What a year it’s been! We were excited to share with our membership what they as Friends of the Edmonds Library accomplished in 2021 during our recent annual business meeting. This year, Friends of the Edmonds Library:
- Provided financial support for library amenities, including summer reading materials and prizes for children and teens, personal hygiene products for public restrooms, Zoom services for staff, aquarium maintenance, and trick-or-treat candy for a community celebration.
- Supported investments in education, including a $2,000 scholarship awarded to a student pursuing a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree at the University of Washington Information School, and a $1,250 grant to Sound Salmon Solutions for use in their education programming in Edmonds schools.
- Sustained community connections, through participation in programs such as The Best Book I Ever Read poster exhibit with the Edmonds Arts Commission, and a co-presentation on the Origin of Species in partnership with the Edmonds Wildlife Habitat and Native Plant Demonstration Garden and the Pilchuck Audubon Society.
All this, in addition to promoting library services and resources, presenting our work to the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce, publishing a history of the Edmonds Library and our Friends group, and conducting six member meetings with local authors, bookshops, poets and community organizations. Phew! Pretty exciting for an entirely volunteer-led organization!
Friends of the Edmonds Library members share a common commitment to support the library as it enriches our community, and a deep respect for the work of the tremendous Edmonds Library staff. If you have not already, please take a look at the many ways library staff have adapted their work to continue to provide meaningful resources and connections during an extended period of COVID-related change. We cannot thank them enough!
As we look forward to 2022, we will continue to provide member events, invest in education and community partnerships, and, ideally, resume our beloved book-sales. All of these activities are enriched by the passion and expertise of our members. Thank you for your ongoing support. We hope you have a peaceful conclusion to 2021, and a joyful New Year!
