THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE FALL BOOK SALE!
Wow! Our 2024 Friends of Blackstone Library Fall Book Sale on the Branford Green was a resounding success, featuring a record turnout on opening night. We’re incredibly grateful for your enthusiasm and love of books!
Preliminary estimates show that this year’s sales and attendance set a new record, with net proceeds before expenses reaching nearly $74,000! This enables the Friends of Blackstone Library to donate additional funds to the Blackstone Library, enhancing our Branford community with more enrichment programs, materials, and activities.
We appreciate your recognition of the effort and time our dedicated volunteers put into planning, preparing, and hosting our fall sale. Your support means so much to us. We’re also committed to improving the shopping experience on opening night next year—there’s always room for improvement!
A heartfelt thank you goes out to our generous sponsors – both local businesses and individuals- who contributed to the “Raise the Tent” campaign. This wonderful event wouldn’t be possible without the support of everyone in the community. Thank you!
COME VISIT THE BLACKSTONE WITCH ON THE BRANFORD GREEN THRU NOVEMBER 5 AND PICK UP A FREE CHILDREN’S BOOK
Witch display designed by Lucia and Jon Bloom
Books refilled by Susan Moher
Can’t wait until the next Book Sale?
Shop now on our Book Sale Cart
(on the main floor of the library)
— or —
Visit our Virtual Book Sale cart
(see instructions below).
Great Books! Great Prices!
Questions: friends@blackstonelibrary.org
Are you a Friends Member?
If not, joining is easy. Scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up.
Help us support the library and bring great programs, activities, and materials to the library.
Friends Book Sale Cart at the Library is OPEN!
Come shop from our Friends Book Sale Cart on the main floor of the Library. You will find an assortment of fiction books for adults – including many 2024 books.
There is also a shelf full of great children’s books. In addition to these choices, there will also be a shelf of books that will change periodically — currently for sale are cookbooks. Coming soon will be holiday items (books, CDs, DVDs) followed by books to start the year right in January. Book prices range from $1 – $4. New books are added weekly. Come browse and see what you can find.
Virtual Book Cart
The Virtual Book Cart will be closed until the beginning of 2025. You can shop for great books now on the Friends Book Sale Cart in the Library.
Thank you!
Friends of the Blackstone 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 400 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 current 2024 – 25 fiscal year is projected to be approximately $150,000 with expenditures directly benefiting the Library to be approximately $75,000. 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:
- An interest in promoting literacy, reading and the broad availability of books to the community.
- Leadership experience in providing meaningful input on organizational strategy and activities.
- Ability to help the organization to reach important networks for purposes of advocacy, collaboration and support.
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. Board members are assigned to one or more of its committees and should often be expected to chair a committee.
Inquiries and expressions of interest should be directed to:Friends@blackstonelibrary.org.
About the Friends of the James Blackstone Memorial Library
The Friends of the James Blackstone Memorial Library was founded in 1988 and is a 501c3 charity 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 300 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 sponsor lectures and programs and provide funds for special programming, particularly for the Youth Services Department, as well as funds for the purchase of equipment for the library, museum passes, movies, concerts, furniture, and plantings for the library grounds. Friends donated over $72,000 to the library in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.
Mission
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.
Vision
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.
Check out the latest Marble Columns (Friends Newsletter)
Marble Columns
Late Fall 2022 | Winter 2023 | Spring 2023 | Summer 2023 | Fall 2023 | Winter 2024 | Spring 2024 | Summer 2024
Press Release
If you have a question for the Friends, please email us at friends@blackstonelibrary.org. Like us on Facebook!
Officers (2023-2024)
- President, Barbara Barrett
- Vice President, Linda Milici
- Secretary, Donna Mazzucco
- Treasurer, Jonathan Grande
Directors
| Jon Bloom | Sandra Brockett |
| Bob Deschamps | Joe Genua |
| Jane Kenealy | Andy McKirdy |
| Jill Thomas | |
Bylaws (Approved May 16, 2023)
How you can support Friends:
Buy an Annual Membership: 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. Scroll down to join or donate!
Become a Volunteer: In addition to volunteering at our annual book sale, we have many volunteer opportunities all year round. If you are interested in helping us, please email to friends@blackstonelibrary.org.
Join the Friends
Seniors (60+): $10
Students: $10
Individual: $15
Family: $20
Good Friend: $30
Benefactor: $50
Best Friend: $100
Join now by selecting your desired Membership Level and then pay via PayPal or a credit card on the Pay Now button.
If you would like to make a donation to the Friends, please click on the link below: