Dear Friends,
We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We are thankful for YOU! Your membership dues, contributions, and book sale purchases enable us to provide invaluable financial support for our library.
November Meeting Highlights
At the November meeting, we discussed the need for a new policy for the book sale bag days to ensure that customers are fairly charged and that our efforts raise as much money for library support as possible. We voted to keep the pricing at $7 per bag, but will use a standard-size reusable grocery bag as the measurement for bag size. Shoppers who bring bags that are larger than a standard-size reusable grocery bag will be charged ratably based on the size of the bag.
The board voted to renew our membership in the Friends of North Carolina Public Libraries. Dues will be $35 for the 2026 year.
Board member Melissa Bourbon has ordered books for the prison book program from Purple Crow Books. The books should arrive soon.
Board members assembled year-end staff appreciation gift bags.
December Meeting And Board Election
The December Friends meeting will be held Thursday, December 18th at 7:00 pm in the meeting room at the main library in Hillsborough. The proposed agenda for the December meeting appears at the end of this newsletter.
The 2026 board and officers will be elected at the meeting. All members are welcome to attend and vote. Members may also nominate from the floor.
Candidates for the board include current board members Melissa Bourbon, Diane Decker, Grace Johnston, Diane Kelly, William McLean, Wendy Scott, Meg Stouffer, Laura Sumrell, and Linda “Tess” Tessier. You can read bios for these incumbent candidates here: https://focplnc.org/meet-the-board/
We are excited to have two new candidates for the board:
Board Candidate Melora Fern
Bio: The only constant in life is change – so after a year of multiple doozies, Melora Fern moved from Texas to North Carolina to become herself. Growing up as the perpetual “new kid” she persevered by making up stories and recently has learned how to hone that skill into writing fiction. As a recovering CPA, she now counts seashells, colorful stones, or words discovered on her hikes. Embracing new and old friends, undiscovered and favorite places, unique and familiar books, family, and all that comes with writing currently fills her days. After eight years of perfecting her craft with writing classes, workshops, retreats, and an awe-inspiring critique group, Melora’s months of querying agents and small presses has paid off. Her novel, “Whistling Women and Crowing Hens” (Sybilline Press) is out now. Learn more at: https://www.melorafern.com/
Statement: I’d be honored to be part of the Friends of the Library of Orange County. I’ve lived in Hillsborough for two years and have enjoyed using the library and would love to have the chance to contribute my time and energy to this wonderful community hub. The Friends of the Library add much to the library’s positive experience and I look forward to learning more about what they do, how I can help out, and perhaps help the Friends grow.
Board Candidate Lisa Cawley
Bio: Lisa Cawley graduated from Beaver College (which was later renamed Arcadia University) in PA with an MS in Early Childhood Education in the mid-eighties. Upon graduating, she taught preschool and Kindergarten for 8 years in private and later public-school settings. She married in 1991 and moved to Carrboro, NC where she taught at the Head Start at Sewell Elementary for a year until she moved back to PA with her husband to start a family.
In 1997 she was hired by the Parkland Community Library in Allentown, PA as a Reference Library Assistant. She was very fortunate to find such a fulfilling second career as a Reference Library Assistant and was employed for 24 years. At Parkland Community Library, she provided readers advisory and led engaging book club discussions, showcasing her passion for literature and eagerness to serve her patrons. She formed a strong bond with her patrons and her community.
Lisa and her husband relocated to Hillsborough, NC in late 2021, and she went on to work as a Circulation Clerk at the Orange County Public Library for two years before retiring. Lisa belongs to two book clubs and in addition to avid reading, she volunteers at The Orange Congregations in Mission Pantry and shelves books weekly at the Chapel Hill Public Library.
Statement: Having worked in the public library environment for over 25 years, first as a Reference Assistant at Parkland Community Library in Pennsylvania and more recently as a Circulation Clerk at the Orange County Public Library, I possess a passion and a deep understanding of the importance of public libraries to their communities.
Having a background in Early Childhood Education, my experience as a full-time kindergarten teacher and an assistant Head Start teacher also gave me a deep understanding of the importance of early literacy and a true appreciation for children’s literature.
I am an avid reader and feel most at home surrounded by books.
I believe that my lifelong experience as an educator and library assistant make me an ideal candidate for The Friend’s Board.
A Big Thanks To Mark Alexander
Board member Mark Alexander will be stepping down after several years of dedicated service. He will continue in his critical role of assisting the board in identifying high-value books for special pricing at our book sales. Thanks to Mark for all he has done to ensure good management of donated books, and for all of the many other ways he has supported the Friends and the library.
As always, thank you for being a Friend!
Sincerely,
Diane Kelly, President
December 18, 2024 Meeting Agenda
1) Call To Order/Establish Quorum (6/10):
Mark Alexander
Diane Decker
Grace Johnston
Diane Kelly
William McLean
Melissa Bourbon Ramirez
Wendy Scott
Meg Stouffer
Tess Tessier
Shannon Turlington
2) Approval Of Minutes From Last Meeting
3) Treasurer’S Report
4) Membership Report
5) Library Report
6) Business
A) Set September 2026 book sale date
B) Update on George Spencer program
C) March book sale – pickup of leftover books, sign application
D) Election of candidates:
Lisa Cawley
Diane Decker
Melora Fern
Grace Johnston
Diane Kelly
William McLean
Melissa Bourbon Ramirez
Wendy Scott
Meg Stouffer
Laura Sumrell
Tess Tessier
E) Election of officers:
William McLean – President
Diane Kelly – Vice President
Grace Johnston – Treasurer
Tess Tessier – Secretary
F) Mark Alexander – Thanks for your board service
7) Adjourn
