The following articles offer a glimpse into some of the programs and infrastructure that has been funded in part by The Friends of the Tigard Library:
Summer Reading Program Breaks Records!
September 10, 2014
2014 was a record-breaking year for the Tigard Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, with 2,339 children, 570 teens and 372 adults registered! We applaud our community and celebrate our Summer Readers!
Tigard Library 10th Anniversary Party!
August 23, 2014
This is an excerpt from September 2014 Tigard Library “Books ‘n Bits”:
The Tigard Public Library building shared its 10th birthday with 475 enthusiastic members of the community. Thank you to everyone who helped celebrate this milestone. Many people got silly in the photo booth with handmade props (silliness is what birthday parties are for). Picante Latin Jazz band entertained the audience with toe-tapping rhythms. Burke the Balloon artist inflated, twisted and knotted a whole menagerie of animals for kids. The dedication of the George and Yvonne Burgess Community Room was a moving tribute to two long-time loyal library supporters. We celebrate the community as you celebrated the library. Without you, Tigard might not have this library building to enjoy. Thanks!
Super Bowl Sunday
February 2, 2014
The Friends helped with the big screen showing of the Super Bowl in the Burgess Community Room and provided the food and drinks for those in attendance. This is always a popular even, even more so as our neighbors from Seattle won the game.
January Friends’ Sponsored Children Events
February 1, 2014
The library was a popular place for kids and adults in January. About 750 attended four programs sponsored by the Friends! There were book lovers who faithfully attend reading clubs, and about 700 showed up to enjoy the Oregon Symphony Story Time.
January Friends’ Sponsored Adult Events
February 1, 2014
Over 140 adults attended four library programs sponsored by the Friends in January. The leader of the pack was Square Dancing, with 61 in attendance. The other programs were Financial Planning, Gentle Yoga and Oregon State Hospital History.
Local Business Endorsements
November 12, 2013
We use two businesses during our book sales and want to highly recommend them.
The first is “Redefyne Moving” in Portland. They load and move boxes, tables, and other items into the sale as well as move them out afterward. They work hard and are reliable and professional. The second is “Signscope Signs” on Pacific Highway in Tigard. They made the signs posted on Hall Blvd. regarding the sale that are responsible for a large portion of our advertising. Both companies contribute to our successful sales and we are thankful to them. Please consider giving both your business.
The Long Arm of the Friends
September 1, 2013
From the library’s September 2013 edition of “Books N Bits”:
“Friends can become angels. Tigard’s Friends of the Library have long been our angels, but they reach out to others in need, too. Donna McClelland, a library patron and volunteer, mentioned to Friends’ president Kathy Sleeger that a local children’s urgent care center could use some kids books for their waiting room.
She spoke to the right person since Kathy sorts through all the donations the Friends receive from the library. Kathy’s generous reach grew a little longer as she reached into boxes of books and found an armful for Donna to deliver to the Randall Children’s Hospital Urgent Care center on Cornell Road. The Randall Center treats kids in evenings and on weekends for injuries and illnesses that need immediate attention. The Friends truly know how to pay it forward.”
Thank you for a wonderful concert
Monday, December 3, 2012
An email message regarding the Aaron Meyer concert:
“Tonight’s concert with Aaron Meyer was really wonderful. Thanks so much to the Friends of the Library and Aaron Meyer for this rich night of music. The joy and gratitude in the crowd was palpable and I hope the FOTL feel how much this great gift meant to the community.”
In response: We are so glad to be able to make these events available to our community. Hopefully the opportunity will present itself again this year for another one of Aaron’s concerts.
What’s in a Name?
February 29, 2012
This is an excerpt from March 2012 Tigard Library “Books ‘n Bits”:
In February the Tigard City Council voted to rename the library’s Community Room the “George and Yvonne Burgess Community Room” in honor of two long-time library supporters who have made a tremendous difference to the library and to the community. The Tigard Library Board proposed the name change to the City Council to recognize the Burgesses’ extraordinary contributions.
At the time of his death in November 2011, George had been president of the Friends of the Tigard Library for more than 30 years. Yvonne served on the Tigard Library Board two different times and has been secretary of the Friends for decades. Under their leadership, the Friends have donated more than $500,000 to the library. Yvonne is still active in the Friends and volunteers weekly at the library.
The Burgesses exemplify the words of Andrew Carnegie. They recognized how an active, popular library reflects favorably on the community. And they dedicated their time and talents to ensure that the Tigard Library thrived.
What’s in a name? In this case it’s a well-deserved tribute to two dedicated people whose lives were devoted to improving their community. Their commitment has been an inspiration and has served as an example to others who have become loyal volunteers in the city.
FAREWELL, FRIEND
November 4, 2011
This is an excerpt from December 2011 Tigard Library’s “Books & Bits”:
Farewell, Friend
One of the Library’s oldest and dearest Friends passed away in November. George Burgess was president of the Friends of the Tigard Public Library for more than 25 years. He and his wife Yvonne, a former Library Board member, devoted many, many hours to raise funds for and awareness of the library. As a result the Friends have contributed more than a quarter-million dollars to the library over the years. Artwork, the adult reading program, kids and teens book clubs, the cultural pass program and Tigard Reads are just a few of the gifts from the Friends to the Library. They were instrumental in convincing the community to build a new library…twice…in 1986 and 2002. As Friends, George and Yvonne are the gold standard.
Albert Schweitzer said, “In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”
Thank you, George.”
URLING FAMILY’S $125,000 GIFT WILL HELP FUND FUTURE LIBRARY NEEDS
from the Oregonian May 1, 2010
“The Friends of the Tigard Library recently received a substantial bequest from the Harry and Nell Urling family, its largest gift in five years. The Friends have transferred $125,000 of this gift to the Tigard Library Foundation. This generous donation will be earmarked as an endowment fund to address the future capital needs of the Tigard Library.
“The Tigard Public Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private, non-profit corporation. The Foundation’s mission is to provide resources to support the Tigard Library, focusing on technology and capital improvements. Bequeste, contributions, and planned giving can be made to the Tigard Library Foundation, 13500 SW Hall Blvd., Tigard, OR 97223.
“The Tigard Library is on track to exceed circulation of over 1 million items this year. It is the cultural and educational hub of the Tigard community. As evidenced by the jam-packed parking lot in these tough economic times, the community depends on the library to provide state-of-the-art access to the world of information, not only for the recreational reader and researcher but also for the job seeker.
“The Foundation Board thanks the Urling family and the Friends of the Library for this unexpected generosity.
VOLUNTEERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
8-14-08
Joyce and Geoff Caron deserve a lot of the credit for the success of our ongoing used book sale in the library lobby. To read the entire article, download the pdf >>
Join Our Family: Where citizen volunteers make the difference
Each year, more than 200 local residents contribute thousands of hours of their time to help make the community and their city a better place to live, do business and raise families. To read the entire article, download the pdf >>
