Friends of the Georgetown Library celebrate accomplishments, elect new officers at annual meeting

The Friends of the Georgetown Library (FOGL) celebrated an impressive list of accomplishments for the past year, including raising $22,900 to support children’s and adult programming for the library. The non-profit group uses several vehicles to generate this fundraising support, including its annual Community Yard Sale, Farmers Market book sales, participation in the Wooden Boat Show and its annual Yuletide Home Tour.

FOGL President Robert Willey shared a number of other highlights, such as the continued success of its monthly lecture series, Tuesday With…, which entered its ninth season of featuring local speakers covering a wide range of subjects, including local history, environmental topics, and more. Their work to provide Little Free Libraries continued with the existing eight locations throughout the city and two new ones built in the Wedgefield community.

From a programming perspective, the Friends underwrote costs for children’s reading programs, music education, arts and craft classes, entertainment and outreach programs for pre-school programs, out-of-school sessions and summer activities. In addition, their financial support boosted adult offerings as well, with numerous classes, workshops and events happening every month at the main branch.

Another source of pride was the fundraising success to secure the Whispers of My Ancestor sculpture for the Children’s Reading Section of the renovated library. The statue of Harriet Tubman with James Bowley, her great-nephew and Reconstruction-era resident of Georgetown, is in production by sculptor Wesley Wofford and scheduled to be installed in late May.

After providing his final report after 10 years of service as the Friends’ president, Willey oversaw the unanimous election of a new slate of officers: Linda Bradley, president; Alex Weller, vice president; Nathalie Humphreys, secretary; and George Geer was re-elected as Treasurer. Then Bradley presented Willey and his wife, Carol, with tokens of appreciation from the members for their years of service.

Library Executive Director Dwight McInvaill along with Trudy Bazemore and Silvana Collins gave inspiring updates from across the county system, with growth and thriving programs reaching people at each of its facilities. Especially moving was Collins’ recount of how she’s been able to work with a local special education teacher to create more interaction with children and youth that participate in the daycare programs the library offers.

The final piece of business was the grand opening of the new Friends Book Centre at the Library, which provides fiction hardback and paperback, children’s books, cookbooks, how-to books, and a special selection of local books for sale. Volunteers from the Friends will staff this new resource for the Georgetown community.

To learn more about the Friends of the Georgetown Library and how to join the organization, visit their website at myfogl.org.