Friends of Lewes Public Library

The Friends of Lewes Public Library is a group of volunteers that raise money to furnish the Lewes Public Library, in Sussex County, Delaware, with books and other publications. Founded in 1980, the Friends of the Lewes Public Library is responsible for funding the purchase of 100 percent of the books and periodicals, as well as many of the programs offered at no charge to the public. Unlike most other libraries, the Lewes Public Library is completely donor funded when it comes to purchasing books and other lending materials making the “Friends” a necessary component of its operation. This year, Friends of the Lewes Public Library has a $60,000 fundraising goal to support its continued mission of providing current books and other materials to the library’s more than 17,000 patrons. Friends of the Lewes Public Library was a 4imprint® one by one® grant recipient. It used the grant money to purchase branded drawstring bags imprinted with the phrase, “We buy the books.” The bags are sold in the library’s bookshop. “This grant was extremely helpful to us,” said Friends of Lewes Public Library President Candace Vessella. “The bags give us another way of talking about what we do. Every little bit helps.”