Friends group urges support for Big Day of Giving, highlights volunteer contributions

Devon Graves, vice president of the Friends of the Sacramento Public Library, asked the Authority to help promote the library—s Big Day of Giving and reported that early giving has already begun for the Friends— fundraising drive.

Graves said the Friends set a fundraising goal of $85,000 to support the library—s Book First and summer reading programs and asked board members to share social links and other outreach. "We have a goal of raising $85,000 for those programs and so your support would be greatly appreciated," Graves said.

The Friends— vice president also thanked Library staff for communications support that boosted early giving. "Thank you Director Coyle and thank you to Lisa Martinez and Jessica Gabbard for the comm team," Graves said, crediting library outreach for helping the campaign.

Christina Conley, the library—s volunteer coordinator, outlined the range of volunteer activities that support library operations, from tutoring to book sorting and election support, and introduced two volunteers to speak about their experiences.

Volunteer Natalie Nelson said she found community with the library after the pandemic and that volunteering let her "see the direct impact of my work." Natalie has donated 73 hours of service and said the experience contributed to her interest in a library career.

Volunteer Steve, affiliated with the Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven branch and a Friends board member, described his duties pulling pick lists and running a Friends bookstore to fund seed libraries, Book First, lucky-day collections and other branch programs. "We operate a bookstore where we sell books donated to the library and use the proceeds to support, for example, our seed library...and the Book First program," Steve said.

Conley and Graves gave event details: the Friends meeting on May 13 (Zoom) and an All Friends regional meeting on June 22 at North Natomas Library; Graves asked volunteers to continue logging hours and supporters to share the Big Day of Giving links through May 1.

The Authority attendees offered quick thanks and said they would help promote the campaign and noted volunteers— value. "Volunteers definitely help keep everything moving on a day to day basis," Director Katie Maple said.

Ending: The Friends emphasized volunteer recruitment and outreach opportunities, and asked the board and the public to help share the Big Day of Giving links as the campaign continues through May 1.