Friends of the ESPL

The Friends meet the second Saturday of each month at 1:00 p.m. in the Conference Room, except during July and August, when they meet on the second Friday of the month at 1:00 p.m. in the Conference Room.

Contact Email: friends.east.smithfield.library@gmail.com

Catherine Lynn, President

Jean Boucher, Vice President

Ann Ferri, Treasurer

Carol Ferranti, Secretary

HISTORY

The Friends of the East Smithfield Library (FOL) was founded in 1997 by Emma Baron, Carol Ferranti, Catherine Lynn, and Virginia Morgan.  The mission of the organization is to financially support library services.  When initially formed there was no Children’s librarian employed at the East Smithfield library and the FOL assisted with the children’s programming.  The group actively ran and organized educational and cultural events for the children and their families.  The group conducted outreach programs and purchased books.  They organized and ran activities for the Summer reading program.

In 1997 the group held the first perennial plant swap.  This has become a yearly spring event where gardeners from all over come to exchange plants for free.

In 2001, when the first Children’s librarian was hired, the FOL assisted with the renovation plans for the Children’s room and the second floor.  The FOL purchased all the wooden furniture, safety glass table tops, and a decorative rug for the Children’s room along with some chairs and potted floor plants for the second floor.

In 2002 the group held the first Spring egg hunt outside for the children.  This has turned into a yearly event.  Children who participated in the past are now bringing their children to this event.  Over 100 children now participate annually.

In 1997 the FOL received the Coalition of Library Advocates (COLA) award for “exceptional work in the Program Category”.  In 2002 the group again was recognized by COLA with an award for “innovative programming” and recognition from Governor Lincoln Almond.  In 2006 the group was once again recognized by COLA and received the William Reeves award for “Excellence In The Promotion Of Educational And Social Programs”.  In 2019 and 2021 the FOL once again won the William Reeves award for “Educational Outreach”.

Since 1997 the FOL  has purchased computer equipment, book racks, books, DVD’s, trees & flowers for landscaping, and provided numerous educational and cultural programs for both children and adults.  The FOL continues to fund many yearly museum passes for the general public.

Through our ongoing outreach efforts we have provided books to the town schools, Little Free Library boxes, Town housing units and the Welfare department.  Large print books are routinely brought to the Smithfield Senior center, local nursing homes, and the homebound by our volunteers.

The FOL’s fundraising efforts have included book sales, silent auctions, yard sales, bake sales, jewelry sales, raffles, and holiday mug & candy sales to name a few.  The group has partnered up with various other local non-profits in the past to help generate sales and build a sense of community.

All of the work we do is done by volunteers from the community.  The group has no paid staff.  Some volunteers help out just for certain events and others year long.  You can volunteer any amount of time and no experience is required.

The Friends of the East Smithfield Public Library has been a recognized non-profit by the IRS since 2000.  Please consider us for a charitable monetary donation or join/renew your membership here. We may be contacted at friends.east.smithfield.library@gmail.com.

Calendar

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28
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1
10:30 AM - Annual Egg Hunt
2
Walk & Talk Book Chat
03/09/2023    
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Drop in any Thursday morning to enjoy nature and chat about the books that you’ve been reading. Weather permitting.
Virtual Game Night
03/09/2023    
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Join us on Discord every Thursday night from 6-8 pm for game night! Whether you typically play board games or are an avid video gamer [...]
Maker Space:  Drop-in Play
Drop in during these hours to play with some of our polymer or air dry clay. We will show you how to use the pasta [...]
Thursday Night Book Group
03/23/2023    
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
The 21st Annual Read Across Rhode Island Book: True Biz by Sarah Novic will be discussed this month. The Thursday Night book group will continue [...]
Virtual Game Night
03/23/2023    
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Join us on Discord every Thursday night from 6-8 pm for game night! Whether you typically play board games or are an avid video gamer [...]
Come & Create in the MakerSpace
03/25/2023    
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Join us in our MakerSpace every fourth Saturday from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm!
Drop-In Tech Help
03/27/2023    
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Stop by the library on Mondays at 11 am for drop in tech help. Have a more complicated question? Email tech@myespl.org before you come in.
Fantasy Book Club
03/27/2023    
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
$0.00
Title: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree Description: Worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv the orc barbarian cashes out of [...]
April Story Times: Tiny Tots
03/28/2023    
10:30 am - 11:00 am
This story time will be held on Tuesdays mornings for children ages 18 months to 3 years old from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. We [...]
Craft - Clay Plant Markers
03/28/2023    
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Description: Make your own decorated clay plant marker, perfect for indoor or outdoor gardens! Location: Community Room Date: Tuesday, March 28th at 6 pm or [...]
April Story Times: Preschool
03/29/2023    
10:30 am - 11:00 am
$0.00
This story time will be held on Wednesday mornings from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m for children ages 3 to 5. There will be age-appropriate [...]
Craft - Clay Plant Markers
03/29/2023    
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
$0.00
Description: Make your own decorated clay plant marker, perfect for indoor or outdoor gardens! Location: Community Room Date: Tuesday, March 28th at 6 pm or [...]
Creative Writing Workshop (Teen Program)
03/29/2023    
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
$0.00
At this casual, beginner’s workshop, learn ways to start a story, try on different craft techniques, peer review work, and share your own work. If [...]
Walk & Talk Book Chat
03/30/2023    
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
$0.00
Drop in any Thursday morning to enjoy nature and chat about the books that you’ve been reading. Weather permitting – we will email at 10 [...]
Cricut Club
03/30/2023    
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
We are beginning to have Cricut classes geared towards folks who have already completed the three introductory Cricut Classes. In these small workshops, we will [...]
On Medicare as Colonialism
03/30/2023    
6:30 pm - 7:45 pm
Join local author Michael Fine, MD for a reading and discussion of his newest book. Dr. Fine is a writer, community organizer and family physician. [...]
Virtual Game Night
03/30/2023    
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Join us on Discord every Thursday night from 6-8 pm for game night! Whether you typically play board games or are an avid video gamer [...]
Pajama Story Time
03/30/2023    
6:30 pm - 7:00 pm
This story time is for children ages 3 to 8. Come to the library dressed in your pajamas. Bring your favorite stuffed animal. There will [...]
Anime Club (Teen Program)
03/31/2023    
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
$0.00
We meet monthly to watch 2-3 episodes of an anime and enjoy a few snacks. Screenings vary from classic anime to new releases and are [...]
Annual Egg Hunt
04/01/2023    
10:30 am
$0.00
Our egg hunt is for children ages 2-5. Join in the fun as the children hunt for eggs that the library bunny has hidden. Please [...]
Events on 03/09/2023
Events on 03/23/2023
Events on 03/25/2023
Events on 03/27/2023
Drop-In Tech Help
27 Mar 23
Fantasy Book Club
27 Mar 23
Events on 03/28/2023
Events on 03/30/2023
Cricut Club
30 Mar 23
Smithfield
Virtual Game Night
30 Mar 23
Pajama Story Time
30 Mar 23
Events on 03/31/2023
Events on 04/01/2023
Annual Egg Hunt
1 Apr 23