The Friends of the Lake Worth Library was founded on April 10, 1988 when Dorothy Ruth, a member of the Library Board for the City of Lake Worth, convinced two of her friends, Sue Bean and Jean Barus that the Lake Worth Library needed a support organization.
In the original articles of incorporation, they wrote that the object of the Friends of the Lake Worth Library:
. . . shall be to assist in the promotion and development of the public library facilities in the city of Lake Worth, Florida, as well as to encourage the use of such facilities; the corporation shall endeavor to enlist the interest and support of all who are dedicated to the dissemination of knowledge through the printed word and to publicize library functions, facilities, and resources.
The first meeting was held on May 18, 1988 with local dignitaries such as City Manager John Kelly, Mayor Ralph Schenck, LIbrary Director Denise Wittlin, and Executive Board Member for Florida Public Library Association Sarah Gay all contributing.
During this meeting Mayor Schenck read a proclamation recognizing this important event, and Sarah Gay who was also at the President of the Friends of Palm Springs Library was honored for all the assistance she and the Friends of Palm Springs Library provided in the organization of The Friends of the Lake Worth Library.
Through the years, The Friends of the Lake Worth Library have:
Funds raised by these projects have gone towards purchasing furnishings, equipment, and upgrades outside the Library's budget.
Dorothy's husband Babe, and daughter Cindy at the memorial and Little Free Library that honor her.
The Friends of the Lake Worth Library actively support a variety of literacy projects in the City of Lake Worth Beach including:
The Friends also support the Library by purchasing furniture, equipment, and supplies for:
To raise funds, we host Book Sales throughout the year at The Friendly Little Book Shop , and we participate in the Great Give of Palm Beach and Martin Counties.
Financial support for the BiblioArte Festival
Supplies for the Parent Resource Room
Support for The Lake Worth Little Free Libraries
Table Talk Lake Worth - a program designed to promote family meal time, literacy, and community involvement.
Stars & Stripes Summer Flute Camp - The Friends help to subsidize the cost of the Stars and Stripes Summer Flute Week.
Every Summer, The Friends help supply materials for the Summer Reading Program
The Friendly Little Book Shop
Currently open from 1:00 - 4:00pm every Saturday sells quality used books to raise funds for our library
Triva night, where the best and brightest go to display their encyclopedic knowledge of the unimportant.
Students using CREATeLAB to complete school assignments
President
Sam Goodstein
Vice President
Mary Lindsey
Treasurer
Joe Ansell
Secretary
Cindy Ansell
Laurel Robinson
Stephan Lockwood
Nina Benaroch
Joanne Kelly