Friends of the Northborough Library


Join Us!

We would like to invite you to join the Friends of the Northborough Library. Membership is open to all; residents from neighboring towns are welcome to join. 

Your membership includes:

  • An electronic monthly newsletter - The Gale Forecast
  • Announcements of Special Library events
  • Book Sale Preview
  • Members who are not Northborough residents will have access to the Library Museum passes

Your contribution will continue to fund acquisitions and activities for our library and extend the cultural life of our community. Friends of the Northborough Library is a nonprofit charitable organization (501(c)(3)).

If you would like to join the Friends of the Northborough Library please download the membership form and mail it to the Library at:

Friends of the Northboro Free Library, Inc.
34 Main Street
Northborough, MA 01532


Upcoming Events

We are having a big Big BIG Booksale at the Northborough Library! We will have books and media for adults, kids and teens, including fiction, non-fiction, DVDs, CDs, large print, audiobooks, and a selection of special priced books and lots.  It’s our BIGGEST annual sale.

 

Our sale will start on Thursday, March 16th and run until Saturday, March 18th at the Northborough Free Library, 34 Main Street. Hours are 9:30 AM-5 PM on Thursday and Friday; Saturday, until 4 PM.  Saturday is Bargain Day and includes a Bag Sale starting at 3 PM. (We provide the bags.)  Friday is Logo Day, come in a see what it is for yourself-no information about Logo Day will be given out over the phone.

 

We will have a Member Preview on Wednesday, March 15th from 3-8 PM. Membership in the Friends of the Northborough Library is $20—you may join at the door.

 

This booksale will be in the Meeting Room, not outdoors. Proceeds from this sale will benefit the Northborough Free Library programs and other items not covered by the Town Budget.  We accept all major credit cards.

 

Please check our Facebook page, call us at (508) 393-1742 for updated information on our events.


The Friends of Northborough Library typically hold numerous events throughout the year. Here are just a few of our annual events:

  • Big March Book Sale
  • Spring Basket Raffle in May
  • Applefest Book Sale in September
  • Children's Book & Media Sale in October
  • On-going Book Sale Shelves
  • Holiday Trolley Book Sale

Donations to the Northborough Free Library

Purchases for the Library vary from year to year as needs arise. The Friends have paid for computers, a digital camera, a refrigerator, and staff room furniture, among other items. There are also a number of museum passes that are covered by the Friends. The summer reading program, which typically enrolls about a thousand local children, receives our support, and there are special events, such as Black History Month programs, that we have also funded. 


Mission Statement

The Friends of the Northborough Library, Inc. is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to providing both financial and volunteer assistance to the Northborough Free Library.


History

Founded in the 1970's, the Friends are an active part of the Northborough Library. The Friends sponsor programs and make purchases that cannot be covered by the town budget.

Over the past years, the Friends have sponsored an annual Basket Raffle and a number of used book sales as our primary fundraising activities. In 2003, we joined with the Northborough Historical Society to present a cemetery tour featuring actors playing the parts of long-ago residents of the town. We hvae also participated in the annual Applefest event in Northborough. Additionally, the Friends have hosted legislative breakfasts that bring together our local state legislators and people involved in library issues.
 

The Ribbon cutting ceremony

The ribbon cutting ceremony at the library grand

re-opening event on Sunday March 15, 2009.


By-Laws of the Friends of the Northborough Library, Inc.

ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of this organization shall be Friends of the Northborough Library, Inc.

ARTICLE II – OBJECTIVES
The Friends of Northborough Library, Inc. is a recognized charitable organization dedicated to providing assistance both financial and volunteer to the Northborough Free Library.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Membership shall be open to any individual or group interested in the Organization’s objectives. Section 1—The classes of membership and the dues are as follows: Membership Ind./Family $ 12.00 Senior $ 5.00 Merchant/Organization $ 25.00 Sustaining $ 50.00 Benefactor $ 250.00 Section 2—Dues will be paid yearly on member's anniversary of joining.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS AND THEIR ELECTION
Section 1—The Officers of this Organization shall include: President, Treasurer, Clerk, Membership Director and Friends’ Directors, all of whom shall be elected annually. These officers shall comprise the Executive Committee. Any or all of these offices may be held in joint tenancy. A. The President shall preside at all meetings and carry on any other duties connected with the office. The President is responsible to distribute an agenda to the Active members at least two (2) days before any meeting. B. The Treasurer shall deposit all dues and administer all funds as directed by the Executive Committee and the Organization. He/she shall keep concurrent the registration for tax exemption purposes with the Internal Revenue Service and the Corporations Division of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Treasurer shall have the authority to make deposits or withdrawals from all Friends’ accounts for the Organization’s business. In the event of the absence or incapacity of the Treasurer, the President shall have the same authority. The Treasurer may expend from the general fund with a simple majority approval of the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall inform the banks of change of Officers. The Treasurer shall give a monthly report on the activity and status of the treasury. The Treasurer shall also be responsible for giving an annual report of the same at the first meeting of a new year. The Treasurer will file the annual report online with the Secretary of the 2 of 3| P a g e Revised May, 2015 Commonwealth by November 1 of each calendar year. The Treasurer is responsible for ensuring that all federal and state tax returns and reports are filed as required. C. The Clerk shall record the attendance at all meetings and take the minutes of the proceedings at all meetings. The Clerk shall also update, annually, the Corporations Online Filing System for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with the current slate of Officers within 30 days of the election of the Officers. D. The Membership Director shall collect and acknowledge all dues and pass them on to the Treasurer in a timely manner. The Membership Director shall keep a list of the membership together with their addresses, shall conduct the correspondence of the Organization, and shall give a yearly report on the status of membership. E. The Friends’ Directors are members of the Executive Committee.
Section 2—Officers will be elected from an annual meeting of the membership. The slate of officers will be determined at the October Meeting. Officers will be elected at November meeting by a majority vote of those present. All newly elected officers shall take over their duties on January 1st of the following year.
Section 3—The Executive Committee will appoint persons to fill vacancies for the remainder of the term.

ARTICLE V - COMMITTEES
Section 1—The Executive Committee shall approve the annual budget. Any expenditure approved in the budget does not require subsequent approval. The Executive Committee must approve any expenditure over $500 not in the budget. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Executive Committee. A quorum of the Executive Committee is required for approval of the aforementioned duties. The Library Director shall be an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Executive Committee. One person from the Executive Committee shall serve as liaison to the Board of Trustees of the Library.
Section 2—The Executive Committee shall form standing committees. The standing committees shall be those necessary to perform the objectives of the Organization.
Section 3-- The Executive Committee has the discretion to approve small expenditures for the greater library community under extraordinary circumstances.
Section 4—The President shall call monthly meetings. At least ten (10) monthly meetings should be held each year. The agenda of the monthly meetings should be determined by the President. The President has discretion to address items from the floor.
Section 5—The President shall have discretion to solicit feedback electronically from Friends’ members about time sensitive items that arise between monthly meetings. Approval of said items may be by electronic vote of the Executive Committee. 3 of 3| P a g e Revised May, 2015

ARTICLE VI – REVISIONS TO THE BY-LAWS
The Executive Committee shall review the by-laws annually in April. A copy of the proposed revisions shall be delivered to all active members of the Friends of the Library at least two (2) days before the meeting at which they will be voted. A two-thirds (2/3) majority of the attendees at said meeting shall be required to adopt any revisions. 
 

By-Laws Downloadable PDF Version:

 

Below is the Certificate of Solicitation from the Attorney General


Contact the Friends

Contact us to learn more about the Friends of Northborough Library!

Northborough Free Library: (508) 393-5025
Email: 
 

Current Officers

President - MaryEllen Joyce
Treasurer - Chris Hodge
Clerk - Pat Bleecher
Membership Director - Lisa Gardner