News
In June, the FOL gave $15,000 to the Kent County Library for materials and programs. If you became a member or bought a book, we have you to thank!
The hallway sale of AV materials and books has been a big hit, bringing in more than $1,500.00. It will be well used. Did you buy a DVD or CD? The library staff thanks you! Look for more hallway sales, as we do a pop-up sale every few months.
Happy New Year
We held our Annual Meeting on 11/14/24, gave the Library an additional gift of $5,000 toward their programming and - wait for it! - that as of the end of 2024, the Friends of the Kent County Public Library have raised and given $770,000+ to support the library, its programming and literacy in Kent County!
$20,000 Donation Received from the Friends of the Kent County Public Library
The Friends of the Kent County Public 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 $20,000 in unrestricted funds to contribute to the library’s 2025 fiscal year budget.
Since 1973, the Friends have supported the Kent County Public Library with gifts of materials, technology, educational programs, and budgetary support. Their unwavering support and generosity have enabled the library to offer the community special events, to enhance and update book and audiovisual collections, to offer staff development opportunities, and more. Kent County Public Library is grateful beyond measure for the steadfast support of such amazing Friends!
If you would like to be a part of this fantastic organization, new Friends are always welcome! An annual Friends of the Library membership is $10 for individuals, $20 for families, $50 to receive a lovely tote bag, and $500 to become a lifetime member.
The Friends also welcome volunteers to assist with accepting book donations and with running book sales; to serve on the Board of the Friends of the Library; to support membership drives; and to plan social and special events.
Membership forms are available at all three KCPL locations. More information about the Friends of the Kent County Public Library can be found at friendsofthekcpl.org
KCPL Receives Additional $10,000 Gift from Friends of the Library
On Thursday, November 2, 2023, the Friends of the Kent County Public Library celebrated the organization’s 50th anniversary at their annual membership meeting, which was held at Kent County Public Library’s Chestertown Branch.
During the meeting, Cynthia Saunders, president of 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 of the Library’s 2023 contributions to Kent County Public Library to $30,366.
Over the past 50 years since being founded in 1973, the Friends of the Library have given $738,752 to support 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 at the Chestertown branch, staff development conferences, equipment upgrades, and collection development.
The Friends of the Kent County Public Library is a nonprofit organization that serves and promotes the Kent County Public Library.
- Friends are a group of people who donate hearts, hands, and more to the library they love.
- Friends help the community by encouraging literacy.
- Friends raise money for library needs not covered by the library budget.
- Friends provide enriching cultural programs.
- Friends raise awareness about the wonderful resources available at the library.
For more information about the Friends of the Kent County Public Library, including how you can become a member, please visit friendsofthekcpl.org
For more information about Kent County Public Library and the many free services and resources it provides to the community, please visit kentcountylibrary.org
$15,000 Donation Received from the Friends of the Kent County Public Library
The Friends of the Kent County Public 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.
Since 1973, the Friends have supported the Kent County Public Library with gifts of materials, technology, educational programs, and budgetary support. Their unwavering support and generosity have enabled the library to offer the community special events, to enhance and update book and audiovisual collections, to offer staff development opportunities, and more.
Kent County Public Library is grateful beyond measure for the continued support of such amazing Friends!
If you would like to be a part of providing support to KCPL, please consider becoming a Friend.
An annual Friends of the Library membership is $10 for individuals, $20 for families, $50 to receive a lovely tote bag, and $500 to become a lifetime member.
The Friends also welcome volunteers to assist with book sales, serve on the Board of the Friends of the Library, support membership drives, and plan social and special events.
Membership forms are available at all three KCPL locations. More information about the Friends
of the Kent County Public Library can be found at friendsofthekcpl.org
KCPL Receives Additional $10,000 Gift from Friends of the Library
On Thursday, November 2, 2023, the Friends of the Kent County Public Library celebrated the organization’s 50th anniversary at their annual membership meeting, which was held at Kent County Public Library’s Chestertown Branch.
During the meeting, Cynthia Saunders, president of 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 of the Library’s 2023 contributions to Kent County Public Library to $30,366.
Over the past 50 years since being founded in 1973, the Friends of the Library have given $738,752 to support 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 at the Chestertown branch, staff development conferences, equipment upgrades, and collection development.
The Friends of the Kent County Public Library is a nonprofit organization that serves and promotes the Kent County Public Library.
- Friends are a group of people who donate hearts, hands, and more to the library they love.
- Friends help the community by encouraging literacy.
- Friends raise money for library needs not covered by the library budget.
- Friends provide enriching cultural programs.
- Friends raise awareness about the wonderful resources available at the library.
For more information about the Friends of the Kent County Public Library, including how you can become a member, please visit friendsofthekcpl.org
For more information about Kent County Public Library and the many free services and resources it provides to the community, please visit kentcountylibrary.org
$15,000 Donation Received from the Friends of the Kent County Public Library
The Friends of the Kent County Public 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.
Since 1973, the Friends have supported the Kent County Public Library with gifts of materials, technology, educational programs, and budgetary support. Their unwavering support and generosity have enabled the library to offer the community special events, to enhance and update book and audiovisual collections, to offer staff development opportunities, and more.
Kent County Public Library is grateful beyond measure for the continued support of such amazing Friends!
If you would like to be a part of providing support to KCPL, please consider becoming a Friend.
An annual Friends of the Library membership is $10 for individuals, $20 for families, $50 to receive a lovely tote bag, and $500 to become a lifetime member.
The Friends also welcome volunteers to assist with book sales, serve on the Board of the Friends of the Library, support membership drives, and plan social and special events.
Membership forms are available at all three KCPL locations. More information about the Friends
of the Kent County Public Library can be found at friendsofthekcpl.org
- Given $10,000 to the library for general support, $1,600 to the library through the Hallway Bookshelf Sales, and another $3,500 for new bookshelves. The Friends also gave $350 in Christmas Cash donations to all 14 staff members as a Holiday cheer for their hard work.
- Supported literacy in Kent County through a $1,600 gift to Robbi Behr and Matthew Swanson for their Busload of Books Campaign. Their family will visit one school in all 50 states over the coming year, giving books to school students at each stop. You can follow their progress on their website busloadofbooks.com
- Continued their support of the Local Management Board of Kent County sponsorship of Imagination Library. This program gives a book each month of the year to over 400 kids in Kent County ages 0 – 5. This is a wonderful program that ensures by the time they enter school each kid will have their own library of 60 books.
- Organized another successful September Book Sale where we and our supporters moved almost 20,000 books, CDs, DVDs and puzzles out the doors, bringing in over $7,000 and making a great many people happy.
- Organized, along with library staff, a big surprise for Wanda Sherriff, chief manager of our book sales. As she walked into the Library she was greeted by officials from Maryland Library Association who presented her with one of three Volunteer of the Year awards issued in 2022. This could not have gone to a more deserving Friend, one who organizes the sales and the crew of volunteers who put in over 1,000 hours yearly prepping, packing and selling contributed books.
A Fall Book Sale is coming!
September 23rd is Members Night. Be sure you have renewed your membership so we can mail your invitation! We have lots of books you will love.
Two things the Friends have bought for the library: a beautiful bench crafted by Bob Ortiz and a neon wave at the entrance to the teen room.
Puzzles galore are available at the library…..perfect winter activity…..$2 apiece…..going fast!
In 2020 the Friends of the library helped the library by paying for the hall flooring and a donation to Project 2020. The shelves are up, books are back and the library looks wonderful. The renovations have brought new light and clarity to the building.
This month’s special Pop Up sale is Gardening. Look for great deals in the hall of the library!
In 2018 the Friends also supported the Summer Reading Program and Imagination Library, purchased the new Ortiz bench and Wave Light, gave $2,500 to the Kent County Board of Education to bring Wil Haywood to speak with students and give each student a copy of his book, Tigerland. Our volunteers are constantly sorting books so we can contribute more to the library, year by year. We have accomplished a lot in forty plus years.
June 1st our Annual Author Day event features Casey Cep, author of Furious Hours.
Please welcome Madhu Sidhu to our FOL board.
Books are coming in for the Spring Book Sale in large numbers. Please call ahead if you are making a large donation. And only give us books that are saleable- good condition, no encyclopedias or textbooks.