Friends of the Library

Stop by the Friends Book Sale! This year's sale features more than 100,000 items!

• Items are organized into 65 categories, including fiction by author, biographies by subject, history by war, and many other non-fiction categories
• Thousands of DVDs, Music CDs, and Vinyl Records by genre
• Puzzles, Games, Boutique Items and so much more!

Cash, credit cards, and checks accepted. Proceeds go towards the Friends of the Southbury Public Library, who sponsor almost all of the library's events for all ages.

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 one $1,000 scholarship and two $500 scholarships to graduating seniors each May; 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

We accept donations of books and materials throughout the year and at Donation Days. For a list of books and materials that we accept, please read our Donations Policy.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00am-11:30am, donations may be dropped off to the library at the rear, lower level doors of the building (drive around to the rear of the library and look for a set of double doors across from the dumpsters).

To arrange another time to drop off your donations or to have your donations picked up, please contact John at (203) 525-0199.

Book Sale

Our next Annual Spring Book Sale will be in the spring of 2024.

For more information about the Friends of the Southbury Public Library's Book Sale, click here.

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.

Are you a resident of Southbury and a graduating High School Senior with plans to continue your education in the 2024-2025 year? Apply for the Friends Scholarship! Just download the application and the addendum.  Please fill them out and return them to the reference desk at the Southbury Public Library by March 25, 2024.

Please click here to view a printable PDF of the Friends Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter.