Friends of Library Presents $50,000 Donation to BRPL

In a continuing effort to grow the library’s community impact in the City of Boca Raton, the Friends of the Boca Raton Public Library recently presented a $52,640 donation to the Boca Raton Library.

The donation to the library will benefit programs and learning tools. It will also give the library greater resources to help the community.

Friends of the Library is a non-profit volunteer and membership-based organization that acts to support events at the library. The City of Boca Raton has previously praised the organization for its work, dedicating a week in October to the group. Boca’s acknowledgment of the organization included praise for the organization providing education and programs and events for residents of all ages.

“Our members, donors, bookstore customers and volunteers gladly enable us to continue our support of our wonderful libraries,” explained Cyndi Bloom, President of the Friends Board of Directors.

Within this donation are some specific allocations for programs that the organization would like to help. $37,000 of the $52,640 will be dedicated to exclusively youth services. This encompasses summer reading, plus new offerings like Tutor.com and STEM backpacks. Children’s author Bob Shea will also visit the library, paid for by the Friends members.

Further expansion of the library’s vital Discover Studio is also part of the gift. The Discover Studio offers courses covering a litany of topics crucial to success in the technological world. Classes offered include coding lessons, photo and film editing, and 3D printing. All of these are free with a library card, and the Friends’ donation will ensure the continuity of the program.

“In 2017, the BRPL surveyed our community and asked what would make the library a better institution,” said Ann Nappa, Manager of Library Services, about the library’s relationship with the organization. “Sharing those findings with the Friends of the Library helped us to partner on exciting new projects that meet those needs, and to deepen the support of successful and loved programs.”

With this tremendous donation, the library will be able to continue successful programs and embark on new adventures in 2018. Friends of the Library will continue to be at the forefront of keeping libraries as important structures in cities in the modern age.