About the Friends of the Belmont Public Library

Founded in 1972, the Friends of the Belmont Public Library is a nonprofit, charitable 501(c)(3) all-volunteer organization dedicated to the active promotion, welfare and support of the Belmont Public Library and its vital role in our community.

Today, Friends of the Belmont Public Library (FOBPL) Board of Directors have embraced those leadership goals through its mission, vision and values statement.

Mission: The Friends of the Belmont Public Library, Inc. is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization
dedicated to raising money through donations and generating income through book sales to fund library
programs and services beyond those provided in the town budget.
In order to fulfill our mission, we:

• raise funds from the community through membership contributions, through solicitation of other gifts and bequests, and through our book sales and other events;
• work collaboratively with the library staff and trustees to develop plans and budgets to fund and support the library’s programs, initiatives, and resource needs that reflect and respond to the community’s educational and personal interests, cultural diversity, and the ongoing innovation of the library;
• foster awareness and appreciation for the vital role the Friends play in enhancing our library’s programs and services;
• enhance community awareness of the library and its services and programs through Friends’ sponsored programs, targeted messages and acting as personal ambassadors for the library in our community;
• provide volunteer services in support of the library, including activities such as grounds beautification and supplemental staffing for Friends-sponsored special events.

Vision: We strive to create a sustained community of commitment to providing additional funding for the Belmont Public Library so that it can more fully realize its mission to empower its citizens’ personal, educational and professional growth and to advance literacy and foster life-long learning, including innovative resources and programs for the future.

Values: The Members of our organization believe a strong, vibrant, and engaged library is vital to our community — and we love the Belmont Public Library! We are dedicated to using our own time and skills to ensure that the funds that we raise from our members and the rest of the community are dedicated to the greatest extent possible to library programs and services for the benefit of everyone in the community. We are book lovers, community leaders, and people who care about education and diverse library programming and services. We are committed to ensuring that the needs and perspectives of the library’s patrons and others in the community are represented in the Board’s activities and decision-making process.

Approved by Board of Directors on November 4, 2024. 

About the Friends

The Friends has a Board of Directors elected annually.  The loyal financial and volunteer support of 350 member families allows the Belmont library to offer services and programs otherwise beyond its taxpayer funding.  Friends fundraising from membership donations and book sales has financed discount passes to local museums, young adult and children’s programs, author and music series, the One Book One Belmont community participation read, and other important gifts to the Library. Friends members play an important role in the governance of the Friends: members who have donated within the prior twelve months are entitled to vote for officers and directors at the annual meeting and on select other matters as they arise.

Volunteers

The FOBPL recruits volunteers and supports outreach programs for the community, including special cultural, educational, and public interest programs for people of all ages. Learn more about volunteer opportunities.

Become a Friend Today!

• Join or Renew online
• Print a Friends membership form and mail your check to the Friends.

Contact Us

Do you have questions or comments? You can reach the Friends at [email protected].