What happens to funds raised by Kelowna Friends of the Library?
Kelowna FOL raises funds annually for the benefit of all branches in the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) system including downtown Kelowna, Mission and Rutland branches. FOLs foremost commitment is to support children’s literacy via Summer Reading Club, with funding that would not be readily found elsewhere for contests, prizes, crafts and workshops plus additional guests and special presenters (e.g. Kiki the Eco Elf, Kelowna Museums, Okanagan Science Centre, RDCO, New Vintage Theatre, World Beat Dance & Arts).
Funds also support year-round programming for children, teens and adults plus enhanced facilities and Maker spaces – to keep our libraries lively & relevant. Special high-value projects include a Recording Studio project for Kelowna branch Maker Space; funds for MicroMasterpieces fiction writing contests across the three Kelowna branches; Visits by local authors (e.g. Valley Voices) & speakers (e.g. Indigenous representatives for Next Steps to Reconciliation film discussions); talks on community services, crafting & travel. Friends have also helped library staff host special Library promotions and community events (Citizenship Ceremonies).
Annually, 40% book sale proceeds, are contributed to ORL HQ for system-wide projects across all ORL library branches e.g. STEAM kits (3D printing, 3D rendering & coding bots) for Maker Crew workshops at branches, crafting and art take-and-makes; magician Leif David’s performances & educational science presenters (Bob O’Donnell the Fossil Guy, Stuart Brown the Bug Guy) for Summer Reading Club; printing of pamphlets 100 Books to Read Together before Kindergarten, seed funding for audio & ebook collections and ORL book bags. Special donations are periodically gifted, directly to all 24 branches outside of Kelowna.
Top 40 Library Things Funded by Friends
Kelowna:
- Sensory Wall in Early Years space
- Foyer display unit
- MakerSpace tech materials
- Board games & Game board table
- Bean bags for Children’s area
- STEAM toys for Stay & Play
- Flat-screen TV & mobile stand
- Display shelving units
- Digital microform reader/printer aiding genealogical research
Mission:
- Teen Zone furnishings
- Large wall screen monitors with digital hook-ups for Meeting rooms & foyer
- Puppets & Puppet stall
- Lego kits
- Board games, puzzles & educational card sets for kids
- Teen Time crafting supplies
- Art supplies for adult/community art programs & projects
- Adult Book Club refreshments & seasonal decor
- Potted plants & display table
- iPod & docking station
Rutland:
- Craft & digital 3D supplies for Teen Art
- Competition chessboards
- Book prizes for weekly Reading Challenges
- Keva planks & Lego sets
- Tabletop puppet theatre
- Storytime reading chairs & stools
- Rockin ride-on animal seats
- Hanging lights for children’s media corner
- Refreshments, supplies & presenter honoraria for: English Corner, ASL Basics for Teens/Adults
Wish-list items funded and seen over the years at your branch include:
Kelowna Branch
- Sensory Wall in Early Years space (Photo 1)
- Foyer Display unit (Photo 2)
- Display shelving units, props, and pedestals (Photo 3)
- Board games and game board table (Photo 4)
- Flat-screen TV and mobile stand (Photo 5)
- Presentation station
- Mural for children’s reading nook (Photo 6)
- Themed mat at Children’s Desk
- Historical photo banners for Reference bays
- Digital microform reader-printer aiding genealogical research (Photo 3)
- Optelec book reader – Donated by the Friends of the Kelowna Library, the Kelowna Sunrise Rotary Club, and the National Library of Canada (Photo 7)
Mission Branch
- Teen Zone furnishings
- Large wall screen monitors for Meeting rooms & foyer (Photo 1)
- Lego sets & Keva planks (Photo 2)
- Games, puzzles & educational card sets (Photo 3)
- Display cabinet filled with FOL funded prizes for SRC & Read-to-Me programs (Photo 4 & 5)
- Bean bag chairs for children’s area
- Puppet stall; furniture for reading nook
- Art supplies for Mini-Art work project
- Electric Fireplace (now removed) with KFOL donors quilt – now above service desk (Photo 6)
- Display tables for takeout surprise bags
- Christmas trees for adult and children’s areas
Rutland Branch
- Competition Chessboards
- Lego sets & Keva planks (Photo 1)
- Tabletop puppet theatre (Photo 2)
- Globus Soft chairs in Children’s Area
- Children’s wall mural Lounging Lions (previous branch location) (Photo 3)
- Children’s area (now removed) Jungle Reads wall quilt (Photo 4)
- Christmas with the Chiefs materials and games
- Seasonal decorative items including Christmas tree
- Hanging “bee” light for children’s media corner
- Word quotations on wall (now removed at all branches) (Photo 5)