About Us
Mission Statement
To promote education and a higher quality of life through a strong library system, advocate for neighborhood libraries, strengthen support of the Murray Hill branch, and ensure that the Murray Hill branch library is open to all 7 days a week.
2020 and 2021 Accomplishments
The 21st Century Urban Library Study was underway in 2020 to access the physical spaces of 5 branches: Brentwood, Brown Eastside, Bill Brinton Murray Hill, Dallas Graham, and Westbrook. Except for Murray Hill, which was built 54 years ago, the rest were all built 60 to 80 years ago and are suspected of needing reconfiguration or replacement. The result of the work will be a report in which the library’s future capital improvement plans will be based.
Two of our Board members attended a NEFLIN (Northeast Florida Library Information Network) workshop on Feb. 4, 2020, to share ideas with other Friends groups.
Our Friends group covered the cost of Scooped childrens program held on February 6, 2020 in which they learned about the invention of the ice cream scoop and worked in teams to make homemade ice cream.
From March to May 2020 there was a pause due to covid outbreak. Physical libraries closed in mid-March 2020. Our Friends group paused meetings until we resumed via Zoom in July 2020.
During the closure, we continued to tend to the plants in front of the library, replacing several of the Mexican heather, trimming, cleaning up, wintering, and adding new mulch donated by Lowes.
Library reopened on September 28, 2020, with both inside and curbside service. (Meeting room still closed). We posted notices on facebook page and website and delivered a pastry basket as a “welcome back” treat for library staff members.
We sponsored a drawing at the library prior to election day. Everyone who had or got a library card and had an “I Voted” sticker was eligible to enter drawing. Winner got a $25 gift certificate donated by Moon River Pizza.
In January 2021 we facilitated the replacement of the artwork from Murray Hill Art Center.
On April 8, 2021, we delivered gift bags with treats to the library staff in honor of National Library Week.
On June 15, 2021, we set up a used book resale area at the library which has been a very popular addition. Used books are available for very inexpensive donations--$1.00 for hardbacks and $.50 for childrens and pocketbooks. We also met with Urban Library study consultants to share thoughts on improvements to library during our board meeting.
The opportunity for the public to tour the library and share ideas for improvement as part of the Urban Library Study was held on June 28, 2021. There was a good attendance from the community.
When Murray Hill-o-Ween resumed on October 23, 2021, we participated by having a games/crafts/treats table in front of the library.
On December 8th a zoom meeting was held to share with our board the status of the Urban Library Study. Then on January 20, 2022, the results of all 5 library proposals from the study were shared at Main Library. Proposed plan for Bill Brinton Murray Hill shows adding a separate childrens section by expanding out the back, creating an opportunity zone in the middle section where space can be sectioned off for use as needed, and adding lighting to the front of the library.
Folio Weekly Best of 2021 voted the Main Library the best library branch and Bill Brinton Murray Hill came in 2nd.
