Friends of Monroe County Public Library
303 E. Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47408
United States

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

Library Foundation 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: Neil Klein
  • Vice President: Ann Bunger
  • Secretary: Kathie Durkel
  • Treasurer: Samantha Eads
  • Maria Hamilton Abegunde
  • Irene Bull
  • Carolyn Calloway-Thomas
  • Michelle Crowe
  • Elizabeth Johnson
  • Mary Kennedy
  • Elizabeth Mars
  • Karen McEwen-Lawrie
  • William Wehner
  • Mary Wiggins
     

Board Committee Chairs

  • Annual Meeting Chair: Ann Bunger
  • Bookstore Committee Chair: Ann Bunger
  • Coffee with Friends Committee Chair: Elizabeth Mars
  • Dine Out Committee Chair: Kathie Durkel
  • Finance Committee Chair: Samantha Eads
  • Fundraising Committee Chair: Karen McEwen-Lawrie
  • Hospitality Committee Chair: Kathie Durkel
  • Marian Armstrong Exhibit Committee Chairs: Kathie Durkel and Dana Duffy
  • Membership/Marketing Committee Chair: Kathie Durkel
  • Nominating: Carolyn Calloway-Thomas
  • Power of Words Committee Chairs: 

 

Annual Reports

Published at the end of June, annual reports include a summary of activities, fiscal information.

2023 · 2022 ·  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 Monroe County. 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.