Friends of Gates Public Library: History and Achievements, 2000-2008

2000

  • January: Friends Endowment Fund over $20,000 towards a $50,000 goal!
  • March: joint viewing of Walt Disney's Fantasia 2000 at IMAX with Chili Friends group.
  • March: Book Bistro joint Town Hall - Friends collaborative fund raiser with Java Junction from Brockport opens in connecting hall between library and town hall. Bistro lasts one month before closing. Friends tables and chairs continue to be used in library hallway. 
  • May: Mark Hare, noted D & C columnist, was speaker at Friends Annual Meeting
  • June: Friends get book sale storage space in the town hall to use between book sales
  • June: Friends agree to host 2001 Rochester Children's Book Festival
  • Fall: Friends sell Dine-A-Mate books for 1st time as fund raiser 
  • November: Friends approve book sale revenue to support 2001 library programs, including Books to Babies continuing program, funding to purchase a video projector, a 2nd public word processing computer, a new microfilm reader printer and a larger subscription to the monthly BookPage newsletter for the public.

2001

  • January: Friends assist with the library's 40th anniversary celebration 
  • February: Friends in cooperation with the library staff begin Shut-in Service for Gates seniors who cannot get to the library. 
  • May: Friends celebrate their 15th anniversary with local author Vivian Vande Velde as the speaker at the Friends Annual Meeting 
  • November: Friends host the 5th Rochester Children's Book Festival
  • November: Sam Palma’s years of service to the community celebrated with a roast at the Party House on November 29th.
  • December: Friends approve purchase of a new storyline machine for the library’s 24 hour service of prerecorded stories for preschoolers, along with continued funding of library programs.

2002:

  • Spring: new Friends tote bags available for sale in library
  • May: Phillip Tomasso III, local author, addressed the Friends’ 16 th Annual Meeting on May 8 th. 35 attended this program
  • November: Friends approve purchase of a digital camcorder, comfy chair for children’s section, printer for public PC along with continued funding for library programs, Books for Babies and Book Page subscription.

2003:  

  • March: Susan Swanton, Library Director, retired and joined the Friends Board as Secretary. Judy MacKnight became the new Library Director.
  • May: Ed Mauro, President, Gates Volunteer Ambulance Service, addressed the Friends’ 17 th Annual Meeting on May 14. 19 attended this program
  • September: Friends Council program about ‘Selling Books on Internet” spurs interest in Gates.
  • November: the Friends approved over $7000 for new library computers from book sale revenues and continued to support library programs, Books for Babies and the Book Page subscription

2004:  

  • January: the Gates Friends joined with the Brighton Friends and began to send old books donated for the Friends book sales to the Rundel Library Foundation to raise more money for the library. Sue Swanton spearheaded this new fundraising effort.
  • March: Friends approve $4000 in book sale revenues to provide new carpeting for the library offices.
  • March: Friends representatives join Library Board members on New Library Planning Committee.
  • May: Kate Bennett, Director, Rochester Museum & Science Center, was the speaker at the 18 th Annual meeting. 21 attended this program.
  • June: 1 st 4 books from Gates sold on Internet via Rundel Library Foundation
  • November: Friends approve purchase of a wireless network, storyhour room rug, and laminating system for the library from book sale revenues, in addition to underwriting cost of library programs, Books for Babies and BookPage subscription.

2005:

  • January: Friends bought new book sale tables.
  • March: Friends approve purchase of new library PCs from book sale revenue, including a new server.
  • May: Scott Pitoniak addressed the 19th Annual Meeting of the Friends.
  • September: Friends start selling Book Lovers Calendar as a fundraiser to benefit the Friends Endowment Fund
  • November: Friends approve purchase of an Interpretype, an interactive communication device that provides a means of communicating without speech to library patrons who are hearing impaired. Also approved shelving unit for oversize paperbacks, a new lectern for the meeting room, a color laser printer for public access in addition to continued support for library programs, Books for Babies and BookPage subscription.

2006:

  • April 26th, 2006: 20th anniversary celebration for the Gates Friends. Special insert in the Gates Chili Post’s 2006 edition of the Gates Chili Business Directory
  • April 29, 2006: 1st Teen Book Festival at the Fairport Public Library. Gates Friends donated to get this event started.
  • May: Annual meeting speaker is Thomas Roche, Chief of Police, Town of Gates
  • May: Gates Chili Chamber of Commerce presents the Friends of Gates Public Library with a special award for 20 years of service to the Town of Gates and selects Sam Palma as Citizen of the Year for his years of service. The Friends Board attends the Awards Dinner at Brook-Lea Country Club.
  • June: Paul Harvey elected President of the Friends, succeeding Allen Nash, who served as President for 6 years, the longest tenure of any Friends President.
  • November: Friends develop idea of an annual poetry contest with winners to receive their awards at the Annual Meeting in 2007.
  • November: Friends approve purchase of a CD disc repair machine, public computers, laptop, presentation tower and digital camera in addition to continued support for 2007 library programs.

2007:

  • January: expanded book sales from 4 days to 5 days.
  • March: Friends President Paul Harvey dies unexpectedly and VP Lee Strong takes over as President.
  • April 10th: Gates Friends hosted the semi-annual Friends Council of Friends groups from all over Monroe County
  • May: Joe Sottile speaker at Annual Meeting and 1st prizes presented for Poetry Contest. 20 entries.
  • September: Friends host a meet ‘n’ greet for the new Library Director, Karen Kase-McLaren
  • October 21-27: Gates Friends participate for the first time in National Friends of Libraries Week celebration with hall display and Gates Town Board proclamation.
  • Fall: Book sale committee works with staff to set up an ongoing sale of donated books in the library.
  • November: Friends approve purchase of 14 ‘thin’ monitors for Gates Public Library, plus many other equipment items and ongoing support for library programs, BookPage subscription and Books for Babies.

2008:

  • April: Friends approve funding of a Long Range Planning consultant who will undertake a community wide survey.
  • May: Annual Meeting renamed ‘Spring Celebration’ and features Donna Peasley’s Readers’ Theater along with the 2nd Annual Poetry Contest.
  • June:



STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIR: A. Ross Kitt II

PRESIDENTS 1986 TO PRESENT:
1. Margaret Dunlay, ‘86-’87, ‘87-’88, ‘88-’89, ‘92-’93 (4 years)
2. Nancy Atherton Attardo, ‘89-’90, ‘90-’91 (2 years)
3. Kathryn Heintz, ‘91-’92, Co-President, ‘93-’94, ‘94-’95 (3 years)
4. Lori Bronco, Co-President, ‘93-’94, ‘94-’95 (2 years)
5. Gail Solomon, ’95-’96 (1 year)
6. Joan Bawden, Co-President ‘96-’97(1 year)
7. Kay Feraios, Co-President, ‘96-’97(1 year)
8. Mahala Ruppel, Co-President, ‘97-’98 (1 year)
9. Bill Hiebler, Co-President, ‘97-’98, President, ‘98-’99, '99-'00 (3 years)
10. Allen Nash '00-'03 (3 years)