Friends of the Library | Fletcher Free Library

Ways to Support the Fletcher Free Library:

1. Make a Donation to the Friends: Your gift to the Friends of the Fletcher Free Library provides something for everyone in our community!

2. The Friends' Bookstall at the Fletcher Free Library: Open and stocked with various books in excellent condition!

3. Shop the Friends' website: Order online and pick up at the Fletcher Free Library for zero-waste shopping.

4. Shop the Friends' eBay: From old gems to newer hard-to-find publications, we offer a wide selection of high-quality collectible books. Order online, and your book will ship directly to your home.

5. Visit Amazon Smile: If you shop on Amazon, be sure to shop for Amazon Smile and select “Friends of the Fletcher Free Library” as your beneficiary. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to benefit the library!

6. Shop the Friends' book sales. The next book sales will be held June 10 & 11, July 22 & 23, and August 26 & 27 at the Fletcher Free Library at 235 College Street.

Your purchases are an excellent deal for you and help support the library's many programs! Keep up with the FFL Friends!

The Friends of the Fletcher Free Library is a 501c3 volunteer organization that supports the mission and the work of the Library. The Friends Board welcomes the public at its monthly meetings on Tuesday evenings. Please contact the Friends at fletcherfriends@gmail.com to confirm the meeting date and time if you are interested in attending. Please email the Friends at least one day prior to join the meeting. Please visit the Friends' website at fletcherfriends.org for more information and to purchase local books online to pick up at FFL.

Mission

The mission of the Friends is to encourage community support for the Fletcher Free Library, raise money for its needs, promote cultural and literacy programs, and sponsor educational and enrichment programs for all ages.

Supporting the Library

The Friends’ Board annually allocates resources to the Library for investment at the discretion of the Library Director. This procedure helps the library plan programming, professional development, and special projects. The allocation is determined annually by the Board. The relationship between the City of Burlington and the Friends is defined in a Memorandum of Understanding (PDF). The Friends organization operates under a set of Bylaws (PDF).

Board

Member	2021-2022
Jonathan Chapple-Sokol	President
Amanda Hannaford	Vice President
Robin Twery	Secretary
Mary Clare Novak	Treasurer
Sara Bourne	Director
Tina Lesem	Director
Martie Majoros	Director
Grace Ortelere	Director
Hilary Silver	Director
Mark Twery	Director
Phil Morin	Director
Carol Livingston	Director

History

In 1973, a movement developed to replace the old Carnegie Library Building with a new library. "The Citizens to Save the Fletcher Free Library Building" were determined to preserve it the building. They were successful. The Carnegie building was saved and became the Children’s Library. A new wing was built to house the adult collection.

In 1977, the "Citizens" evolved into the "Friends of the Fletcher Free Library”, and continued to support the library as needed. The Friends were less active in the 1980’s, but rallied whenever a library cause emerged. The Friends successfully advocated for a ½ cent dedicated tax for collection development, providing the library with an annual book budget. In 2001, the Friends became active again and gained non-profit status (501c3).

Volunteer Today!

The Friends welcomes volunteers. Volunteer by completing the volunteer form.

One of the many ways in which the Friends support the Library's mission is to process book donations-- determining if the items are appropriate for the Library's collection, for sale via eBay, or as offerings at the popular book sales the Friends organize several times a year. Do you want to learn more about volunteering with the Friends?
Please contact the fletcherfriends@gmail.com or call (802) 264-1970.

Book Donation Guidelines

We are happy to accept your donations of books, CDs and DVDs in good condition.

We cannot accept:

Moldy, musty or smoky books
Textbooks or Magazines
Encyclopedias or Dictionaries
Multi-volume sets (such as National Geographic or Time-Life)
Outdated Business or Computer books (over 10 years old)
Romance paperbacks
Abridged books (Reader's Digest, etc.)
Audio Cassettes or VHS Tapes
Books with underlining or highlighting
Books with torn pages, covers or bindings

If your books don't meet our guidelines, try Goodwill or Resource before discarding.

If you wish that your donated books be added to the Library's collection, please inform us before donating. Please see our Collection Development Policy for more information.

For donations of more than 50 books, or to learn more about book donations, please contact the fletcherfriends@gmail.com or call (802) 264-1970.

Thank you!