Friend

The Great Return: Franklin Street

As we roll toward the end of the year, the Friends of Kingston Library want to let you in on what we’ve been building behind the scenes. Think of this as a friendly preview of the bigger updates to come.

Even from our temporary home at the Cioni Building, the library has stayed busy and full of life. The Lego Club kept young creators tinkering and imagining. TAG kept teens connected and advocating for the things that matter to them. Adults and families came out for everything from Movies with Spirit to Banned Books events. Staff received the training and appreciation they deserved. And through it all, our partnerships with neighbors, community groups and organizations who care about the library just as much as you do as grown.

Now we’re heading into an exciting phase. If all stays on track, 2026 will finally bring us back to our Franklin Street home! That return is going to open up so many possibilities for programs, events, and community engagement.

We’re also getting ready to roll out our mobile Little Free Library that will pop up around Kingston. (Thanks again to the Rotary Club for their seed funding!) And we’re exploring additional neighborhood Little Free Libraries to reach readers who might not have easy access to books. Plus, the beloved Book Sales are gearing up for a comeback, and we’re looking for volunteers who want to be part of rebuilding that tradition.

If you want to get involved, support the work, or stay in the loop, this is the perfect moment. Donations, volunteer time, Friends memberships, and good old-fashioned word of mouth all help us bring the next chapter to life.

More updates are coming soon, but for now, consider this your early heads-up. Big things are on the way, and we’re grateful to have you with us as they unfold.

Collaborative Opportunity:

The volunteers of the Friends of Kingston Library are always looking for event or messaging collaborations. Does your organization or 501c3 looking for collaborative opportunities or connections that benefit the city of Kingston? If so, we'd love the opportunity to collaborate! Please email us DIRECTLY to coordinate collaborations with our FoKL Executive Committee.

Support Library Funding, Even If You Cannot Travel to Albany

You do not need to attend Advocacy Day in Albany to make a real impact. Library funding depends on year-round community voices, and residents play a critical role in shaping state budget decisions.

You can start by signing up as a Library Advocate to receive email alerts from the New York Library Association (NYLA) when action is needed. These alerts make it easy to contact your state representatives at key moments during budget negotiations.

Sharing why your library matters with friends, neighbors, and local officials helps amplify the message. Between now and April 1, when the state budget is finalized, every email, call, and conversation helps remind legislators that libraries are essential and worth investing in.

The Friends of Kingston Library is a proud organizational member of NYLA as part of our mission to support the Kingston Library.

Becoming a Friend is not passive support. It is showing up where it counts.

The Friends of Kingston Library is actively seeking volunteers who want to lead, shape, and advocate for the future of our library. We need committee chairs, community connectors, organizers, and champions who believe the library matters and are willing to give a small amount of time to protect and grow it.

Most Friends contribute just two to three hours a month. That time fuels programs, events, fundraising, outreach, and advocacy that the library simply cannot do alone. If you have skills, ideas, curiosity, or connections, there is a place for you here.

This is a 100 percent volunteer-powered organization. Every hour donated directly strengthens the Kingston Library and the community it serves.

If you have ever thought, “Someone should step up,” this is that moment. Become a Friend. Volunteer your time. Help move the mission forward.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

The monthly Friends of Kingston Library is scheduled for the SECOND TUESDAY of the month from 6-7pm.

Can't attend in person? Here is the ZOOM option. It's the SAME every month:

Friends of Kingston Library

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85020236289 

Meeting ID: 850 2023 6289

Passcode: 515727

FoKL volunteers are happy to present to community groups and businesses our message and mission in an effort to explore collaborative opportunities and underwriting opportunities for Kingston Library and FoKL events and efforts!

The Friends of Kingston Library has moved its fundraising and membership management to Zeffy, a modern nonprofit platform designed to reduce administrative work and keep more dollars working for our mission.

Zeffy allows FoKL to collect donations and memberships online with no platform fees, meaning every dollar given goes directly to supporting the Kingston Library. For a 100 percent volunteer-run organization, this matters. Less money lost to processing and paperwork means more impact for programs, advocacy, and community engagement.

From an operational standpoint, Zeffy streamlines tasks that previously required multiple tools and a lot of manual follow-up. Donations and memberships are automatically tracked in one place, tax receipts are sent instantly, and records are

updated in real time. This reduces errors, saves hours of volunteer time each month, and makes financial reporting clearer and more accurate.

Zeffy also supports recurring donations, event ticketing, and membership renewals, all with built-in automation. Volunteers no longer need to chase payments, manually issue receipts, or maintain separate spreadsheets. Instead, we can focus on promoting the Friends' mission, engaging the community, and strengthening support for the library.

By using Zeffy, the Friends of Kingston Library is investing in smarter systems that respect both donor generosity and volunteer time. It is one more way we are working intentionally to keep the library thriving while making it easier for our community to give and get involved.

Are you a 501c3 looking for a solution like this? Please let us refer you! CLICK HERE for more info.

Start the new year by renewing your Friends of the Kingston Library membership or by joining for the first time. Membership is open at every level, and each one plays a meaningful role in sustaining the work we do together. New members are invited to complete the membership form and become part of the FoKL community.

Your membership directly supports the Friends of the Kingston Library mission to strengthen Kingston Library programs, build community awareness, encourage greater use of library resources, and stand alongside regional advocates in support of public libraries.

Every contribution, regardless of level, helps move this mission forward.

As a Friend, your impact goes beyond membership alone. Members power our used book sales, fundraising efforts, special events, and essential administrative work that keeps FoKL running smoothly. Whether you participate behind the scenes or out in the community, your involvement helps ensure the Library continues to thrive.

Your support makes the Kingston Library so much more than books. It makes it a stronger, more connected community resource for everyone.

Make sure you complete the Membership Form application!

Perhaps your organization wants to underwrite or collaborate? Respond to this email!

CURRENT OFFICERS:

The Friends of the Kingston Library is an organization dedicated to improving library services in Kingston. Members of the Friends also promote public use of the Kingston Library and appreciation of its value as a cultural and educational asset to the community.

THANK YOU to the volunteers who compiled the information in this newsletter: Susan R., Erica F., Heather A., Denise H., Kathryn B.

and Heather O.

THANKS FOR FORWARDING THIS EMAIL TO A NEIGHBOR!

FOLLOW US:

FoKL: Friends of Kingston Library

Temporary Address: 61 Crown St Kingston, NY 12401