Even though our biggest fundraiser, the 2020 Book Sale is canceled, the work continues year-round. As book donations arrive, at least 4-8 hours each week is spent by volunteers sorting, pricing, storing and stocking the red carts in the Library foyer for books on sale during the year. As the sale gets closer more hours are needed to retrieve and get things ready for the day itself. That weekend upwards of 30 volunteers are recruited to manage the sale. This sale is always a labor of love. This year we will miss seeing our friends and neighbors who have always so generously supported our efforts.

The Friends of the Manchester Public Library, as all organizations, are facing a very unusual year. Our annual meeting was held as a Zoom conference which meant we were unable to have time to promote our organization.

This past year, we were able to purchase new chairs for the conference table, Harvard Museum Passes, 1000 Books before Kindergarten program, a Disc Buffer, Cloth Book Bags, Kanopy and Acorn Streaming. The stay-at-home order may have prompted some of us to sort through the books on our shelves. I imagine this exercise has resulted in plenty of donations. However, because of the pandemic, we have stopped taking any donations and hope we will be able to resume again as soon as it is safe to do so. Just a reminder that we cannot take textbooks, magazines, or any self-help books.

Visit the Library’s website and Facebook page to view all the electronic databases, virtual programs, book groups available to you. The Friends page will keep you up to date on Friends’ activities or sign up for our eNewsletter.

I encourage you to join the Friends. We need people to serve on the Board, but also people that can visit the Library each week to accept donations, price the books, and box them up for our next sale. If you are interested, please contact me at 978-526-8071.

Stay well, stay safe, and Happy Reading,

Becky Baun
President, Friends of the Library

PROGRAMS /  BOOK GROUPS / SUMMER READING

ADULTS

• Top National Landmarks in New England for Art & Literature Lovers [June 4, 6 PM]
• Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes with Liz Barbour [June 10, 6 PM]
• Virtual Challenge! Trivia [July 16, 6:30 PM]
• Remote Writing Workshop [Mondays 6:30 to 8:30 PM, ongoing]
• Meditation Finding Joy in Perilous Times [July 23, 7 PM]
• Diversity Matters Community Read Book Group [Begins in August]
• Summer Reading Online via Beanstack 
  • Adult Summer Challenge ages 18+

YOUNG ADULTS

• Be The Change Book Club [Meets 1st Wednesday of every month 5 to 6 PM]
• Summer Reading Online via Beanstack 
  • Teen Summer Challenge for teens entering grades 6 through 12
• Knowledge is Power Book Club [Coming late summer/fall]
• Writing Club [Coming late summer/fall]
• The BLOG! [Coming soon: YA-centered site for young readers and writers]

CHILDREN’S

• Virtual Stay at Home Story Time with Ms. Carol [Facebook Live Mondays at 10 AM]
• Virtual PJ Story Time Fun [ Facebook Live Tuesdays at 6:30 PM]
• Story Time Arts & Crafts with Sophia Moon from ESSEM Art Studio [July 22 through August 12; Wednesdays at 10 AM]
• Story Walk [COMING SOON!]
• Wishtree Virtual Read Aloud [Beginning July 20, 20-minute YouTube videos of readings made available until August 30.]
• Virtual Awesome Book Club for KIDS! [August 6 at 4:30 PM]
• Summer Reading Online via Beanstack 
  • Imagine Your Story Challenge for Kids entering Kindergarten thru grade 5

Donations

_____ $25  _____ $50 _____ $100 _____ $250 _____ $500 _____ Other

Please make checks payable to Friends of the Manchester Library;
P. O. Box 652, Manchester, MA 01944. All donations are tax deductible.

FRIENDS OF MANCHESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY

FRIENDS OF THE MANCHESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY

|   Friends of Manchester Public Library  |   P. O. Box 652   |   Manchester, MA  01944   |