Our History

EDITOR’S NOTE: So much of history gets lost because no one writes it down or saves documents. The FRIENDS are grateful to lifetime member Delores Granito for compiling a 40-page history of the FRIENDS in 2009. What follows is the introduction she wrote to explain her process. You may download the history by clicking the Download button at the end of this introduction. Thank you, Delores!

The Story of the Friends of the Pine Island Public Library

Reading and looking over every note, treasurer ledgers, newspaper clippings, secretary minutes, and photos was like going back in a time machine. One could feel the needs, the concerns, and the time spent to get the Friends of the Pine Island Library to grow from the seed that was planted in 1982 to what it is today, in 2009.

The minutes, cancelled checks, treasurer reports, and membership lists provided me with what follows. There will be some errors, but hopefully minor ones.

The history of the Friends of the Pine Island Library is not a stand-alone story. We are part of the Pine Island Library, and what happened with the Pine Island Library and with its Library Advisory Board also impacted us. I concentrated mainly on the Friends and their development, and what you will read is an evolvement of our Story. I took some editorial license by interjecting my thoughts (in italics) into the telling of the Friends’ Story. Please keep in mind that these thoughts of mine are not part of the history.

At the end of the Story is a list of members from the very first day of the Friends’ formation with the year of their joining us. Over 450 names can be credited with being supporters of the Friends of the Pine Island Library.