The Friends of the Arcadia Public Library celebrated their 50th anniversary on May 18 with a gala luncheon in the Library Auditorium.  As part of their celebration, the Friends presented Jerry Selmer, Chair of the Library Board of Trustees, with a check for $50,000 to support Library programs for children and adults and for the purchase of books, audiovisual materials, and online databases.  Mr. Selmer in turn presented the Friends with a proclamation of appreciation from the Library Board of Trustees, in appreciation of their 50 years of service to the Library and the community. 

To honor the Friends, the Library unveiled a special  READ™ poster, featuring the members of the Friends’ Board, each holding their favorite book.  Take a look at the pictures (below) of the Gala Luncheon and the City Council Meeting where the Friends of the Library were honored for their 50 years of dedicated service and support to the Library.  You will also find below a Letter to the Friends from the Library Director, a Resolution from the Library Board and a Proclaimation from the City Council.  By clicking on these links you may read a Brief History of the Friends and about how you can Become a Member of the Friends of the Library.  

Happy 50th Anniversary to the Friends of the Library

The month of May marked the 50th Anniversay of the Friends of the Library.  Without the generous support of this group of dedicated volunteers the Library would not be able to offer many of the programs and services that our patrons have grown to enjoy and expect. 

Seen below are pictures of The Friends of the Library being recognized at the City Council Meeting on May 16th for 50 years of service and support to the Library and the community and three different views of the Friends Luncheon on May 18th where a check for $50,000 was presented to the Library and the latest READ™ poster, featuring members of the Friends Board, was unveiled. 

Friend's of the Library receiving a Proclaimation during the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, May 16th.	Shows Left to Right:  Library Board Members Meredith Brucker, Marsha Burkhalter and Chair Jerry Selmer presenting the resolution to Friends' President Marie Burns.
Library Board Chair Jerry Selmer accepting a check for $50,000 for Library programs from Friends' President Marie Burns.	A view of the luncheon with Jerry Selmer, Chair of the Library Board of Trustees presenting the Board's congratulatory resolution to the Friends' President Marie Burns.

Click on this link, Friends of the Library, to learn more about this great organization and how you can become a member.

Letter to the Friends from the Library Director

Congratulations to the Friends on your 50th anniversary!  This is a major milestone for the organization.  Such a long-standing commitment to the Arcadia Public Library and the entire community is to be applauded and celebrated. In your 50 years of service, you have donated almost a half a million dollars since your founding in 1956, all thanks to your consistent hard work on the Library’s behalf.  Without this assistance, our programs for children would be much less appealing and innovative, our shelves would be less full of interesting books and audiovisual materials, and we might not have had the wherewithal to enter the world of electronic databases. The list of programs, supplies, equipment and services that have been made available to the community, thanks to your support, is a lengthy one.  As advocates for the Library, the Friends have helped promote the programs and services we offer.  You have provided opportunities for volunteers to participate in meaningful ways.  Clearly, we benefit from your support, making us one of the best libraries in the area. Please accept my sincere thanks for all your help.  You are a wonderful and delightful group with whom to work and I look forward to continuing working with you in the years to come! Sincerely, Janet Sporleder, Director of Library and Museum Services

In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Friends of the Library the Board of Trustees of the Arcadia Public Library issued a Resolution (a copy of it may be seen on the left) to commemorate the occasion.  The words of this Resolution are displayed below.