FOCL Chat

Topic of Discussion: 
Friends Presence in the Community

At our May FOCL Chat, we asked Friends groups around the state - "How is your Friends group keeping their presence in the community?" (Volunteering, Partnerships, PR, etc.) Our friends came prepared with a digest version of how their group has kept visibility within their community, what they are planning in 2021 and questions to pose to the group.

Watch the Recordings Here

Time to renew your FOCL membership

During these challenging times, we hope that you and your families, your communities and your libraries are doing well.  Just as libraries have stepped up to develop innovative programs to serve the public, Friends groups are also exploring new ways to support their libraries and communities. The mission of the non-profit Friends of Connecticut Libraries (FOCL) to facilitate communication, collaboration and advocacy among Friends groups and libraries throughout the state is even more important at this moment.  We invite you to join/renew your membership in FOCL, along with over 100 other local Friends groups, individual library friends, library directors and organizations, to support this effort. 

Members can take advantage of FOCL’s centralized resources for Friends groups:

• The FOCL website, which includes an extensive resource section about Friends topics, a newly revised Friends handbook which will be available this Fall, a listing of member groups, and book sale information. 

• An active FOCL Facebook community.

• FOCL-Forum, an email listserv on which you can ask questions, share information and post announcements.

• Events on topics of interest to Friends groups.  Stay tuned for a virtual conference in the fall to get inspiration from other Friends groups.  When we return to in-person events, FOCL members will receive a discounted rate.

• FOCL-Point, our newsletter, with important news and ideas for Friends throughout the state.

• Recognition of outstanding individuals, groups and projects at FOCL’s annual awards meeting in June 2021 (including those nominated in 2020).  

• Grants and consultations to Friends groups in need of organizational support.

We encourage you to fill out your membership information and make your donation online here.  (If you need help logging in or have both a group and an individual membership, email friendsctlibraries@gmail.com.)  However, if you prefer, you can mail your membership form and payment to FOCL by October 15, 2020.  For groups, this will ensure earlier inclusion of group information in our online directory and calendar.  Individual donations may be tax deductible.  

Thank you for all you do for libraries in Connecticut and for supporting FOCL’s work! Please let us know if there are any other ways we can serve your group and library.

Sincerely,

Linda Grayson