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. Each year we provide money for library programs and materials. In January 2014, as our gift to the community, we cut the ribbon for the opening of our brand new book store that was entirely funded by the Friends. Here a wide variety of donated books can be purchased at bargain prices.   

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 October and November where the meeting will take place on the third Wednesday of the month.        

Activities:

• Commemorate National Friends of the Library Week each October. The DeLand Friends have received several proclamations from Mayor Bob Apgar over the years.
• Send monthly E-mail Newsletters
• Hold Used Book Sales once a month
• Operate a book store Monday through Friday from 9:00 - 4:30
• Sponsor an annual program of great interest, open to the public during our Annual Meeting
• Provide materials and program funding for the library as needed.   

Past Projects:

• Photographic display in auditorium of historical buildings that housed former libraries.
• Original 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
• Room addition that houses our book store

Book Store

The Friends would like to thank all individual donors and the Family Book Store, Muse Book Shop, the Stetson Sorority that holds book drives, churches and senior centers that have provided generous donations since we opened. We thank each and every one of you.

The funds generated through the monthly books sales and the Friends Book Store help us to continue our support of the library in the areas of programming for adults and children, equipment and book purchases and other special needs.

We accept all books, puzzles, games, DVDs, CDs, books on CDs, records and other small items you wish to donate. Donations can be dropped off at the Friends Book Store, located at the northwest corner of the library, during the hours of 9:30 to 4:15, Monday through Friday. The store is also open on Saturday of the monthly book sale from 9:30 to 1:30. We no longer accept magazines nor sell magazines in our Book Store.

If your donation is large, or you need help getting it into the store, please park in front of the main entrance of the library and come to the store and we will come out with a cart to help unload. We can also make arrangements to come and pick up from your home, even help pack. Please call 386-822-6430, ext. 20755, if you need help.

If you wish to receive a receipt for tax deduction, let us know at the time of drop-off. You will be requested to fill out a form giving your name, address and phone number which will be placed with your donation. Once the donation is processed, a tax deduction letter will be mailed within a week.