Mission Statement
The Monroe County Public Library Foundation (Friends of the Library) supports the mission, vision, and values of the Library. We advocate for the Library and support Library collections, services, programs, and staff development.
The Monroe County Public Library Foundation collects and administers the grants, gifts, bequests, and other funds (outside of local tax receipts) that help make the Library such an integral part of this community. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All memberships and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Contact
Office Coordinator: Mary Jean Regoli, 812-349-3050 ext. 1080; fol [at] mcpl.info (subject: Friends%20of%20the%20Library%20question%2Fcomment)
Friends of the Library Lead Bookseller: Mike Burns, 812-349-3083
Board Members
- President: Patsy Rahn
- Vice President: Harriet Castrataro
- Secretary: Elizabeth Johnson
- Treasurer: Tom Zoss
- Emily Alford
- Carolyn Calloway-Thomas
- Kathie Durkel
- Samantha Eads
- Elspeth Hayden
- Deloice Holliday
- Laura Jones
- Mary Kennedy
- Neil Klein
- Doug McKinney
- Kevin Tomlinson
- William Wehner
- Mary Wiggins
Board Committee Chairs
- Annual Meeting Chair: Harriet Castrataro
- Bookstore Committee Chair: Mary Kennedy
- Coffee with Friends Committee Chair: Neil Klein
- Dine Out Committee Chair: Neil Klein
- Finance Committee Chair: Thomas Zoss
- Fundraising Committee Chair: Elizabeth Johnson
- Hospitality Committee Chair: Kathie Durkel
- Marian Armstrong Exhibit Committee Chairs: Kathie Durkel and Deloice Holliday
- Membership/Marketing Committee Chair: Elspeth Hayden
- Nominating: Carolyn Calloway-Thomas
- Power of Words Committee Chairs: Samantha Eads and Mary Wiggins
Annual Reports
Published at the end of June, annual reports include a summary of activities, fiscal information.
2021 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016 · 2015 · 2014 · 2013 · 2012 · 2011 · 2010 · 2009 · 2008 · 2007 · 2006 · 2005 · 2004
Library Bears
The Library bears were a gift from the Friends, dedicated in 1997. They were purchased to enhance the plaza on Kirkwood Avenue, and to celebrate the Library as the center of the community. The bears are made from local limestone and together weigh 4.5 tons. Sculptor Karl Schiefer saw the bears as a family group and hoped that the community would recognize the unity represented by the bears. The Friends held a naming ceremony on June 1, 2008 in celebration of International Children's Day. The winning names were Sunny (the walking or father bear, named by Francis Sun, age 4), Luna (the mother bear, named by Olivia Pate, age 11), and Snowdrop (the baby, named by Amara Crook, age 9).
Little Free Library
The Friends installed several Little Free Libraries around Bloomington. Through the Little Free Libraries, millions of books are exchanged each year, profoundly increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds. Locate a Little Free Library.