Friends of the Guelph Public Library donate $1 million
GUELPH — On Sept. 11 the Friends of the Guelph Public Library (FGPL) gathered in front of 69 Huron St., the site of this year’s book sale, to celebrate the presentation of a cheque for $1 million.
Founding chair Virginia Gillham and current chair Ian Findlay presented the cheque to library CEO Steven Kraft and Library Board Chair Randalin Ellery in front of a crowd of a past and present members and volunteers of the FGPL.
They have not set a new goal for fundraising efforts, but the 15th annual book sale will be on Sept. 20 to 24.
On opening night, an early bird entrance fee of $10 per person will be required, but admission is free for the remainder of the sale days from Sept. 21 to 24.
As with its previous book sales, all funds raised will benefit the Guelph Public Library. For more information about the sale and all of the Friends upcoming activities visit fgpl.ca.
The Friends of the Guelph Public Library is an arms-length volunteer organization who support the Guelph Public Library. The annual book sale is its major fundraising activity.
In 2007, the first used book sale of the Friends of the Guelph Public Library took place in the Old Quebec St. Mall. It raised $8,200.
Following the success of that first sale, each annual sale thereafter got bigger, and the revenue from each topped the amount made in the previous year. When asked one year what the fundraising target should be, one of the sale’s organizing committee suggested “Well, why not a million?”
In 2022, after 14 sales in six different locations around Guelph, the Friends reached that goal.
For more information contact Ian Findlay, Chair, Friends of the Guelph Public Library. Email: jianfindlay@gmail.com.
