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Friends of Dover Library report $89,000 in donations since 2018, seek volunteers and members
Summary
The volunteer-run Friends of the Dover Library told council they have contributed roughly $89,000 for library projects since 2018, operate a community bookshop, fund a seed library and are recruiting volunteers and members to expand programming.
Janet Carter, president of the Friends of the Dover Library, told the council the volunteer group has provided $89,000 to the Dover Public Library since 2018 for projects including audio-visual equipment, children's materials, a Seed Library and programs such as family reading nights and coding clubs.
Carter said the Friends operate a staffed bookshop in the library lobby that resells donated books at low prices, and that proceeds support special projects requested by library staff. "We are very careful with what we fund. Each time we fund something, we do put it to a vote of our members," Carter said.
The Friends described recent partnerships and activities: funding little free libraries around town, supporting the library's tenth-anniversary open house, underwriting performances when the library's database outage created contract gaps, and piloting an internship with Delaware State University's Department of Public and Allied Health Sciences. The group said it has 34'35 members under a "40 friends" membership drive and charges a $10 annual membership fee.
Kathleen Baker, membership chair, urged residents to donate books and join the Friends. Council members asked about placing additional Little Free Libraries; Councilman Lewis said he has discretionary funds to help install a Little Free Library in his district and Carter said two units are already commissioned and a third is requested.
No council action was required. Carter and Friends members asked the council for continued publicity support and highlighted concerns about county reciprocity funding for the hub library; Carter said county contributions have fallen and the Friends' support helps bridge gaps.
