Board of Directors:
Denise McCabe-Edwards, President
Gaby Psynik, Vice-President
Pat Howard, Treasurer
Pat Seibert, Secretary
Kathy Haddad
Regina Davis
Bette Wagner
Gloria Papastrat
Becky Leidy
Annual Membership Drive
The Friends of the Libraries has begun their annual membership drive for 2022. We are a non-profit organization formed to develop supplemental funding to actively support the Sidney Memorial Public Library and its branches in Sidney Center and Masonville. Although 2021 has been an unusual year, we have supported the libraries and funded the following:
- Virtual and in-person programs to support the children’s Summer Reading Program that included: Noggin and Chloe sled dogs; Life from the Trunk circus tales; Folktales Featuring Animals with Tails; Dinosaurs Rock; and a balloon animal artist. In addition, we funded prizes for the children who participated in the reading program.
- Over the course of the year, we sponsored the following programs for a wide range of patrons: TriCities Opera Monkey and Francine in the City of Tigers; distributed copies of author Kristen Mann’s children’s book after her scheduled reading; the Sherlock Holmes winter vacation program; Michael Ivanovich’s “What It’s Worth” program; and purchased pizzas for the ongoing teen nights.
- In conjunction with a teen gardening program, a new pergola and bench were added to the Vartuli Gardens by the river.
- We purchased the movie license that allows for the public viewing of movies at the libraries, as well as the video circuit that provides DVD movies to the branches. The Friends sponsored a monthly movie program that included fresh popcorn for our audience.
- The Book Page, a monthly publication about new books, is sponsored by the Friends.
- We provided the flowers for the planters at the Sidney and Masonville libraries and thank the Sidney Hill and Valley Garden Club for their assistance in planting and watering.
- In appreciation to the hard working staff at the libraries, we recognized their dedication with gifts for Library week and the end of the year.
Your generous donations have helped make all of this possible, and we thank you for your past support. We were able to resume the Grand Book Sale this autumn and the twice-monthly Books a la Cart sales. However, your membership support is the mainstay of our ability to enhance library programs.
If you wish to show your support, you can pick up one of our membership forms at the library, click here to download and print the form, or you can contact Denise McCabe- Edwards at sidneyfriends1895@gmail.com. Because we are a non-profit, all donations are tax deductible.
The Board members of the Friends of the Libraries thank you for your consideration.
Book Discussion Group
The Friends of the Libraries book discussion group meets every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 11:30am in the Smart Community Room, dates will be next to the month. New members are always welcome.
- June 13th — The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley
If you would like to join the Book Discussion Group and need a copy of the book, just stop by our circulation desk and ask for one.
Movies
The Friends show a movie on the big screen once a month. This event is free and open to the public. Movies are shown in the Smart Community Room on the 4th Sunday of the month, beginning at 1:30 pm.
Currently on hold!
Book Sales
The Friends of the Libraries sponsor both a la carte (small) and large book sales.
- Books A La Carte (smaller sale)
- Friends of the Libraries Books a la Carte book sales take place on the 1st Saturday and 3rd Saturday of each month in the Library’s lobby from 10:30 am -1:00 pm. Lots of items for sale at VERY reasonable prices! Stop in and browse. We will have items of interest for everyone.
- Specific Dates, all from 10:30am to 1:00pm:
- May 20th
- June 3rd
- June 17th
- Grand Book Sale – every fall and spring
- The Grand Book Sale is much larger than the Books A La Carte, and offers more books and different media, including magazines and movies.
- The Grand Book Sale is much larger than the Books A La Carte, and offers more books and different media, including magazines and movies.
- The big spring book sale is finally here! The Friends’ of the Libraries will be hosting this in our Smart Community Room for the following three days;
Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the Friends of the Libraries is held each year in February in the Smart Community Room of the Sidney Memorial Public Library in Sidney, NY.
The agenda will include a financial report and a review of activities supported by the Friends of the Libraries. All members of the Friends of the Libraries are invited to attend.
