Summer Learning Kicks Off |
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Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources offers a full season of summer learning programs for all ages, designed to spark imagination, inspire creativity, and support lifelong learning. The Library Foundation is proud to be the presenting sponsor of this initiative, which helps children stay engaged with learning when school is out. Last year, more than 20,000 residents participated in these programs. To view the full schedule across all 10 branches, click here.
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Community Foundation of Sarasota County Supports Libraries |
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A big thank you to the Community Foundation of Sarasota County for a recent $25,000 grant. This grant will support the Library’s summer learning programs, along with the Library Foundation’s advocacy and professional development efforts that strengthen community awareness and impact.
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Rock the Shelf Library Awards |
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Each year, the Library Foundation proudly sponsors two Rock the Shelf Library awards -- one for an individual and one for a team. These awards support professional development for library staff. The 2025 team award was presented to the North Port Library, which used the funds to create a valuable learning experience that will strengthen their ability to serve the community. Thank you to our donors who make these growth opportunities possible and help library staff continue to excel.
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Advocating for strong public libraries is a key focus of the Library Foundation for Sarasota County, and that work starts with education. This spring, in partnership with the Florida Nonprofit Alliance, we brought together Foundation board members, local library Friends groups, and the Library Foundation of Manatee County to ensure volunteers have the tools and knowledge they need to champion our public libraries -- especially in response to potentially harmful legislation, such as proposed reductions in property tax revenue which would severely limit library services.
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Sarasota County Libraries recently added ABCmouse thanks to a grant from the Koski Family Foundation and the Bladel Charitable Trust. Grants from these two generous donors make free multi-year access to the ABCmouse Early Literacy online platform possible, ensuring thousands of preschoolers have age-appropriate early learning tools at the library or at home. These grants will help children build the foundational skills needed for school success and provide equitable learning opportunities for families across the county.
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Friends of the library play a vital role in supporting the incredible work of our library branches. Our Foundation’s Executive Director, Alisa Mitchell, recently welcomed new Friends group members and introduced them to the work of the Library Foundation. We’re excited to work together to raise community awareness and deepen appreciation for the programs and resources our libraries provide every day. To learn more about becoming a member of a friends group, visit the Library’s Friends of the Library page.
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Remembering Isabel Norton |
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We were deeply saddened to learn this weekend of the passing of our dear friend, Isabel Norton. Isabel was a remarkable woman who championed so many organizations in our community, including the Library Foundation. She served as president of the Library Foundation from 2019 – 2022, leading our organization through a period of remarkable transformation and growth. Isabel was a passionate reader who loved libraries and the role they play in a vibrant democracy.
Our former board member Charlie Huisking captured her impact perfectly with this comment: “In her quiet, genteel way, Isabel was a force of nature who did so much, not just for the Library Foundation, but for the entire community. She was defined by her grace, wit, kindness and determination to do good. I always left an interaction with her feeling better about the world.” We are so grateful we had Isabel in our world. |
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Great communities
deserve great libraries. |
Your tax-deductible gift helps ensure the future of our libraries as an indispensable community resource. Learn about all the ways to give here. Thank you for your generous support. |
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We champion strong public libraries, support innovation and help to extend the library system’s reach for everyone in Sarasota. |
The Library Foundation for Sarasota County is a qualified tax exempt charity under §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture Consumer Services under §496.405, Registration No. CH35489 |
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