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Friends of the Iowa Library

Friends’ 2024 Annual Report

The year 2024 was another very good year for the Friends and patrons of the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. We were able to make a $12,000 donation to the Library in 2024. We made our contribution as an undesignated donation in order for the department to get a Federal Match to help the Library even more than our donation could directly.

On a sad note, Board President Jim Rechkemmer recently suffered an injury from a fall. He is currently in rehabilitation in West Des Moines.

The Friends promotes the Library and its many valuable services throughout the year. We attend functions, such as the Braille Challenge. We give presentations at meetings and conventions, such as I-CUB and NFB. We produce a quarterly newsletter. We also distribute fliers, magnets, card magnifiers, bookmarks, and signature guides with our logo and contact information on them.

We shepherd the donations we get with great care. Of the money we receive, 96.4 percent goes to the Library while only 3.6 percent goes to administrative and fundraising costs. Because we have implemented thriftier ways to distribute our quarterly newsletter, the percentage of funds needed for administrative expenses shrank from 17 percent in 2016. We appreciate and thank all of our Friendsfor their constant support, advocacy, and commitment. You can help! Here are some of the things you can do:

  • Become a Friends member for just $20.

  • Buy a $10 Smokey Row gift card, and we receive $3.

  • Make donations at the Stuff, Etc., Stores around the state in our name, and we get 50 percent of the sale price.

  • Enjoy barbershop Christmas music each year for a $10 admission.

  • Ask us to speak at your club or organization.

  • Consider the Friends for donations and memorials.

  • Respond generously to our annual fund-raising drive letter.

  • Volunteer some of your time to help with Friends activities.

To learn more about the Friends and what we do, visit our website at IAFriendsLibraryfortheBlind.org and read our quarterly newsletters. Through your generous help and support, we can continue to enhance the services the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped offers to its patrons. Thank you!