60 S High Street, Akron, OH 44326

The Friends of Main Library (FOML) supports the goals of the Akron-Summit County Public Library with programming and resources. The Friends operates the Library Shop on Main, helps underwrite the Library operating levy campaign, and supports other Library initiatives.

We help build a better Library - The Friends of Main Library.

Meeting Schedule:

Dues structure:

The Library Shop on Main is a used book and gift store operated by the Friends of Main Library. The Shop is located on the first floor of Main Library next to the Library Café.

Shop Hours:
                 10am - 6pm Monday - Thursday
                 10am – 4pm Friday & Saturday
                 1 – 4pm Sunday

Phone:     330-643-9070

Contact:   Michael Derr, ASCPL Marketing Events Supervisor,
                 phone: 330-643-9072
Prices:

Visit the Library Shop’s website at www.lsom.org for photos and more information.

The workers in the Library Shop, sales associates and book sorters, are volunteers. Anyone interested in working in the Library Shop should visit the Library Shop’s web site at www.lsom.org to print a volunteer application. Applications are also available in the Library Shop or by calling 330.643.9070.

History:
The Friends of the Libraries of Akron and Summit County was founded in 1953. In 1964, the group renamed itself Friends of the Library; in 1974, the name was changed to the Friends of the Akron-Summit County Public Library. This Friends group represented the branches as well as Main Library.

Beginning in 1982, individual branches established their own Friends groups, leaving the Friends of Akron-Summit County Public Library to represent only Main Library. Later, this group was called Main Library Friends; and then, the Friends of Main Library.

The Friends of the Library held its first used, discarded and donated, book sale in 1972 at Summit Mall. Over the years, the Friends giant book sale was held at various malls. By the end of 1993, these sales had raised in total more than $125,000.

The giant book sales ended in December 1996, when the Friends of Main Library opened its “Library Shop on Main”, a used book and gift shop, located on the lower level of Main Library. The shop provided for ongoing sales seven days a week.

In 2005 the Friends of Main Library opened the new Library Shop on Main on the first floor of the newly remodeled and expanded Main Library. Adjacent to the Library Café, the Library Shop on Main offers visitors to downtown Akron an affordable bookstore with a wide selection of unique gift items.

Of Special Note:

• In 1988, the Friends funded a project to encourage children to write poetry. The Friends won an award in 1989 from the Friends of Libraries USA in their category of most literary appeal.
• In 1990, the Friends sponsored their first Snowflake Sampler; this program included tours of the Library, holiday how-to-do’s, films, stories, cookies and clowns for the children.
• In 2000, the Friends of Main Library received the Ohio Friends of the Library recognition Award from the Ohio Library Council. The award recognized the group’s work as advocates of the library to the inner city, as fund raisers to support library projects and programs, as promoters of the library to the downtown business community and the public at-large, and as promoters of the levy campaign.
• In 2003, the Friends of Main Library were honored with Project:LEARN of Summit County's Civic Literacy Leadership Award. The Friends were honored for their support of Project:LEARN through the years, both financially and educationally. The FOML participate in Project:LEARN events and offers discounts to tutors and students at its Library Shop on Main.
• Since 2005, the Friends of Main Library have been the title sponsor of the Main Event Speaker Series. Featuring prominent voices from the worlds of literature, the arts, politics and journalism, past Main Event speakers have included Eve Ensler, Augusten Burroughs, Joel Cohen, Jane and Michael Stern, Gregory Maguire, Kevin Sites, Dave Eggers, Chuck D, Amy Sedaris, Brad Warner, Eleanor Clift, Carl Hiaasen, Chuck Klosterman, Tom Batiuk, Rick Bragg, and E. Lynn Harris.
• In 2008, the Friends of Main Library sponsored, in conjunction with Tuesday Musical, the dedication reception of the new Steinway Grand Piano.

  ---

  FOML Board of Directors for 2009:

  Susan Sawyer, (2011), President Leianne Neff Heppner, (2009), Vice-President Harriett J. Calcagno, (2011), Treasurer & Immediate Past President Becky S. Michael, (2011), Secretary Alison First, (2009) Ellen McIntyre, (2009) Brett Neff, (2010) Jim Switzer, (2010) Shirley Washington (2010) Carla Davis, (advisor), ASCPL Marketing Communications Director Michael Derr, (advisor), ASCPL Marketing Events Supervisor Board members and officers are elected at the Annual Meeting. Board members serve a three (3) year term.