Spring 2024 Friends' Update
A Quarterly Look at NCLF & How we're Supporting our Library
Spring Greetings,
At May Market on May 3-4, the Friends had a great kick-off to our ‘retail’ fundraising for 2024, with strong sales despite the persistent rain on Day 2. Congrats to Book Sales co-chairs Susan and Robert, to Raffles chair Jenn, and to the raffle winners, including the Levy family, who won the ‘Lets Be Friends’ basket and became our newest members!
We have more fun events to look forward to before the season’s over, too, starting with A Day in Old New Castle on May 18. DIONC Chair Judy has been working hard to help organize and prepare for the Friends’ part on the day. Shortly after that event is our biggest book sale of the year, at Separation Day on June 8!
Please read on for more about what the New Castle Library Friends are currently working on to support our library, and please have a wonderful season.
Warm regards,
Matt Alexander
NCLF President
A Day in Old New Castle, ready for ‘Ignition’
On Saturday, May 18, New Castle will open its doors on the story of a major event from its past - and the great city it’s become since - for neighbors and visitors. This year’s A Day in Old New Castle is set to commemorate the Great Fire of 1824 with a host of fun, family-friendly activities designed to explore its history and that of fire fighting.
NCLF DIONC Chair Judy Panzarella says we’re in good shape for the Friends’ involvement, which will once again focus on welcoming guests…
“We’ve been able to ensure we have a good number of volunteers, especially early in the day and during the busiest periods and we look forward to good weather and big crowds!
“As a reminder, we have pre-event tickets sales available at the New Castle Library on Delaware Street, at the Opera House and at the gift shop in the Arsenal.”
Judy thanked NCLF Membership Chair Irma Benedek and DIONC co-chair Antoinette Maccari-Klingsberg for their help finding volunteers to recruit.
While Judy is good to go, there are still a few spots to sign up for at other parts of DIONC, including as house docents (fun!). If interested in volunteering, you can use this Sign-up Link to claim your part in the event!
The Original: NCLF’s Separation Day Book Sale
… And a Recap of this year’s May Market Book Sale
Book Sale co-Chairs Susan Swansburg and Robert Wingle, fresh off a very successful first sale of the year at May Market, are already looking forward to their next outing… on Separation Day!
This year’s May Market Book Sale raised nearly $1400, an increase of about $300 over 2023. The first day of May Market saw a constant stream of visitors stopping to browse, chat and buy books. While Saturday’s rain did slow things down a bit - and even forced an early close, at 2pm - people still came out steadily.
In addition to perusing books, lots of people showed support by buying raffle tickets, though we do not yet have the total # of tickets sold for this event.
The next Book Sale is on Saturday, June 8, at Separation Day, the Friends’ original book sale event and still our biggest. The committee and NCLF board will decide/finalize the hours this week - including whether there will be Sunday hours again this year (on June 9).
The sale will be right on Delaware Street, as well as inside the library's beautiful conference room, which we look forward to transforming into a delightful (gently) used bookshop once again! Our full collection will be on display, including fiction, literature, mystery, romance, sci-fi, children's and teens' books (first free!), history, bio/memoir, humor, Local Interest, the Arts, other non-fiction, and much more!
And we will need volunteers! If you’re able to help out (for about two hours at a time), please reach out to Susan by email. Hanging out with Friends and helping folks find their next favorite book is always a great time. Thanks!
Raffles Chair Taking Prizes to the Next Level
Jenn Ramsdell, NCLF’s newest board member and Raffles Chair, created four awesome prizes for our first Raffle at May Market, and has big plans for the future. She offered a glimpse of her vision for raffles that will both complement our book sales and highlight our awesome community…
“I am eager to highlight local businesses, artisans, and Delaware based products in creative ways. In addition to beautiful and unique objects, I would love to create baskets that center fun Delaware experiences. I’m always looking for fun, innovative basket themes that have people buying tickets again and again
“If you have any suggestions for themes, or would like to contribute an in-kind donation, please do not hesitate to reach out! I can be reached [by email].”
Thanks to Jenn for organizing such great, fun Raffles, and to every Friend, supporter and local business who donates or discounts items to support them!
Memberships: It’s Not Too Late to Join for 2024
Friends Are Visible Supporters Who Enjoy Fun Benefits!
NCLF stands at over 100 members strong and standing for New Castle Public Library. From Memberships Chair Irma Benedek:
“Since our membership renewal drive began in mid January we have received dues from about 75% of the members that we mailed reminder letters to. Thank you to all of you who have renewed to date. We greatly appreciate your support.
“There is still time to get your renewals in for this year if you have not yet done so. As a reminder, you can now pay online with a credit card if you prefer or you can mail a check payment to the library. Or if you are stopping by the library to check out books or attend an event you can always drop off a check or cash payment.
“You can always contact us to inquire if you are up to date with your membership or if you have any other membership questions.”
Members who attended the Annual Meeting or May Market Book Sale were presented with ‘Membership Cards’ that will help our volunteers ID Friends for their benefits at our events. Pick yours up at our next Book Sale and start claiming your perks!
Board Takes Major Step toward Garden Project
Last month, the NCLF Board authorized the first expenditure from the Capital Reserve Fund that we’ve established for renovating the Children’s Garden behind New Castle Public Library.
With a unanimous vote, the board paid a deposit to contract with Breckstone Architecture for professional drawings of the deck we’d like to install. On April 30, two board members met with firm principal Todd Breck and project architect George Ludewig to go over plans. The firm will also offer assistance with the permitting process, including HAC review, and construction oversight.
By the end of this month, we should have preliminary drawings. Once we have an attractive sketch of our vision for improving the utility of the back garden, we will not be shy about sharing that - at book sales, library events, in the library atrium, The Weekly, etc., etc.
The time is coming to kick what has been a slow-burn campaign into high gear!
As reported in previous newsletters, our vision is to install a large, low-lying, highly-accessible and multi-useful deck across the (major and central) part of the garden now occupied by a drainage area.
To date, the Friends have been able to set aside nearly fifteen thousand dollars toward this project, including half of all book sale revenues since we announced it. But, assuming we hit last year’s record fundraising total from sales again in 2024, and set aside every dollar this year, that still won’t be nearly enough. Reaching the $60K total price tag is going to take a big, community effort.
So please get ready for giant thermometers, a networked cascade of calls-to-action, and some very special events to help us get the word out and raise the funds we need. At over a hundred Friends strong, we can do this, but not on our own. Please help us rally our community around New Castle Public Library for this great project once you see the campaign get going!
Friends are Sprucing Up the Front Garden, Too!
Big thanks to one of our newest Friends, Joan Simpson, for donating over a dozen beautiful, native plants to help a couple Friends board members spruce up the courtyard/front garden at the library!
While there is still work to be done inside the fence, the new plants, a bit of weeding and fresh mulch are already improving the courtyard’s ‘curb appeal!’
If you have shade-friendly, native plants you'd like to contribute for the front courtyard, just let us know. Thanks!
(Thanks also to the Friend who very kindly reached out shortly before May Market with an offer of plants, and apologies that your message appears to have been lost amid the hustle of a crazy week! Please contact us again if you can.)
2024 Friends’ Events & Ways to Get Involved
Please check out the Friends’ current schedule of book sales, meetings and events for 2024, which is below. Meeting dates are subject to change. A Fall member event may also be added.
*A final decision on doing a Day 2 of the Separation Day Book Sale (Sun., 6/9) will be made at the Board’s May meeting.
We’re seeking volunteers to help with our part in A Day in Old New Castle, which involves handling check-in and help with wayfinding for event guests, and for the Separation Day Book Sale. If you can help out, please email us!
Thanks for reading, and for your support of New Castle Public Library!