Through our Annual Grant to Worthington Libraries, the Friends sponsors many programs and activities which enrich the experience of patrons and promote life-long learning, the enjoyment of the arts and the development of meaningful relationships with others in our community. Program support benefits children, teens and adults as well library staff, so their impact is broad. Some are activities that we have been involved with for many years while others address new needs that library staff members identify. Below are some of the Friends-sponsored events that we are proud to support.

Children’s author and entertainer Erica Carlson with her Sedgie the Hedgie

Literacy and Learning

Since 2000, the Friends has sponsored the Summer Reading Club, providing funds for programs and prizes to encourage all ages to spend their summer reading. Reading programs are more than just fun summer activities. They are vital to educational and literacy development and reading retention skills. The kick-off event each year features games, crafts, visits by costumed characters and even ice cream treats. Throughout the summer, activities include entertaining and dynamic presentations, often supporting science and math exploration, and other educational events – all designed to inspire, delight and promote learning for all ages.

New York Times best-selling author and award-winning novelist Brit Bennett

The Friends also promotes reading by sponsoring author events. Offered to Friends members at a discount, these special events give attendees the opportunity to meet and interact with their favorite authors or those they’ve just discovered. The author series, which the Friends has sponsored since 2011, features authors whose books include fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Some have written national bestsellers and others have more of a local audience. Event formats vary from author presentations and readings to insightful conversations with the author. All include a greet-and-meet the author before the presentation, an audience question-and-answers period afterwards and an opportunity to purchase a signed copy of the book following the program.

Teen Volunteer Recognition
and Programming

Encouraging and recognizing volunteerism among area teenagers is another way the Friends supports our libraries. Volunteens help all ages register for the Summer Reading Club, hand out prizes and encourage participants to read all summer long. They also assist with other library programs and projects as needed. The Friends also supports visits by authors of teen books, book discussions and other activities targeted to teenagers.

Singer Songwriter Donna Mogavero

Family Fun and Enrichment

The Friends also lends its support by sponsoring unique enrichment activities. The Summer Movie Series features family movies that all generations love and watching the movies from the hillside lawn at the Northwest Library is the perfect venue. Lay out your blanket and get some popcorn from a Friends board member.

And when the weather turns cold, there’s the library’s annual February by the Fire music series at the Old Worthington Library, another Friends-sponsored event. What could be more relaxing at the end of a long winter week than to sit comfortably by a fire soaking up the sounds of some of central Ohio’s most talented musicians?

The annual Community Breakfast brings together patrons, community leaders and other public officials, and library staff members to celebrate and highlight the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening communities. The event also provides an opportunity to learn about new developments or issues facing our local libraries and how Friends members and patrons can help.

Staff Development Coordinator Jen Eyer welcomes Circulation Assistant Beth Kasaye

Staff Support, Recognition and Development

Some activities that support staff cannot be funded with tax dollars. That’s when the Friends Foundation steps in to sponsor and fund these activities. A significant portion of the Friends Annual Grant to the libraries each year supports recognition and other staff celebrations, team-building, training and various professional development activities. One of these educational activities is a scholarship to enable library staff members to attend the American Library Association’s annual conference and exhibition.