The Richard Salter Storrs Library is the beneficiary of fundraising by the Friends of Storrs Library.
Reminder Publishing file photo
LONGMEADOW — For 30 years, a group of Longmeadow residents has raised money to help bring programs to patrons of the Richard Salter Storrs Library. As it looks to the future, the organization wants to focus on programs and fundraisers that bring the community together.
The operation of Storrs Library is paid for through a trust, but programs that have become commonplace in libraries, such as toddler story times and guest speakers, are not covered. “It was started to help the library have funds for children’s and adult programming,” said President Julia Mitchell. The Friends are now 120 members strong, but most of the planning and fundraising is in the hands of the 16-member Executive Board.
Mitchell said, “Every day of the week, there’s programming for moms and babies or kids after school, from chess to computer lessons,” even etiquette classes for children.
During COVID-19, Mitchell said, “Longmeadow had really no slowdown of books being checked out. The library really became the beating heart of [the town]. A few years ago, we got to the point where they said what is really important to us? What was important to the library director was engagement with the community.”
In May, the Friends and Storrs Library hosted their first “high tea” event. The group reached out to residents, asking for donations of teacups and china. “We thought we might get 50 teacups, or whatever. We got hundreds of [pieces of] china. I mean, whole sets.” People did not just donate; they also came out to experience the event.
“We had 300 people, from older people to young children,” Mitchell said. “It was beautiful.”
Over the last weekend in September, the Friends hosted its annual book sale, a long-standing tradition in which members of the community donate books. Proceeds from their sale benefit the library through the Friends. This year was the organization’s most successful yet, Mitchell said.
According to Mitchell, no small part of that success came down to the volunteers who worked to organize the donated books. “We had these fun pizza parties where people could volunteer,” she said, adding that the Friend used a “young people’s brigade” to unload the books from cars and pick up books for those who could not drop them off.
The Friends will also be hosting a “cookie sale” in December, in which people can purchase cookie dough to make at home. Mitchell said that having something that can be made fairly easily encourages people to visit with others face-to-face. “It sort of [gives] people permission to say, ‘I’ll have someone over,’” she said.
In February 2025, the Friends will organize a Valentine’s Day event, but rather than giving someone candy or chocolates, Mitchell said that for a small donation, children can “sponsor” a library book, which will receive a heart-shaped sticker on the spine. In return, the child will receive a free book.
Each fall, the Friends decide how much money they will raise and donate to the library, usually $20,000. In honor of its 30th year, the Friends have increased the amount to $30,000.
Despite membership numbering in the hundreds, Mitchell said she would like to see fresh faces joining the organization. “The people who originally started this are aging. We’d love to have more young people join us, who can bring some new ideas and tell us what the community wants,” she said. “What is an event we can do that builds community?”
