mss0592.xml Finding aid for Friends of the Newark Free Library records1966–2009 University of Delaware Library, Special Collections University of Delaware Library
Newark, Delaware 19717-5267 Phone: 302-831-2229 Fax: 302-831-6003 URL: http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/
Date encoded (2009 March 12) Finding aid encoded 2009 March 12 English Friends of the Newark Free Library records1966–2009 Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library
Newark, Delaware 19717-5267 Phone: 302-831-2229 Fax: 302-831-6003 URL: http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/
 Friends of the Newark Free Library (Newark, Del.) Friends of the Newark Free Library records1966–2009 MSS 592 4 linear feet (4 boxes) The records of the Friends of the Newark Free Library in Newark, Delaware, include correspondence, newsletters, financial records, and other material documenting the organization and activities of the group. Materials entirely in English. University of Delaware Library - Special Collections Source

Gift of the Friends of the Newark Free Library, 2009.

 Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

 Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, http://www.lib.udel.edu/cgi-bin/askspec.cgi

 Citation

MSS 592, Friends of the Newark Free Library records, Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware.

 Shelving Summary Boxes 1-4: Shelved in SPEC MSS record center cartons Processing

Processed and encoded by Anita Wellner, March 2009.

 Institutional Note

The Friends of the Newark Free Library was formally organized on March 24, 1966. Approximately one hundred charter members created the friends group to "promote knowledge and understanding of the functions, resources, services and needs of the library; to encourage gifts, endowments, and bequests to the library; and to help the library develop its services and facilities for the Newark community."

The organizational meeting in 1966 reflected the efforts of four Newark women: Miriam Willis, Mae Carter, Marjorie Purcell, and Carmen Nelson. During the year prior they visited libraries in Maryland and Pennsylvania, studied literature on libraries, and were assisted by a League of Women Voters study of the Newark Library. The formation of the Friends group presented the best solution to assisting the library.

Since 1966 the Friends of the Newark Free Library have offered financial support as well as volunteer labor to enhance the services of the Newark Library. The Friends have raised funds for a variety of projects and programs. A substantial fundraising effort was needed for the restoration of "The Student," a life-size outdoor sculpture created by Charles Park which graces the entrance of the Library.

The Friends assist with children's programs by providing incentives for the summer reading programs and initiating book give-aways for children. In addition the Friends of the Newark Library coordinate art displays for the library and sponsor musical programs at the library. Books for the book study groups, laptop computers for teaching, and maintaining the photocopy machines for use by library patrons are additional resources and services made available by the organization.

Friends of the Newark Free Library webpage. http://www.friendsofthenewarkfreelibrary.webs.com (accessed March 12, 2009)."The Founding of the Friends of the Newark Free Library," speech given by Carmen Nelson on May 4, 1986, to mark the 20th anniversary of the organization. (MSS 592 Box 1 F1)

 Scope and Content Note

The records of the Friends of the Newark Free Library in Newark, Delaware, include correspondence, newsletters, financial records, and other material documenting the organization and activities of the group. The four linear feet of material comprise records for the years 1966 to 2009. The Friends group continues to add historical records to the collection.

These records document the organizational life of a Newark volunteer group and illustrate this group's contributions to the intellectual and social life of the community. The financial and volunteer support provided by the Friends of the Newark Library is detailed in the correspondence, complete sets of minutes and newsletters, and financial documents in the collection.

The first series of the collection comprises documents which offer a narrative of the history of the Friends of the Newark Library from its inception in 1966.

The second series documents the organizational life of the group. In this series are found Board and committee minutes and reports, financial records and budgets, publicity files, and records of the Friends affiliations with local, state, and national organizations and agencies. This series overlaps with the third series, Activities, Projects, Programs and Events. Information about and planning for the events and programs sponsored by the Friends of the Newark Free Library are evident in the minutes and reports.

The third series consists of the Friends of the Newark Free newsletters and files related to specific activities, programs, projects, or events. For example there are substantial files regarding the fundraising and work toward renovating the Charles Park sculpture, "The Student."

 Arrangement

I. History and early records, 1966–2001II. Organizational records, 1966–2005II.A. Board and Committee files, 1966–2002II.B. Financial records, 1967–2005II.C. Affiliations with Library and government organizations and agencies, 1966–2001III. Activities, projects, programs, and events, 1966–2003III.A. Friends of the Newark Free Library Newsletter, 1966–2009III.B. Projects, programs, and events, 1970–2001

 Selected Search Terms Corporate Names Friends of Newark Free Library (Newark, Del.) Newark Free Library (Newark, Del.) Topical Terms Volunteer workers in libraries--United States--20th century--Sources. Public libraries--United States--20th century--Sources. Geographic Names Newark (Del.)--History--20th century--Sources. Form/Genre Terms Correspondence. Clippings.Ephemera.Newsletters.Minutes.Financial records.Publications.Programs. Detailed Contents List Series I. History and early records 1966–2001 1 F1 Founding 1966–1986 1 F2 Early files 1967–1968 1 F3 Design of seal 1 F4 History of the Newark Library by Jane Tripp 2001 1 F5 FONFL 1966–1976 notebook 1966–1976 1 F6 FONFL 1976–1985 notebook 1976–1985 Series II. Organizational records 1966–2005 Subseries II.A. Board and Committee files 1966–2002 1 F7 Board orientation 1984–1988 1 F8 Correspondence 1966–1974 1 F9 Correspondence 1975–1980 1 F10 Correspondence 1982–1986 1 F11 Correspondence 1988–1998 1 F12 Correspondence 1997–2002 1 F13 Gifts to Friends of Newark Library 1967–1974 1 F14 Minutes 1966–1986 1 F15 Minutes 1992–1996 1 F16 Minutes 1997–2002 1 F17 Membership Committee 1974–1986 1 F18 Membership Committee 1985–1988 1 F19 Membership Committee 1989–2001 1 F20 Publicity 1968–1999 2 F21 Newspaper clippings 1970–1998 2 F22 Publications 1967–1974 Subseries II.B. Financial records 1967–2005 2 F23 Treasurer's Notebook 2000–2002

Notebook assembled by Treasurer Mary Herr

 2 F24 Tax Status - Internal Revenue Service 1971–2000 2 F25 1999 Audit 1999 2 F26 Treasurer's reports and budgets 1967–1987 2 F27 Treasurer's reports and budgets 1987–1998 2 F28 Banking statements, checks, etc. 1997–1999 2 F29 Banking statements, checks, etc. 1998 2 F30 Banking statements, checks, etc. 1999 2 F31 Banking statements, checks, etc. 2000 2 F32 Banking statements, checks, etc. 2000 2 F33 Banking statements, checks, etc. 2001 2 F34 Banking statements, checks, etc. 2001 2 F35 Banking statements, checks, etc. 2002 2 F36 Banking statements, checks, etc. 2003 2 F37 Banking statements, checks, etc. 2003 2 F38 Banking statements, checks, etc. 2004 2 F39 Banking statements, checks, etc. 2004–2005 Subseries II.C. Affiliations with Library and government organizations and agencies 1966–2001 New Castle County 1966–2001 3 F40 Library Commission appointments 1966–1980 3 F41 Library Advisory Board 1980–1982 3 F42 Library - County & State 1972–1985 3 F43 New Castle County government 1985–1994 3 F44 County Friends group 1986 3 F45 Long Range Plans 1983–1993 3 F46 Long Range Plans 1994–1997 3 F47 Long Range Plans 1990–2001 3 F48 Newark Library expansion 2000–2001 State of Delaware 3 F49 Delaware Division of Libraries 1974–1980 3 F50 Delaware Division of Libraries 1986–1992 3 F51 Humphry report 1966 3 F52 Loessner reports 1996 3 F53 Delaware Public Libraries statistics 2000 3 F54 Legislation 1966–1990 National organizations 1984–1987 3 F55 National Friends groups 1984–1987 3 F56 American Library Association 1986–1987 Series III. Activities, projects, programs and events 1966–2003 Subseries III.A. Friends of the Newark Free Library Newsletter 1966–2003 3 F57 1966–1983 3 F58 1984–1993 3 F59 1994–1999 3 F60 2000–2009 Subseries III.B. Projects, programs and events 1970–2001 4 F61 Ideas and project proposals 1979–1999 4 F62 3 ½–5 Years Story Time 1970–1985 4 F63 Annual dinners 1979–2002 4 F64 Special events 1982–1999 4 F65 Plato terminal 1985 4 F66 Summer reading programs 1985–1988 4 F67 Adult programs 1986–1998 4 F68 Book Sale 1989–1999 4 F69 Community Day 1995 4 F70 The Student 1997–1998 4 F71 The Student 1998–1999 4 F72 Books for Prisons 2001