It’s National Friends of the Library Week (Oct. 18-24), and we’re celebrating the wonderful Friends! With support from community members like the Friends, the library can host programs such as Summer Reading and All Henrico Reads, offer resources such as exploration and literacy kits, and much more. Read on to learn about the Friends of the Library and how you can join and make a difference in your community.
IMPACT
The Friends of the Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that sponsors special programs and resources, promotes library services, and raises supplemental funding through the organization of library book sales. As a Friend, your contribution makes a tangible impact on how we can serve our patrons:
Summer Reading
- Our Friends help us beat the summer slide by keeping kids, teens, and adults engaged in fun reading and learning opportunities. With a dino-mite theme (“Unearth a Story”), t-rexellent programs, and rawr-some prizes to incentivize readers, it’s no surprise that a whopping 7,884 patrons participated in this year’s challenge. Together, participants logged 1,033,296 reading minutes, 64,190 books, and over 4,300 book reviews.
All Henrico Reads
- Since 2007, our Friends have helped us bring major authors to Henrico for All Henrico Reads, our “One Book” reading program. In 2026, with their support, the prolific award-winning mystery author Walter Mosley joined us to discuss his novel, Gray Dawn. Leading up to the event, we hosted related programs such as murder mystery nights, mocktail-making, book clubs, and film screenings to engage the community in discussions about his work. On March 25, 2027, we look forward to hosting Hugo Award-winning author Alix E. Harrow and reading her latest title, The Everlasting.
Programs
- In addition to Summer Reading and All Henrico Reads, our Friends help make regular programs possible. These include book discussions, Community Author Showcase, Cook & Book, Bob Singer Senior Series, author visits, musical performances, and more. Programs such as these help to enrich the lives of our community members, and we are grateful!
Kits & Ongoing Reading Challenges
- Our Friends help us supply a variety of kits for checkout that encourage reading, literacy, connection, and exploration of the outdoors:
- Book Club Bags – With eight copies of a book in each bag and dozens of titles to choose from, starting a book club has never been easier.
- Caregiver Kits – With materials designed to stimulate conversation around topics such as history, food, and music, Caregiver Kits help foster connections with loved ones who are experiencing memory loss.
- Birding Backpacks - Equipped with binoculars, field guides, and activities, our Birding Backpacks are designed for children and families curious about birds and the natural world.
- Sensory Kits - Available for in-library use, these kits include a variety of items such as fidgets, headphones, and sunglasses to help younger library users who experience sensory overstimulation.
- 1000 Books Before Kindergarten & 100 Books Before Graduation
- While geared toward different ages (pre-K and teens), both 1000 Books Before Kindergarten (1000BBK) and 100 Books Before Graduation (100BBG) are ongoing challenges that aim to foster youth literacy and a love for reading. With curated backpacks and prizes as incentives, this year we saw 877 children and 677 teens participate.
Toys
- Our Friends make our Children’s areas welcoming and fun for little ones by helping us regularly refresh our toys and play areas.
BECOME A FRIEND
These are just a few ways the Friends of the Library make a difference. Want to get involved? For as little as $10 a year, you can become a Friend of the Library and support initiatives that have a real impact. Visit our website to complete the online membership form and become a Friend today!