown branch, staff development conferences, equipment upgrades, and collection development.
In 2020, the Friends paid for the new floor in the hallway, gave $10,000 toward the Project 2020 renovation, contributed $10,00 0 to the library for programs and materials, and funded 60 students completing the commitment of the Imagination Library program.
In 2018, the FOL was able to give the library $16,000 to enhance their book and audiovisual collection, provide quality programming including the successful author event, purchase additional supplies for children’s activities, fund training opportunities for staff members. A BIG thanks to all our members!
In 2016, the Friends were able to give the library $15,000 to be used as follows: $6,000 for books, $2,000 for AV, $5,000 for programming, and $2,000 for education.
In 2015, the Friends have give the library $7,500 for a new floor for the circulation desk; $11,500 for books, AV materials, and programs; $500 for staff development; and an FOL bookplate for the new books we gave to the library. So far, the FOL has given 356 books to the library in 2015!
In 2014, the Friends gave the library over $11,000 to provide for children’s programming, a parenting presentation, author night, Radio Jarocho performance, a flat screen television (with projector), new adult chairs and book rack, and support to staff for professional conferences.
In 2013, FOL contributions included $2,432 in profits from the hallway sales of books,$6,000 for designer flooring and additional shelving in the public meeting room in Chestertown and a new display case in the front hallway, $900 for materials for children’s programs, $3,000 for author readings and receptions featuring Christopher Tilghman (‘The Right Hand Shore’) and Henry Weincek (‘Master of the Mountain’), $1,600 for picnic tables, $690 for additional folding chairs, and $1,000 for the Dishi Bem Dance Troup performance.