Prince William Public Libraries Celebrates National Friends of Libraries Week in October

Prince William Public Libraries will be spending the week of October 15–21, 2023, celebrating its Friends of the Library groups as part of the 18th annual celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week.

Prince William Public Libraries has seven Friends groups that support its 12 branches throughout Prince William County and the City of Manassas. The first Friends group helped establish Prince William Public Libraries in 1952, and the newest Friends group – the Friends of Manassas City Library – was established in 2021.

The Friends of the Libraries help fund programs and services year-round, including providing supplies for craft programs, refreshments for book clubs and Teen Advisory Groups, and special programs like Bar C Ranch Petting Zoo being held at Chinn Park Library on Saturday, October 21, from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Their most popular programs are used book sales, and the Friends groups promote membership and the value of public libraries.

Made up of over 100 community members, the Friends are an integral part of the library’s progress, advocating for funding and volunteering their time to assist with fundraising efforts. In FY2023, the Friends of the Libraries donated nearly $90,000 to Prince William Public Libraries for entertaining and educational programs for all ages.

“Our Friends of the Libraries are dedicated community members who share a love and passion for libraries,” remarks Deborah Wright, director. “We sincerely appreciate the time and effort they put into their missions to support programs and services to the residents of Prince William County and the City of Manassas.”

Please visit pwcva.gov/library to learn how to become a member of the Friends.

About Prince William Public Libraries

Prince William Public Libraries has 12 branches throughout Prince William County and the City of Manassas, providing free access to books, e-books, e-audio, print and digital magazines, Digital Library, DVDs, and more. PWPL also offers free educational and entertaining programs for all ages. Learn more at pwcva.gov/library.

National Friends of Libraries Week is coordinated by United for Libraries, a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ala.org/united.