Friends of University Park Public Library donate $94,827 and honor teen volunteers

The Friends of the University Park Public Library presented the city with an annual contribution of $94,827.07 and recognized three teen volunteers at the City of University Park council meeting on Nov. 5.

"Our annual contribution to the city this year is $94,827.07," said the Friends' president at the meeting, who also announced that when other donations and in‑kind gifts are included the group's total contribution to the library this year is $122,375. The Friends said the amount reflects membership dues, book-sale proceeds and special fundraising events including North Texas Giving Day and a La Fiesta grant.

The group honored Miranda McParland, Jovan Singh and Jordan Wallingford with the Diane Galloway Volunteer of the Year awards for their service to children's programming, constructing rolling book carts for book sales and coordinating teen‑library activities. "He dedicated over a hundred hours of his time in this endeavor and raised $580 to pay for all the materials used for the carts," the Friends' president said of Jovan Singh's Eagle Scout project.

City officials on the dais thanked volunteers and noted the Friends' partnership with the city on a programmatic study of the library. The president said the Friends contributed $21,000 toward that study and additional smaller gifts for summer reading and tween/teen programming that are excluded from the $94,827.07 check but included in the $122,375 total.

The presentation included certificates and photographs with council members. No formal council action was required or taken on the donation.

The Friends president asked city staff and council members to accept the contribution and recognized library staff and volunteers for ongoing programs in University Park.