For Immediate Release
October 13, 2009
Contacts:
Roberta Longworth 703-324-8300
Be a FRIEND during Library Foundation Month!
Fairfax, VA – The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has previously proclaimed October as Library Foundation Month! To celebrate Library Foundation Month, library staff and volunteers wear buttons while brochures, posters and a large banner are displayed at every branch. Additionally, October 18-24th is deemed the Friends of Libraries Week to recognize the many contributions made through Friends Groups.
"Each Fairfax County Public Library branch has a Friends group that makes valuable contributions to benefit the library system and their specific branch”, explains Library Foundation Executive Director, Bobbi Longworth, “Friends groups raise funds through ongoing and special book sales. They also provide the opportunity for individuals to become a ‘Friend’ at the library branch level.”
The Library Foundation and Friends Groups often join forces to most effectively enhance the Fairfax County Public Library. The Friends Scholarship Fund is funded primarily by contributions from Friends Groups and administered by the Library Foundation. The George Mason Friends contribute generously to an endowment managed by the Library Foundation to fund the popular Summer Reading Program in perpetuity. Foundation gifts for the Access Services branch help provide library services to people with disabilities. Both organizations sponsor library programs such as The Big Read/All Fairfax Reads, renowned author presentations, Fall for the Book festival, BookCast author podcasts, Tutor.com Learning Suite and more to enhance the Fairfax County Public Library.
Fairfax County Public Library Foundation, Inc., doing business as Fairfax Library Foundation, is a private, nonprofit corporation committed to providing supplementary support to the Fairfax County Public Library. The Foundation, while reinforcing the need for continued and increased public support for the library, serves as a catalyst for attracting private funding from individuals, businesses, organizations and foundations to enhance library services for our community.