Friends of the San Antonio Public Library
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FOSAPL Officers for 2021-2023 (l-r): Vice President Nancy Gandara, President John Costello, Secretary Karin Pedersen, Treasurer Barbara Morrow, Immediate Past President Beth Graham
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ABOUT  THE  FRIENDS  OF  THE  
SAN  ANTONIO  public LIBRARY (FOSAPL)

The Friends, inaugurated March 23, 1964, promote public use of the San Antonio Public Library and appreciation of its value as a cultural and educational asset to the community and encourage the extension and improvement of its services. [more below]
Executive Committee
  • John Costello - President (2023–2025)
  • Nancy Gandara - Vice President (2023–2025)
  • Karin Pedersen - Secretary (2022-2024)
  • Barbara Morrow - Treasurer (2023–2025)
  • Beth Graham - Immediate Past President
Membership Secretary
  • Corie Taylor​

Board Members
2022–2024 Term:
  • Paula Allen
  • Marci Anguiano
  • Kathy Bee
  • Julia Castellano-Hoyt
  • Katie Ferrier
  • Theresa Kilmer
  • Pat Mendiola
  • Edward Moreno
  • Napoleon "Eddie" Patino
  • Ann Springer
  • ​Betty Walters​
2023–2025 Term:
  • Cammie Brantley
  • Monica Brite
  • Kim Cauthon
  • Barbara Chavez
  • Linda Cheatum
  • Sarah Gutiérrez
  • Tony Moore
  • Armando Santiago
  • Deborah Siller-Cruz​

History of the Friends of the
San Antonio Public Library

     The San Antonio Public Library has always had friends, but the official Friends Group was inaugurated on March 23, 1964, when a formal Charter was issued and signed by thirteen dedicated library supporting original Board Members.
      The Friends of the San Antonio Public Library is a  non-profit organization which supports the Public Library System through volunteer service, cultural and educational activities. The Friends give financial assistance to fund the continuing improvement of Library facilities and programs and serve as a conduit through which gifts and memorials go directly to your Library. Membership in the Friends is open to all.
      Although money is not specifically mentioned in its  Charter, the Friends contributed over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to the library during its first three decades, and at least fifty thousand dollars annually since then. In 1989, the Friends actively supported a campaign for the passage of a City Library and Literacy Bond Issue that passed and provided funding for the present central library as well as 12.7 million dollars for much needed Branch Library construction.
      In the early nineties, while Gladys Leverett was
President of the Friends, she was instrumental in etablishing Branch Library and Special Interest Group Friends. Currently thirteen branches have official
Friends Groups as well as the Texana and Genealogy Friends and Writer Friends. Branch Groups have their own officers and hold regular meetings and fundraisers
to benefit their individual branches. The groups articipate in the activities of and support the precepts of the parent Friends of the Library.
      In 1991, a city ordinance was passed allowing the
Friends to sell withdrawn library books and the City Manager approved the first Friends’ book sale held in Market Square. With Book Sale Chair Mary McAfee and
retired Assistant Library Director Gerry LeFavre and many volunteer worker Friends, $22,000.00 was made in four sale days. Because of that success, the Friends BookCellar was established and opened in the Hertzberg Museum supported by volunteers and one paid employee. When the Hertzberg was renovated in 1997, the Book Cellar moved to the new Central Library basement. Dedicated Library Friends from throughout the city volunteer to work in and operate the Book
Cellar on a daily schedule.
     The Book Cellar, special book sales, membership dues, and donations are the main source of funds provided by the Friends in support of the City Library system. Through the years, these funds have fulfilled “wish list” needs for the library branches and funded innovative grants for special projects that the library could not otherwise afford. Money has been granted by
the Friends for library staff members to participate in Texas Library Association affairs, financing the Library Centennial poster project, and many thousands of dollars in generous support of Library Summer Reading Programs. The Friends President has a non-voting seat on the Library Foundation Board as well as the Library Board of Trustees.
      One of the Friends most successful and rewarding projects is the Arts and Letters Award, designed to
recognize the literary and artistic talents and accomplishments of local residents. The award was first presented in 1972 to Janette Sebring Lowery for
her classic children’s book, The Pokey Little Puppy. The success of that first award affair prompted the Friends to create an annual event in which local talented individuals are honored with an Arts and Letters Award. Award
recipients to date are listed on the Arts & Letters Awards page.
​DOCUMENTS
  • FOSAPL Bylaws and Standing Rules
  • ​Branch Group Presidents
  • Life Members
  • Memo of Understanding between FOSAPL and SAPL (May 23, 2018)
  • Memo of Understanding between FOSAPL and SAPL (BookCellar) (Jan. 16, 2011)
  • Ordinance 71254 (March 22, 1990)
  • Friends Group Purchase Process
  • Honors, Memorials and Gifts Form
  • Articles of Incorporation
  • Certificate of Incorporation
  • IRS Tax Exemption
  • TX State Tax Exemption

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS
  • Donation Plan FAQs
  • Report of Funds Deposited (fillable PDF)
  • Report of Funds Deposited (Word) (downloads a .docx file)  
  • Request for Funds​ (fillable PDF)
  • Request for Funds (Word) (downloads a .docx file)

SAPLings
Managing Editor - Alana Woods
  • The SAPLings Newsletter is published six times a year, every two months.
  • Deadlines for submitting articles and photos are February 5, April 5, June 5, August 5, October 5, and December 5.
  • Submittals should be a simple text or a Word file, emailed to Alana Woods, saplingseditor@gmail.com, or mailed to her at 12106 Apricot Dr., San Antonio, TX 78247.
  • Article contributions for the newsletter are always welcome!

How to Win Friends and Influence People

Round Table Notes
  • Book Sales
  • BookCellar
  • Facebook/Social Media
  • FOSAPL Purchasing Process
  • Hosting Craft Fairs
  • Member Engagement
  • Money and Marketing
  • Organizing Voter Registration Drives
  • Website and Newsletter

Organizing a Friends Support Group
      Libraries need friends throughout their community
service areas to assure that the public is aware of the programs and services provided by the library system. As Friends, our support has always been system
wide. However, some members want the opportunity to play a more active role in helping their individual branch library by forming a Friends organization where they can volunteer time, talent, raise money, and support their branch as needed to assure that their library services are developed and publicized. 
      For assistance and guidance in forming a Friends branch support group, contact fosaplpresident@gmail.com.

Friends Branch and Special Collections Support Groups 

      The FOSAPL Bylaws provide for the organization of
branch or other volunteer Friends support groups to support library branches or special association with or collections of the San Antonio Public Library. Current members of the Friends may serve with support groups of their choice.
      Benefits of branch support group organizations are
outlined in the FOSAPL Standing Rules. Each branch group functions under their bylaws and standing rules as administered by their elected officers. They have
regular meetings with programs, hold book sales to benefit their individual branch, and participate in the activities of their library branch and their parent Friends of the Library. Branch members may serve as representatives to the FOSAPL Board of Directors. The location and volunteer membership of the current branch and special interest groups are listed below and on the following pages. All addresses are for San Antonio area. For information about each branch, contact a Branch Officer at his or her telephone number listed (where
allowed) in the general membership directory.
The Friends of the San Antonio Public Library website is maintained by Alana Woods of Alana Woods Products and Services