A Look Back at 2023 Highlights
Written by: Alma Urbiola
The Friends of the Round Rock Library had an exciting year! From celebrating our beautiful new library to championing the ever-expanding library programs, 2023 flew by as we worked to support the library and to increase Friends membership. A special thanks to all our new and existing members, as well as all our volunteers. We accomplished so much together in 2023 and made it an amazing year for our library community!
Here are just some of the highlights that kept us busy throughout the year.
January – The Friends of the Library were on hand to help library staff with the Grand Opening of our Round Rock Library in its new location and with expanded services. The very successful first weekend attracted over 11,000 visitors! Among them, almost 400 new library cards were issued and 9,500 items were checked out.
March – We participated in the perennial Amplify Austin fundraiser event in support of the Round Rock Library’s Summer Reading Program.
May – Our Last Chance Audio Book Sale gave patrons a chance to take home some great finds while supporting our Book Nook fundraising.
June – The library’s Summer Reading Program, which is a proudly sponsored by the Friends of Round Rock Library, ran June through July. The theme this year was “All Together Now” and the program had over 5,600 registered participants of all ages. That’s a 28% increase in participants over last year!
July – During the Round Rock Independence Day Parade, dozens of volunteers rode on and walked next to our Friends of the Library float, also titled “All Together Now”. The float was a big hit and spectators enjoyed music and bubbles, as well as sweet treats from our parade volunteers!
September – The Friends of the Library September Social brought together new and long-time members alike to get to know each other with an evening of food, games, and fun.
October – The Friends teamed up with the library’s street team at Round Rock Arts Festival and Chalk Walk, where we shared information about the library and Friends’ membership, provided a community mural for kids to color, and distributed bee-friendly garden seeds and eclipse viewing glasses to festival attendees. At the downtown Round Rock’s Music on Main Lunchtime Series and the Hometown Halloween festival, volunteers provided membership information and sold our popular “Library Card” tote bags.
November – The Odds and Ends Sale gave library patrons another chance for great bargains on DVDs, games, coloring books, and other items not usually found in the Book Nook. Giving Tuesday provided a great opportunity for the Friends to raise funds in support of the Discovery Garden and Family Place at the library.
December – Our last in-person meeting of the year also served as a Jolabokaflod party, where members brought wrapped books they loved to exchange with fellow Friends members.
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