From Library Director Ryan Johnson:

Just four years ago (although it feels like eight with COVID mixed in) the Friends of the O’Fallon Public Library elected a new president, Ray Farmer.  A few months after that, I took over as director.  It’s been a joy and a privilege to work with Ray and the rest of the Friends group these past four years.  Ray’s second term as president comes to an end on December 31 and I want to use this space partly as a retrospective and partly as a thank-you for a job well done. 

Having a strong Friends group is an incredible asset to the library. During Ray’s time at the lead, the Friends have increased their annual revenues to around $60,000.  This is due in large part to the work of Greg and Diane Zelinske, who manage the group’s online sales and the perpetual book sale on the library’s first floor.   

Greg and Diane even managed to keep accepting donations during the worst of the pandemic, with lines of cars often backed up to the post office waiting to drop off.  They are here almost every day to check on recently donated items, ship out books sold on Amazon, and restock the shelves in the Book Nook.  Of course, Greg and Diane don’t do this alone.  They have a group of other volunteers who pitch in and help make that magic happen. 

Another big revenue source for the Friends is our Annual Book Sale in late April and early May.  Ann Morey has run this for years and each year we see more and more shoppers, and more and more sales.  Obviously, the Friends group benefits financially from these big sales, but it also helps them clear out inventory so that they can accept even more book donations from the community.  Many of you reading this article shop at the book sale each Spring and donate inventory. Thank you – we couldn’t do it without you! 

All this fundraising allows the group to tackle big initiatives.  The biggest one to date is their work with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL).  There are currently over 600 local kids enrolled in this program and receiving a free book each month.  If you don’t yet know how the program works, you can learn all about it at ofpl.info/dolly.   

I remember many long conversations with Ray as we were considering this partnership with DPIL.  Any time you tackle a project of this scope there are “what ifs?” and second guessing.  I’m glad Ray had the vision and tenacity to build support for the program, get it launched, and grow it to what it is today.   

Another conversation I had with Ray early on in our tenure concerned an outdoor space at the library.  We tossed around the idea of a gazebo or a traditional pavilion.  While the project took longer than either of us expected, I’m proud to say that we got done.  It’s been amazing to see Miss Julie’s classes use the new Outdoor Activity Space over the last several months reading, singing, and running around.   

During Ray’s tenure as president, the group has also started an annual Speaker Series event at O’Fallon Station, an annual Trivia Night at the VFW, and funded numerous projects (some big, some small) around the library.  Just recently they supplied financial support for the purchase of diapers to help families in need.   

Ray will be the first to tell you all these accomplishments have been a team effort.  And that is true.  But good teams need good leaders, and that is what Ray has been.  He has helped grow the Friends of the O’Fallon Public Library to an elite status.  In my role with the Illinois Library Association, I get to interact with library leaders and stakeholders from all over the State.  I have yet to hear of a Friends group that is better than the one right here in O’Fallon.     

Ray, I hope you are proud of all the great work the Friends have accomplished during your time at the helm.  I’m glad you will continue to be involved with the group moving forward.  Thank you for everything you’ve done!