Next FMPL Board Meeting, Monday March 19

friendsofmpl — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:17:53 +0000

The next meeting of the board of directors of the Friends of the Madison Public Library is tentatively scheduled for March 19, 2012, 5:30 pm at the location of the temporary library – 126 S. Hamilton. Persons interested in serving on the board for 2012-13 are particularly invited to attend.

Filed under: Board Meetings

Close-Down Booksale a Great Success

friendsofmpl — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:13:53 +0000

Thanks to the work of many book sorters, Book Store clerks, and other dedicated Friends volunteers, the “last” booksale at the old library raised almost $11,500 – or nearly five times more than any single book sale event in recent Friends history. The sale was held to clear out the entire remaining stock of materials donated to the Friends in anticipation of the library being closed for remodeling. But what made the sale especially interesting and financially successful was the inclusion of the entire Central library collection of videos and books on tape as well as many old and rare materials that had not been routinely displayed due to lack of space on the main floors. With sales taking place in several locations in addition to the regular sale in the second floor lecture rooms, a larger-than-usual group of volunteers was needed – and did a wonderful job – despite the challenges. Special thanks are also due to Carol Froistad and all the library staff members that worked behind the scenes in the days and weeks before the sale to help with set up and organization.

Filed under: Book Sales, General News

Nominations Open for FMPL Board – 2012-13

friendsofmpl — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:01:43 +0000

Officers and directors for the board of directors for the Friends of the Madison Public Library are elected each year at the organization’s annual meeting – tentatively scheduled for May or June in 2012. Any currently paid Friends member may volunteer, or be nominated, to serve on the board of directors. Responsibilities include attending six board meetings, helping to coordinate the activities of the organization, or contributing whatever interests or talents potential board members have to offer. FMPL members interested in serving on the board next year are particularly encouraged to attend board meetings to become familiar with the mission and needs of the organization. Persons interested in serving on the board may indicate that interest on the FMPL membership form or may call 833-6310 for more information.

Filed under: Board Members, General News

“Bookless” Part 1 was Great Fun

friendsofmpl — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:52:15 +0000

If you were not able to stop in the library for “Bookless” (Saturday morning, January 28) you missed a great, unique, one-time-only, event. It was great fun for the nearly 2000 people who attended – and our Friends of the Madison Public Library volunteers, Rosemary Johnson, Carla Delorio, and Norm and Darlene Olson, were kept very busy at the Welcome table. Jasper N. from Madison was the lucky winner of the drawing for a packet of art supplies donated by one of our members.

Maybe the most “fun” art piece was the dragon in the basement, but what was done to our Friends book store was also very interesting – with the shelves gone and glass on two sides it was quite transformed into a “Lepidoptrium”. Parts of the library never before open to the public, including the basement stacks, back offices, and hidden stairways, were filled with art in a variety of forms.

“Bookless” was a one-day art show that included 100 artists showing their works, or constructing new exhibits making use of found materials or the structure of the “old” library at 201 West Mifflin. The event was coordinated by Library and Foundation staff members to raise funds for the remodeling and furnishing of the new library – scheduled to reopen in 2013 – and to give the community one more chance to see the old library before reconstruction begins. The morning from 10-2 was a free “Family Free for All”. The evening was billed as “Party in the Stacks”, and included food and beverages for sale, and music, in addition to the art on display.

Filed under: General News Tagged: art, bookless, friends

Celebrate a “Bookless” Central Library

friendsofmpl — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:14:29 +0000

Say goodbye to the old Central Library at “Bookless,” a community celebration in the empty building featuring a one-day only art show by 50 local artists. Pieces inspired by library space and materials range from paintings to oversize installations to live performances. Hands on activities such as a public painting wall let you transform the 45-year old library into a work of art.

Saturday, January 28, 2012
Central Library, 201 W. Mifflin

10am – 2pm: Family Free-for-All
Admission: FREE
Food – Painting Wall – Music – Hands-on Art Activities

7pm – 1am: Party in the Stacks
Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the door
Food & Beer – Cash Bar – Painting Wall – Live Music – DJs

For information and to order tickets go to the MPL Foundation web site – http://mplfoundation.org/default.jsp.

Filed under: General News

Book Sale Report – Summer 2011 Sales by Teen Volunteers

friendsofmpl — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:11:41 +0000

Building upon the success from last year, the Friends of the Madison Public Library once again helped the library’s Youth Services Department introduce local teenagers to the work and rewards of volunteering.
Madison teenagers worked with the Teen Services Librarian, Jesse Vieau, and his library school intern, Erin Montross-Erdmann, to stage a successful series of Saturday morning book sales held outdoors at the entrance of the Central Library in July and August.
With the book sales taking place during the Dane County Farmers’ Market hours, teens discussed and executed an array of marketing tactics that were able to attract many people who would otherwise not be in book-buying mode. Many shoppers felt obligated to let teens know how great of a marketing job they had done – some claimed it was the teens carrying book sale signs around the downtown area, while others said that if not for the sidewalk chalk advertisement down State Street they would not have known to stop by Mifflin St.
10 Local teenagers offered a combined total of 70 volunteer hours while raising $781.00! When combined with totals from last year, 22 Madison teens ran eight book sales that raised $1598 for the Central Library’s Capital Campaign. The teen volunteers have asked that their donations be earmarked for purchases relevant to teenagers in the renovated Central Library.

Filed under: Book Sales, General News Tagged: book sale, summer sale, teen volunteers

Book Club Café 2011 Sponsors Go Big Read

friendsofmpl — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:09:09 +0000

The annual Book Club Café event held on May 3 included a fine presentation by author Katrina Kittle, great desserts, and an opportunity for book club members to get together for an evening of conversation and entertainment. A total of $1,292 was raised to support the purchase of books for the UW/community Go Big Read program which this year features Enrique’s Journeyby Sonia Nazario. A special collection at the event also provided nearly $3,000 to be donated to the Madison Public Library Foundation for the new library. The Book Club Cafe is a collaborative project of the Madison Library Friends groups.

Filed under: Branch Friends, General News

Friends Pledge $100,000 for the Central Library

friendsofmpl — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:05:04 +0000

At its June 26 meeting the Friends board voted to pledge $100,000 to the Madison Public Library Foundation as part of the $8M in private funds needed to be raised by the community to ensure timely completion of the newly remodeled library. The Friends organization is able to make this grant because of the financial and volunteer support of many individuals over the past several years. The Pledge is to be paid over the next five years, which will allow time for additional fundraising and flexibility to the Friends to continue support for programs and services at the branches.

Filed under: Foundation, General News Tagged: central library, foundation, pledge

Meet the 2011-12 Friends Board of Directors

friendsofmpl — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:01:00 +0000

Thees individuals were elected at the May 17 FMPL Annual Meeting to serve on the Board of Directors for the 2011-12 fiscal year.
President – Janice Zmrazek
Vice President – Carol Chapman
Secretary – Sara Myers
Treasurer – Karenne Giguere
Past President – Ann Falconer
Directors: Mary Ann Allexi, Darlene Olson, Anne Rauh, Robert Trim, Pam Woodman.
In June Anne Rauh was replaced by Anne Marie Jarmuz.

Filed under: Board Members

2011 FMPL Annual Meeting Honors Friends Volunteers

friendsofmpl — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 21:55:34 +0000

The special volunteer from FMPL recognized at the 2011 annual meeting on May 17 was Julie Nara, who had worked the 11-1 shift in the book store almost every Tuesday from February 2000 until her recent “retirement”. Special volunteers identified from the branches included, from Ashman – Carol Brown; Monroe Street – Lloyd Bostian and Orange Schroeder; Pinney – Alice Kasper; Sequoya – Martha Frankwicz; and South Madison – Mary Anne Mayhew and Nellieyah Ngai. The FMPL Board will make a gift of $500 to the library in honor of Julie Nara, and will match, up to $100, each branch Friends group that wishes to make a grant in honor of their nominee.

Filed under: General News, Volunteer Opportunities Tagged: FMPL, volunteer