Friends of the Albany Public Library
In 1941, the Friends of the Albany Public Library was established to provide funds for programs and equipment not covered by the City budget. As the services offered by the Library continue to increase, the support of the Friends becomes ever more important. For more information contact us at folalbanyor@gmail.com
Make a donation to the Friends or pay your membership dues.
Help us keep your collection fresh, relevant, and popular. This year your donations will pay for 100% of all items added to the collection. This includes the titles you really want; maintaining our eBooks, eAudiobooks and much more.
Continue to support the best Summer Reading Program in the state! In 2023 we gave out reading prizes and nearly 12,000 new books to children in our community. Next summer our goal is to give 13,000 new books to children in our community, plus fantastic prizes from local businesses.
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Friends of the Library Book Store Hours at the Main Library
The Friend’s Book Store is open!
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
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Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The Friends of the Albany Public Library serves a vast range of individuals with unique experiences and characteristics. We affirm that the Friends of the Library serves everyone in our community. We encourage an inclusive environment that promotes freedom of speech in conjunction with policies that protect patrons, volunteers and library staff of all gender, national origin, ethnicity, religion, race, sexual orientation, disability, income level, age and all other personal, social, cultural and economic perspectives.
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Programs at Noon
Sept. 13 Ed Loy, historian and author (Albany Gem of the Willamette Valley: a History of Albany, Oregon) discussing his new book, Chasing the Echo: Charles W. Watts and the Call of the Klondike.
Oct. 11 Tessa Woodward will read from Encounters, short stories from the back-road lanes and villages of the English countryside. A collection of short stories as written and read by Tessa Woodward, straight from Kent, England.
Dec. 13 OSU professor emerita, Chris Anderson, reading poetry from his book, Love Calls us Home: The Divine Meets us Here and Nowhere Else
Jan. 10 John Larison , film-maker, discussing his new book, On Assignment: Memoir of a National Geographic Filmmaker
Feb. 14 Kristina Corso, PCP, presents a program on cooking /eating for a healthy life.
April 11 Stacey Bartholomew, director of Creating Housing Coalition and/or Dr. Gary Goby talking about the history of and concept behind the creation of Hub City Village, the tiny home community which opened the summer of 2024 near Waverly Lake in Albany.
May 9 Dr. Julia Allen and Jocelyn Cohen speaking on their book Women Making History, a personal account of setting out on a life intent on uncovering forgotten women in American history and enhancing feminist memory in a totally innovative way.
All programs begin at noon in the library meeting room. Coffee/Tea and cookies will be served.
Become a Friend of Albany Public Library
April is membership month
- To join the Friends, please stop by the Bookstore, or pick up a brochure at either Library. Please make checks payable to: FRIENDS OF THE ALBANY PUBLIC LIBRARY. Mail to 2450 14th Ave. SE, Albany, OR, 97322-6880
- For a downloadable membership form, click here.
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Fundraiser March 1, 2025
Library Uncorked benefits Children’s Literacy programming and materials. YOU can help keep Albany’s Public Library the best in the state! With your help, the library has given away nearly 20,000 new books to kids in our community over the past two years. Your donations help keep kids engaged and reading all summer!
- Donate online – new link coming soon
- Drop off a donation in person to the Main or the Carnegie Library
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BOOK SALE! in the Main Library Meeting Room
Fall book sale November 8 & 9 at the main library!
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Activities Sponsored
- Noon programs the second Friday of each month, September-May
- Summer Reading Programs for children, young adults and adults, June-August
- Annual Used Book Sales
- Library Uncorked
- Author’s Day in April
- Adult DIY classes at the Library
- Bookpage, monthly newsletter available at the Library.
Fund-Raising Activities
- Used books for sale at both Library branches. All types of books welcome, including CD’s and DVD’s
- Books for sale online at abebooks
- Book donations can be made at the Friends Book Store at the Main Library
- Library Uncorked, wine/beer tasting and silent auction to support children’s literacy
Find out how to double your donation and receive a tax credit by donating to the Friends of the Albany Public Library and Oregon Cultural Trust! culturaltrust.org