TIVERTON, RI - The Friends of Tiverton Libraries held its annual meeting and awards ceremony in the library community room on Feb. 20. The Friends reviewed financial reports and presented highlights of the year through a slide show of 2018 events that the Friends sponsored or participated in, including the annual book sale, the fall craft sale, the first John Fitzgerald Memorial Lecture, Pardon Gray Day and the Tiverton Days parade.
The Friends officers reported that in 2018 the largest source of funds came from the Friends annual book sale, ETC followed by membership dues and the fall craft sale. The largest expenditures were directed to library program funding, followed by payments for museum passes, which patrons can use for free or discounted admission to area attractions.
Rosemary Probasco was elected to serve as Friends president, and Wenonah Clarke-Smith, as vice president. Susan Souza will continue to serve as treasurer and Celia Van Hof as secretary. Pauline Dumas was elected to serve as Friends archivist and Karen Ephraim as a member-at-large. Ephraim joins Christiane Brain and Joyce Dunagan who will continue to serve as members-at-large.
The Friends honored several individuals and one organization with Golden Sneaker awards for going the extra mile for the library. Rebecca Ott was honored with the Library Staff Award for inspiring more interest in the Young Adult collection among teen patrons, attracting library volunteers, and providing popular youth programming. She was also recognized for participation in a nationwide pilot program for youth and libraries.
Zachary Major received the Teen Golden Sneaker Award for logging the most hours among teens in 2018 including help with the Union and Tiverton book sales and supporting children’s activities. Wayne Browning received the Adult Golden Sneaker Award for the most volunteer hours by an adult volunteer with special recognition for his organization of the subscription media collection.
The Friends Member Award went to Dennis Smith who volunteered many hours on fundraising and other library activities including tending the library orchard, preparing his car for the Tiverton Days parade and creating art work on library subjects.
The Community Partner Award went to Bill McGeough for volunteer work on the areas bordering the east and west sides of the building, including the oak and cedar grove and the former rocky meadow now covering the library’s septic system.
A first-time Platinum Decennial Sneaker Award for Friends of Tiverton Libraries was presented to long-time Friends board member Kathy Gallagher for more than a decade of volunteer efforts including working with the organization to grow the annual book sale and increasing profits for the benefit of library programming.