The Friends of the Talbot County Free Library has announced a $50,000 gift to the St. Michaels Library expansion in celebration of the 50-year anniversary of the volunteer organization dedicated to raising money and awareness of the TCFL. The funds are earmarked for the purchase of new books to fill new shelves of the expanded St. Michaels library. With State and County funding, and a capital campaign, TCFL Director Dana Newman recently announced plans for ground to be broken this fall, with a completion date in 2025 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Talbot County Free Library.
The Friends of the Talbot County Free Library is an advocate and fund-raiser for the County library system, whose reach goes far beyond the walls of the Easton and St. Michaels branches. Members of the Council of Friends attend county budget hearings and lobby for state and local support. Friends sponsor major TCFL events such as the Chesapeake Children’s Book Festival, a STEAM Day Camp for youngsters – offered completely free of charge, and book giveaways at the Easton Farmers Market.
To help fund these events, recent Friends events have included a Sunset Cruise on the Miles River, Improv Easton show under the stars at the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, Trivia Night in St. Michaels and the increasingly popular Easton book sales, now held three times a year. The first of the year was April 26th and raised a record $1500. The next book sale will be on July 26th. ”Our focus is helping the Library to keep people reading,” stated Friends President Emilie Knud-Hansen.
The next TCFL fundraising event is set for June 13 at the St. Michaels Library featuring local entrepreneur Jaime Windon and her signature Lyons Rum, with a theme “From Pirates to Patriots”. Guests will mingle among the shelves sampling large assortment of rums and appetizers. Windon will take time to explain the facts and fables of rum, and how she became so inspired, she formed her own company! For more information and to purchase tickets, visit tcfl.org. For information on the Friends, email [email protected].
The idea for a Friends group took root in 1973, as the Easton Library was in the planning stages for a new building, and a group of loyal library patrons wanted to have a separate organization to a promote and support the Library. Its mission was “to create public support for an expanding library, intensify community awareness of and use of the library and enhance public relations by helping inform the public of library programs and events.”
The Friends main source of income is the annual Membership Drive held in May. According to FOL President Emilie Knud-Hansen. “In just the past few years we raised enough money for this special gift to St. Michaels. Very generous donors, good investments, great events and dedicated volunteers tell the story.” Library Director Dana Newman says “without the generous support from the Friends, the library would not be able to provide the number and quality of programs or materials that we offer to our patrons. This gift is such a meaningful way to celebrate the Friends 50th anniversary.”
Knud-Hansen says, “This is a big deal for the Bay Hundred community and, really, the entire county. Today’s world demands free and easy access to information. By extending the reach of the library in St. Michaels, especially because it’s right next door to the Community Center, will be an asset area residents as well as visitors.”
Approximately 50% of the current collection will be preserved. Director Newman says “we certainly want to keep books that are of historical importance or that we cannot get because they are out of print. We are being careful to balance what to keep and what will need to be replaced. Our community is very passionate about books and, with this wonderful donation, we will be able to purchase the needed books for patrons to enjoy in new, larger spaces. This gift from the Friends is absolutely essential to filling our shelves with books that enable our readers to learn and grow.”
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