March 28, 2024

Friends of the Library Honored

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Friends of the East Providence Public Library were honored at the Rhode Island Library Association’s annual conference held at Bryant University recently. Members of the volunteer group received the Meritorious Friends of the Library Award for exceptional service to the East Providence Public Library through volunteer and financial support.

East Providence’s Assistant Director, Joyce May, nominated The Friends for the prestigious award. “The Friends of the East Providence Public Library have demonstrated their dedication to the library and to library service,” notes Ms. May, “in the quiet, weekly, and often daily, ordinary activities that strengthen our library and ultimately our community…Everyone should have friends like these,” she added.

She noted that The Friends reorganized the semi-annual book sales, which now include a preview night, membership drive and fundraising raffle. The book sales attract customers from throughout Rhode Island and nearby states. The Friends also manage ongoing book sales at Weaver and Riverside Libraries, tailoring selections for these “Never Ending Book Sales” to the preferences of patrons.

For the past three years, the Friends of the East Providence Public Library have hosted a booth at Weaver Library’s Farmers’ Market. Members welcome market patrons, promote library services and offer items and books for sale. The Friends provide funding for entertainment and family programs at the Market, as well as for signage and promotion.

Many families benefit from the library’s museum passes that can be checked out with a library card. Passes provide free or reduced cost admission to nearly twenty museums and zoos in the area and are funded by the Friends of the East Providence Public Library.

Library patrons are greeted each spring by a colorful array of flowers on the library grounds that are planted by The Friends.

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