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September 2, 2008
Friends of the Library pledges $4,500 to Ocracoke School classrooms
By SUNDAE HORN  The Ocracoke Friends of the Library board has voted to provide grants and matching funds to each classroom at Ocracoke School. Each teacher will receive an initial grant of $100 to spend on books for the classroom. The classrooms are eligible to receive up to $100 more in matching funds if they hold a fundraiser for books. Over the past few years, FOL has chosen an Ocracoke classroom to support with money for books. They’ve given $300 to Ocracoke Child Care, and $500 each to the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms. This year, they’ve decided to offer their help to all the school’s classrooms at once. “We’ve had very successful used book sales the past few years,” said FOL president Scott Bradley. “Having donated to some of the younger grades, the group felt it was appropriate, now that we have the money, to put books in every classroom.” Ocracoke FOL is a non-profit organization that supports the Ocracoke School and Community Library, and literacy development on the island.  Over the past few years, FOL has provided funds for new bookshelves for the adult and children’s rooms in the library and pays for several of the library’s newspaper and magazine subscriptions. They’ve purchased new carpet for the library and paid for carpet cleaning and custodial services during the summer months. FOL also provides funds for books and audio books for the library’s collection. The FOL also pays the salary of the summer librarian, with support from the Occupancy Tax Board, so that the library can be open to the public for 25 hours a week. FOL supports the Summer Reading Program for grades K-4, providing for materials and guest performers’ fees. The group donated money for the purchase of books for the Ocracoke Youth Center’s American Girl Book Club. FOL is also managing the Jean Cox Memorial Fund, which supports the children’s room of the library. So far, the fund has been used to purchase a new computer and software for the children’s room, a complete collection of Beatrix Potter books, and bilingual picture books in Spanish and English. Friends of the Library Board members are: Scott Bradley, president; Leslie Monticone, vice president; Nancy Carlson, treasurer; Sundae Horn, secretary; Jerry Sigal, membership; and Karen Lovejoy and Leslie Lanier, members-at-large. FOL has an annual used book sale during the week of July 4. This year’s sale has taken in more than $1,500 so far. The group also raises money through membership dues and donations. Membership forms are available at the library. |
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