History of the Friends of the Oro Valley Public Library
The Oro Valley Friends of the Library started when Agnes Griffen, then Director of the Tucson Pima Public Library, asked Jayne Kuennemeier to begin a Friends group. Two other building committee members, Henry Suozzi and Mary Ann Schumacher, joined them. Agnes and Jayne recruited Alisdair Innes, Marjorie Gerdes, George Heine, and Jane Roether.
With $7,400 as seed money from the Town Council, the Friends began raising money through its first book sale on October 20 & 21, 2001 at Kriegh Park. A kick off party for a Scottish vacation fundraiser was held on October 18, 2001. Tickets for the raffle sold for $25 each for a chance on 4 prizes.
The second book sale was held March 16 & 17, 2002 at the Art Council Music Festival at Kriegh Park. The Friends received $10,000 from Comcast, and $12,680 in kind for advertising air time. 32 people donated $1,000 each to become Charter Lifetime Members of the Friends.
By the end of that first year, the Friends had 200 members and raised over $100,000. They were able to donate $35,731 to the Town Council in April, 2002.
Members of the FOVPL were invited to a special preview reception on July 27, 2002 to tour the library before it opened to the public. They were also able to view the as yet unfinished 10,000 square foot area that eventually housed an expanded Children’s Area and Teen Area, as well as computer services, a second set of restrooms and other library services. A special invitation was sent to Life Members.
On August 17, 2002 the new library officially opened with a Grand Opening celebration. After some opening remarks by the mayor and other dignitaries, the ribbon was cut and the library was officially opened to the public. During the week of August 19-23, a special event was held each day at the Library.
The annual membership meeting was held June 26, 2002 in the Town Council Chambers. Officers were elected. The membership elected four people to board terms expiring in 2005 (Marjorie Gerdes, Alisdair Innes, Henry Suozzi and John Wilcox) Two vacated board positions were filled (Marcia Halligan replaced Jane Peterson and Barbara Merwald replaced George Heine).
In the Fall of 2002, Elsa Jacklitch from Hughes Credit Union signed the Friends up as a member sponsor. Customers could join the Friends for $10 so they could be Credit Union members. This has become a very profitable venture raising about $10,000 a year for the Friends.
Barnes & Noble Book held a community book fair outreach program at the Foothills mall store. Barnes & Noble donated a percentage of purchases to the Friends to benefit the library. This event raised almost $1,400.
The 2nd annual Spring Book Sale took place at the library March 26-29, 2003. Over 15,000 books in more than 30 categories were for sale. This event raised over $4,400. The 3rd annual Fall Book Sale occurred October 16-21, 2003, raising over $6,700. JoAnn Dumas, a professional book seller, became chairperson and sale income increased significantly. Since then, book sales have been held yearly with average total gross sales revenue of $60,532 for the Fall Book Sale and $57,304 for the Spring Book Sale. Over 20,000 books are offered.
EBay sales began in October, 2003, eventually moving to Amazon.com.
Charter Lifetime Member Plaque: On March 23, 2003 the Friends held a special event to recognize members who donated $1,000 or more during the Charter Lifetime Membership drive that closed August 31, 2002. To commemorate their support and dedication to the library during its crucial formative days, a glass plaque engraved with their names was installed in the library lobby.
The Friends held a volunteer appreciation event at the home of Tammy and Ed Marshall on April 22, 2003, to thank all the Friends’ members who have expressed a willingness to volunteer their time toward our efforts to help the library.
Author H. Alan Day (whose sister and co-author is Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor) entertained attendees with stories of growing up on the family ranch.
Architect’s Design
The Architect’s design to finish the last 10,000 square feet was authorized on December 17, 2003. The Friends donated $25,000 for this construction which began May 2004 and finished October 2005.
On February 6,2006, there was a Grand Re-opening celebration with 4 ribbon cuttings, Library, Book Shoppe, Children’s area and Teen Zone. Oro Valley Historical Society, three choirs, a string quartet, and Yo-Yo entertainment all took part. Special awards were given to Millie Dunn and to Gil and JoAnn Dumas for helping to “Make the Book Shoppe possible”
A fundraiser was instituted, offering to put donors’ names on bookshelves. The Cleere Law Offices Holiday Fundraiser donated proceeds to FOVPL for the Teen Zone. In May of 2006 we received a $26,000 LSTA grant, matched by FOVPl. On April 14, 2006, JoAnn Dumas and Kay Weede were honored at a Town Council meeting by the Tangerine Town Spirit Award.
February 2007 a Volunteer Appreciation event at the Oro Valley Country Club was sponsored by the Friends. Book Shoppe manager, Pat Blurton, was named our first Volunteer of the Year. The Friends donated money for parking lot landscape improvements.
Doug Forester initiated an FOVPL electronic forum. He reported that we have 277 members.
The library held its Third Annual Book Festival on January 10, 2008. Best-selling author J.A. Jance delivered the keynote speech, followed by a talk by editorial cartoonist for Arizona Daily Star, David Fitzsimmons. The day included book signings, programs, activities and a silent auction, with proceeds benefiting the library. The Friends financed the Festival and made $1,000.
On February 27,2008, volunteers were feted for giving more than 12,000 hours of service to the Oro Valley Public Library. The Friends co-hosted, with the library, the Annual Volunteer Appreciation dinner among the stacks at “The Library After Dark:. Nearly 150 volunteers and guests enjoyed the Italian dinner catered by Carrabbas Italian Grill. The annual Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Doug Forester.
In 2008 The Town Council has appointed a Task Force to look into whether the library should remain an “affiliate” of the Pima County Library System and continue to be run by the Town, or be turned over to become a branch of the County System. Alisdair Innes was the Friend’s representative and board member Jayne Kuennemeier was appointed by the Mayor.
On May 30, 2009, a String Quartet from the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, together with author Susan Lowell, presented the production of Josefina Javelina Wants to be a Ballerina in the Library Meeting Room to a near capacity audience. Following the show, the audience was given the opportunity to purchase Josefina books and dolls which were then autographed by the author. The Friends were given 40% of the total sales.
January 16, 2010 the Friends sponsored an Oro Valley Election Forum.The Forum was held in the Library meeting room with an overflow crowd attending. All seven candidates attended and spoke— Mayoral candidates Satish Hiremath, incumbent Paul Loomis and Mike Zinkin, and town council candidates incumbent K.C. Carter, Mark Finchem, Joe Hornat, Matthew Rabb and Mary Snider. Each candidate had a two-minute opening statement, and one-minute close. Questions from the audience were taken in-between.
After a presentation the Friends on February 11, 2010 approved funds of $2,845 to purchase a Synergy Latest Camera Magnification/LCD Monitor (Low Vision Reader). As well, at the March meeting $850 was approved for Artist Gail Munden to paint a mural of books which can be used to record the names of Life-time Members. New Members will include people who have donated to and supported the Library.
The opening of Book Shoppe Two in March, 2011, at La Canada Crossroads was attended by Council Members Lou Waters, Mary Snider and Steve Soloman. The new shoppe will be open 11:00 to 2:00 pm six days a week. Used books including rare and collectible titles will be sold.
At the March meeting JoAnn Dumas’ title was changed to Director of Book Operations. A motion was made and passed to put $25,000 in a Flexible Spending account to be used at Jane Peterson’s discretion. Also approved was an amount of $15,000 to be donated to the Town of Oro Valley to help defray their expenses incurred by the Library. The check was presented to Mayor, Satish Hiremath, by Board members anita Davis, Helen Dankwerth, Martha Briggs and Doug Forester on April 6, 2011.
At the Volunteer Appreciation dinner held in May, Mayor Satish Hiremeath spoke to the volunteers. A special award was given to JoAnn Dumas as Volunteer of the Decade for her accomplishments as Director of Book Operations. Volunteer of the Year award was given to Cindy Siefried, Director of Book Shoppe One.
New technology was installed in the Library Meeting Room and the Library Program Room in 2009 and 2010:
$16K for a PA system
$18K for audio-visual equipment
$11K for Interactive Smart Board in Meeting Room
$11K for Interactive Smart Board in Program Room
At the May, 2011 meeting $15K was voted for new computers
Joyce and John Nichols II donated a Computer Class upgrade of all new computers. They were honored by becoming Life-Time Members and their names were placed on the mural.
The Board approved $1,100 for a scholarship for Sheila Beeson for the summer session at the U of Arizona. (May 10-2012)
At the June meeting $600 was approved for a new computer for Book Shoppe Too. A new book cart will be sent to the Oro Valley Hospital. It was reported that $1,952 was earned at the second Jewelry sale.
Meetings during 2012 were dominated by discussions about the take-over of OVPL by Pima County and the negotiations that took place for the new IGA. As well, expansion of storage space for the book sales and for Book Shoppe Too were part of the Board’s discussions.
January 1st was the beginning of Jane Peterson’s retirement as Library Manager. Her participation as an ex officio member of the Board has been appreciated. At the February 14, 2013 meeting, Ruth Grant introduced herself as the new Library Manager. She said she was gratified by the positive attitude of the staff and public.
History of the Book Shoppes
In the beginning there were books: used books with nowhere to go and no one who cared. Friends of the Oro Valley library Book Operations began with a cart on wheels and a cash box for honor system payments. There were 10 volunteers, and unsold books were kept in an unheated, unused part of the new library.
Friends of OV library Book Operations has grown enormously in the past 23 years. We now have a Director of Book Operations, over 100 volunteers, two book shops, and robust internet sales through Amazon.com. There is secure inventory space for nearly 700 listed books. There are two semi-annual book sales with sorting and storage space for over 20,000 books.
Each time a change has been needed, committees of volunteers have carefully gathered ideas, considered alternatives, options, and costs. The mission of Book Operations has always been to support the OV library with additional funds and services, and to be a resource to the community.
When space was available in the library there were few expenses. As additional spaces were needed, committees looked for affordable outside spaces. Unused space in the library itself was used until the area was completed for the library. A library supporter provided an unused house, at nominal rent plus utilities. When this house was no longer available space was leased at Canada Crossroads for sorting, storing and another Book Shop. Book Shoppe Two is now extremely popular!
