Library Foundation for Sarasota County

We need your help today.

Property tax reform that is being debated in Tallahassee in a special session this afternoon would have devastating consequences for our public libraries. And libraries depend upon property tax revenue.

Your voice is critical in helping to convey the negative impact this legislation would have on our libraries and our community. Please call your representatives today and let them know you support public libraries and don’t want property tax reform to jeopardize library funding.

We value

State Senator
District 22 - Joe Gruters - [email protected]
📣Phone: (850) 487-5022 District Office: (941) 378-6309

State Representatives
District 73 - Fiona McFarland - [email protected]
📣Capitol Office: (850) 717-5073 District Office: (941) 899-0940

District 74 - James Buchanan - [email protected]
📣Capitol Office: (850) 717-5074 District Office: (941) 732-0430

District 75 - Danny Nix - [email protected]
📣Capitol Office: (850) 717-5075 District Office: (941) 899-0810

Governor DeSantis just called a special legislative session to cut taxes for homesteaded properties. The special session is scheduled for June 1 – 3. Since library budgets depend on property tax revenue, this could be devastating for our public libraries. We encourage you to contact your representatives to ensure property tax changes don’t jeopardize library funding, and for you to ask your personal network to do the same. Visit our Take Action page for more information and helpful resources.
https://www.sarasotalibraryfoundation.org/take-action



Please share this with your contacts. Time is limited.

A big thank you to the Community Foundation of Sarasota County for their recent $25,000 grant. This grant will support the Library’s summer learning programs, along with the Library Foundation’s advocacy and professional development efforts that strengthen community awareness and impact. Their commitment ensures that children and families across Sarasota County have access to wonderful learning experiences during the summer months and more people become champions for strong libraries.



https://bit.ly/4fgJ4CR

We were deeply saddened to learn this weekend of the passing of our dear friend, Isabel Norton. Isabel was a remarkable woman who championed so many organizations in our community, including the Library Foundation. She served as president of the Library Foundation from 2019 – 2022, leading our organization through a period of remarkable transformation and growth. Isabel was a passionate reader who loved libraries and the role they play in a vibrant democracy.

Our former board member Charlie Huisking captured her impact perfectly with this comment: “In her quiet, genteel way, Isabel was a force of nature who did so much, not just for the Library Foundation, but for the entire community. She was defined by her grace, wit, kindness and determination to do good. I always left an interaction with her feeling better about the world.”

We are so grateful we had Isabel in our world.

Thank you for an exciting celebration after another exciting Giving Challenge season. It was a great afternoon of slides and zip lines and ninja courses and rock climbing oh my! But mostly it was wonderful to spend time with other enthusiastic and committed nonprofit leaders making a difference in our community. Our Director of Communications and Strategic Impact Kecia Carroll and Director of Development Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast Kirsten Pedersen were just two of many.

As the children and families started to pour in and mingled with us 'big kids', we noted how Urban Air is much like our Sarasota County Libraries -- for everyone. All ages can enjoy! We sure did!

Reading and learning is fun, but even more fun if you can win a prize right?

We love this artwork of library musings in the entrance of the Shannon Staub Library. Each time we visit, we read it and see which sentiment resonates the most. Today that is -- A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessities of life.

What is yours❓

Friends of the library play a vital role in supporting the incredible work of our library branches. 💝

Our Foundation’s Executive Director, Alisa Mitchell, recently welcomed new Friends group members and introduced them to the work of the Library Foundation. We’re excited to work together to raise community awareness and deepen appreciation for the programs and resources our libraries provide every day.

To learn more about becoming a member of a friends group, visit the library’s Friends of the Library page. https://bit.ly/4d7Pwt4

Friends of Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library
Friends of the Jacaranda Library
Friends of Elsie Quirk Library
Fruitville Library Friends
Friends of the Gulf Gate Library
Friends of the North Port Library
Friends of the Osprey Library
Friends of the Sarasota County History Center
Friends of the Selby Library
Friends of the Shannon Staub Public Library
Friends of the Venice Public Library, Inc.

April was a busy and exciting month for us at the Library Foundation. Like Fergie, our unofficial office wellness manager, we are looking forward to catching up on our reading….and maybe even a quick nap. 📚😴