As you know, the entire donated inventory of books, DVDs, CDs, vinyl, audiobooks, puzzles, games, wall art, and boutique items was lost when the Lower Level of the library flooded on August 19, 2024. While we are truly saddened by the loss of these donations from community members, as well as the tables, chairs, shelving, and all the supplies that make a book sale happen, we are also aware of the tremendous property and business losses in Southbury and the surrounding towns.
We are very pleased to announce that Southbury Plaza has donated space for us to use as a temporary donation collection site. The space is located between Catalyst Gym and The Paper Store. Hours are Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m., and Wednesdays from 5-7 p.m. Please don’t leave donations outside when we’re closed!
We have been given permission to allow donors to pull up in the fire lane in front of the doors long enough to unload (but not to park). If you have a large number of items to donate, call Book Sale Chairman John Michaels at 203-525-0199 to arrange for a pickup.
The Friends are grateful to Gatto Development for donating the space for us to collect and store your donations.
The Book Sale volunteers accept donations of gently-used hardcover, softcover, and paperback books for all ages, vinyl records, DVDs, music CDs, audiobooks on CD, jigsaw puzzles, games, and wall art. We are unable to accept mass market paperbacks because of space limitations. We sincerely hope we will be able to hold a book sale in the spring, but it’s too early to be sure. All proceeds from the Book Sale benefit the Southbury Library by funding almost all programs, as well as projects and services that benefit the entire community.
If you would like to donate to the Friends, please use the PayPal donate button below. You do not need to have a Paypal account, just a credit or debit card. To do a regular donation, select "Donation" under the "Use this Donation For" drop down menu.
About the Friends of the Southbury Public Library, Inc.:
We are a non-profit, voluntary, incorporated organization. Our major sources of funding are the annual book and media sales and membership dues.
Becoming a Friend
To become a member of The Friends of the Southbury Public Library, Inc., please see information below. Donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law; please consult your tax advisor. The Friends welcome both annual memberships and targeted donations, which may be memorials or gifts honoring a special person or occasion.
Our Mission
To foster close relations between the Southbury Public Library and the community, and to encourage the full use of the library. The Friends provide supplementary programs, services, and equipment in order to increase effectiveness and scope of the Southbury Public Library.
Meetings
We regularly meet on the third Thursday of each month from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM in the conference room on the first floor of the Southbury Public Library. If you would like to attend a meeting, please contact Jeff O'Sullivan, President, at 203-578-5988.
What The Friends Do
We purchase passes for free/reduced admission to area museums; fund programs for adults, teens, and children; provide coffee/tea for a nominal fee (dispenser is behind staircase); provide funding for the Library Music Series; award annual scholarship(s) up to $2000; and offer umbrella bags to keep the library clean and dry. In 2019, the Friends funded a major upgrade to the library's courtyard gardens and installed new lighting.
Book Donations
The Friends of the Southbury Library will begin accepting donations for future book sales at their new space generously donated by Gatto Development Corporation. The space is located in the Southbury Plaza between Catalyst Gym and The Paper Store, and will open the week of September 16.
The floods of August 18-19 completely destroyed the entire Friends’ inventory of material collected in the past year from generous donors. Friends volunteers will accept, sort, and store all donated material at the temporary location. Items accepted include gently-used hardcover, softcover, and paperback books in all genres, both fiction and nonfiction, for adults, teens, and children. The Friends also accept DVDs, music CDs, vinyl records, audiobooks on CD, jigsaw puzzles, and games. Donation receipts for tax purposes are available.
The Donation Center will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30, and Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m.
For more information about the Friends of the Southbury Public Library, please contact Book Sale Chairman John Michaels at 203-525-0199, or Jeff O’Sullivan, President, at 203-578-5988.
Book Sale
Our most recent Annual Spring Book Sale was in the spring of 2024; information about next year's sale will be shared in late 2024 or early 2025.
For more information about the Friends of the Southbury Public Library's Book Sale, click here.
Join the Friends of the Library
The Friends of the Southbury Public Library, Inc. know that one of the best ways to assure the quality of life in our community is by having a thriving Public Library that provides an abundance of entertaining and enlightening Children, Teen and Adult programs.
The Friends play an important role in the Life of the Library by underwriting programs and helping to purchase equipment, supplies, Museum passes, conducting the Book Sales program and more. Yearly membership in the Friends make this possible. Would you like to participate in this vital process?
Membership Information
The membership year is from July 1st to June 30th. Membership levels are as follow:
- Individual - $10
- Family - $25
- Donor - $50
- Patron - $100
- Benefactor - greater than $100
You can give a Gift Membership to a special person. Please include the recipient's name on PayPal (in "Write a note" field) or the paper form and we will acknowledge your generosity with a letter to them.
A receipt for Tax purposes and information regarding your membership, the programs and events the Friends sponsors will be mailed to you. The Friends of the Southbury Public Library, Inc. is an IRS registered nonprofit 501(c)3 Corporation whose charter is to privately support the Southbury Public Library and its relationship with the community
Join or renew online with your credit card
You can now join the Friends of the Southbury Public Library or renew your membership online. You do not need to have a Paypal account, just a credit or debit card.
Join or renew by mailing in a check
To join or renew your membership by mail, download the Membership Form.
