Friends of the Exeter Public Library

Mission

The mission of The Friends of the Exeter Public Library is to support and cooperate with the Exeter Public Library in obtaining resources and services for the public through fundraising, advocacy and volunteering. The Friends of the Exeter Public Library is formed exclusively for charitable, literary and educational purposes as specified in Sec 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended.

Committee

2026 Officers for Friends of Exeter Public Library

Co-presidents – Martha Walsh and Andrea Renz

Vice president – Hilary Ireland

Secretary – Carol Eberhardt

Treasurer – Roy Tellini

Bylaws of The Friends of the Exeter Public Library

Questions? Join us:

Friends Email: friendsofexeterpubliclibrary@gmail.com

Web Link: Facebook Page

The Friends of The Exeter Public Library is separate, non-profit community support group for the library. We assist the library by hosting fund raising events and by accepting donations on behalf of the library. Our members also provide a volunteer pool to the library to help with library events and to perform special projects such as maintaining the gardens adjacent to the library building and providing school supplies for the teen room.

We have a large mailing list and a small number of active members. There are volunteer roles for members that entail as llittle or as much time as the member is able to give.

Friends News

Results of the Exeter Town Election affecting our Library were discussed. Article 10 (Exeter Operating Budget which includes library funding) and Article 18 (which creates a $25,000 Trust Fund for Library Infrastructure) were both approved by the voters. The Trust Fund monies roll over if not used in the calendar year.

Congratulations were given to “Friends” Susan Feltus and Sarah James for their election to 3-year terms on the Election Library Board of Trustees and to “Friend” Kathy Boudreau for her election to a 2-year term on the Board.

The Community Oven Fundraiser will be held on Monday, April 27, from 4 PM to 8 PM. Shifts of Friends to sell raffle tickets will be 4-6 PM and 6-8 PM.

The Spring Craft Fair will be held May 2, 2026, from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. The volunteer shifts for the Friends raffle are 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM. Andrea Renz is the Lead. A sign–up sheet was circulated among those attending. Additional help is needed.

Fund raising for the Friends at Otto Pizza is scheduled for May18, 2026. Flyers for this event will be distributed in early May.

Community Day at Water Street Books on Thursday, July 2, 2026, will benefit the Friends of the Exeter Library. A percent of sales will be donated. Posters or flyers will be produced to publicize the event.

The Exeter Independence Festival is going to be extra-special on Saturday, July 11, 2026, since this is our country’s 250th anniversary. Events will be held all day. Sign-up sheets for the Friends activity and information table will be available as we get closer to July.

Library Friends are encouraged to complete the brief survey for the Library’s Long Range Plan and alert others to it as welll.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS:

Who is interested in becoming part of a great organization?? Come join our Group!

View the Meeting Minutes at the bottom of this page for more information.

Upcoming volunteer opportunities:

You can volunteer by emailing the Friends at friendsofexeterpubliclibrary@gmail.com

They will let you know of the many opportuntities to engage with the public for raising funds for the library.

Ideas for new activities are welcome - what's your passion and what's your vision for our group?

If you are a fan of Cribbage or want to learn how to play - Cribbage is every 2nd Saturday of each month from 10 am to noon. All levels of players, including Beginners are welcome!

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NEXT MEETING:

Next meeting: Tuesday, April 21 at 6:30 pm.

Community Monday at the Community Oven
845 Lafayette Road, Hampton
Monday, April 27 @ 4 - 9 PM

Support your library and enjoy pizza:

You can support our library by dining at the Community Oven between 4 pm and 9 pm on Monday April 27. The Friends of the Exeter Public Library will receive 20% of all dine in and take-out food sales (excluding orders entered via a delivery APP)

Cribbage at the Library

Cribbage will be on every

2nd Saturday of each month

@ 10 AM - 12 PM

What We Do and What We Have Done...

Hold raffles at the Library craft fairs
Assist the library by volunteering at community events such as LitFest, Craft Fairs, and more...
Decorated a tree with an educational theme about challenged and banned books at the 2023 Festival of Trees
Promote the library in the community in various ways, including writing letters to the editor of the local paper and staffing informational tables at various Exeter events
Donate school supplies for teens
Hold fundraisers at Sea Dog Brewery
Hold Cribbage groups once a month
Partnered with Water Street Books to raise funds for library events
Maintain the gardens around the sculpture and the rain garden at Founder's Park
Funded the new library sign at the Founders Park entrance
Participated in a volunteer fair at River Woods.
Participated in the Healthy Kids Day at the YMCA
Set up the Donate a Book program
Held a plant swap to collect plants for the library garden and get people to come down to the library
Held a "Kids Day Out" at the library with crafts and a movie for kids
Donated 4 card tables for Mahjong, bridge, and general use.
Donated binders and dividers for the teen adulting class series.
Fund adult music at the library programs
Fund Summer Reading events such as music and magicians for the Children's Room
Donated six multipurpose tables
Donated recording equipment for community podcasting space

Friends of the Library

PICTURES

Here are the photos from the Friends Gingerbread event. The gingerbread will be displayed at the Congregational Church on Thursday December 4 as part of the Exeter Holiday Block Party.