Over the past twelve months, FOLL provided over $16,000 to expand the Lincoln Public Library’s physical collection and over $19,000 for the online services – Hoopla and Kanopy. To the library’s physical collection, FOLL added large print books, audio books on CD, travel guide books, NOLO law books, nonfiction for seniors and children, and magazines for teens and children. We also helped support the library’s popular Zip Program. All with the help of your FOLL memberships and donations. And, of course, the generous support of the Lincoln Hills Foundation, Lincoln Rotary Club Foundation, and SCLH Orchard Creek Book Group.

The June BIG Book Sale was a great success raising $2,546 from the sale of books, DVDs, music CDs and puzzles. Your purchases will go a long way to help us meet our funding goals for the year.

The Lincoln Public Library is the place for teens and pre-teens to enjoy activities especially designed for them. Whether it is the annual Battle of the Books or a “pop up” event, such as the “Taylor Swift Blackout Poetry & Bracelet Making Party” or YOU ROCK” rock painting,” library staff continue to come up with new ideas to bring teens and pre-teens to the library. FOLL is glad to provide the financial support for these events.

Thank you to the 116 donors who gave during our Big Day of Giving campaign. We sincerely appreciate your support and look forward to helping the Lincoln Public Library provide the many library programs and services that will be available to our community due to your generosity. Again, thank you.

With the help of funding from FOLL, the Lincoln Public Library has added a seed library where patrons can pick up herb, vegetable or flower seed for their gardens. FOLL purchased a display case for gardening books, additional gardening books for the library’s collection, and of course, lots of seeds.

Lincoln Public Library staff and volunteers recently concluded the 2024 Read Across Lincoln campaign, distributing 700 book packets to first graders in the Lincoln area. Funded in part by FOLL’s Big Day of Giving campaign, this program included classroom visits, a story time, and packets containing a brand new book, a piñata craft and a word search puzzle related to the story. FOLL is proud to support this wonderful annual program.

Read the 2023 Annual Report to learn how FOLL used your donation dollars to help the Lincoln Public Library provide a wealth of programs and services to our community. The full report and one-page summary are available on our website’s “About the Friends” page. The FOLL Board approved release of the report at its February 13 meeting.

A new Lincoln Public Library program launched in January 2024 is designed to address family literacy through a partnership with Lighthouse Counseling Center. Building on their existing relationship, the Library is expanding its outreach effort by providing “Read To Me” Baby Literacy Kits, which will be distributed by Lighthouse. Each kit contains bilingual Spanish/English board book, fabric baby activity book and information on early literacy tips and free library programs for young children. FOLL is excited to support this program with $2,000 for book purchases.

At its December meeting, the FOLL Board approved $125,665 for 2024 expenditures. FOLL will be purchasing $16,000 of books and magazines for the library’s collection plus $14,600 of books that will be given to teens and children. For the library’s digital collection, FOLL will provide $15,000 for Hoopla and $6,600 for Kanopy. And FOLL will fund two major projects — Purchase of a book locker in Downtown Lincoln and refurnishing the children’s library area. All this in addition to providing funds for the library’s many programs and events. Thank you to our many contributors who make it possible for FOLL to continue and expand its support of the Lincoln Public Library.

At the December 2024 board meeting, President Teresa Lai Stanislaw, along with three other board members were sworn in. The election took place at the Annual Membership Meeting in November. In addition to Teresa, Vice President Dawna Hawksworth, Book Sale Director Sharon Gorley and Newsletter Director Karen Lindh will be ready to start their new terms in January.