The Friends of the Library in DeLand was founded in 1958. At our first meeting the group adopted as its purpose “to stimulate interest and support, encourage private gifts, to buy books or give financial assistance to the DeLand Public Library, to interpret the needs of the library to the public, and to help with public relations.” Our first gift to the library was a set of World Book Encyclopedias on a mobile cart. Now fifty years later, our group is still fulfilling those first goals and making our community a better place by helping to improve our public library. With the Advisory Board, we provided $160,000 toward the funding of our present library.

Meeting Time & Location:

The Board meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 3:00 PM in the Conference Room of the DeLand Public Library, except for the summer months of June, July and August.

Activities:

• Each October, Friends in libraries throughout the United States Commemorate National Friends of the Library Week with open houses and recognition of the Friends accomplishments. The DeLand Friends received several proclamations and thank yous from Mayor Bob Apgar over the years.
• Host a Chamber of Commerce Meeting
• Publish Among Friends Quarterly Newsletter
• Sponsor an annual monthly “Let’s talk About It” Reading and Discussion Group from November through March
• Hold Used Book Sales, the source of most of the Friends income

Past Projects:

Our past projects have provided funding for:

• Photographic display in auditorium of historical buildings that housed former libraries. Photos
• New sound system in the library auditorium
• Shelving and cupboards behind the circulation desk
• New circulation desk
• Tinted glass over entrance doors to minimize glare
• Microfilm machine
• Copying machine
• Continuous purchasing of fiction and non-fiction
• Computers
• Security System for DVDs and CDs
• Workshop and conference expenses for staff
• Genealogical on-line program for local history and genealogy room
• Children and adult programs