History
The Friends of Connecticut Libraries (FOCL) is a non-profit organization consisting of local Friends groups, organizations and individual members who believe that libraries are an essential resource for the citizens of our State.
OUR HISTORY
In 1980 under the guidance of Stanford Warshawsky, then Director of the Silas Bronson Library, and the encouragement of the Connecticut Library Association and the Connecticut State Library, an ad hoc committee was assembled to consider forming a Friends of the Library group that would include the many local Friends groups around the State. By November, the Connecticut Friends of the Library (CFL) was formally organized at a state wide conference.
In 1981 It was officially incorporated with 38 group members. A newsletter and a directory were begun. Although changes have occurred over the years, the newsletter and the annual directory continue to this day. Immediately CFL started participating in the Connecticut Library Association (CLA) annual conference and teamed up with CLA to co-sponsor the annual legislative reception at the State Library in Hartford.
In 1983 CFL began presenting awards to local Friends groups for newsletter and the next year began the Distinguished Friend award. 1985 brought us the Friends of Libraries USA award for a State Friends Group and Gov. O’Neill proclaimed April 18, 1985 as “Connecticut Friends of Libraries Day” and the end of the 1980’s saw production of a video tape and “Media Presentation Kit” to assist FCL board members in visits to local groups throughout the State.
At the beginning of the 1990’s our name officially changed to Friends of Connecticut Libraries. (FOCL) and we received awards from the Association of Connecticut Library Boards (ACLB), FOLUSA and Baker & Taylor for services to Connecticut Libraries.
In 1994 FOCL proposed legislation in the form of State Bill #5247 to exempt public libraries from sales tax on book sale profits and in 1997 state sales tax exemption for library book sales became law. Friends of the Library Month became an annual event and 2 important Friends resources were published: “Planning Library Book Sales” by Lillian Levin and “Library Friends Guidelines” by Jack Short. FOCL established our website: www.foclib.org. The Norma Short Endowment Fund was started in 1998 and our membership had now grown to 98 local groups, and 40 individuals, affiliates and patrons.
FOCL celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a Gala Dinner at the Annual CLA Conference in 2000 with author Olivia Goldsmith and author illustrator Leonard Everett Smith as honored guests. The beginning of the new century saw the enhancement of our newsletter, FOCLPOINT, which was expanded to quarterly and the Annual FOCL directory now included a calendar of Friends book sales as well as other information on each of over 110 member groups. Workshops on topics of interest to Friends like, improving newsletters, gaining new members, fund raisers, and book selling on the internet were held. Our electronic discussion group FOCL-Forum was started in 2003.
FOCL celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2005 with a luncheon at the State Library and author Gina Barreca as speaker. Lillian Levin is honored as Board Member Emeritus.
Handbook for Connecticut Library Friends was published in August of 2006 and FOCL sponsored a day long pre-conference at the 2007 CLA annual conference featuring Sally Reed, FOLUSA Executive Director. Grant program to help local groups start up or enhance their programs was established in 2008. During this time Representatives of academic Friends groups became FOCL board member. Through the end of the decade FOCL conducted a survey of its members to determine the kinds of support they need from the statewide organization and began acting on many of those suggestions. FOCL is celebrating its 30th anniversary at our annual meeting at the Cheshire Library with author Robert Kim Bingham as featured speaker
FOCL PRESIDENTS 1980-2010
John Sibun, Hebron Jack Short, Avon
Peter Blum, Waterbury Gil Alwang, Meriden
Libbie Burdick, Groton Wanda Janowski, Plainville
Mary Beeckman, Cheshire Marge Storrs, Simsbury
Lillian Levin, Glastonbury Anita Wilson, Newington
Carl Nawrocki, Salem
Ongoing Projects
- FOCL-Point Newsletter
- Annual Awards
- FOCL web page and list serve
- Workshops for Friends
- Annual Membership Directory
