Thursday, October 17, 2024

The Charleston County Public Library (CCPL) celebrates Charleston Friends of the Library (CFOL) during National Friends of Libraries Week October 20 - 26, 2024. 

The CFOL were established more than 30 years ago, and since 2008, they have raised more than $1.2 million for CCPL. The FOL is a volunteer-run organization, from the Board of Directors to the sorting room and throughout the community at book sales and programs. Every year, these volunteers donate thousands of hours to make the Charleston community a better place to live, work, and learn.  

The CFOL hosts several book sales, staffed by hundreds of eager volunteers, each year including “That BIG Book Sale,” which raises tens of thousands of dollars annually. Each year, the friends use funds from these sales to make a financial gift to CCPL. The library then uses these gifts to fund programs and to provide extra training for staff.  

Get Involved 

Through book donations, volunteering, book sales, and more, there are a number of ways that you can help support your local library through the Friends. 

Throughout the month of October you can double your impact! All monetary donations made in Octoer will be matched up to $2,500. All proceeds support library programs at CCPL branches. Donate Here. 

You can also show support for your local library and our Friends by becoming a Friend yourself. There are five membership levels and membership perks like early access to book sales.  Become a Friend.

You can also follow the Friends on Instagram and Facebook. 

National Friends of Libraries Week is coordinated by United for Libraries, a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ala.org/united.