Friends of the libraries merge

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There is a new non-profit in town. The newly created Friends of the Granby Public Libraries, Inc. came into being in January to combine the strengths of the Friends of Granby Public Library and the Friends of F.H. Cossitt Library with the mission of supporting the Granby Public Library System. This merger, which took years to complete, was a team effort between the groups with help from Pro Bono Partnership lawyers, the library director and with the support of the Library Board.

The Granby Public Library, with its two branches, has long been supported by The Friends of Granby Public Library and the Friends of F.H. Cossitt Library. These non-profits, along with the Granby Library Association, have contributed tens of thousands of dollars over the years to support library programming, services, operations, and collections. Volunteers from each group, along with their members, supported the library branches through several renovations and restorations, budget cuts, changes in location and staffing, and even a pandemic. It is through their efforts that Granby has a library system that does much more than meet basic information needs. 

As the library has taken steps to further improve operations and provide quality services across the system, the Friends groups have evolved. Rather than continue competing for attention, supporters, volunteers and funds, the groups decided to merge into a single Friends organization with the mission of supporting Granby Public Library.

The new non-profit organization, The Friends of the Granby Public Libraries, officially came into being on Jan. 1. If you were a member of either group in 2022, you are automatically a member of the new group and will be invited to renew your membership later this year. If you weren’t a member, you are invited to join this newly energized group when you see its invitation in the Library or the Drummer this spring.

In the meantime, here are answers to the FAQ around this merger and library support in general:

Will there still be a book sale?

Yes! The planning is already underway, and the Friends are excited to continue this fundraising tradition as well as the book sale table in the main library lobby, the annual puzzle sale, the holiday sale (and giving tree), and more.

Does this mean you won’t fully support one branch?

No! This change will allow Library staff members to allocate funding where it is needed most and allow resources to be shared between both locations.

Where can I find out more information?

The Granby Public Library website will have links to the new Friends organization information as soon as it becomes available.

How does the Granby Library Association fit in to all of this?

The GLA, the longest-running non-profit organization that supports the Granby Public Library, focuses less on the day-to-day and more on the long-term or emergency needs of the library. The association uses its accumulated funds, as well as donations, gifts and bequests, to support non-budgeted needs of the library such as furniture, marketing and specialty programming. While the Friends typically raise and spend funding in a single year, the GLA invests donations on behalf of the library’s future.