It's A Wrap: The Friends' Year in Review
After our first in-person member meeting since 2020 - summer 2022.
Looking back over the past year, I decided that in many ways it was a great example of “everything old is new again.” We resumed in-person meetings and events, held the first book sale since 2019, did a few pop-up books sales & giveaways, and set up membership tables outside during warmer months. We even had a few breakfasts and lunches at local places to revive some of our social interaction. It’s nice to be back in the swing of things as we look forward to the next year.
Before we move on to 2023-24, let’s take a brief look back at how we supported our mission - to partner with and advocate for the Edgewater Branch Library, respond to our community’s library needs, and educate and engage the community in using and enjoying all of our resources.
To partner with and advocate for the Edgewater Branch Library.
CPL Commissioner Chris Brown kicks off our Annual Book Sale.
Promoted library-driven programming throughout the past 12 months on our website, social media, publicity, and through our newsletter to more than 1,000 subscribers here and across the country.
Spent time with CPL Commissioner Chris Brown as the flagbearer for Friends’ groups when we attended the One Book, One Chicago pre-event reception and keynote event featuring Maus author Art Spiegelman in conversation with Françoise Mouly with Joanna Hazelden.
Invited Commissioner Brown to be part of our Annual Book Sale to kick-off National Friends of the Library week to show his support for all Friends’ groups and for the Edgewater Branch Library and us.
Facilitated the reboot of the Chicago Coalition of Friends of the Library with a general meeting of other Friends’ groups in February to highlight the collaborative success of our partnership with the Edgewater Branch. In addition, we have since responded to multiple requests for information from other Branch Managers and held a Zoom meeting w/neighborhood activists supporting the Lozano Branch in Pilsen to help them start a Friends’ group.
To respond to our community’s library needs.
Funded/opened the Early Learners' Literacy Nest for children up to age 5.
Partnered with the Library on a number of programs throughout the year to encourage people to return to the library, including a Children’s Tea Time Party, Megan Wells’ performance of The Canterville Ghost and the library’s Murder Most Delicious with three authors all in conjunction with National Friends’ Week.
Began work on a Community Needs survey and connected with a group of young families in the neighborhood to schedule an informal focus group.
Funded the landscape architect for the Garden Planning Program.
Provided funds for Summer Learning Program and printing the Writer’s Group booklet.
Funded purchase of children’s books that will have stickers acknowledging our sponsorship.
The No Book Club - our longest-running program will be six years old in August (started in 2017). It went virtual during the pandemic, and in the last few years, has had attendees from outside Edgewater, including from other states.
To educate and engage the community in using and enjoying all of our resources.
Missing from the photo: Paper & Pencil, Andersonville
We reconstituted our Community Engagement committee with a new Chair who is actively pursuing partnerships with other community organizations and local businesses to help focus these groups on the Edgewater Library and how it can support them in serving their members and patrons.
Strengthened our partnership with Women & Children First Bookstore, which is providing us with Author Review Copies (ARC) of adult and teen books that we can use as giveaways at events.
Sponsored the recent Treasure Hunt for National LIbrary Week. We teamed up with five businesses for gift cards as prizes and also w/Women & Children First for book giveaways to everyone who entered the Treasure Hunt or came by the library during the week.
Partnered with the Andersonville Chamber for some events throughout the year to reach new neighbors.
Continued outreach through our various communication channels – website, social media, e-newsletters, and publicity to inform and engage the community in a variety of programs and activities.
Sunday’s Book Sale crowd.
This is by no means a complete list of all the activities that went on throughout the year to fulfill our mission. And while all of this was going on, we managed to increase our membership by over 30%, bravely raised our book sale prices, and extended the Annual Book Sale to two days, setting a new sales record. We also had the most volunteers ever for the book sale and were able to distribute the remaining books locally to community organizations and senior housing locations.
Yes, everything old is new again. Never was that truer than in the effort put forth by the board, our membership, our business & community partners, and the library staff to work together to keep moving the organization forward. Thanks to everyone for your contributions of time, funds, talents, and skills to Friends - so that we can better support the Edgewater Library and the community it serves.
Joanna Broussard
President, 2022-23
Friends of the Edgewater Library