News

Because of you, the Friends of the Napa Library (FOL) succeeded remarkably in the 2024 Napa Valley CanDo Give!Guide, surpassing our fundraising and donor participation goals. Initially aiming to raise $10,000 with support from 120 donors, the campaign far exceeded expectations, bringing in nearly $20,000 from 144 generous contributors – approximately double the amount raised in 2023.

This year’s campaign welcomed over 50 new donors showcasing growing community support for FOL’s mission. Highlights of the campaign included numerous contributors who donated in honor of family members and volunteers and a random drawing for a six- bottle wine collection generously donated by the Donald Patz Wine Group. Patti Hawker of Napa was the lucky recipient of this coveted wine, adding extra excitement to our fundraising efforts. Perhaps more importantly, over 90 donors (not already FOL Members) will receive a one-year membership, recognizing their especially generous gift. They further strengthen the Library’s support network.

The success of our participation in the CanDo Give!Guide underscores the Napa community’s dedication to enhancing our Library’s resources and programs. Thanks to your contributions, the FOL will be able to sustain its donations to the Library’s programs, and strengthen outreach by donating books anywhere to reach readers looking to learn – lending libraries, schools, laundromats, senior housing, local hospitals, family centers, the local jail, just to name a few. Most importantly, at our sales and other give-a-way events, we provide thousands of free books to children so they can celebrate the joy of reading and cherish the feeling of owning a book.

Looking ahead, the Friends of the Napa Library are looking to set an ambitious goal for the 2025 holiday season: raising $25,000 and engaging 175 donors. With the enthusiasm and generosity demonstrated this year, we are confident the community will rise to the occasion again.

Thank you to all donors, new and returning, for your support. Together, we continue to champion the future of the Napa Library, empowering literacy and enriching minds.

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A: Well, the Friends of the Napa Library’s (FOL) answer is “By being thoughtful stewards of the local and extended community’s donations.” In more detail, here’s how…

On a regular basis we make donations of magazines and books available to local teachers for their classroom’s libraries; we replace children’s books in laundromats and doctor/dentist offices; and we support the Napa Library’s annual Summer Reading Program directed to children and their families. We work to provide support to the Library through the stocking earbuds and thumb drives for the Library’s computer users. FOL also has a wonderful connection with the County through the Library’s Literacy program’s regular access to books and materials for the Jail, as well as via the annual invitation to participate in September’s Fall Festival coordinated by local Master Gardeners. This is just a sampling. There are many additional continuing activities!

Most folks in our community know of our periodic multi-day book sales held at the Napa Library. These book sales are a major source of funding for the Library’s programs and services. We are, however, always looking for new and exciting opportunities to reach further into our community of readers. Let me share just a few of the more recent exciting projects that demonstrate how we have grown in our reach into the community and the thanks we receive for our efforts:

• We have developed a substantial relationship with the Patient Enrichment Department staff at Napa State Hospital (NSH). The Dept’s representative regularly comes to FOL’s Library facility to collect appropriate magazines and books for various venues on the NSH campus.
• In addition, we recently received a very kind “thank you” from “Operation With Love From Home” with regard to the magazines and books we donate to the group to disperse to our military service people stationed around the world.
• The “COUNTY International School – Ghana” also shared a note of appreciation for the significant donation of books for their School located in Accra, Ghana, Africa, complete with a photo of the children in the Ghana School class. Incidentally, the U.S. has a contingent of military personnel stationed in Ghana. Now, that’s outreach!

As to FOL’s commitment to stewardship, all requests for in-kind printed materials are thoughtfully and carefully considered for relevance re: promoting early reading opportunities leading to a commitment to lifelong learning for all ages. Napa County residents are especially important to us, but if we can help out elsewhere without compromising our local financial and volunteer resources designed to support the Napa County Library, all the better. We couldn’t do any of it without our exceedingly generous community.

Sandy Fagan, President Friends of the Napa Library

January 2025

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It’s here! The 2024 Napa Valley CanDo Give!Guide is your one-stop to support your Napa community non-profit organizations! Join CanDo and fellow donors to make 2024 a record setting year for participating non-profits.

The Friends of the Napa Library once again is honored to participate in this powerful community of non-profit fundraising.  Click here to donate today!  Let’s build a brighter future for Napa, one book and reader at a time.

How and Why to Donate

Imagine a world where a child struggles to read, where seniors feel isolated due to technology challenges, and where families can’t afford learning opportunities.  The Friends of the Napa Library (FOL) is dedicated to change this in Napa County.  This holiday season, through the Give!Guide (November 15^th to December 31^st), our aim is to exceed our goal of reaching 120 donors and raising $10,000 to sustain essential library programs that foster literacy, learning, and community connection.

Your donation to the Friends of the Napa Library – CanDo’s Napa Valley Give!Guide) directly supports Napa County Library programs, including:

• Summer Reading Programs: Offering books, events, and learning activities to keep kids engaged and ready to learn when school resumes.
• The Memory Lab: Helping families digitize photos and videos, preserving cherished memories, and bridging the technology gap.
• Free Books for Kids and Families: Each year, we provide thousands of free books to children, bringing the joy of reading to those who can’t otherwise afford it.
• Community Outreach: We donate books to hospitals, senior housing, family centers, schools, and more, making literacy accessible to everyone.

Supporting FOL through the Give!Guide: fuels these programs and allows the library to continue as a place where all community members can find inspiration, learning, and belonging – every dollar and donor counts. Your contribution is an investment in the future of Napa – a future where everyone has access to knowledge, culture, and opportunity.

A Thank You to Our Donors

In appreciation, all who donate to FOL through the Give!Guide will participate in a random drawing for a premium wine basket from the Donald Patz Wine Group. Additionally, if you donate through the Give!Guide, and if you’re not already a member of FOL, you’ll receive a free one-year FOL membership, which includes early access to book sales and discounts at the Napa Bookmine.

Libraries are unique spaces where people of all ages and backgrounds gather to explore, learn, and grow. Your donation supports this vision and helps keep our library vibrant. Together, let’s empower literacy and enrich minds in Napa County.

Scan this QR code to access our page in the Give!Guide

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A BIG THANK YOU!

to all of the friends and supporters of the Friends of the Napa Library.   Our mission is to sponsor many programs at the Napa County Library and your support comes in many, many ways.  You donate the books and media we sell at our multi-day sales as well as the permanent honor-system sale held in the lobby of the Library.  You attend these sales and generously double your donations by purchasing the books and media donated by your fellow community members.

In addition, you join the Napa non-profit community by participating in the annual CanDo Give!Guide by donating funds to us. You honor book loving friends and loved ones by making donations in their name.  You participate in the programs we support at the Library.

Again Thank You!

So what is new for 2025?  You will notice that the 2025 Sale Dates in the blue right page banner lists 3 sets of sale dates.  You might remember in 2024 we went from holding 4 book sales a year to 3. Your support didn’t waver so we are staying with 3 sales for 2025.  We are able to more efficiently use our volunteer resources and still able to raise funds for library programs and move books along from one reader to another.  Make note of the dates and  plan to join us!!

Keep your support coming and encourage your community to assist in our mission.

And thank you to Vipul Hemawat for today’s clip art.

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Join us October 20-26, 2024 to celebrate National Friends of the Library Week. This initiative of United for Libraries gives us the opportunity to share the programs we fund with the Napa County Library. During this week, look for our table in the lobby of the Napa County Library. It will be full of information on our mission, programs we support and our multi-day book sales that allow of this to happen. Interested in joining the Friends of the Napa Library? Membership information will also be available.

Exciting events to celebrate this week are..

Children’s Book Give-a-Way – Sunday, October 20, 2024 2p – 5pm
Children’s Book Give-a-Way – Thursday, October 24, 2024 1:30pm – 4:30pm.

Both events will be held at the Napa County Library. Please join us either or both days to celebrate this week of recognition.  And check out our information table in the Napa County Library lobby, located across from the honor system Lobby Sales area.

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