Westerville, OH - We are excited to share that the Friends of the Westerville Public Library were presented with the Organization of Year award by the City of Westerville on March 20, 2025 for their demonstrating exemplary leadership, creativity, cooperation, and hard work in their service to others.
The Friends of the Westerville Public Library (hereby referred to as the Friends) is a non-profit organization composed solely of volunteers who support and promote the continued growth of the Westerville Public Library.
The dedication and years of service given by long-standing volunteers such as Arlene Roeder (president since 1993), Jan Rector (vice president from 1987 to 2024) along with 20 other current volunteers and Board members is unprecedented.
And the teamwork shown by everyone involved with the Friends - including board members, shop volunteers, and book team - has had a clear and profound effect on the success of the library.
“It is such an honor by the city to receive an award for doing something that we love to do. Thank you for the nomination,” shared Mary Calvert
Since 2015, the Friends have donated over $241,000 to the library. Recent projects funded by the Friends include an electric van for home deliveries and the treehouse in the kids area. Annual projects funded include prizes for reading challenges, the writing contest, and the Wizards & Wands Festival.
“Hundreds of Friends volunteers have dedicated their time and energy to support the gift shop and used book sales since the organization’s founding in 1979. In the past year, many have also stepped into leadership roles, continually focusing on how best to support the library financially and with a high-level of service to visitors. From adjusting shop hours to better accommodate visitors to selecting new and fresh merchandise to moving spaces to make room for additional library staff members, the value of their daily efforts is impossible to measure,” shared Erin Francoeur, Executive Director of the Westerville Public Library.
The delivery vans they have purchased enabled the library to deliver 67,525 items to 146 locations in 2024. The electric van they purchased for home deliveries has improved workplace safety for the staff, increased efficiency, and enabled staff to increase the number of items they can deliver. It has also contributed to the library’s strategic initiative of fiscal and environmental sustainability by reducing spending per mile by $0.15 and CO2 emissions by 1,949 lbs annually.
“This is a huge improvement in our work environment. Everyone on our staff is now able to stand up straight in the new van. We’re not hunched over at the waist loading 500lb carts any longer, so that is great,” shared Ashley Hibbler, Outreach Manager for the Westerville Public Library.
By providing the funding for prizes, they encouraged 7,499 people to participate in reading challenges, 4,620 people to participate in the Wizards & Wands Festival, and over 200 writers to participate in the writing contest in 2024.
“Thanks so much! We are overwhelmed by the nomination and being selected! What an honor...We love working with the library staff! And are very grateful that you have honored us in this way,” shared Lynn Straley
To raise funds, the Friends volunteer in the gift shop 13 hours per week, and countless hours are spent each week sorting and shelving donations for the used book sales.
Friends volunteers spend time each week selecting unique and high-appeal items for the gift shop, organizing volunteer schedules, and doing the day-to-day work necessary to keep the shop running smoothly. To manage a store with no paid employees and still be able to keep everything looking tidy and greet customers with a smile is no small feat.
“This is quite an honor and I am proud to be part of such a wonderful team,” shared Saundra Spencer.
In any given month, volunteers may sort through up to 2,000 newly donated items for the used book sales. They can often be found organizing donated and weeded books, discarding damaged and outdated ones and filling the shelves in the mallway. There is often a rush of people coming into the library hoping to find treasures on the shelves.
“The Friends volunteers are a constant at the library. From staffing the shop to sorting and stocking the book sale, the Friends are always here for the library. Their focus on providing financial support through book and shop sales has provided the library with multiple vans over the years and supports library programming every year. Their labor and financial support are a mainstay at the library,” shared Kristin Michel, Assistant Director of the Westerville Public Library.
The Westerville Public Library is grateful for the dedication and service provided by all who have donated their time and talents to the Friends over the past 46 years.
