About the Friends

"We support, encourage and promote
quality library services"

We invite you to join us!
Mail in our Membership form

I have a library card. Doesn't that make me a Friend?

Having a library card is a great start, but the commitment of the Friends of Brandywine Hundred Library goes beyond tax dollars and library cards.

Who Are We?

As stated in our Bylaws, the purpose of the Friends of the Brandywine Hundred Library (BHL) "shall be to promote knowledge of the function, resources, services, plans, and needs of the library; to encourage gifts, endowments, and bequests to the library; to stimulate public support and cooperation with the library in developing library services and facilities; to increase the value of the library to the community served."

To clarify its support for good library practices in our community, the Friends' board voted to endorse the Library Bill of Rights on May 9, 2006. The Library Bill of Rights was originally adopted by the American Library Association's Council on June 19, 1939 and has been revised several times since to reflect mainstream library values.

The Friends' board holds an open meeting in the library on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM, to plan fund raising, membership and support programs for the library.  The library manager's report is a regular part of these meetings.

What we do :

  • Keep our members informed through our Newsletter .
  • Provide funds to improve materials, services & facilities. Provided funds have purchased books (including large print books) and videos, the ClearView magnification unit, a wheelchair for use in the library, and planters for the café patio.
  • Develop and sponsor library programs. The Friends have provided funds to pay the fees of many popular performers at BHL programs. BHL Friends also paid the transportation costs to bring NASA Astronaut Chris Ferguson to speak at the library on July 15th 2004! The Friends have also funded the prizes awarded in reading programs and other activities.
  • Educate our community about library concerns
  • Contribute our time and talent. Volunteers produce our Newsletter. Other volunteers have helped coordinate landscaping projects.
  • Aid library staff with ongoing tasks. For example, some volunteers check videos for damage. Other volunteers work as shelf readers, helping keep collections in proper order.
  • Maintain a website, which links to archived copies of the Friends' newsletter and other resources.
  • Hold our annual membership drive during National Library Week, reminding Friends of how their dues are used and to celebrate having a great library!

Why Join?

The Brandywine Hundred Library is the largest branch in the New Castle County library system. The building, which opened in April 2003, provides space for new programs and collections to serve community needs. The Friends look forward to providing new outreach programs and additional volunteer opportunities.  Help us make our library a vital resource for our community.

How Can You Join Us?

Print out a membership form and mail with your dues to:

Friends of Brandywine Hundred Library
1300 Foulk Road
Wilmington, DE 19803

Other Ways To Contact Us
 contact@friendsbhl.org

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