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Welcome to the Spring Newsletter
As I sat down to write the "President's Letter" for this edition of the newsletter, it occurred to me that I simply didn't have anything relevant and timely to say.
Of course, some would argue that that is pretty much always the case with me. But, in keeping with the old adage, "If you don't have anything good (useful?) to say, don't say anything at all," I will keep this very brief.
As you will see from many of the articles in this edition, there are a lot of amazing things going on at the library with a little help from their Friends.
We're really excited about the outdoor space development that is scheduled to begin construction in the fall. Planning for the annual 4th of July book sale is underway, with a special pre-sale thrown in on July 3 for members only. Our fantastic online sales team listed its 10,000th book on eBay last month...a testament to its persistence and success. And, we, once again, were thrilled to award scholarships to two of Forest Hills' best graduating seniors.
I guess I did have something good to say. But, I'll leave it at that. Hope you can join us for the 4th of July sale. It's always a great time!
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Benefits of a Friend's Membership
When you become a Friend, you help support an important part of the social fabric of your community. Plus, you earn "Early Bird" privileges at most book sales, which means you gain entry to the sales in advance of non-members to have first shot at the books of greatest interest to you. And, we will notify you of any scheduled book sales or special events. So, you'll never miss out on an opportunity.
Scholarships
Scholarships Awarded to 2 FH Seniors
Two Forest Hills seniors recently received $1,500 scholarships from the Friends of the Cascade Library to provide financial assistance as they move on to college in the fall. The 2023 scholarship winners are Sreejay Ramakrishnan (Forest Hills Eastern) and Summer Wu (Forest Hills Central).
The Friends of the Cascade Library Memorial Scholarship program was launched in 2008 as a tribute to Marilyn Meyer, a founding member of the group, in partnership with an anonymous donor who funded half of the scholarship.
Several years ago, the Friends increased the number of scholarships awarded to two. In addition to academic achievement, the criteria for the awards focus on community service and a commitment to volunteering, especially within the library system.
Many former and current members of the Friends were teachers or were otherwise involved in the educational system, which make this scholarship program a natural fit for the Friends, according to the group’s president, Joe David.
“The scholarship program acknowledges a continuous commitment to learning and volunteerism on the part of these amazing students,” David explained. “And, in a small way, it reinforces those behaviors, which are increasingly important in our world today.”
Sreejay Ramakrishnan
Sreejay is graduating from Forest Hills Eastern High School with a 4.357 GPA. He is planning to attend the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan to study business, public policy, and psychology.
Sreejay’s teachers describe him as leader in the classroom, the school and the community…as a collaborator whose positive energy and willingness to listen help synthesize differing opinions within a group.
Volunteerism and compassion are important to Sreejay, according to the Billy Bear Hug Foundation, where he “has been a terrific ambassador for our mission,” which is to comfort children with critical illnesses.
“I’ve always been a person that likes to help others, get involved in my community, and make a difference in any way that I can,” Sreejay said. “If there is anything that I have the power to do to make others just a little bit happier, or help someone with a small act, I will do it. Simply, I enjoy volunteering.
“Surrounding myself with and getting involved in clubs at my high school that focus on volunteerism and leadership have increased my interest in volunteering. Being a part of the Kids Food Basket Youth Action Board and Billy Bear Hug Youth Advisory Board has augmented my passion for giving back. Knowing that I can make a difference in someone’s life fulfills me, and I strive to continue my passion of volunteerism and service into my future.”
Summer Wu
Summer is graduating from Forest Hills Central School with a 4.000 GPA. She plans on attending the University of Michigan in the fall, majoring in chemistry. Much of Summer’s volunteerism was in direct support of the Kent District Library where she helped develop virtual and in-person programs teaching Python and Scratch at the Kentwood and Wyoming branches.
A programming specialist at the Kentwood branch said that Summer’s communication skills, punctuality and responsibility are what make her a great volunteer, not just a good one, and that she is “a dedicated community servant who looks to improve everything around her.”
In teaching programming skills to young students, Summer said it is “the little moments that stand out…an enthusiastic thumbs-up from a tiny third grader, raucous laughter from an excited student and a quiet smile from a bashful young girl when her code works for the first time.”
Summer said she credits her introduction to volunteering to a Forest Hills Central alum named Andy Travis, who also won a Friends scholarship in 2020. “He is one of the founders of Coders4Tomorrow, and he inspired me to engage in community outreach throughout my time in high school.”
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Summer Wu and Sreejay Ramakrishnan
book sales
Independence Day Book Sale to Include 'Members Only Pre-sale' on July 3
The Friends will hold their annual Independence Day book sale from 8:30 am to 3 pm on July 4th but with a twist this year. The doors will open the day before between 3 and 5 pm for a “Members-Only Presale” to give members an early bird opportunity to purchase their favorite books, according to Kathy Sullivan, event planner.
“We’ve never been able to do something special for our members in the past because the logistics were simply unmanageable,” she explained. “But, by setting up the inside portion of the sale early on July 3, we will be able to invite our members for a pre-sale event.”
While only about two-thirds of all the books will be displayed inside, the most popular categories will be available in the pre-sale. “We won’t set up the outside book tables until the morning of July 4,” Sullivan explained, “but there will be plenty of great options inside for members the day before.”
The Friends will have a membership table set up where lapsed or expiring memberships can be renewed and new memberships can be acquired for anyone wishing to attend the pre-sale. “If your membership status is active, remember to bring your membership card to expedite entry into the sale,” advised Judy Gillen, membership chairperson.
The Friends expect to have more than 20,000 books, CDs, DVDs and magazines displayed in the two-day sale, including nonfiction, fiction, biographies, cookbooks, religious books, self-help, lifestyle, classics, children’s and more.
“In 2019 we decided to move part of the sale inside the Wisner Center to give shoppers some respite from the brutal 100-degree heat,” explained Sullivan. “While that arrangement has benefitted both shoppers and volunteers working the event, some people still don’t realize that there are a lot more books inside than there are outside. We’re hoping to resolve that problem with more signs and volunteers giving direction.”
The Fourth of July sale is the Friends single biggest event of the year, with many of the thousands of people who come out for the township’s holiday festivities dropping in for some low-priced used books.
“We’ve actually reduced our prices from their pre-pandemic level,” Sullivan said. Adult hard cover books are $1, paperbacks are $0.50, and oversize books are $2. Children’s hard covers are $0.50 and paperbacks $0.25. CDs, DVDs, and books on tape are $0.50.
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Members-Only Presale on July 3 followed by the "main event" on July 4.
Projects
Outdoor Space Enhancements Approved; Set to Begin Construction in the Fall
The Friends and Cascade Library management have shared a vision for more than a year: the creation of a picturesque and functional outdoor space behind the library that would offer a safe and welcoming area for relaxation, family gatherings and community events.
Designed as a four-phase project initially, the Friends agreed to fund Phase 1 to get the dream rolling. With Cascade Township’s approval of the construction plans in March and the Downtown Development Authority’s approval of funds for phases 2-4, the dream is about to become a reality, according to Lulu Brown, Cascade Regional Manager I.
“It is so exciting to have everything come together and with such enthusiasm on the part of the township,” Brown said. “The library is already a gathering place for people in the community, and I think the enhancements to the outdoor space are going to make it even more of a destination for those who want to commune with nature or simply have a beautiful place to share with friends or family.”
With funding secured for the entire project, all four phases will be completed simultaneously, Brown said, with construction slated to begin this fall and be completed by spring 2024.
The outdoor park will include perennial garden spaces, seating areas, a fountain, benches, a rain garden, enhanced woodland areas, granite stone trails, picnic areas, sidewalks, woodland play areas, up to a 60-foot pavilion, nature trails and much more.
“There are still a lot of details to nail down,” Brown said, “but it’s truly a labor of love.” One of those details involves landscaping, gardening and maintenance of the new area. While the Parks Committee and township expect to handle the majority of the work, the Friends also believe some of their volunteers will want to lend a hand.
“Many of our volunteers love landscaping and gardening,” according to Joe David, Friends president. “And, several of them have already said they want to be involved. I think we’re all just so excited about this and want to do everything we can to ensure that it is a success.”
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The new outdoor park is scheduled to open in the spring of 2024.
Volunteer Corner
Judy Vana: Hard-Working, Reliable...and Fun
Editor’s Note: Those of us who work alongside other volunteers in the basement of the library, sorting thousands of books for resale, know firsthand just how much their commitment, passion, sense of humor and concern for others make it a wonderful and meaningful way to invest time and talents in the community.
Pat Sajak may have Vanna White. But, we have a Vana of our own…Judy Vana. And, she is a perfect example of why our volunteers are some of the best anywhere. In addition to being a regular fixture at our book sales events, Judy regularly volunteers on our online sales team, primarily listing books for sale on eBay.
She is hard-working, dedicated and reliable. But even more importantly, she’s fun to be around, a characteristic that is invaluable on a volunteer team and anywhere else in life. We asked Judy to tell you a little about herself, and here’s what she had to say.
By Judy Vana
It all began at Breton Downs Elementary School when I was in third grade. Because of a summer weekly bookmobile stop at our school, I became hooked on reading books and the joy and adventure they introduced into my life. I simply could not wait to visit the bookmobile and choose new books to devour each week. I guess it is pretty safe to say that is likely why I love working with books every chance I get.
But, there are a lot of other reasons, too. My mother was an elementary school librarian. My family always provided books for me to read or to read to me as a child. I was a teacher. I was the book buyer for Santa Claus Girls for many years. And, now I am blessed to still have books of all types pass through my hands when I volunteer in the shipping room for the Friends of the Library. It is such fun! And, a real bonus of this work is the wonderful friends I have made there.
I have raised three sons and am blessed with many grandchildren and even a couple great-grandchildren. But, no matter how many children and grandchildren enter my life, I continue to stack “future reads” on my nightstand and always look forward to the next volume. I am currently enjoying “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Gamus. What’s on your nightstand?
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Judy Vana hefts a stack of Louise Penny books to list on eBay.
Your Donations at Work
'Dino Dig' a Huge Success with the Kids; 'Touch-A-Truck' Up Next
Editor's Note: The Friends are able to help fund many events, programs and equipment needs of the Cascade Branch of KDL thanks to the donation of time, money and used books from members of the community. Here is just one of the ways that your generosity has been put to work in recent months. These activities are sponsored in whole or in part by the Friends.
Cascade Library had a Spring Break bash on April 5 with the Dino Dig program, which attracted more than 600 kids and parents who enjoyed the crafts, scavenger hunt, and reptiles. The Friends financial support played a huge part in making the program an amazing family experience, according to Leigh Verburg, branch outreach and programming specialist.
“Without the support of the Friends, we never would have been able to get reptiles or the prize for the scavenger hunt,” she said. “One little girl told us that, ‘This was better than the unicorn party!’”
Currently, the library is preparing for summer and all the wonder that it brings. Verburg said regular storytimes will be paused in May to prepare to go into the schools to promote reading during the summer break.
“Our first big summer kickoff event will be June 9, a “Touch-a-Truck” event,” she said. “This annual event is great for kids to see, up close, many of the emergency vehicles in a calm and non-stressful environment while also showcasing all the amazing community workers and first responders that keep our community running. Join us this summer for lots of fun and learning!”
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More than 600 people came out for the inaugural "Dino" Dig" event in April.
Milestones
Online Team Hits 10,000th Listing with L. Frank Baum's 'John Doe & the Cherub'
From 0 to 10,000 listings in seven years. That’s how many books and other media the Friends online sales team has listed on eBay since the group’s inception in 2015, according to team leader Gail Rapp.
“I think it’s hard to appreciate how much commitment that kind of volume requires from a team of volunteers who get nothing personally from their efforts other than the satisfaction of helping people find their favorite books and generating funds to support the library,” she said.
As with most good ideas, the online sales effort started small with one volunteer, Laurel Ingram, selling textbooks. Soon after, another volunteer, Nancy Harper, proposed that they “go bigger” and begin listing the more collectible and valuable books on eBay to reach more customers and save the sometimes fragile books from the rigors of being moved repeatedly and mysteriously disappearing from book sale events.
So, Harper assembled a team of five, developed procedures, and established a very modest original goal of $50 in sales per month. However, sales were better than anticipated right from the start and, in recent years, monthly sales totals have regularly exceeded $3,500, or even $4,000, as the team has grown in size, with specialists who do research to establish a book’s value, photograph the books for the posting, list the information and pictures on the eBay marketplace, and package and ship the prized possessions to buyers.
Listings have expanded beyond books to include other media, such as CDs, DVDs, comics, magazines and laser disks. And, Rapp said the numbers tell the story best when it comes to appreciating all the effort that has gone into achieving 10,000 listings.
“A rough calculation indicates that between 500,000 and 750,000 used books were handled by our sorters and that they identified 200,000 books for us to research,” she said. “Our photographers took and saved over 100,000 pictures of the books, and our listers invested more than 1,000 hours posting them on eBay.”
She added that they sell nearly 80 percent of the books they list, which means the packers and shippers had nearly 8,000 books to mail out to buyers. The money from these sales support expansion projects and programming needs for the Cascade Library and KDL.
“All of this begins with the generosity of community members who donate their books to the Friends,” Rapp said. “We welcome any donations and promise that every book, magazine, DVD and CD is looked over, sorted and placed where it can do the most good for the community. No donated book ever ends up in a landfill.”
Friends President Joe David said that it was virtually impossible to adequately thank the volunteers who have turned a good idea into eye-popping results. “It’s a perfect example of a couple of creative volunteers who, with the help of many other volunteers, turned a rough concept into a very concrete and significant revenue-generating outcome for the Friends and the library.”
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A children's book from the author of "The Wizard of Oz" was the 10,000th listing.
Book Discussions
'Apples Never Fall' Closes Discussion Season
The Cascade Book Discussion group will meet at 10 am on May 15 in the library’s Wisner Center for some season-ending insights into “Apples Never Fall” by Liane Moriarty.
"Apples Never Fall" is all about the Delany family, the parents, Stan and Joy, and their four children. After fifty years of marriage and with all of their children having left the nest, Stan and Joy decide to sell their tennis academy and start the golden years of their life.
What follows is a glimpse into the semi-dysfunctional relationships of the entire family that winds up generously sprinkling healthy doses of angst, joy and humor into the story.
“It’s an absolutely delightful book, and you can’t help falling in love with the characters, even with all their faults,” said Joe David, Friends volunteer.
This is the last book in the 2022-2023 discussion season. The 2023-2024 season will begin in mid-September.
Participation in the discussions continues to ramp back up to pre-pandemic levels, according to Sara Mosely, discussion moderator. “We had about 20 people join us in April,” she said. “It’s great to see book lovers coming out again to share their ideas and hear what others have to say.”
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Next up for the Book Discussion group.
Membership News
Is It Time to Renew Your Membership?
Has your Friends membership expired, or is it about to expire (your expiration date is on your membership card)? If so, now would be a great time to make sure it remains active so that you can enjoy “Early Bird” privileges for the Independence Day pre-sale on July 3.
Our membership numbers have remained fairly level over the last several years, with approximately 345 members. Of those, nearly a third are Lifetime members. We would love to see those numbers begin to move upward to show the community’s support for all the library does to improve the quality of life for children, adults and families.
We have not increased membership dues for many years so as to encourage greater numbers of people to become Friends. Annual dues for students and seniors are just $5, $10 for adults, and $15 for families. A Lifetime membership is $100.
There are several ways to renew or purchase a new membership:
(1) Go to our online store, select the type of membership you want and follow the prompts to check out.
(2) Download the membership application form at the bottom of our website’s membership page, complete it and return it to the library in person or by mail (2870 Jacksmith Ave SE, Grand Rapids MI 49546) with your payment.
(3) Renew or join at the Membership Table at the next book sale.
In addition to supporting the library and earning early admission to book sales, you will also receive a voucher for a free book of your choice from the Friends’ Chapter Two bookstore in the library.
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Keep an eye on the "Expiration" date on your membership card so you know when to renew.