What We Do

Friends of the Library exists to help our libraries serve you better.  If you’re not already a member, join now! Your membership fees keep Friends alive, and we in turn work tirelessly to improve your library experience.

The programs and services of Friends of the Library, Montgomery County (FOLMC) directly relate to the main goals of the organization to (1) promote visibility of Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL), (2) enhance public libraries through supplemental funding, (3) advocate for libraries and (4)  promote love of reading and live long learning.

FOLMC programs

Throughout the year, FOLMC funds at the parent (county) level and through its chapters cultural events such as Black Music Month in June, Caribbean-American Heritage Month programming, and Chinese New Year programs. These programs are free and open to the public, and focus on lesser known communities for children and adults alike.

FOLMC celebrated Black Music Month in June with two programs on Jazz music. One was a brunch, free to the public, featuring a local high school-aged jazz academy group, and the other brought together local jazz broadcasters to give a panel discussion on jazz music in the past, present, and future as well as some of the intricacies of jazz music. Attendees were able to learn more about Jazz on a number of levels, ask librarians about books on Jazz and music throughout history, and learn about the role of traditionally black music in American culture.

Caribbean-American Heritage Month has become a yearly program that features an author either of Caribbean descent or who writes about the Caribbean. It is accompanied by a month-long celebration through books and small programs designed to raise awareness of the underserved Caribbean-American population in Montgomery County. There are book and art displays throughout the library system as well as musical and dance performances by local artists to showcase the different aspects of the community’s heritage. This past year, Gerald Hausman (pictured, left), author of a book with Sedella Marley, was the featured speaker.

FOLMC hosts a spotlight on local and prominent authors through its Literary Luncheon series, which is attended by many seniors in the area. It is held at the Strathmore Mansion in North Bethesda, and features authors from all walks of life, such as the 2009-2010 speakers of Cokie Roberts, Marita Golden, and David Stewart. The luncheons target mainly seniors, but it is open to everyone, including individuals outside Montgomery County and non-FOLMC members. Topics include both fiction and non-fiction authors, and encourages life-long learning for people of all ages. The author’s featured books are highlighted on the FOLMC website and are sold at the luncheons to further raise funds to support programming.

A more intimate program is FOLMC’s new Literary Feast fundraising series, which are held at a Board Member’s house to raise funds for FOLMC, encourage memberships for FOLMC and interest in the library, and to spotlight a prominent local author. The Literary Feast series kicked off with bestselling mystery author Jane Stanton Hitchcock and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Jim Hoagland. This program reaches out to individuals who are not yet members of Friends of the Library and who, though they support the library in theory, are not aware of all the benefits of supporting MCPL. These funds are used to enhance programs for the library.

Read, Eat & Give is FOLMC’s signature event fundraiser designed to raise the profile of FOLMC to allow it more visibility in the community. It is designed to appeal to different groups and non-traditional library users, such as young adults with 2009’s local brewery theme.  Although it is a fundraiser, it is still affordable for the majority of the FOLMC constituency, many of whom are seniors. It is a unique opportunity for people to come out while supporting the libraries. There is an accompanying reading list and book display in the libraries, which last year featured titles available in the library or FOLMC book stores on home brewing, the potential dangers of alcohol, and about the evolution of beer in America’s culture, including humor. By bringing in new and varied topics yearly, FOLMC further works to promote life-long learning.

Supplemental Funding

FOLMC, through the net funds of the Wheaton Bookstore (see below) with supplements from other donations, provides grants to Montgomery County Public Libraries that a) enhance existing library service, including minor building modifications b) promote outreach to community, c) pilot new service or delivery method.

1. Children’s programming: All children’s programs have accompanying displays or presentations that encourage reading and teach children where to find books on the topic in the library. Children’s programs include science programs, like “Reptiles Alive,” which teaches kids about reptiles and amphibians; music programs, including a singing weatherman; and reading programs, such as early literacy programs starting from birth. Many children’s activities are coordinated by FOLMC groups at community days, as well as key events in the libraries, such as celebrations of library anniversaries or birthdays. All children’s programs are designed to help give children and parents a chance to bond. They encourage reading either directly, as with book-based programs, or indirectly, as with presenting stories about reptiles and other animals following the “Reptiles Alive” program.

Staff Development Day: FOLMC sponsors an annual staff development day for librarians throughout the county, in which they are informed of system-wide policy changes, given access to the newest information to help them serve the public, given training when appropriate, and granted the chance to network and communicate with colleagues from other branches. As a result of staff development day, librarians are better able to serve the public.

Laptop Lounge: Funding was given to the Wheaton Library to create a laptop lounge, which has been used primarily by teenagers and young adults, in an under-used, unsafe region of the library basement. Instead of having individuals sitting throughout the stacks, blocking access for patrons searching for books, FOLMC funded the creation of a dedicated area that is ideal for laptop use for patrons who either do not have internet access at home or need access to the other resources in the library as well, such as teens writing papers for class or searching for SAT or college materials.

Teen Area: FOLMC further funded a teen area in the Long Branch Library, which is located in the lower-income area of Montgomery County and does not have its own Friends chapter. The FOLMC Chapters also raise funds to help create Teen Spaces at their libraries, where teenagers are both welcome and encouraged to hang out. Other young adult initiatives and programming includes programs like sleepovers in the library, video game tournaments, and teen space improvements. Since teenagers tend to be less involved at the library, more non-traditional programming is geared toward their specific interests. FOLMC and its chapters receive input from the teenagers in the library branch to create a custom space that meets their needs and gets them involved on a personal level. The outreach has helped the teen spaces be one of the most appreciated areas of the library building.

Portable Circulation Devices: As a more behind-the-scenes initiative, FOLMC funded the purchase of portable circulation devices for librarians. These devices enable librarians to be approached in the stacks and be able to find books for patrons, assist with decisions on weeding the collection by accessing circulation statistics, and even enable a librarian to help a customer check out without having to get in line. It can also be taken out into the community to help people create library card accounts without having to come to the library or wait in line for assistance. Service to patrons is overall more efficient and faster when librarians have access to these devices. Librarians are thus able to help more people and give more personalized service to each patron.

Receipt Printers: To boost staff productivity and enhance the customer’s experience, FOLMC funded the purchase of receipt printers to replace the old method of stamping the back of the book. The receipts, which at some stations are optional for patrons if they choose to save paper and just access their records online, have cut down on the paper, ink, and time needed to stamp each book for patrons. They also have the library information printed directly on them, which many customers appreciate, especially for renewing books over the phone or online.

LEAP – workforce development: FOLMC released funds for a new program called “LEAP”—Linking Employers and Applicants Project—designed to help county residents with job hunting skills through a series of workshops, all of which are already filled to capacity; through the purchase of materials for career and skill building collection that will include a career database; and through a mobile computer training lab that will be used in workshops and that class participants can use to enhance their skills. This three-pronged approach will help to meet the needs of county residents to get them back to employment in the difficult economic times. It is open to all residents, but sign ups are required in advance on a first come, first served basis. Future classes will be scheduled to meet the overwhelming demand already seen for these services in the community. Another major component of leap that benefits all library users, not just job-seekers, is the boosting of the WiFi network for high computer and laptop traffic library facilities. The internet is much faster than before and allows more users to take advantage of the free wireless in the library.

Advocate

Library Lovers Month: Library Lovers Month is a month-long program that kicks off in February with a family oriented event, such as 2010’s “Alice in Wonderland” themed party featuring Barry Louis Polisar. During this month, to help with library funding, FOLMC works with other local groups to advocate for library support by educating officials and the public about the wide variety of services provided by the libraries. Methods include testimony, both by individuals and groups, and the collection of postcards with stories from patrons of why they love the libraries. The personalized efforts are done in support of funding the libraries to the highest possible extent.

Volunteer trainings and chapter support occur throughout the year. FOLMC arranged for FOLMC Chapter members to have a class on how to transform members into volunteers for the chapter and library. There is an annual chapter meeting that all 16 FOLMC chapters are invited to attend that focuses on best practices within the county with respect to finances, membership recruitment, advocacy, and programming, and any other topics that the chapters feel need to be addressed.

Library Lovers Month and the volunteer training work together to promote the library to the best of the individual’s ability, as well as the shape best practices, which can then be shared with groups outside the county as well. Although FOLMC does not take a stance on library or county policies, it does work to encourage residents and the county’s administrators to fund libraries fully to ensure patrons have access to the free library resources.

Promote Reading

A major goal of FOLMC is to promote reading, which is done in part through its three low-cost used bookstores. All three stores offer books starting at $0.25 for children’s early literacy books, and most books are less than three dollars, which is a major benefit as it makes reading and giving the gift of reading afforable to all income levels. FOLMC chapters hold book sales to help fundraise for their specific branches in addition to the funding from the county level. FOLMC’s bookstores low-cost books are available to the public throughout Montgomery County, with locations in Rockville, Wheaton, and the newest store in Gaithersburg to cater to upcounty residents more easily. The funds from the books, all of which are donated as tax-deductible gifts from county residents, go back to support programming for the library. FOLMC welcomes book drives and utilizes many volunteers, including students earning service hours.

Adult programs to encourage reading and life long learning include book discussions, which are led by volunteers or paid moderators at the discretion of the Friends chapter. Friends chapters also assist with conversation clubs and give special programs throughout the year like author talks at local branches. These activities are free and open the public, and are hosted at different times to meet the needs of a wide variety of library constituents.