By Dot Bergin
Not only do we love to read but we are generous in donating books from our personal libraries to the Friends of the Bedford Library for their book sales, as Friends’ Treasurer Jerry Wolf reported at the recent FOL Annual Meeting on December 2. Donated book sales totaled $33,863 in fiscal year 2017, Wolf said, and sales are the primary source of income for the Friends. Although book sales have fallen slightly, the Friends are still in a very strong financial position and more importantly, both the town and the Friends remain ardent supporters of the sales. In contrast, Wolf said he had heard that some towns have quit book sales altogether. Treasurer Wolf was honored for his six years of service to the Friends; he is succeeded by Joel Shwimer.
HOW DO THE FRIENDS’ BOOK SALES BENEFIT RESIDENTS?
Museum Passes: The number one expenditure is $6,326 for the purchase of museum passes, with the Museum of Fine Arts, the New England Aquarium, and the Museum of Science topping the list of pass usage. More than $4,400 went to support the Children’s Summer Reading Program and other Adult programs. The Friends also purchased 121 TV season-sets on DVD. Nearly $2,000 was spent to purchase multiple copies of March, the One Book-One Bedford program supported by the Friends. Wolf noted that at the successful conclusion of One Book-One Bedford, Assistant Library Director Noreen O’Gara “put out the word” on various library networks that Bedford had excess copies of March to donate; 25 public and school libraries responded to her offer and gratefully accepted the copies.
Support for Children’s Services: In his report, Library Director Richard Callaghan thanked the Friends for their contributions which have made possible more Library programming than ever before. Increase in circulation in the Children’s room led to hiring of a second full time professional Children’s Librarian and added programming. Along with the summer reading program, the Friends are supporting Children’s Music Programs and the Children’s Chinese New Year. The Teen Center is also a beneficiary of the Friends’ largesse.
Winter Lecture Series: The ever-popular history lecture series presented by Professor Dan Breen will begin on Sunday, January 21 and will continue for the following five weeks. The Breen lectures will step away from the political themes he has lectured on in the past to focus on Space Exploration, dating from World War II through the moon landing. Again, this program is made possible by a contribution of more than $1500 from the Friends.
MEMBERSHIP
There are currently 222 members of the Friends; if you would like to join, you may sign up online or pay your dues at the Library Circulation desk.
Officers elected for a two-year term are:
- Bonnie Kelly and Susan Rogalski, co-presidents
- Margaret Jackson and Renee O’Donnell, co-vice presidents
- Joel Shwimer, Treasurer
12 Members-at-Large elected for a one-year term are: Linda Connelly, Patricia Dunlea, Sabine Gossart, Robin Grace, Suzanne Harris, Beverley Matthews, Greg Matthews, Janet Schimelfenyg, Elaine Shwimer, Doris Smith, and Jerry Wolf.
Visit the Friends of the Library’s web page
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