Letter from the Officers - Friends of the Boerne Public Library

What an exciting year it has been for The Friends of Boerne Public Library! Our biggest project got underway on April 4, 2012, when we hosted the official “soft” opening of our bookstore, The Bookshop Under the Windmill (formerly named the FriendShop). Later, on May 2, 2012, we held our official grand opening to the public and began serving our community and the library.

We have made a few upgrades in the shop since opening: a new sink, blinds and we put in a small garden at the front of the building. The Bookshop Under the Windmill is currently open on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10:00am through 2:00pm. Since opening, we have sold 15,989 books, had 6,526 visitors and added 44 new volunteers. We currently have 440 donor/members as well.

Book donations have provided us the ability to provide books to the VA Hospital in Kerrville, the Fort Sam Wounded Warrior Program, University Hospital in San Antonio and Daily Bread Ministries in Boerne. We also allow teachers to purchase books in the shop at a special rate: 15 books for $10.00. We participate in Boerne’s Family Fun day and give children books for free. We also appeared at the 150^th Anniversary of Kendall County celebration.

In the last twelve months, the Friends have organized and hosted numerous community events at the new bookshop. Craft classes, book signings, storytelling for children and adults, book club meetings and many other kinds of events. These events have been well-received and well-attended, leading us to add more space with the new door and deck on the back of the shop.

Recycling continues to be a large project for the Friends. We moved a recycling bin to the main library and added a new one at the old library annex. Current revenue generated from this effort totals approximately $1894.37 per year.

Another project, the Friends’ “Little Free Library,” a kiosk receptacle placed on the property of A Little Nature Store at 106 E. Theissen, is designed to provide even more access to reading for people in our area.  Other future projects include a literary garden at the Boerne City Campus and the replacement of six ceiling fans in the Bookshop Under the Windmill.

Ongoing projects include continued marketing and promoting the bookshop via traditional and online media. As Boerne’s only bookstore, we are working hard to get our information “out there.” Our Facebook page and the FOBPL blog have been effective tools for our organization. We have joined the Boerne Chamber of Commerce as well and expect that relationship to provide many new connections for our organization.

Our last book sale event was held last fall. The financial success of the bookshop has eclipsed our need to have the periodic book sale events, which required a tremendous amount of planning, volunteers and physical demands. Our numbers indicate that the shift from event-based sales to our current retail model of fundraising will be successful and carry our efforts into the future with ease.

FOBPL Officers:

President – Cheryl Perz

1^st Vice President - Ann Liebner

Treasurer – Sandy Henning

Secretary – Judith Umberger

May 17: Famous Storytellers Coming to Boerne Public Library

Storyteller Elizabeth Ellis

Bring your kiddos...you won't want to miss this. In partnership with Fabra Elementary School, the Boerne Public Library is bringing TWO renowned storytellers to town! Tim Tingle and Elizabeth Ellis will be performing from 3:00pm until 4:00pm on Friday, May 17, at The Bookshop Under the Windmill. This should give parents and grandparents plenty of time to pick your children up from school and get to the Bookshop!

Elizabeth Ellis is a versatile and riveting teller of Appalachian and Texas tales and stories of heroic American women, though her personal stories are arguably her best. She has captivated over 250,000 children and countless adults -- from the U.S. all the way to New Zealand -- in her 25 years as a storyteller. The School Library Journal says Elizabeth is "one of America's finest storytellers." She currently resides in Dallas.

Storyteller Tim Tingle

An Oklahoma Choctaw who grew up on the Texas Gulf Coast, Tim Tingle delivers lively historical and traditional stories, accompanying himself on Native American flute and singing Choctaw songs to the rhythm of a whale skin drum. He has performed across the U.S., including special events for the U.S. Department of Defense and at national storytelling festivals. Tim also is a frequent collegiate guest lecturer, teaching Native American folklore. He is also the Founder of the Choctaw Storytelling Festival.

Downtown Boerne gets a Little Free Library

Boerne's Little Free Library at Main & Theissen

The Friends of the Boerne Public Library unveiled their latest creation on May 15: The Little Free Library! It is downtown on the corner of Main and Theissen in a beautiful setting. Patty Roetman, the owner of A Little Nature Store, was kind enough to let us place the library on her property (across from the Bear Moon Bakery). Patty has already reported that she's seen several people taking books...and it's only our first day!

Here's how it works: The Friends stock the Little Free Library (LFL), you go and choose a book to take, then you keep it or bring it back for someone else to borrow...and you can certainly bring more from home to contribute! It's that simple.

The LFL belongs is for everyone in our community. Adults and children alike will find books they can enjoy! The LFL is a movement started by Todd Bol and Rick Brooks in Wisconsin in 2010. The program grew quickly in a short amount of time and has spread to most of the states and many other countries. Ours is LFL #6233. For more info about the LFL program, go to www.littlefreelibrary.org.

Darrel Johnston

An extra-special "thank you" must go to Darrel Johnston, a Friend of the Boerne Public Library, and husband of the Friends library liaison, Sandy Johnston! He designed, built and donated our beautiful  Little Free Library and gave of his time and talent to make this project happen. The Friends are very grateful!

Here's a few more pictures (click "read more"):