The President's Corner
Friends of the Anacortes Public Library
P. O. Box 2009 Anacortes, WA 98221 360-293-1910
WINTER NEWSLETTER, JANUARY 2021
Dear Friends of the Library,
It is an honor to now serve as Co-Presidents and to share that work with our Board: Patrick Gallagher-Vice President, Hal
Rooks-Treasurer, and Tress Connolly-Secretary. Linda Falken continues to ably advise as Past President and is joined by
Board member-at-large-Susan Rooks. Kay O’Connell provides continuity, as she continues in the role of our Newsletter
Editor. We hope to begin this year working together as a Board, and lifting and supporting one another as the year unfolds.
Kandy and Megan believe that by sharing the presidency, we will be better able to team up, have more depth of experience,
and serve the membership and the library in a year of continued change and many unknowns.
Through frequent communication, and shared ideas, Kandy and Megan intend to function as one.
We are sure you are aware that public-facing organizations in Washington State are now in a lockdown pattern in an
attempt to bring down rapidly rising Covid case numbers in the State. That means that any plans to allow members of the
public to enter the library, even on a limited basis, are on a hold for now. This also means any plans related to the
FriendShop are frozen for the foreseeable future. Another unknown is when we will be able to accept donated materials at
the Library again. More questions than answers, but we will let you know as soon as we have any word of a change in
direction. The health of our public, our volunteers and the library staff are our chief concern so we want to move carefully
and safely.
If you have not renewed your membership for 2021, why not drop a check in the mail ($10 per calendar year) today to PO
Box 465, Anacortes, WA 98221? Friends memberships make wonderful gifts to start the new year for bookaholic friends
and family, and are a safe way to support and advocate for the Anacortes Public Library while expanding our membership in
this wonderful community.
During this season of gratitude we are so, so grateful for all who have worked in the FriendShop, supported the Friends with
donated materials, made financial gifts, attended monthly ZOOM meetings, taken our
phone calls, and continued to stand with the Library and the Friends in these tough
times of budgetary constraint. We miss you and look forward to coming together
when it is safe to do so.
Our New Year’s wish for you and your loved ones is good health, happiness and some
joy in the day and the season.
Kandy and Megan
Anacortes Public Library: 1220 10th Street Anacortes, WA 98221 (360) 293-1910
Friends of the Library Mailbox: PO Box 465 Anacortes, WA 98221
FROM THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR ...
I think I speak on behalf of all the library staff when I say a huge “thank you” to the Friends of the Library and
all the generous donations from community members like you. Thank you for enabling the library to carry on
purchasing materials in 2020 after a city-wide spending freeze that left us without a books budget. The
Friends of the Library money was the only way we could move forward with purchasing your requests. Even
with the FriendShop being closed and that revenue stream being cut off, you all stepped up with donations
to help fill in the gap. We can’t thank you enough for your support! Here is to a peaceful and hopeful 2021.
We’ll see you all in the library and FriendShop when we can get there safely.
Jeff Vogel
Library Director
INTRODUCING ...
New to the Friends of the Library are three of this year’s officers: Co-President Megan Taylor, Co-President Kandy Dubuque,
and Secretary Tress Connolly. Here is a little bit of background about each of them:
MEGAN TAYLOR
My husband and I moved to Anacortes four years ago from Seattle. My career was spent in academic and public library
management jobs in the Midwest (Kalamazoo (MI), Ft. Wayne (IN), and in Seattle. My last job before retirement was as a
managing librarian with Seattle Public Library. I am honored to be serving the Friends membership as co-President with
Kandy Dubuque and look forward to working with the officers and the Friends Board this year.
KANDY DUBUQUE
My husband and I moved to Anacortes in 1992 and I became a member of the Fidalgo Island Rotary Club, (the morning club),
in 1999. I was a library technician in a former life and I worked in local banking for 14 years. I am excited to work with Megan
and the other Friends board members as we consider what we can do to best help our wonderful Library.
TRESS CONNOLLY
I managed the Audiobook Production Department at The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library for 20 years. During that
time, I trained and shepherded hundreds of volunteers who recorded books. These were made available to people in
Washington state and throughout the National Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped network. Since moving to
Anacortes I have been an active volunteer with the Skagit Land Trust planting trees, clearing invasive species and being a
land steward at two SLT properties. When I am not outside tromping around, I am often home creating a joyful mess and
sometimes art.
A SAD GOODBYE ... It is with deep sadness that we note the passing on December 29 of long-time FOL member and
volunteer Tom Wynn. Tom was a stalwart of the FriendShop for over 14 years and a consummate gentleman. “If, when I
walked through the library entrance and saw that Tom was manning the shop, I was immediately pulled inside knowing that
a smile and a cheerful greeting awaited me,” recalls Susan Rooks. “Seeing Tom inevitably brightened the day. He was always
positive, with never a bad word about anyone.”
Beverly Reed, former FriendShop Manager, relates how much Tom loved his volunteer work. She states “He was wonderful
with the customers. He was all business, but the customers were still treated to his wonderful sense of humor. Among the
34 volunteers during my time, he was the only one who enjoyed running the carpet sweeper as soon as he arrived! He
would then proceed to straighten all the shelves before he sat down at the desk. Tom also was the shop
handyman! Anything that went wrong with our equipment, he fixed. If he had trouble, he continued on until the item was
back in good usable form.
“And Tom never refused to fill in for another volunteer when asked to do so,” Beverly
continues. “In all the years that I worked with him Tom called in sick only once. When he finally
resigned from the shop because of health reasons about three years ago, I felt his absence
from the shop immediately. Now I am feeling the loss of this wonderful man from our
community.” All who knew Tom echo Beverly’s comment.
FUNDRAISING REPORT
With the FriendShop closed since March because of the Covid-19 pandemic—and the concomitant drop in our revenues--
we had to find another way to raise funds to fulfill our 2020 commitment to the Library. In addition, the City of Anacortes
enacted a spending freeze for all departments, which significantly cut the Library’s budget.
After careful consideration of these developments, the Board decided to take the unusual step of sending letters to
members of the FOL and the community requesting donations. We are happy to report that the generous response of so
many of you resulted in raising over $14,000. While this amount will not fully make up for the lost FriendShop revenues and
the City’s budget cuts, it does go a long way toward filling the funding gap.
Your support has helped make the Anacortes Public Library the best in the county and a center for our community. Our
deepest thanks for your generous support.
---Susan Rooks
TREASURER'S REPORT
I am pleased to report that the Friends of the Library ended 2020 in better shape financially than I would have expected
after an unprecedented and tumultuous year caused by the COVID pandemic. The closure of the FriendShop—our major
source of income—was largely offset as the year progressed by two fundraising efforts and by generous donations from
our FOL members and Anacortes residents. For the majority of 2020 FoL provided all of the funds to pay for the library’s
book purchases for children, teens, and adults, as well as programs for children and teens.
We are fortunate to have an amazing community that is so supportive of its Library.
Hal Rooks
FoL Treasurer
REVISIONS TO BYLAWS
The Friends updated their bylaws in 2019, and a copy was posted on the Friends website at:
https://www.friendsoftheanacorteslibrary.org/2019-by-laws.html
However, the Board realized that further review of the bylaws was needed. Before the November 2020 annual
meeting, the Board proposed several bylaws amendments to be put to a general membership vote. Subsequently,
e-ballots (for members with e-mail addresses) and printed postcard ballots were distributed to all active members.
The proposed bylaws changes can be found at:
https://www.friendsoftheanacorteslibrary.org/2020-bylaws-change-proposal.html
All the ballots returned were in favor of adopting the changes, which were ratified at the December 2020 Board
meeting. These updates included (a) modifying meeting schedules, (b) allowing shared officer positions, (c) changing
quorum requirements, and (d) permitting future bylaws revisions to be introduced at any time during a calendar year.
The new bylaws will give the Friends greater flexibility to meet future challenges and will be posted soon to the
Friends’ website.
Stay tuned!
--Linda Falken
NEWS FROM YOUTH SERVICES
We continue to offer a Storytime every weekday for Anacortes families, and the feedback has been wonderful. On Tuesday
evenings we feature a community member sharing a story on Tuesday Tales and every other Storytime is hosted by library
staff members.
Monday @ 11:00 – Preschool Storytime with Miss Ria
Wednesdays @ 11:00 – Baby / Toddler Storytime with Miss Leslie
Thursday @ 6:00 – Pajama Storytime with Ms. Diana
Friday @ 11:00 – Time for Tots Storytime with Miss Lisa
While the library has been closed it has given library staff in other departments a chance to share their talents in
programing for children and adults.
This fall we introduced two new programs which allow us to serve patrons while they are staying safe at home. The first is
Personalized Picks, a form on the library website where families can share interests and information about their readers.
Library staff then select up ten books for each reader to explore.
In October we launched Take & Make Kits for families to take home along with their books at curbside pickup. Each kit has
everything needed for patrons to explore and engage with a fun activity at home. We have a different kit for three age
groups. Pre-readers have enjoyed Playdough and cookie cutters, gratitude chains, and Santa paper dolls. Elementary
school students have created monster bookmarks, gratitude chains, and play rockets made from plastic cups. Tweens and
teens have had fun making mummy hands, a woven placemat, and decorating cookies. In January all three age groups are
combining creativity and curiosity around snowflakes.
We have also added something new to the collection in the Children’s
Library – STEAM Kits. These hands-on kits were created by staff during
the summer months and allow for hands-on exploration for all ages.
Current STEAM Kits are microscopes, magnifying glasses, rock painting
kits, Duplo blocks, bath bomb kits, coloring books, puzzles and more.
These can be found in the library catalog with a search for ‘STEAM Kits.’
In order to serve as many families as possible patrons can check out one
STEAM Kit at a time.
This year more than ever we appreciate all of the ways the Friends of the Library has supported our work as a library. FoL
donations allowed us to introduce these new programs and materials for families to enjoy together at home, and also to
continue to add new books to the collection despite budget constraints. Thank you for your ongoing support of all that we
do!
Leslie Wilson,
Youth Services Librarian
HOURS @ THE LIBRARY
CURBSIDE PICKUP HOURS: Mon-Sat 11am-4pm, Tues 11am-6pm
BOOK RETURN HOURS: Tues 11am-6pm, Fri & Sat 11am-4pm
CALL US! 11am-4pm at 360-293-1910
Join or renew with the Friends of Anacortes Public Library!
Gifts to the Friends support library collections, programming and build literacy in our community.
Yearly Membership Levels (calendar year, not prorated):
[ ] $10 Individual [ ] $20 Household
[ ] Additional donation amount ________________________
Members receive a quarterly newsletter with news about activities and library happenings and are welcome at monthly
Friends of the Library meetings.
Name(s): ___________________________/______________________________________
Address: ___________________________________City/State: __________/____________
ZIP: _______________
Email(s): _______________________________/___________________________________
Phone: (_____) __________________________
[ ] I am opting out of communications from Friends of the Anacortes Public Library.
I am interested in volunteering!
___ Board Service ___ Staffing the FriendShop
___ Committee/Project Work
Mail to: Friends of the Anacortes Public Library, P.O. Box 465, Anacortes, WA 98221
The Friends of the Anacortes Public Library is a 501(c)3 charitable organization.
Friends of the Anacortes Public Library
P. O. Box 2009 Anacortes, WA 98221 360-293-1910
WINTER NEWSLETTER, JANUARY 2021
Dear Friends of the Library,
It is an honor to now serve as Co-Presidents and to share that work with our Board: Patrick Gallagher-Vice President, Hal
Rooks-Treasurer, and Tress Connolly-Secretary. Linda Falken continues to ably advise as Past President and is joined by
Board member-at-large-Susan Rooks. Kay O’Connell provides continuity, as she continues in the role of our Newsletter
Editor. We hope to begin this year working together as a Board, and lifting and supporting one another as the year unfolds.
Kandy and Megan believe that by sharing the presidency, we will be better able to team up, have more depth of experience,
and serve the membership and the library in a year of continued change and many unknowns.
Through frequent communication, and shared ideas, Kandy and Megan intend to function as one.
We are sure you are aware that public-facing organizations in Washington State are now in a lockdown pattern in an
attempt to bring down rapidly rising Covid case numbers in the State. That means that any plans to allow members of the
public to enter the library, even on a limited basis, are on a hold for now. This also means any plans related to the
FriendShop are frozen for the foreseeable future. Another unknown is when we will be able to accept donated materials at
the Library again. More questions than answers, but we will let you know as soon as we have any word of a change in
direction. The health of our public, our volunteers and the library staff are our chief concern so we want to move carefully
and safely.
If you have not renewed your membership for 2021, why not drop a check in the mail ($10 per calendar year) today to PO
Box 465, Anacortes, WA 98221? Friends memberships make wonderful gifts to start the new year for bookaholic friends
and family, and are a safe way to support and advocate for the Anacortes Public Library while expanding our membership in
this wonderful community.
During this season of gratitude we are so, so grateful for all who have worked in the FriendShop, supported the Friends with
donated materials, made financial gifts, attended monthly ZOOM meetings, taken our
phone calls, and continued to stand with the Library and the Friends in these tough
times of budgetary constraint. We miss you and look forward to coming together
when it is safe to do so.
Our New Year’s wish for you and your loved ones is good health, happiness and some
joy in the day and the season.
Kandy and Megan
Anacortes Public Library: 1220 10th Street Anacortes, WA 98221 (360) 293-1910
Friends of the Library Mailbox: PO Box 465 Anacortes, WA 98221
FROM THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR ...
I think I speak on behalf of all the library staff when I say a huge “thank you” to the Friends of the Library and
all the generous donations from community members like you. Thank you for enabling the library to carry on
purchasing materials in 2020 after a city-wide spending freeze that left us without a books budget. The
Friends of the Library money was the only way we could move forward with purchasing your requests. Even
with the FriendShop being closed and that revenue stream being cut off, you all stepped up with donations
to help fill in the gap. We can’t thank you enough for your support! Here is to a peaceful and hopeful 2021.
We’ll see you all in the library and FriendShop when we can get there safely.
Jeff Vogel
Library Director
INTRODUCING ...
New to the Friends of the Library are three of this year’s officers: Co-President Megan Taylor, Co-President Kandy Dubuque,
and Secretary Tress Connolly. Here is a little bit of background about each of them:
MEGAN TAYLOR
My husband and I moved to Anacortes four years ago from Seattle. My career was spent in academic and public library
management jobs in the Midwest (Kalamazoo (MI), Ft. Wayne (IN), and in Seattle. My last job before retirement was as a
managing librarian with Seattle Public Library. I am honored to be serving the Friends membership as co-President with
Kandy Dubuque and look forward to working with the officers and the Friends Board this year.
KANDY DUBUQUE
My husband and I moved to Anacortes in 1992 and I became a member of the Fidalgo Island Rotary Club, (the morning club),
in 1999. I was a library technician in a former life and I worked in local banking for 14 years. I am excited to work with Megan
and the other Friends board members as we consider what we can do to best help our wonderful Library.
TRESS CONNOLLY
I managed the Audiobook Production Department at The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library for 20 years. During that
time, I trained and shepherded hundreds of volunteers who recorded books. These were made available to people in
Washington state and throughout the National Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped network. Since moving to
Anacortes I have been an active volunteer with the Skagit Land Trust planting trees, clearing invasive species and being a
land steward at two SLT properties. When I am not outside tromping around, I am often home creating a joyful mess and
sometimes art.
A SAD GOODBYE ... It is with deep sadness that we note the passing on December 29 of long-time FOL member and
volunteer Tom Wynn. Tom was a stalwart of the FriendShop for over 14 years and a consummate gentleman. “If, when I
walked through the library entrance and saw that Tom was manning the shop, I was immediately pulled inside knowing that
a smile and a cheerful greeting awaited me,” recalls Susan Rooks. “Seeing Tom inevitably brightened the day. He was always
positive, with never a bad word about anyone.”
Beverly Reed, former FriendShop Manager, relates how much Tom loved his volunteer work. She states “He was wonderful
with the customers. He was all business, but the customers were still treated to his wonderful sense of humor. Among the
34 volunteers during my time, he was the only one who enjoyed running the carpet sweeper as soon as he arrived! He
would then proceed to straighten all the shelves before he sat down at the desk. Tom also was the shop
handyman! Anything that went wrong with our equipment, he fixed. If he had trouble, he continued on until the item was
back in good usable form.
“And Tom never refused to fill in for another volunteer when asked to do so,” Beverly
continues. “In all the years that I worked with him Tom called in sick only once. When he finally
resigned from the shop because of health reasons about three years ago, I felt his absence
from the shop immediately. Now I am feeling the loss of this wonderful man from our
community.” All who knew Tom echo Beverly’s comment.
FUNDRAISING REPORT
With the FriendShop closed since March because of the Covid-19 pandemic—and the concomitant drop in our revenues--
we had to find another way to raise funds to fulfill our 2020 commitment to the Library. In addition, the City of Anacortes
enacted a spending freeze for all departments, which significantly cut the Library’s budget.
After careful consideration of these developments, the Board decided to take the unusual step of sending letters to
members of the FOL and the community requesting donations. We are happy to report that the generous response of so
many of you resulted in raising over $14,000. While this amount will not fully make up for the lost FriendShop revenues and
the City’s budget cuts, it does go a long way toward filling the funding gap.
Your support has helped make the Anacortes Public Library the best in the county and a center for our community. Our
deepest thanks for your generous support.
---Susan Rooks
TREASURER'S REPORT
I am pleased to report that the Friends of the Library ended 2020 in better shape financially than I would have expected
after an unprecedented and tumultuous year caused by the COVID pandemic. The closure of the FriendShop—our major
source of income—was largely offset as the year progressed by two fundraising efforts and by generous donations from
our FOL members and Anacortes residents. For the majority of 2020 FoL provided all of the funds to pay for the library’s
book purchases for children, teens, and adults, as well as programs for children and teens.
We are fortunate to have an amazing community that is so supportive of its Library.
Hal Rooks
FoL Treasurer
REVISIONS TO BYLAWS
The Friends updated their bylaws in 2019, and a copy was posted on the Friends website at:
https://www.friendsoftheanacorteslibrary.org/2019-by-laws.html
However, the Board realized that further review of the bylaws was needed. Before the November 2020 annual
meeting, the Board proposed several bylaws amendments to be put to a general membership vote. Subsequently,
e-ballots (for members with e-mail addresses) and printed postcard ballots were distributed to all active members.
The proposed bylaws changes can be found at:
https://www.friendsoftheanacorteslibrary.org/2020-bylaws-change-proposal.html
All the ballots returned were in favor of adopting the changes, which were ratified at the December 2020 Board
meeting. These updates included (a) modifying meeting schedules, (b) allowing shared officer positions, (c) changing
quorum requirements, and (d) permitting future bylaws revisions to be introduced at any time during a calendar year.
The new bylaws will give the Friends greater flexibility to meet future challenges and will be posted soon to the
Friends’ website.
Stay tuned!
--Linda Falken
NEWS FROM YOUTH SERVICES
We continue to offer a Storytime every weekday for Anacortes families, and the feedback has been wonderful. On Tuesday
evenings we feature a community member sharing a story on Tuesday Tales and every other Storytime is hosted by library
staff members.
Monday @ 11:00 – Preschool Storytime with Miss Ria
Wednesdays @ 11:00 – Baby / Toddler Storytime with Miss Leslie
Thursday @ 6:00 – Pajama Storytime with Ms. Diana
Friday @ 11:00 – Time for Tots Storytime with Miss Lisa
While the library has been closed it has given library staff in other departments a chance to share their talents in
programing for children and adults.
This fall we introduced two new programs which allow us to serve patrons while they are staying safe at home. The first is
Personalized Picks, a form on the library website where families can share interests and information about their readers.
Library staff then select up ten books for each reader to explore.
In October we launched Take & Make Kits for families to take home along with their books at curbside pickup. Each kit has
everything needed for patrons to explore and engage with a fun activity at home. We have a different kit for three age
groups. Pre-readers have enjoyed Playdough and cookie cutters, gratitude chains, and Santa paper dolls. Elementary
school students have created monster bookmarks, gratitude chains, and play rockets made from plastic cups. Tweens and
teens have had fun making mummy hands, a woven placemat, and decorating cookies. In January all three age groups are
combining creativity and curiosity around snowflakes.
We have also added something new to the collection in the Children’s
Library – STEAM Kits. These hands-on kits were created by staff during
the summer months and allow for hands-on exploration for all ages.
Current STEAM Kits are microscopes, magnifying glasses, rock painting
kits, Duplo blocks, bath bomb kits, coloring books, puzzles and more.
These can be found in the library catalog with a search for ‘STEAM Kits.’
In order to serve as many families as possible patrons can check out one
STEAM Kit at a time.
This year more than ever we appreciate all of the ways the Friends of the Library has supported our work as a library. FoL
donations allowed us to introduce these new programs and materials for families to enjoy together at home, and also to
continue to add new books to the collection despite budget constraints. Thank you for your ongoing support of all that we
do!
Leslie Wilson,
Youth Services Librarian
HOURS @ THE LIBRARY
CURBSIDE PICKUP HOURS: Mon-Sat 11am-4pm, Tues 11am-6pm
BOOK RETURN HOURS: Tues 11am-6pm, Fri & Sat 11am-4pm
CALL US! 11am-4pm at 360-293-1910
Join or renew with the Friends of Anacortes Public Library!
Gifts to the Friends support library collections, programming and build literacy in our community.
Yearly Membership Levels (calendar year, not prorated):
[ ] $10 Individual [ ] $20 Household
[ ] Additional donation amount ________________________
Members receive a quarterly newsletter with news about activities and library happenings and are welcome at monthly
Friends of the Library meetings.
Name(s): ___________________________/______________________________________
Address: ___________________________________City/State: __________/____________
ZIP: _______________
Email(s): _______________________________/___________________________________
Phone: (_____) __________________________
[ ] I am opting out of communications from Friends of the Anacortes Public Library.
I am interested in volunteering!
___ Board Service ___ Staffing the FriendShop
___ Committee/Project Work
Mail to: Friends of the Anacortes Public Library, P.O. Box 465, Anacortes, WA 98221
The Friends of the Anacortes Public Library is a 501(c)3 charitable organization.