Our Mission

To champion the Harper and Barbee Libraries through advocacy and financial support, ensuring they provide the facilities, programs and resources to engage and enrich our community.

Our Vision

To be a key partner in creating welcoming, innovative public libraries that fuel learning, foster connection and serve as a vital county resource.

Who We Are 

We are your neighbors, your friends and fellow residents of Southport, Oak Island and southeast Brunswick County, North Carolina.

We are volunteers who are passionate about supporting our local libraries—Harper Library in Southport and Barbee Library on Oak Island. 

We believe that the more people read, and the better our libraries can meet their needs, the stronger our families, our communities and our future will be.

We’re committed to inspiring children to discover the life-changing power of books.

We are champions of the many talented authors and writers who have made this community their home.

What We Do

FOLSOI provides support for a variety of programs—for children, adults and the whole community—at the Harper and Barbee libraries; we help the libraries increase and improve their collections of books, periodicals and online resources; and we help supply much-needed library equipment and supplies.

How We Do It

We have more than 300—and counting! Friends who provide support through their annual memberships. Our all-volunteer board of directors also raises funds at the Once More Bookstore (Inside Southport Realty, 727 N Howe St, Southport, NC 28461) and through strategic grant writing to obtain support for special programs.

All of these activities enable the taxpayer-supported county budgets to remain earmarked to enhance both libraries’ facilities and deliver other vital services to our community.

How You Can Help

Join us! Become a friend today and help champion our local public libraries.

Attend one or more of our many events and activities held at Harper and Barbee libraries.

Buy some books at our Once More Book Store !

Support our local authors who are creating amazing works of fiction and nonfiction.