Volunteer Driver
We have an opening for a person to pick-up book donations at two locations within Branford (behind the Blackstone Library and at the Volunteer Services Center on Harrison Ave) and bring them to the Friends warehouse also located in Branford one day a week.
Requirements:
Email: friends@blackstonelibrary.org if interested.
Board of Directors
The Friends of the Blackstone Library (the Friends) invites inquiries from those who may be interested in serving on the Board of Directors.
The 12-member Board is the governing authority of the Friends, an all-volunteer organization of approximately 500 members chartered to support and promote the James Blackstone Memorial Library and to promote literacy by enabling the freedom to read and to make books available and affordable to all.
The primary source of revenue is through book sales at the Annual Fall Book Sale on the Branford Green and year-long online book sales via Amazon and eBay. Revenue for the 2024 – 25 fiscal year was $180,000. The Friends gifted the Blackstone Library a total of $80,000 for enrichment programs, activities and materials. The Friends’ operational center is its warehouse of 2500 sq. ft. located in an industrial park off CT Route 139 in Branford with additional space in the Volunteer Services Center on Harrison Avenue in Branford.
Qualities sought in Board members include:
In addition, all Board members are expected to volunteer some time at the Fall Book Sale as well as to play a role in some aspect of year-round book operations.
The Board meets monthly and Board members are expected to actively participate in the meetings. In addition, Board members are expected to actively lead or serve on at least one committee, follow-thru on commitments, meet deadlines, and be accountable for their actions and decisions.
Inquiries and expressions of interest should be directed to: friends@blackstonelibrary.org.
The Friends of the James Blackstone Memorial Library was founded in 1988 and is a 501c3 all volunteer non-profit organization supporting the Blackstone library through a variety of fundraising activities including an annual book sale, online book sales, and other activities. Currently we have over 500 members and approximately 70 year-round volunteers. All money raised through various fund-raisers minus operating expenses is donated to the library. The library director attends all Friends Board Meetings and prioritizes funding requests. Friends provides support for enrichment and educational programming for adults and children, as well as funds for the purchase of equipment for the library, museum passes, movies, furniture, staff development and plantings for the library grounds. Friends donated $80,000 to the library in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
Our mission is to raise funds primarily through the sale of donated books to enable the James Blackstone Memorial Library to provide enrichment programs and other services for the local community.
We aim to maintain our financial support to the library, to promote literacy in the community and the freedom to read, and to make books available for all.
Interested in purchasing in what we have for sale online on our Amazon storefront? CLICK HERE.
Winter 2025 | Summer 2025 | Spring 2025 | Winter 2025 | Fall 2024 | Summer 2024 | Spring 2024 | Winter 2024 | Fall 2023
Press Release: June 2024
If you have a question for the Friends, please email us at friends@blackstonelibrary.org. Like us on Facebook!
Stan Abramowitz
Jon Bloom
Sandra Brockett
Bob Deschamps
Joe Genua
Jeanne Hayes
Jane Kenealy
Bylaws (Updated July 2025)
Join the Friends with a membership starting as low as $10 for seniors and students, individuals are $15, etc. A membership helps us to support the library. As a member you receive quarterly Marble Columns mailing as well as exclusive early access to the Fall Book Sale.
– Seniors (60+): $10
– Students: $10
– Individual: $15
– Family: $20
– Good Friend: $30
– Benefactor: $50
– Best Friend: $100
