Friends of Maxwell Memorial Library

Celebrating our 30th Year
1993–2023

We’d Love to Have You Join Us!

Being a member of the Friends of Maxwell is a great way to support the library. The group supports the Library by sponsoring library programs, holding fundraising events, and by being an advocate for the Library. The group is also involved with community outreach programs:

  • The Bulk Loan program at a local senior apartment community,
  • The Memorial Day Parade Meet and Greet with free giveaways,
  • Donate a decorated wreath and tree to the Octagon House Holiday Open House, and
  • Onondaga Free Library’s Festival of Trees.

Sad News

Our dear friend Betty Smith died on June 4, 2023.

She co-founded the Friends of Maxwell Library 30 years ago, and the group honored her when she retired in 2011

Jean Eustis (1933-2016) and Betty Smith (1931-2023)

Co-founders of the Friends of Maxwell Memorial Library in 2011 at the Inn Between Restaurant for the Friends' retirement luncheon for Betty
Jean Eustis (1933-2016) and Betty Smith (1931-2023)
Co-founders of the Friends of Maxwell Memorial Library

In addition to all of her faithful years and activities as a Friend, Betty also created the Unraveling Yarns book club and delivered books to the Fairmount Senior Garden Apartments.

A private memorial service is being planned, and in lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Friends of Maxwell Library or the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

We will never forget her enthusiasm and sense of humor. Her love for Maxwell Library inspires us all.

Link to Betty’s obituary

Anticipated Meetings for 2023

First Tuesday of the month at 1:00 PM (unless otherwise noted)

  • Tuesday, January 3—Annual Meeting
  • Tuesday, February 7
  • Tuesday, March 7
  • Tuesday, April 4
  • Tuesday, May 2—Update: May’s meeting will be held on Zoom.
  • Tuesday, June 6—Update: June’s meeting has been cancelled.
  • July/August—No Meetings (summer picnic TBA)
  • Tuesday, September 12 at 12:30 PM
  • Tuesday, October 3
  • Tuesday, November 7
  • December—No Meeting

Anticipated Events in Addition to Meetings

  • January: Membership Drive
  • February: Valentine giveaway
  • March: Shamrock sale
  • April/May: Geranium Sale
  • June: Junior Friends Garage Sale
  • July/August: Summer Reading giveaways
  • September: Fall raffle
  • October: 50-50 Raffle during National Friends of Libraries Week
  • November: Junior Friends event
  • December: Decorate Maxwell and outreach for the Holidays
  • Free Book Giveaways several times a year

Membership

Membership forms are available here and at the library on the Friends’ card catalog display. Mail them in, or drop your completed form off at the Main Desk.

There is no cost to join; donations are appreciated (and optional). Please make checks out to: Friends of Maxwell Memorial Library.

The Friends of Maxwell Memorial Library group is an incorporated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

National Friends of Libraries Week Award: 2021

The Friends are honored to be the recipient of the 2021 National Friends of Libraries Week Award.

National Friends of Libraries Week is held every October. In 2021, the Friends collaborated on several programs such as an art exhibit and the Mischief at Maxwell Halloween event. The Friends are one of two groups nationwide to receive this award, and they will receive special recognition at the American Library Association’s United for Libraries conference in August 2022.

Certificate of Merit — 2019

The Friends are pleased to be the recipient of a 2019 Daniel W. Casey Advocacy Certificate of Merit by the Friends section of the New York Library Association (NYLA).

This honor has been given “in recognition of the Friends of Maxwell Memorial Library for their exceptionally active and creative service to a library in a smaller community.”

Contact us!


Last updated on June 29th, 2023 at 02:21 pm