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Bryan‑College Station libraries honor Friends group; $70,000 author series and 1,000 Books program expanded
Summary
Library Director Bea Saba and Friends of the Library president Sharon Rosdahl highlighted volunteer and financial support: Friends funded a $70,000 author series (2025 start), expanded the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program to a second branch with curated backpacks and reading challenges, and run three annual book sales that supply most program funding.
Library System Director Bea Saba opened a recognition of the Friends of the Library and introduced Sharon Rosdahl, president of the Friends, to describe the group’s work in the Bryan–College Station community.
Sharon Rosdahl recounted the Friends’ origin (official founding 01/07/1955), its growth from 184 charter members to “over 850 members,” and the book sales that have been the group’s primary fundraising activity since the mid‑1950s. Rosdahl said proceeds fund books, furnishings, public programs and staff events.
Bea Saba said the Friends provided $70,000 to initiate an author series in 2025 and that the program brings nationally recognized authors to local venues; she gave attendance context for 2025 (eight author events with a total of about 850 attendees) and said two events in early 2026 already drew more than 200 people. Saba also described the library’s 1000 Books Before Kindergarten expansion: the system has curated "100 backpacks" containing 10 books each to simplify early‑reading access and a reading challenge families can track.
Both Saba and Rosdahl emphasized the Friends are an all‑volunteer organization that does not receive government funding. Saba thanked volunteers and partners and asked community members to consider joining the Friends to support ongoing literacy and cultural programming.
