“The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.”

April, 2025 Donor Annual Report

Once again, thanks to you, the W.T. Bland Public Library had the second highest circulation in 2023- 24, with over 285,000 items borrowed from the library. Program attendance at our library – from story times to learning labs, concerts and tech classes – are the highest in Lake County, exceeding 22,000 people in 2023-24. Your support of the Friends of the Library enabled us to attract over 10,000 folks to our Summer Learning program, which is a hugely significant and impactful result. Our library continues to engage readers and provides a learning environment for all ages. Your donations matter.

We are a winning team!  The creative vision and work of the library staff to provide exceptional reading and learning experiences for children are met by your donations, the volunteer hours of Friends of the Library along with FOL fund raisers.    We have been a winning team providing services that make a great impact on the community. In 2023-2024 to date, according to President Cheryl Schwyzer, the FOL helped provide the following:

• Early Literacy Story Times – 5 days a week!
• Summer Learning Programs – over 10,000 children reached
• 1000 Books Before Kindergarten
• Free books for preschools, including Headstart
• Free books at holiday events and learning labs
• Forest Preserve Story Book Walk – New monthly stories!
• Lobby Experiences
• Continuing our partnership  helps provide the above programs through 2025 with additional literacy-based Initiatives requested by our librarians such as the purchase of a collection of Early Chapter Books. These books bridge the gap from picture books to chapter books. The Friends of the Library have already approved this purchase as well as new Board Books designed for Sweet Pea Story Time.

P.S. Our children in Mount Dora are the future. Many of them depend on the support they get from our public library, so please send any gift today! You can donate online below.

The Friends of the Library is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, so your donation is fully tax deductible.