Our Organization
Since its incorporation in 1990, the Friends of the Boca Raton Public Library has striven to assist the Library to broaden and enrich library-based services.
In its first year, the Friends raised $5,000 for the Library; the Friends average donation to the Library now is $50,000 to $60,000 per year, with an additional $250,000 gift bequeathed for the building of the new Downtown Library in 2011, and the purchase of the library's mobile van for $77,000 in 2019.
The Friends donate over $70,000 to the Boca Raton Public Library in 2023
February, 2024
The Friends attend Juneteenth at Hughes Park
June, 2023
Friends Board Member, Victor Martinez, and Friends bookstore volunteers, Michelle Mohan and Carol Robinson, attended the Juneteenth celebration in Hughes Park, sponsored by D.I.S.C. of Pearl City. In addition to the great food and live entertainment provided by event sponsors, we handed out free books and crayons, and won third place in the sweet potato pie contest! Thanks to all those who stopped by our table to learned about the Friends!
The Friends donate over $53,000 to the Boca Raton Public Library in 2022
February, 2023
The Friends attend the ALA annual conference
June, 2022
Friends Board Member, Ilene Alvarez, meets Rainbow Fish of children's picture book fame at the 2022 American Library Association conference in June!
" As the world's biggest library event, the onsite Annual Conference & Exhibition brings together thousands of librarians and library staff, educators, authors, publishers, friends of libraries, trustees, special guests, and exhibitors. You'll find educational programming; important announcements and updates; relevant legislation and policies; and discussions that majorly impact libraries, their roles, and their ongoing transformation. " https://2022.alaannual.org/
Cyndi Bloom wins FLA 2020 Outstanding Citizen/Friends Board Member award!
June 12, 2020
Friends Board Past President and interim Treasurer, Cyndi Bloom, has received the FLA 2020 Outstanding Library Friends Board Member Award! A list of award winners can be reviewed on the FLA website at https://fla.memberclicks.net/2020-fla-award-winners
We met "Frederick Douglass"!
February 13, 2020
Michael Crutcher portrayed "Frederick Douglass" during a special performance for the Friends on February 13, 2020, as part the bi-annual Betty Grinnan Friends of the Library Program for American History. The event was attended by nearly 100 guests for a donation ticket price of $10 for Friends members/ $25 for non-members, and included an elegant reception catered by Tish's Dishes of Margate, Florida.
November 21, 2019
We met Mr. Lincoln for a look at the life of our 16th president, told by Dennis Boggs as Abraham Lincoln. In addition to his performance at our catered evening event attend by over 100 guests, "Mr. Lincoln" also spoke to the children of the Florence Fuller Child Development Center and homeschool families. The program was presented by the Friends as part of the bi-annual Betty Grinnan Friends of the Library Program for American History. The evening performanc cost $10 for Friends members and $25 for non-members, a donation fee towards the cost of the event, which included a catered reception.
The Friends Donate $77,075 for Library Mobile Van
October 21, 2019
The Friends gift funds for the purchase of a library mobile van to Michael Kalvort, City of Boca Raton Parks & Recreations Director, and Ellen Randolph, library manager, and other library staff at a Board Meeting during National Friends of Libraries Week.
An Evening with "Ben Franklin"
February 21, 2019
Mitchell Kramer treated us to an evening with "Ben Franklin," part of our 7th season of historical players. He also performed for the Florence Fuller Child Development Center children.
January 04, 2019
The Friends continue to support BRPL programming with 2019 funding gift.
November 23, 2018
Tamara Del Grosso of the Boca Raton Tribune attended our special Dolley Madison event and wrote this wonderful Thanksgiving tribute to our organization!
October 22, 2018
Friends president, Cyndi Bloom, discusses the Friends, its sponsors and connection to the Boca Raton Public Library on Boca Chamber Radio- Business Spotlight during National Friends of Libraries Week (10-21- 10-27-2018)
September 14, 2018
September is Library Card Sign-Up Month and two of our favorite Boca Raton librarians remind us of the opportunities available at the library for lifelong learning and education. Many of the library's programs, classes, and special collections are funded by the Friends!
West African drummer, Baba Moussa, performs for Florence Fuller Child Development Center kids
February 23, 2018
The Friends support many cultural performances for the FFCDC kids at the Boca Raton Public Library. Check out the video of Baba Moussa's performance on 2/23/2018.
December 12, 2017
Friends donate over $50,000 to the Boca Raton Public Library for 2018 programming, technology and events.
October 17, 2017
Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie proclaims October 15-21, 2017 National Friends of Libraries Week at BRPL Friends annual membership brunch meeting, with Friends Board President, Cyndi Bloom; City Council members, Robert Weinroth and Andrea Levine O'Rourke; and Library Manager, Ann Nappa.
Sun Sentinel - Friends Bookstore brings in over $83,000 in 2015
February 03, 2016
The Friends 2016 Board talk about the success of the Friends and the bookstore.
Board members:
Second row from left: Tracy Wasserman (Secretary), Susan Sosin (Vice President), Joy Fishkind, Cyndi Bloom (President) , Marilyn Spechler, Sandy Creighton, Geri Allerman
First row from left: Joan Iler, Betty Grinnan, Elaine Caplan, Krista Maki
July 28, 2015
Meet the people who make our organization and our library run! All interviews are archived in our blog posts on our website here, under Our Volunteers or Library Staff Interviews.