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 establishing 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 participate 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In 1991, a city ordinance was passed allowing the Friends to sell withdrawn library books and the City Manager approved the first Friends’ book sale held in Market Square.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.
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 establishing 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 participate 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.
Join Friends at a San Antonio Public Library branch location near you!
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