Friends of the Library

2023 Be More Awards Recognize Library Volunteers

2023 Be More Awards Recognize Library Volunteers Ann Bunger and Sylvia McNair. Photos of the two women are shown in circles on an orange background.

We are so fortunate to have volunteers who contribute their time, talent, and energy to the Library! Today, we celebrate two volunteers who go above and beyond—Ann Bunger and Sylvia McNair, 2023 recipients of the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network Be More Awards! 

Each year, the Be More Awards honor eight exceptional community volunteers and volunteer groups and promote volunteerism and civic engagement in our community.

   
Submitted by Aubrey D. on Thu, 2023-04-27 12:12
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Youth Art Month Contest

Oceans of Possibilities Youth Art Contest Winners

In March we asked children to create original artwork using the theme of our summer reading games––Oceans of Possibilities! As usual, you did not disappoint, submitting over 70 pieces of artwork to the contest!

Our staff members were pleased to receive so many creative and imaginative entries.

“It certainly made the decision tough––we ended up choosing six winners!” said Ginny Hosler, a librarian, and the contest’s programmer.

   
Submitted by Aubrey D. on Tue, 2022-04-26 14:29
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April 17–23 is Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week with photos of two volunteers.

This week, we’re celebrating the volunteers that support the Library’s mission, lending their time and talent to make a difference in our community! Dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers are essential to the success of the Library!

 

   
Submitted by Aubrey D. on Fri, 2022-04-15 08:51
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Celebrating Black Voices: Jacqueline Woodson & Coretta Scott King Awards Exhibit

Celebrating Black Voices

On Saturday, February 5 from 7–8:15 PM, The Friends of the Library and Monroe County Public Library will host award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater as part of the biennial “Power of Words: Changing Our World One Author at a Time” programming series. The talk is free and open to the public. 

   
Submitted by Mandy H. on Mon, 2022-01-24 15:04
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MLK Day Celebration

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration Events

This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we’re celebrating Black lives and remembering the tremendous life and accomplishments of Dr. King with a day full of events and opportunities to serve our community. 

 

MLK Day Activities at the Downtown Library

We’ll start the day at 9:30 AM with a storytime featuring "Hands Up" by Brianna J. McDaniel and "Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race" by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, followed by crafts to celebrate Black lives and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

   
Submitted by Aubrey D. on Thu, 2021-12-30 12:02
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Tales and Tails of Summer Reading

Tails and Tales Community Reading Goal 1 Million Minutes

This summer we challenged you to read one-million minutes during Tails and Tales, our animal-themed summer reading games. Even better, the Friends of the Library Foundation pledged to donate $1,000 to the Monroe County Humane Association if that goal was achieved! Not only did you smash the goal in early July, but you kept on reading for a total of 1,894,485 minutes!

   
Submitted by Aubrey D. on Thu, 2021-08-26 14:18
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Friends of the Library Pledge $650,000 to New Branch

A rendered image of the Library's atrium shows small meeting spaces on the left and stairs leading to the main floor. In the background, bookshelves and computer workstations are visible behind a large glass wall. Patrons are scattered through the spaces.

On Sunday, June 27, The Friends of the Monroe County Public Library Foundation pledged to donate $650,000 to the Library to equip a new branch on the south side of Monroe County. 

“We are excited to partner with the MCPL in funding the Southwest Branch as just one more way the Friends support the vision and values of the Library,” said Emily Bedwell, Friends of the Library Board President. “We believe that the strength of the community lies in our public libraries and their unique positioning to be centers of growth, learning, and civil engagement.”

   
Submitted by Aubrey D. on Thu, 2021-06-24 11:24
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April 18–24 is National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to recognize and thank the volunteers who lend their time, talent, and voices to make a difference in our community! We are fortunate to have so many volunteers who are passionate about the Library’s mission and generously share their skills in a variety of long-term and short-term commitments.

   
Submitted by Paula G.O. on Fri, 2021-04-16 17:54
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Interning at the Library

Sylvia Beaver, Bloomington High School North student and Library intern

“Despite the challenges presented to all of us in 2020 and beyond, we were excited to find a way to partner again with Bloomington High School North’s internship program. While our opportunities for internships during the pandemic were greatly limited, we created a safe pathway for an internship to take place during this extraordinary time. Our values and goals support experiential learning, with a focus on lifelong learning, inclusiveness, and developing essential life skills.

   
Submitted by Paula G.O. on Mon, 2021-02-08 15:22
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