October 18–24, marks the 21st annual National Friends of Libraries Week, and here at Forsyth County Public Library (FCPL), we are shouting our gratitude from the rooftops for the FCPL Friends and Advocates!
Let’s talk numbers for a moment, because the impact this group has on our community is absolutely staggering. Over the past year alone, the Friends raised upwards of $100,000 through used book sales, memberships, and donations. In fact, since FCPL became an independent, single-county system in 1996, the Friends’ total financial support is closing in on a monumental $900,000!
“Our library wouldn't be the vibrant, dynamic community hub it is today without the Friends,” says FCPL Director Adrianne Junius. “Reaching that kind of fundraising milestone is an extraordinary accomplishment. Their tireless work behind the scenes translates directly into the incredible services, materials, and programs we are able to offer the public.”
More Than Just Books
Operating seven days a week across all five FCPL branches, this mighty team of over 100 volunteers provides our area with some of the most affordable used books and media around. But they are also environmental champions. Through a partnership with Better World Books, the Friends rescue over 60,000 books a year from entering Forsyth County’s waste stream.
FCPL Friends and Advocates President Jodie Barger gets to see the magic of this organization firsthand.
“The absolute best part of this role is watching someone’s face light up when we help them find exactly what they’re looking for—whether that reader is 3 or 93,” Barger shares. “Volunteering here is truly food for the soul. We’re keeping books out of the trash and being good environmental stewards, but what really drives us is knowing that our hard work provides free cultural and literacy programs for everyone.”
Fueling the Fun
Every dollar raised goes back into the library, funding the lifeblood of our biggest events, including Forsyth Reads Together and the annual Summer Reading Challenge. By funding bestselling author visits, professional performers, and exciting prizes, the Friends help spark a lifelong love of reading in our kids and teens.
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| A full house at Forsyth Reads Together connecting and laughing. Forsyth Reads Together is made possible in part thanks to the generous support of the FCPL Friends and Advocates. |
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| Patrons of all ages delight in the Magic of Ken Scott at the Cumming Library during Summer Reading Kickoff. This event was made possible in part due to the support of our FCPL Friends and Advocates! |
“This summer, we had an incredible 8,113 readers join our 2026 Summer Reading Challenge,” notes Programming Manager Sarah Brubaker. “Funding the incentives for an audience that size is a massive undertaking, but we are so fortunate to have the Friends making it all possible. They even sponsor the festive t-shirts our staff wears to get the kids hyped up to read!”
Celebrate With Us (And Grab a $5 Bag!)
Want to help us celebrate? The absolute best way to honor National Friends of the Library Week is to stop by their Annual Bag Sale happening this week! For just $5, you can grab a special Friends' paper bag and stuff it to the brim with any combination of adult fiction and nonfiction books, media, and one coffee table book.
We encourage everyone in the community to shop the bookstores, thank a volunteer, and consider joining the FCPL Friends and Advocates to help make Forsyth County a wonderful place to live, work, play, and read.
To learn more or to become a member today, please visit https://forsythfol.org/.
Leslie Marinelli
FCPL Communications Manager
