President's Message

January 1, 2021

Happy New Year Friends.  I am again your President of the Friends of the Library Board (in spite of fierce competition...).  Joining me on the board are Vice-President, Kathy Bolles, Treasurer, Charles Browne, Secretary, Carol Schuyler and members, Betsy Bidinger, Joan Chandler, Barbara Erickson, Willow Follett, Loanne Harmeling, Judy Ruliffson and Charlene Selvar. We meet on the third Monday of each month at 4:00 p.m.

As we all know, 2020 has been a year like none other.  After several months of total shutdown, the Friends were allowed on a limited basis back into the bookroom and able to accept donations. Our "open" hours are M-Sat., 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  We wear masks, practice social distancing and quarantine donations for three days before sorting, following the governor's and KRL guidelines. Thanks to BPL facilities, a new HVAC ventilation system was finally installed to give us better and safer breathing space. We were gifted a new, sturdy canopy with our name clearly identified. A doorbell and plastic sheeting have been installed at the entry door.   

We are selling bags of books for $5, puzzles and filling order requests from patrons thanks to Bag Lady Extraordinaire, Carol.  Donations have continued to pour in and we continue to sell well online with sales actually increased over last year. Consequently, we were able to contribute another $49K to the library endowment fund by the end of the year. Those of us who have chosen to continue to volunteer have been rewarded with Friendly faces, a grateful public, Carol's cookies and a sense of accomplishment. Thank you to those volunteers and thank you to those waiting in the wings for safer times. 

The Kitsap Regional Library (KRL) receives tax money from Bainbridge Island and other Kitsap communities.  With those funds, KRL supplies the staff and the books for the Bainbridge Public Library.  The Bainbridge Public Library itself does not receive any tax money.  It is owned by the Bainbridge Island Community and is dependent upon donations from the Community for its continuing operation, which includes any capital addition to or repair of the library building, all building maintenance, all utility bills, and all maintenance of the grounds and parking lots. The BI Friends of the Library Board established the Endowment in 2007 with their accumulated sales proceeds of $100,000.  Every month since then, (except during the Refresh Project and this year), BI FOL has transferred approximately what it can to the Endowment. The FOL Board has recommended that BPL refrain from withdrawing funds from the Endowment until it has become self-sustaining. Our wish is that ultimately, the Endowment will provide one source of secure income for the Bainbridge Public Library. This contribution has been greatly appreciated by BPL. On behalf of the entire FOL board, wishing you a healthy, safe and positive 2021.  We all look forward to the time we can safely see each other again, have sales and preserve the future of our wonderful library.

Linda Meier, President, BI Friends of the Library