About the Friends of the San Antonio Public Library
  • Friends of SAPL Home
  • About Friends of the Library
  • Arts & Letters Awards
  • BookCellar (Used Book Store)
  • Branch Friends Groups
  • Membership
  • SAPLings Newsletter
  • SAPLings Newsletter Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Photos
  • Treasurer's Reports
FOSAPL Officers for 2020-2021 (l-r): Nancy Gandara, Past President; Beth Graham, President; Kim Cauthon, Vice-President; Karin Pederson, Secretary; Linda Cheatum, Treasurer

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
  • Nancy Gandara - Vice President
  • Karin Pedersen - Secretary
  • Barbara Morrow - Treasurer
  • Beth Graham - Immediate Past President

Membership Secretary
  • Vacant

BOARD MEMBERS
2020–2022 Term:
  • Marci Anguiano
  • Julia Castellano-Hoyt
  • Barbara Chavez
  • Linda Janney
  • Pat Mendiola
  • Napoleon "Eddie" Patino
  • Veronica Rouse
  • Mandy Simpson
  • Ann Springer
  • ​Sandra Wilkinson
  • Sylvia Zamarripa
2021–2023 Term:
  • Elena Brickman
  • Monica Brite
  • Don Castellano-Hoyt
  • Kim Cauthon
  • Linda Cheatum
  • Tony Moore
  • Betty Walters
  • Julia Ybarra
  • Jill Zimmerman

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.

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 the President of the Friends for information leading to establishment of a new branch group. Call the President at the telephone number listed in the Membership Directory, or write to: 
      President, FOSAPL
      P.O. Box 461523
      San Antonio, TX  78246

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.
STANDING COMMITTEES
      Friends standing committees are established by the
Board of Directors to perform specific functions prescribed by the Standing Rules. Member volunteer service with committees is encouraged and provide
valuable insight into the activities and membership of the Friends. For further details, see the Standing Rules elsewhere in the Directory. Current standing
committees are:

Book Cellar Committee
      A 10-member committee for the management,
accountability, supervision, and operation of the Friends Book Cellar. A hired manager carries out the functions designated by the committee. Volunteer service
with the Book Cellar is open to all members and provides a most important service to the support of the Friends. Volunteer service time is adjustable to meet individual availability, and free parking is provided. For further
information, call (210) 227-9519 during Book Cellar hours.

Newsletter Committee
      Responsible for timely gathering of official
notices, and news items about Friends membership and Branch Friends, for edit, publishing, and distribution of our bi-monthly SAPlings newsletter.

Honorary Chair - Lyn Belisle, Chair - TBD

  • Nancy Gandara
  • ​Alana Woods - Editor

Arts and Letters Award Committee
      Responsible for the recruitment of nominees for and
their selection as recipients of FOSAPL annual Arts and Letters Awards, and the administration and conduct of an appropriate award presentation ceremony and reception.

Nominating Committee
      Appointed annually by the President to select
nominees as officers and members of the Board of Directors, to be responsible for the conduct of their election, and to count ballots during the annual
January meeting of the Friends.

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!

DOCUMENTS
  • FOSAPL Bylaws
  • ​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)
  • Request for Funds​ (fillable PDF)
  • Request for Funds (Word) (downloads a .doc file)

Library Friends Advocacy Organizations
      These organizations have a common goal and each is important in helping Library Friends to be advocates for our Libraries. FOSAPL is an active member of FOLUSA. For more information about these organizations, call the number listed.
      Friends of Libraries USA (FOLUSA). The mission is to motivate and support state and local Friends groups across the country in their efforts to preserve and strengthen libraries, assist in developing Friends
groups, provide guidance, education and counsel on issues and concerns relevant to Friends and Libraries, serve as a clearinghouse of information and expertise,
establish Literary Landmarks of historical literary significance around the country and promote reading and literacy. (1-800-936-5872). 
       The purpose of the Library Friends, Trustees,
and Advocates Round Table (LIFTA) of the Texas Library Association is to enable Library Friends, trustees and other advocates to promote and foster the
development of library services, and the exchange of ideas, experiences and information-providing programs. (1-800-580-2852).
       Friends of Libraries and Archives of Texas
advocate and promote statewide services and collections of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and foster the development and growth of local Library groups in support of local libraries and archives of Texas. For information call (1-512-463-5514).

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

The Friends of the San Antonio Public Library website is maintained by Alana Woods of AWA Communications