May 2020
Dear Friends,
I am pleased to have been nominated by the Friends Board as the new Board President as of May 1, 2020. As you know, Cyndi Bloom has stepped down as Board President after over 7 years in that role, during which time she guided us through many memorable occasions. Under Cyndi's leadership, we re-branded our organization, developed a bookstore marketing plan, increased our social media presence, and gave over a quarter million dollars to support library programs, events and major projects that enhance our community. In recognition of Cyndi's value to our organization, we recently nominated her for a Florida Library Association Friends Outstanding Member award. The award winner as of this date has not been announced, but for us, Cyndi is
our
Friends Outstanding Member.
Today we face the challenge of continuing our mission to support and enhance the Boca Raton Public Library during a time when our bookstore, a major source of Friends funding, has been closed since March 12th due to Covid-19. The special projects we are funding or helping to fund, the Mobile Library Van, the library's Community Bookshelf project (sponsored by the Friends with books from the Friends bookstore in addition to purchased books from Scholastic.com) and a proposed Pondhawk Nature Area Storywalk, are still on schedule to be rolled out this year. We have also contributed money to help fund many of the resources in the library's digital library that you have been enjoying while in quarantine.
You can help us continue to contribute to the work of the library during #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of giving and unity, set to take place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by Covid-19.
The day is designed to drive an influx of generosity and citizen engagement. At a time when we are all experiencing the pandemic, generosity is what brings people of all races and faiths together, gives everyone power to make a positive change in the lives of others, and is a fundamental value anyone can act on.
As such, during this time of #GivingTuesdayNow and beyond, for a donation of $50 or more to the Friends, your email receipt will entitle you to $5.00 off your next bookstore purchase, to be used when the bookstore re-opens (we are hoping at the end of May).
Your support will help sustain our efforts to support the many programs and events at the library. We look forward to the reopening of this important community resource.
Sincerely,
Tracy Wasserman, Board President
Friends of the Boca Raton Public Library, Inc.
