Inspiration for all Seasons
Three Barbershop quartets ( one male, one female) have volunteered their talents for The Friends of the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped at our annual Jolly Time.
CONGRATULATIONS! With your support, we gifted the Library with a $12,000 check that is also being matched with Federal funds! We DO make magical things happen at the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
Friends Board Members Recognized for Volunteer Activities
Board members of the Friends (sample award above) were recognized for theirdiligent service to the Friends of the Library by Sarah Willeford at the Perowsky Workshop on April 20,2022. Board members have spent numerous hours supporting the Friends in various roles. Board members include: Jim Rechkemmer, President; Don Wirth, Vice President; Dave Hammel, Treasurer; Cindy Ray, Secretary; and Kim Brown,Tim Gracey, Elsie Monthei, Don Shepherd, and Frank Strong. (See bios on our board members under About Us.) The Elizabeth Perowsky Award is the highest award the Library bestows. It is given for extraordinary spirit and inexhaustible dedication in volunteer service to those who are blind.
A long-time board member, Dave Hammel is especially deserving of this award. Dave has served as Treasurer, President and Vice President. He has been instrumental in supplying the talent for our annual Jolly Time by recruiting barbershop quartets and entertaining us with his great bass voice! His efforts throughout the years have kept The Friends moving in a positive direction in his support of the Library. Congratulations, Dave and all Friends Board members!
Stuff Store Hits Over $1000 in Donations!
Thanks to the generosity of Friends, the Stuff Etc. Store in Ankeny has hit over $1000 in donations. For charitable organizations, such as The Friends of the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, the Stuff Etc. Store donates 50% of the price of an item to the charity! The more you donate items you no longer use or need, the more The Friends profit. For more information, on how to donate to the Stuff Store in your area, click here for Shop and Share.
Friends Win Florence Grannis Award for Service for 2017
The Florence Grannis Library Service Award is given annually to honor individuals whose exemplary service recalls the selfless spirit of Ms. Grannis, the founder of the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Grannis, who died in 2004, served as regional librarian from the Library's inception in 1960 until her retirement in 1976. Florence said, “A library for the blind should supply borrowers the books and information they want when they want them."
The Friends have provided the library with funding as well as being advocates for the library.They have allowed us to do so much in the library and to provide so many great services. I thank the Friends for their dedication and commitment to helping the library.
Each year the Friends of the Library provide funding for needs in the library. They use innovative ways to raise funds beyond their membership. Through these fundraising efforts they have provided - just to name a few:
Personal Digital Cartridges for Library Patrons
Digital Cartridge Cases for the Library's New Service Model
Early Literacy Books and Programming; including the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Program
New Large Print Books for the Collection
Sacred Texts Program
Summer and Winter Reading Programs for Children and Adults
Funds for the Braille Challenge and the Perowsky Workshop
Purchase of a 3D printer and digital scanner
Assistant in sending staff to conferences and training
Tactile Production Equipment
Their funding allows the library to do so much.
Their slogan is "Be Among Friends" and this is always the case. We would like to thank the Friends for their true volunteerism and present to them the Florence Grannis Award.
The 2017 recipient of the Florence Grannis award is a group of amazing people. They are creative, fun, hard-working and dedicated to ensuring our library is able to offer the best services possible. This years recipient of the Florence Grannis Award is the Friends of the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
Story Boxes including twin vision books and 3D printed objects to be loaned to Iowa libraries.
Welcome to the 21st Century and the latest technology for those who wish to explore and learn more about their world. The Friends have used their annual donation of $10,000 to purchase a 3D MakerBot printer with all its accessories. The uses of such a printer are myriad for individuals intent on learning all there is to know about this wonderful world. For example, a student studying geometry can actually feel the shapes and angles. A person learning to read maps can have them in a 3D format. Stories can be enhanced with objects in 3D that allow the reader to feel the objects in the story. The applications are numerous and exciting!