FRIENDS OF SCHENECTADY COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

Organizes Let Freedom Read Day to advocate against book censorship and support library professionals. Promotes public access to library governance by supporting open meetings of the Library Board of Trustees.

Partners with long-term care facilities, the Boys and Girls Club, Street Soldiers Schenectady, Brookdale Senior Living, Heritage Home for Women, Schenectady County Jail, and other community organizations to distribute free books and reading materials to seniors, children, incarcerated individuals, and other underserved groups.

Rebooted the Junior Friends program in 2024, growing membership to over 90 students aged 11–18, and provides volunteer opportunities for youth in sorting books, supporting events, and leading programs such as homework help, holiday gift wrapping, and craft events. Youth also serve on the library’s strategic planning committee and manage a teen-run Instagram page.

Conducts outreach through a membership table at the Greenmarket and launched a strategic membership campaign in Spring 2025 that resulted in over 1,100 active members by year-end.

Operates two public-facing used bookstores—The Whitney Book Corner in Schenectady and A Second Look Bookstore in Port Rotterdam—and sells books online via Amazon and eBay, including antique and first edition titles. Bookstore operations generate thousands of dollars annually to support library programming and include volunteer-driven sorting, stocking, and sales.

Hosts annual author events featuring well-known writers and sponsors the Beat the Snow Concert Series, a free public concert series held at the Karen B. Johnson Central Library during winter months to engage the community.

Organizes recurring day trips to regional cultural destinations and week-long international travel programs, including past trips to the Canadian Rockies, Poland, England, France, and Ireland, resuming and expanding such offerings starting in 2015.

Organizes an annual summer reading program with themed activities to promote reading and community storytelling, scheduled for June 27 to August 22, 2026. Also supports children's literacy through the STARS program, distributing over 46,000 children's books and kits from 2017 to 2025.

Provides financial and operational support to branch locations of the Schenectady County Public Library system, including funding for programming, capital improvements, staff development, and community engagement initiatives. Over the past decade, invested over $1.3 million in library-related initiatives, including $647,000 for programming and $260,000 for capital equipment and branch support.

Partners with local schools, nonprofits, and international organizations to expand literacy access, including developing a professional development library at the School at Northeast, launching the Democracy Help Desk at Niskayuna High School, supporting Bridges of Schenectady with a reading area and coat drive, and donating books to Kingdom Embassy School in Liberia.