Get a library card and get a free book from the Friends
February is Library Lovers Month at the Troy Public Library and The Friends of the Troy Public Library invite you to come fall in love with our award-winning library. During the month of February, residents who sign up for a library card will receive a coupon for a free book from the Friends Shop in the lobby or the Book Shop on the lower level.
Troy Public Library has something for everyone and the Friends are proud to support programs for children, computer and e-reader classes, Job-Seekers classes and activities that make the library a place to love.
The Friends of the Troy Public Library is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization that promotes and supports the library through fundraising and advocacy.
Interested in volunteering a few hours a month? Visit us at our website at www.friendstpl.org, or on Facebook. You can also phone us at (248) 786-4580.
Membership in the Friends makes our support for the library possible. Membership for an individual is just $10 and membership information is available in both shops and on the Friends website. Come to the Troy Public Library for a visit this month. You will love what you see and what’s free!
Christmas came early at the Troy Public Library in the form of a substantial donation from Meritor employees and private individuals.
The $2,331 donation, combined with an additional $300 donation from the Friends of the Troy Public Library, will be used for a collection of materials and equipment to enhance the library’s Special Needs collection.
Specifically, the money will be used to purchase large-print materials, including novels for children ages 8-12, non-fiction books on visual impairments and magnifiers to assist in reading. The materials will help children who have visual impairments such as albinism, dyslexia, ADHD, traveling eye, an inability to see color, and more.
The initiative for the project came from a group of southeast Michigan businesswomen representing Meritor, Henry Ford Health Systems, Chrysler, GM and Inforum. These women are part of a leadership class that included a community service project.
“Our project was to increase awareness and social acceptance of albino children. As we interacted with them, we were touched by the vision difficulties that is common with these beautiful children,” Meritor Engineering Supervisor Laura Klemm said. “Armed with pictures and stories, it was easy to appeal to the generosity of the Meritor community and other private donors.”
“This donation is incredible,” Library Director Cathleen Russ said. “It is amazing what this group of people have been able to accomplish, and the entire Troy community will benefit from their generosity.”
The library’s special needs collection was implemented in October 2007 – a gift of the Friends of the Troy Public Library. It includes traditional library materials such as books and DVDs, as well as interactive items that children with disabilities can use to enhance and promote learning and skill-building.
To introduce the community to the new collection, the library has planned a story time event for pre-schoolers through second-grade students on Jan. 21 at 11:15 a.m. Following the story time, individuals can tour the new collection. The library staff hopes to continue this story time in the future, if there is interest from the community.
“We will publicize this collection to the community, especially to the special needs teachers in the Troy School district and other school districts where Troy children attend school,” Russ said. “We are very fortunate to be able to offer these materials, thanks to this wonderful donation.”
Just in time for the holiday season, the Friends of the Troy Public Library Friends Shop is re-stocked and ready for shoppers. Located in the lobby of the library, the Friends Shop offers great gift items, toys for children, jewelry, stationary and more. Right now and through the holiday season, with the purchase of $25 in the Friends Shop, customers will receive a free Friends Tote. The Friends Shop hours are Monday-Thursday noon to 6pm, Friday 10:30am-1:30pm and Sunday 1-4pm.
The Friends Shop carries a selection of books for a hint of the variety available in our popular downstairs Book Shop open Friday 10am-1pm and Sunday 1-4pm.
Donations for the Book Shop are always being accepted in the donation area next to the circulation desk.
The Friends are excited to be back in business with both fundraising efforts to continue promoting and supporting the Troy Public Library children’s programs, special needs collection, Job Seekers, E-readers and more.
Would you like to share some time with Friends? Consider volunteering in the Friends Shop or Book Shop. We are happy to get you involved. Stop by for a volunteer application or go to our website at www.friendstpl.org. You can also visit us on Facebook.
Membership in the Friends is a vital part of supporting the library. Membership for an individual is just $10 and membership information is available in both shops and on the Friends website. Membership will provide updates on the Friends many activities, ways to help TPL and coupons for the shops. Join the Friends and continue the great community support for our nationally ranked public library.
The Grand Re-Opening Celebration will be held:
* Thursday – September 8 from 4 pm – 7 pm
* Friday – September 9 from 10 am – 1 pm
* Sunday – September 11 from 1 pm – 4 pm
The Friends of the Troy Public Library are excited to announce the Grand Re-Opening of the Friends Book Shop in the Lower Level of the library. The Book Shop ceased operations in April due to the impending library closure, but with the passage of the millage in August the Book Shop is back in business!
During the re-opening celebration, library visitors will receive discount coupons for the Book Shop. The Friends will also be holding a drawing for a NOOK e-reader to thank library supporters. E-readers are a great new way to use the library to access the many e-books available for free through TPL. Library users can stop by the Friends Shop in the lobby or the Book Shop to enter the drawing. You must be 16 years old to enter and you need not be present to win.
May 12, 2011: With the City Council’s decision to keep the library open for the time being, we are pleased to announce that the Friends Shop will remain open, during the times shown below.
Friends Shop Hours
Monday – Thursday: 12 noon to 6 pm
Friday: 10:30 am to 1:30 pm
Sunday: 1 pm to 4 pm
July 15, 2010: You can now find the Friends of the Troy Public Library on Facebook by clicking the link below. This is a public page that is freely viewable even if you are not yet a member of Facebook – so please stop by! We hope to see you there.
Visit Us on Facebook!
July 9, 2010: The Citizens to Save the Troy Public Library are ready to rally. They will be in front of the library from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday (July 10th) dressed in red as a show of solidarity. The ultimate goal is to collect signatures to put a separate millage expressly for library funding on the November ballot and establish Troy as an independent library under Michigan Public Act 164.
Hope you can join us to express your support on Saturday!
Click the link below to view an article that appeared in yesterday’s Oakland Press about Saturday’s rally, with more information about the drive to save Troy Library from closure in 2011:
Oakland Press – Troy Library supporters to rally in red
Please refer to the next post for more information about the rally on July 10th, which also includes a printable flyer about the event.
June 30, 2010: The “Citizens to Save the Troy Public Library” group is holding a rally from 10am – 1pm in front of the library on Saturday, July 10th to get people involved in the concerted effort now underway to prevent the library from permanent closure (scheduled for June 30, 2011).
Click on the link below to view a flyer about the upcoming rally. We urge you to help spread the word by printing it out and distributing it to friends, family and businesses in Troy if you can. Hope to see you there!
Save the Troy Library Rally Flyer – July 10th
For more information, please contact the group at: CitizensSaveTPL@gmail.com
Citizens to Save the Troy Public Library will be circulating petitions to put a millage expressly for library funding on the November 2010 ballot. This new millage proposal would seek to establish an independent Troy Library that would no longer function as a department of the city.
Click on the link below to view the article that appeared on June 29th in the Daily Tribune and Oakland Press newspapers about the upcoming rally, and other facts about the current crisis facing Troy Library:
The Oakland Press: Group Fights to Keep Troy Library Running
June 24, 2010: The Troy Public Library is scheduled to be permanently closed on July 1, 2011. The City Council in May voted to approve the 2010-2011 Budget and the 3-year Budget which calls for closure of the Library.
The Friends of the Troy Public Library have been working to research and learn what possible actions can be taken to keep the Troy Public Library open. Please click HERE to view the steps that have already been taken.
June 23, 2010: The Friends have initiated a group of citizens that are interested in helping keep the library open. This group is called:
CITIZENS TO SAVE THE TROY PUBLIC LIBRARY
This organization will help to form volunteer committees and seek donations to pay for literature and signs for the upcoming November election. If would like to help with a committee or volunteer on a project, please email the Citizens to Save TPL at:
Email address: citizenssaveTPL@gmail.com
Please click HERE to learn more about how you can join or make a donation to this important group.
May 17, 2010: The Annual Meeting of the Friends of Troy Public Library will be held on Wednesday, May 26th, at 6:30 p.m. in the Library Meeting Room. Admission is free and you need not be a member to attend. Memberships will be available at the door if you are interested. Individual memberships are $10 annually.
Please R.S.V.P. by May 20th:
– Via email at FriendsTPL@gmail.com
– By phone at (248)786-4580
The Annual Meeting will include a presentation by Lance M. Werner entitled:
“What is the Future of Troy Public Library?”
Please click HERE for more information about Mr. Werner’s background.
April 21, 2010: It is imperative that residents put pressure on the Mayor and City Council to reject closure of the library as an option in budget discussions. In her comments on April 19th, the Mayor remarked that voters said in the special election that they wanted to preserve public safety, and that is what they intend to do. This is not an either/or proposition. We have had a library AND a police force for 47 years in up and down economic times. What the special election DID say was that voters wanted better management of city monies and operations. After the election, everyone, especially “No” voters, communicated to the council in public comments that the city had better not close the library.
It is very important that the budget discussions are not just meetings to approve the City Managers’ single vision, but a real dialogue about what other solutions may be possible for cutting costs and retaining limited services and public safety. Hold the council responsible for the actions they take now, and the condition they will leave this city in after July 2011. Go to the city’s web site, email and/or call and let our voices be heard.
April 20, 2010: Please click HERE to view the speech that was delivered at the City Council meeting by the Friends on April 19th. Approximately 1,000 signatures of support were gathered in just one weekend, from people who asked the council to stop at nothing to keep the library open. (Linked document is in Adobe Reader format.)
April 19, 2010: Please click HERE to view the letter that was submitted by the Friends on April 19th to the Mayor and City Council asking them to reject any budget that calls for permanent closure of the Troy Public Library in the upcoming budget discussions. (Linked document is in Adobe Reader format.)
It is VERY important in the upcoming weeks to attend City Council meetings, as they will be deciding the fate of the Troy Public Library. By city charter, the council must approve the budget by May 10th and there is no going back.
Please go to the meetings and tell everyone you know to go, or contact the council to bring community pressure to bear. For more information, including dates and times of critical City Council meetings in April and May, please click HERE!
March 29, 2010: The Spring 2010 edition of the Troy Public Library’s section of the Troy Today publication is now available at the link below:
Troy Today for Spring 2010 – Library Section
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Visit Our Shops Friends Shop Hours
Monday - Thursday:
12 noon to 6 pm
Saturday:
10:30 am to 1:30 pm
Sunday:
1 pm to 4 pm
Book Shop Hours
Saturday:
10 am to 1 pm
Sunday:
1 pm to 4 pm
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