ACPL Recognizes National Friends of the Library Week

The Allen County Public Library is spending the week of October 20-26 celebrating its Friends of the Library group as part of the 19th annual celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week. The Library is celebrating the year-round dedication of the Friends of the Library and its work promoting membership, supporting library programs and staff, and advocating for the mission of the ACPL. The Friends of the Allen County Public Library were established in 1981 and is a major factor in the library’s progress, through fundraising and volunteerism.

“We are so grateful for the continued support of our Friends group,” said ACPL Executive Director Susan P. Baier. “They have funded everything from staff tuition reimbursement, to the annual Book Bowl trivia contest, to our Summer Learning Program and volunteer recognition activities. Without them, we would not be able to host some of the services and programs our community loves.”

In 2024, the Friends launched three major initiatives to raise funds for their projects. These included a new ACPL merch store where the community can purchase licensed Allen County Public Library apparel, housewares, and gifts with a portion of the sale supporting the Friends. This is available at www.acpl.info/store.

The Friends also relaunched its popular Gold Card campaign that includes the donor’s one-time annual membership and a lifetime gold cardholder status with gold ACPL library card for a $250 donation.

Furthermore, the Friends partnered with The Literacy Alliance to host “A Night at the Library” in which guests were invited to explore the library after hours through tours and demonstrations with ACPL staff. A Friends membership was included in each guest’s admission fee.

According to Baier, the Friends of the ACPL are experiencing a surge of support and excitement from the community this year, driven by the leadership and passion of its Board of Directors.

“They are committed to supporting our library, our staff, and our patrons through worthy projects that make a difference. It is such a joy to know we have their support!”

Please visit www.supportacpl.org to learn more about the Friends of the Library, and to find out how to become a member.

About the Allen County Public Library

The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) has fostered lifelong learning and discovery in northeast Indiana for more than 125 years. The ACPL consists of fourteen branches throughout Allen County, serving more than one million visitors per year. The ACPL’s collection includes more than 2.7 million items, with a circulation total of 4.2 million items borrowed annually. It also houses The Genealogy Center, the nation’s largest public genealogy research center, and The Rolland Center for Lincoln Research, consisting of more than 30,000 artifacts related to President Abraham Lincoln.

About the Friends of the ACPLThe Friends of the Allen County Public Library, a non-profit, membership organization, has a common concern for the library's expansion and participation in community life. Since 1981, the Friends of the Allen County Public Library has made significant contributions to the steady growth of the library and its services to the community.