Friends of the Library Blog
Read about FOLSOI events and other news of interest to book lovers
FOLSOI Hosts 2026 Annual Meeting With Special Guest, Mary Kay Andrews
FOLSOI held its 2026 Annual Meeting and Member Appreciation Event on Tuesday, September 1 st at the Southport Community Building. FOLSOI president Cindy Phillips summarized the organization’s activities and fundraising achievements over the last year, and updated...
A Night with The American Constitution
What does it really take to build a nation? That question came alive at our recent screening of The American Constitution, an award-winning documentary by filmmaker David Garrigus that takes audiences back to the sweltering summer of 1787 — when a group of flawed,...
VIDEO RECORDING OF NC READS WITH NOVELIST RON RASH
If you missed FOLSOI's latest NC Reads session on May 16th with acclaimed novelist Ron Rash, here's your chance to see him! Ron joined us via video conferencing to discuss his beautiful novel, The Caretaker. UNC history professor Jen LeZotte was also part of our...
Ron Rash visits Harper Library, virtually
Beloved Southern writer Ron Rash thrilled readers at Harper Library on Staurday, May16 th when he joined us, virtually, for a discussion of his novel, The Caretaker. Rash’sappearance was the third and final installation of FOLSOI’s 2026 NC Reads program. UNCW history...
St. James Service Club Grant
FOLSOI recieved a $3,000 grant from the St. James Service Club during their Grant Awards Brunch on May 13, 2026. The grant will be used to enhance the Summer Reading Program at the Harper and Barbee Libraries to include Performers. The Service Club distributed...
Southport Women’s Club donation to Barbee Expansion
Southport Women's Club made a $500 donation today to FOLSOI's on-going fund raising campaign to expand the meeting room in the Barbee Library. In the photo is Cindy Phillips, FOLSOI President, flanked by Ginger Harper & Penny Tysinger, SWC Co-Presidents.
Barbara Dullaghan – April Meet the Author
On April 27, a full house at Harper library, welcomed Barbara Dullaghan to discuss her book, Secrets in the Hollow. The guests enjoyed hearing excerpts from this book, as well as one that will be published shortly. What a treat! Barbara has won multiple awards for...
NC READS – DAUGHTERS OF GREEN MOUNTAIN GAP BLENDS NATURAL HEALING WITH MODERN MEDICINE
Teri M. Brown first developed an interest in Appalachian healing when her brother told her how some people can actually “talk off warts.” Apparently, it’s a thing! Teri’s curiosity led her to write Daughters of Green Mountain Gap, a beautiful novel selected by North...
Brunswick Marketplace Charitable Organization 2026
Friends of the Library Southport Oak Island was voted by Brunswick County residents as the top Charitable Organization of 2026 in Brunswick Marketplace's annual poll. Pictured with the plaque are representatives of the FOLSOI board (Ginger Corcoran, Cindy Phillips,...
Southport Author Maria Pease Connects with Readers at Barbee Library
Maria Pease never had any aspirations to be a writer. She always had her nose in a book, but never imagined herself writing one. She says it all began when her son was ten years old and petitioning for a later bedtime. Maria, desperate to retain her quiet evenings,...
Brunswick Arts Council Grant for Barbee
On February 26, 2026, the Brunswick Arts Council awarded FOLSOI a grant of $2,000 to support the monthly Creative Arts Club program at G.V. Barbee library on Oak Island. This program enables children, ages 6-11 years old, to create imaginative art projects with the...
The Conversations Continue with NC Reads
On Saturday, February 21st FOLSOI hosted its second 2026 installment of NC Reads, a statewide book club sponsored by NC Humanities. The program was held at Harper Library and featured the book Morningside: the 1979 Greensboro Massacre and the Struggle for an American...
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Our mission is to serve our community by supporting excellence in collection and program development and more at Harper and Barbee Libraries.
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