Sunday May 20 , 2012

The 2012 Author Expo was a SUCCESSFUL and FUN event!

More than 50 local writers participated in the event on Saturday, April 14. Marion County Library Headquarters was bustling with poets, novelists, journalists, playwrights and excited reading enthusiasts.  Friends of the Ocala Public Library sponsored the event to provide a dynamic forum for writers to network, sell books, and provide helpful hints to aspiring writers.

 

Congratulations to the
Friends of the Ocala Public Library

…for receiving the
2011 Outstanding Program Award
at the recent
Florida Library Association conference!

(L-R) Gloria Colvin, President of the Florida Library Association, Faye Roberts, FLA Executive Director, and Pat Lakin, Friends of the Ocala Public Library Board | 2011 Outstanding Program Award

Gloria Colvin, President of the Florida Library Association;
Faye Roberts, FLA Executive Director; and
Pat Lakin, Friends of the Ocala Public Library Board.


The award recognizes the Friends’ exceptional planning and preparation of the Carl Hiaasen event, which occurred in April 2011.  Students across the county read his novels and participated in contests in preparation for his visit.  On April 16, over 700 students packed the Livestock Pavillion to hear Hiaasen—free of charge, thanks to many sponsors.  That evening, 400 adults attended a Hiaasen gathering at the College of Central Florida. This award pays tribute to the Friends’ dedication to increasing literacy in our community and bringing awareness to the library and all of its extraordinary programs.
 

What Friends of the Library did this year:

  • Provide our library with $73,000 in financial support through sales of donated books in the Book Market and the Quarterly Book Sales
  • These funds were used for programming for children including:
    • Summer Reading Program
    • Fairytale Festival
    • Library Express
    • Born to Read
    • Reading Readiness programs
  • Funded CREATE, a weekend featuring the incredibly talented teens from all over Marion County
  • Upgraded the audio-visual capability of the meeting rooms
  • Supported further education of the library staff
  • Published WORDS quarterly
  • Facilitated several speakers on select Sunday afternoons
  • Hosted Carl Hiaasen who spoke with hundreds of school children in the afternoon and a capacity crowd of adults in the evening


All this was made possible by hours of work by our dedicated board and Book Market volunteers.  

Our membership reached a new high of 503 members. This provides us with a strong base as we advocate for state and county support for our library system.

What we have planned for this year:

  • We have budgeted $108,000 to the library to continue all the programs mentioned above (with the exception of Carl Hiaasen)
  • Supplied $25,000 to launch eBooks for Marion County library users

What you can do to help us:

  • Please continue your support by joining or renewing your membership in Friends
  • Donating your gently used books, magazines, CDs, and DVDs to the Book Market
  • Spread the word of the Book Market
  • Frequent and take advantage of all that our county’s extraordinary library has to offer you and your family!
   


THE FRIENDS OF THE
OCALA PUBLIC LIBRARY

 

...is a group of community members and
library staff who support the Library.


Friends of The Ocala Public Library's Book Store @ Headquarters-Ocala

Photo by Donald & Shirley Sjolund

 

...enriches the intellectual and cultural environment of the Marion County Public Library by promoting excellence in library programs and services and sponsoring special events.


Photo by Steve Floethe

Photo by Steve Floethe


...and acts as an advocacy organization by elevating public awareness of and raising funds for the Library

 


   

"Bookmarks," The FRIENDS' page in WORDS

 

More information about Friends can be found in the Friends Bookmark page of the quarterly WORDS newsmagazine, which is funded by Friends for the Library’s marketing program.

Programs We Sponsor

• WORDS
• Summer Programs for Children
• Youth and Adult Programs
• Author Talks
• The Family Reading Garden
• Tuition Assistance for Library Staff
• Scholarships

Hours of Operation

The Book Market

(352) 368-4591

Monday–Friday 10am–6pm

Saturday 10am–5pm

Sunday Closed

Marion County Public Library now has e-Books!

Thanks to funding from Friends of the Library,
Marion County Library now has eBooks!
Check out available titles and information on downloading books to your e-reader or mobile device


If you need help and have questions regarding eBooks, please click the Help/FAQ box on the left of the screen in eBooks.

If you are still having trouble, there is a SUPPORT link at the bottom of the page where you can complete a form that will help library staff better assist you.


Learn more about the Friends of The Ocala Public Library Educational Schoolarships Program

BOOK SALE!

@ HQ-Ocala Library

Saturday,
May 5, 2012

10am - 4pm