The Friends of Hamilton Library, a nonprofit organization, provides year-round services to the Hamilton Township Library and Hamilton residents, such as the used book sales that it hosts at the library five times a year.
The next such sale will be on Nov. 16 and 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. But that is just one of many things the all-volunteer organization does.
The organization works to help the library and community through fundraising and events, with the book sales being their primary source of revenue. Many library’s services are not funded by taxes, making book sales proceeds a major resource for the library programs and services.
Hamilton FOTL accepts books, ebooks, magazines, puzzles, anime and manga, CD and DVD donations, which are then sold during their large sales throughout the year. Donated items must be appropriate and in good condition. Books of all different genres are sold at the sales.
Typically, each sales raises around $5,000, bringing the annual total to around $25,000 every year.
The Hamilton Library also receives funding from the library store, which is also run by volunteers from the FOTL. The library store is on the main floor of the library, where the FOTL sells books, ebooks, magazines, puzzles, anime and manga, CDs and DVDs on a much smaller scale. Hawke says that the store had raised around $12,000 for the 2024 year as of mid-August.
Some donations are also sold on the Hamilton FOTL’s eBay. Typically, books sold at the in-person major sales are sold at around $5, unless they are rare books, and eBay is where Hamilton FOTL sells their more valuable and expensive items. Some rare items that Hamilton FOTL sold recently were Star Wars Christmas decorations and a Hot Wheels collection.
The organization also funds programs for children, teenagers and adults, respectively. For children, Hamilton FOTL holds summer reading groups where kids have the chance to earn prizes, such as Barnes and Noble gift cards. They also have music programs for kids. For teenagers, Hamilton FOTL has held speaker events that spoke about figuring out what careers to pursue.
In 2023 and 2024, they’ve had several adult programs, including Linda Kenyon’s “Julia Says: Bon Appetit” and “A Life of My Own: Meeting Eleanor Roosevelt,” Michelle Wilson’s “Harriett Tubman and Legends and Lore of the Jersey Pines” and a Juneteenth 2024 Zawadi African Dance and Drum Performance.
In addition to the organization’s age-based programs, they also host events that are beneficial to the Hamilton community, such as blood drives and CPR classes. Hamilton FOTL also helps Hamilton schools by having book giveaways for local teacher’s classrooms. In summer 2024, they gave away more than 1,000 books. The organization also provide the four Hamilton township high schools senior awards of $250 each for high-achieving students.
Another contribution by the FOTL is from former president Isabelle Hickman, an original member, who formed The Quilt Project’s Committee during her time. The Quilt Project’s Committee saw members and senior citizens sew a hand-made quilt that hangs in the Hamilton Library. Each square on the quilt depicts a facet of township history.
Squares include Bow Hill Mansion, Lenape Native Americans, Mayor Rafferty, Abbot House, Hamilton Township Seal, Hamilton Township Municipal Building, Hamilton Square Monument and Kuser Mansion.
Hamilton FOTL has a budget of $57,000 for 2024 and plans to allocate it as follows: $5,400 for display cases, $16,000 for eBooks, $10,000 for family and adult programs, $10,000 for children’s programs and events, $3,000 for museum passes, $1,500 for movie licensing and $1,000 for Hamilton Historian.
April saw the 40th anniversary of the organization. Hamilton FOTL was originally formed in 1982, but was disbanded before ever formally meeting. It was restarted again in April 1984. Many of the original members were retired or current school teachers, and still today, many members are former teachers or librarians.
Carol Hawke, a resident of Hamilton, joined the FOTL two years ago and has served as president for the last year. Hawke says one challenge Hamilton FOTL faces is finding younger volunteers.
“If you work, you can’t volunteer during the day,” she explains.
Hawke also said that she wishes more Hamilton residents knew of the work and services that FOTL volunteers provide.
“I don’t think a lot of people know what the library has,” Hawke said. “People don’t realize that your taxes aren’t paying for [every library service]. If [Hamilton FOTL] didn’t fund these programs, they wouldn’t be there for people to do.”
Despite that, Hawke is proud of how much Hamilton FOTL has grown since 1984.
Email: hamiltonfotl@gmail.com.
