The Friends of the Falls of Schuylkill Library is a volunteer organization of community members dedicated to promoting knowledge of the needs and values of the Falls library and to raising funds and encouraging gifts for its support.  Founded in 1987 by Cynthia Kishinchand, who became its first president, the Friends has grown over the years to become an organization of more than 200 households whose members contribute thousands of hours of their time to not only organizing and supporting its major fund-raising events, but to also undertaking such tasks as garden maintenance, shelving of books, cataloging historical papers, and preparation of mailings to members. 

Monies raised by the Friends have enabled it to provide:

·      Books, DVDs and musical and audio CDs

·      Funds for speakers and refreshments for adult and children’s programs

·      A beautiful, welcoming garden

·      Enhancements in the library’s physical structure

·      A state-of-the-art digital projector

·      New library furniture, including bookcases, magazine and display racks and an atlas stand.

·      Support for the children and teens summer reading programs

·      Other needed equipment and supplies not provided by the city’s budget

Membership is open to all individuals and organizations interested in supporting the purposes of the Friends.  Anyone desiring to become a member may do so upon completing a membership application--available in the Library--and the payment of dues.  Membership is $10 per household, although many members give more.  All contributions, including membership dues, are tax deductible.

In recent years, the Friends have held three major fundraising events:

·      Fall Book Sale, that features hardbacks, paperbacks, CD, DVDs, and books on tape

·      Greens Sale, held on the first Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the first or second week of December

·      Spring Sale, held on the Saturday before Mother’s Day, which includes the sale of books, plants, baked goods and light refreshments. 

In addition, every other year, we hold a social gathering at the Library--Winter Interlude--that includes music, refreshments, a silent auction and door prizes.

The Friends are guided by an Executive Board consisting of elected officers, the immediate past President, a Branch Librarian as ex-officio, and the chairs of its thirteen standing committees. 

Current Officers of the Friends are:

Nina Coffin, President
Linda Koons, Past President
Margaret Hallenbeck, Vice President
Phil Hughes, Treasurer
Frankie Jueds, Recording Secretary
Valarie Samuel, Branch Librarian, ex-officio

The thirteen standing committees and their chairs are:

Book Case Sale--Martha Fuller

Book Sale--Wendy Moody
Building--Vacant
Technology Committee--Victor Lewis
Garden--Suzanne Penn and Mary Ann Veneziale
Greens Sale Committee Chair--Vacant
Hospitality-Gwen Gatto
Membership--Margaret Sadler
Public Relations--Connie Gillespie
Spring Plant Sale--Rita Hughes

Volunteers are always needed to help on these committees as well as with such activities as baking, graphic design, library work, mailings, programming and the Winter Social.  If you are interested in participating on any of these committees or helping with these activities, please contact Nina Coffin  610-506-9351 or by email nhcoffin@gmail.com.

We invite you to become a member of the Friends.  Please join us in helping to ensure that our library continues to be a strong and continuing presence in East Falls.

Gwen Gatto, Hospitality Chair, and Ellen Sheehan at the bake sale.

Phil Hughes setting up the plants the day of the big sale.

Visit the Friends of the Schuylkill Library’s new web site at: http://www.eastfallslibraryfriends.org/