Friends of the Emporia Public Library

Goal: $12,000.00

Specific Need

In 2026, the Friends of the Emporia Public Library  Match Day special  focus will be on updating the Children's Library Area.  Imagine this:  

Step into the newly expanded Children’s Room at the Emporia Public Library and enter an enchanted forest where every visit feels like the beginning of a story.  

At the center of the newly expanded space, a tree straight from a storybook will transport families to a whimsical woodland filled with hidden literary and fantastical details.  

Throughout the room, nature-inspired features, play spaces, and cozy reading nooks will spark imagination and make settling in with a book impossible to resist.  

By making the library a magical place where children can play, wonder, and see themselves in stories, this transformation supports a lifelong love of reading and makes literacy an adventure children can't wait to experience! 

With your support and Match donations, this can happen for the great Emporia Public Library making each visit a unique experience.  

Step into Emporia Public Library's vision.

Mission

The mission of the Friends of the Emporia Public Library is to provide support for the Emporia Public Library, help the library achieve its mission, and be an advocate for the library within the community.

Profile

The Friends of the Library (FOL) support the Emporia Public Library's mission to provide education, information, and entertainment to the entire community. Membership costs a small annual fee and provides early access to book sales throughout the year. Members serve in a volunteer capacity on the Friends Board, on committees, and in various roles for the FOL book sales.  The FOL supports the community's literacy and education by providing critical funding for the library’s programs and materials. The FOL is a 501(c)3 charitable organization and can receive tax deductible donations of any acceptable type.

The FOL contribute to the following initiatives, to name a few:
Summer Reading Programs for All Ages
Summer Kids’ Koncerts Series
Promotional Items & Refreshments for Library Programs
Past Annual Volunteer Luncheons for the Board, Friends & Library Volunteers
BookPage Book Review Publication
Multiple Copy Book Discussions Sets
Staff Development Activities
Patron Book Baskets
Children’s Room Furniture
Annual Donations to the Emporia Public Library Endowment

Previous Match Day Funding:
2019 - In the past the Friends helped fund the purchase of the outreach van that is seen around the city.
2020 - The Friends helped fund a digital sign in front of the library for allowing the public to see upcoming events at the library.
2021 - We fully funded a ‘Charlie Cart’ which is a food cart to help promote learning related to food preparation and cooking.
2022 - Library patrons can use the Peter Pan Park book lockers for receiving and returning books without physically visiting the library.
2023 - The Friends helped fund a shade awning for the library van.

2024 -2025 the Friends purchased all new seating for the children's area, board book shelving that little hands can access more easily, and various interactive and attractive activities in the Children's Room.