Our Mission
The Mission of the Friends of the Schenectady County Public Library is to assist and support our library system in fulfilling its role as an essential institution dedicated to meeting the literacy, technology, and cultural needs of all members of our community.
Our Vision
The Vision of the Friends of the Schenectady County Public Library is a modern, sustainable library system accessible to all.
The purpose of the Friends of the Library is to:
- Maintain a voluntary non‑profit association of persons interested in books and a vital, modern library system
- Develop an informed interest in library services, facilities, and needs of the Schenectady County Public Library
- Promote the widest use of library services at all age and interest levels
- Initiate new and experimental services and to provide support for special projects not possible to finance from county funds
- Support all extensions of library services
- Contribute to the cultural opportunities of Schenectady County by sponsoring book fairs, story hours, exhibits, forums, book talks, and other enriching programs
- Encourage professional education for the library staff
- Stimulate, receive and administer gifts, memorials, endowments, and bequests of funds and of books, and desirable collections
- Be an affiliate of the national Friends of the Library organizations
Some of the activities and programs the Friends support through their volunteer activities and continuous fundraising efforts are:
- Library Collection Development: Book sale money is used to purchase new and popular material for branch libraries
- Children’s Programs: Funding is provided for after school and vacation week programs, as well as for professional programs and performers for the Annual Summer Reading Club. The Friends also purchase reading incentives such as book bags, bookmarks, posters, puzzles and Summer Reading Club prizes
- Adult Programs: The Friends sponsor weekly Monday Noon Programs including Books Sandwiched-In, Table Talks, and the Science Series, and provide funding and volunteer hours for other adult programs, workshops and lectures
- Staff Support: Funds are provided for conferences, staff development and workshops, and purchasing of special equipment
- Computer Literacy: Classes for beginners through more advanced computer users with computer literacy volunteers available for one on one followup
Friends of SCPL 