Friends of the Malden Public Library outline outreach calendar, fundraising and diversity plan

The Friends of the Malden Public Library told the Malden City Council on June 10 that it has expanded its community outreach and is increasing partnerships with local groups to support library programming and fundraising.

The group’s president, identified in the meeting as the presenter for the Friends, said the organization’s two principal goals are to grow and develop membership to reflect the city’s diversity and to partner with Malden businesses and organizations “for mutual support.” The presenter noted the Friends revived outreach after COVID and listed a calendar of community events where the Friends provide books and recruitment for new members.

The group said it participated this year in events that include a Martin Luther King Jr. program at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Lunar New Year, Juneteenth, Black History Month programming, a Pride Coalition event, a Hispanic Heritage Festival, Indigenous Peoples Day with Malden Reads, and a Halloween book giveaway that distributed 400 books in 2024. The Friends also described two major book sales — a spring sale partnered with the Malden Fire Department and a fall sale partnered with the Malden Police Department — and recurring pop-up book cart appearances at community celebrations.

“We started off the year with the MLK event at the Emmanuel Baptist Church,” the presenter said, summarizing the outreach strategy and noting the group uses public events to recruit new members. She said the organization has reorganized the book room, created a children’s section and refreshed the space so it is easier for families and children to use.

Vice president Huyen Guyan and Angela (a book-room chairperson) were identified in photos that accompanied the presentation; Firefighter Dave, who the presenter said discovered the Friends at a spring sale, was noted as a new member in the audience. The presenter said the organization restored and returned historical bound volumes to the Worcester Public Library and conducts regular children’s programs such as story hours and the Pine Banks fairy-house giveaway.

Councilor Colon Hayes thanked the Friends for their work and for their attention to diversity. Council President Mark O’Malley (council president) said he serves as one of the city’s representatives to the library board of trustees and asked for Friends’ support on building maintenance and volunteer efforts to help facilities upkeep.

The presenter left copies of the group’s 2025 calendar with the council and said the calendar is subject to change; where dates were not yet set, the presenter said those entries would be confirmed with partners. The group fielded no substantive questions beyond praise and thanks from councilors and left the meeting after the presentation.

The Friends’ presentation was received by the council; no vote or formal action was required.