Bienvenido to our September Newsletter!
It’s time to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 – October 15. ¡Colorín colorado!, a bi-lingual site for educators and families of English learners, offers a fantastic collection of resources to help celebrate and embrace the vibrant Hispanic literary culture.
While we are celebrating literacy, we also recognize Banned Books Week, September 18-24 … because censorship divides us, in so many ways. Please read Barb Lemos’s poignant family story of censorship and its impacts, below.
What would YOU Risk to Protect Banned Books?
by Barbara Lemos | For Banned Books Week (Sept. 18-24), I want to share the experiences of my mother and her parents who lived in Berlin as the Nazis came to power. The quotations below from my mother shine a light on the intellectual darkness that soon enveloped Germany. … read more
Celebrating International Literacy Day
by Patricia Langer | As Friends of the Library, we all share a love of reading. But did you know that there are approximately 771 million people worldwide who lack basic literacy skills? In the United States, a shocking 1 in 5 adults have low literacy skills, while in NC 26% of adults lack a high school diploma. … read more
Board Member Profile: Gail Sawchuck
by Beth Klahre | It felt like the perfect match. Gail Sawchuk moved to Southport in 2018 and had been looking for a way to volunteer since the day she arrived. She transplanted from Colorado with her husband Pete and two sons and a ton of business and technical skills that she could apply to just about anything. She chose to join the board of directors of Friends of the Library Southport & Oak Island (FOLSOI) as membership chairperson … read more
Libby by Overdrive
Have you discovered Libby by Overdrive yet? The easy-to-use app connects with your library card, and let’s you search and borrow audiobooks and ebooks from your phone! Just download the Libby app from your phone or tablet and follow the steps to get started.
FOLSOI Gets a Closeup
The State Port Pilot featured FOLSOI and the Once More Bookstore in their Good Newsletter on August 26th. Enjoy this video with some familiar FOLSOI faces and learn more about what goes on behind the scenes.
Donor News
We are so grateful for the generosity of our members and friends …
* Joyce Edwards donated to the Barbee Benches in honor of Diana Fotinatos.
* Southport Magazine donated to the FOLSOI general fund in honor of Beth Klahre’s contributions as a writer.
* Lynnette Lowrimore donated to the FOLSOI general fund.
* Rabbi Jeff and Mindy Glickman donated to the FOLSOI general fund in honor of Turn to the Wonderful.
* Julia Saccente-Levine donated to the Barbee Read Away Box program.
* Richard and Kendra Maxwell donated to the FOLSOI general fund in honor of Diana Fotinatos.
Interested in making a donation in honor or memory of someone? Just click the heart and hand below.
Member and Volunteer Update
Our membership year is off to a great start
We’re kicking off our new 2022-2023 membership year with an amazing start! FOLSOI is excited to welcome aboard four new Lifetime members contributing at the $250 level:
* Toby Bronstein
* John Graves
* Kathleen Ragan
* Mark Schul
Other new and renewing members include:
* Sharon Amrol-Davis
* Rebecca Baker
* Judy Connolly
* Kristine Gluck
* Linda & Bill Jenkins
* Christine Khoury
* Deborah Lutkins
* Cyndi Bailey Morgan
Not sure if your membership is current?
Reach out to membership@folsoi.org and we’re happy to check! Annual membership renewal occurs at our annual meeting in September. Membership dollars help FOLSOI enhance Barbee and Harper library programs, collections, and resources.
Many thanks to our busy volunteers!
Volunteers for the Friends of the Library Southport & Oak Island reported an incredible 653.5 hours spent helping others during the month of August.
A special thank you to Donna Morgan, who is retiring from the FOLSOI board after holding a variety of leadership roles over the past eight years; vice president, president, past president, and ways & means chairperson. Thanks, Donna, for all you have done for FOLSOI over the years!
For Our Younger Readers …
Join Harper’s Birthday Book Club!
Celebrate a child’s birthday AND support Harper Library
Create lasting memories by sponsoring the purchase of exciting new kids’ books for Harper Library that will celebrate your child! Your child’s birthday month, librarians will choose a new book matching your child’s age range. A bookplate dedicating the book in your child’s honor will be placed inside; your child will get a birthday card acknowledging the gift made in his or her name. Birthday Club donations are $20 per child.
Contact Tammy Tackett or call 910-457-6237.