@ Shaker Library
The Library’s Best Friends
Everyone needs friends and libraries are no exception.
If you have attended an author visit, a poetry reading, a book discussion,
a knitting lesson, or children’s story time, you know how important the
Friends of the Shaker Library is to our Library. Support from the Friends
makes all of these programs possible.
Every year, the Friends asks the Library for a wish list and then sets out to find ways
to fund those requests. Some innovative projects have included a Festival of Chocolate,
a What’s It Worth Antiques Roadshow event, an afterhours Literary Libations cocktail
party, and of course, the Friends’ biannual book sales.
Nancy Ryan O’Connor, the Friends president and digital marketing manager at PNC
Bank, has led the organization for the past two years and looks forward to an exciting
2017-2018.
“As a longtime resident and frequent Library user, I am proud to play a role in the
stewardship of my Library,” she says. “I enjoy managing our group of hard-working
volunteers, who make my job easy. Our work supports Library programs for everyone.
These programs help to make our Shaker Library a vital community cultural institution.”
Dave and Evelyn Greene have been loyal Friends’ supporters for many years. Now
retired from his job as a sales executive, Dave has served as logistics guru for the Friends
Book Sale and as a bartender at benefits.
Evelyn, market research director at Falls Communications, serves as treasurer,
managing the Friends’ finances. She brings the added benefit of her marketing talents
to the table. She has moved the organization forward by enabling the Friends to accept
credit card purchases. It’s now easier than ever to join the Friends online. They have even
enlisted the help of their daughter, Margaret, who brings the next generation’s energy to
the Friends.
“Volunteering with the Friends has connected us to the community in many
wonderful ways,” Evelyn says. “Whether it’s watching young parents find bargains for
their children at book sales, or working to sell books at an author event, we are pleased to
help raise funds for the Library we love.”
20 SHAKERONLINE.COM | FALL 2017
Pow Joshi has used her
organizational skills to maintain the
Friends’ membership database and to
reach out to new members. Friends
welcomes two types of members:
contributing members who write an
annual check to support the Library, and
active members who serve on the board
and volunteer for Friends’ projects.
“I’m a scientist by profession,” said
Pow, “and we spend most of our time
working in laboratories. Volunteering with
the Friends gave me a sense of community
in Shaker. I got to communicate with
different people through letters, meet
some in person during book sales, and I
had fun making origami bookmark name
tags for the book sale preview night.
I also enjoyed helping with our annual
fund-raiser, Literary Libations. I feel
Friends work is important in sustaining
our libraries, furthering education, and
building a strong, safe, vibrant community
around us.”
Below, left to right: Nancy Ryan O’Connor; Evelyn, Dave, and Margaret Greene; Pow Joshi; Mickey, Dan, and Julie Mizener.