Nashville’s Friends of the Library groups play a pivotal role in bringing Nashville Public Library’s mission to life. Our dedicated Friends work closely with their local branch staff helping to coordinate efforts, fundraise, and more to help the branch make a direct positive impact on the community. Each branch Friends of the Library group is a little different in what they help with and how they do it.
Friends of Donelson Branch
In preparation for the opening of the New Donelson Branch Library, a dedicated team of Friends formed to provide support to the opening event and to provide some special opportunities for people to get a sneak peek and for the wider community to provide a launch pad of funding for extras at the branch. Culminating in an Art and Architecture Tour with the architects and designers of the building, they raised over $40,000 in support of the new branch. Friends include longtime Library supporters, including former CM Jeff Syracuse, current CM Jeff Gregg, community member Jan Walters, Rosa Castano, Daryl Woods, Terri Nutter, Kelsey Brasher, and so many more. Their continued support of the branch is a reflection of the Donelson community’s enthusiasm and passion for their new, expanded branch library.
Friends of Green Hills Branch
For over two decades, Anne Knauff has been the quiet but constant force behind the Friends of the Green Hills Branch Library book sales. She coordinates the sorting and storage of the many donations the library receives and directs a team of volunteers to transform the library’s meeting room into a cozy bookstore three times a year. On opening day, a line of eager shoppers snakes down the sidewalk, a testament to the reputation Anne and her team have built—these sales are known as some of the best in the area. So far this year, her dedication has helped raise over $20,000 to support the library’s programs and services. “Anne’s impact is immeasurable; she’s created something that’s both a resource and a tradition, uniting book lovers while raising thousands to support branch programs,” said Green Hills Branch Manager Heidi Berg.
Friends of Hermitage Branch
The Hermitage Branch Friends group has been active and growing for nearly a decade now. Current president Kim Sweat is a constant NPL supporter, and she visits multiple local library branches to bring best practices and ideas to the Hermitage Friends group. She led a Friends-funded art night for adults in October 2024, leading the group to create mini Hogwarts Trunks in salute to Harry Potter. Vice-president Linda Freeman is also a constant library supporter, often donating items to the library to use in our programs. She brought us the idea of hosting Family Bingo Night as a way to raise awareness of the library and its Friends group, and the first multigenerational Friends-hosted bingo night in June 2024 attracted over 60 attendees. We first met Hermitage Friends secretary Arden Williams when she relocated to our community and was hoping to volunteer on a weekly basis at the library. This volunteerism grew into Arden’s strong participation in the Friends group throughout branch book sales, holiday events, and other activities such as the 4th annual Hermitage Christmas Tree Lighting, which promises to be bigger than ever. The tree lighting event series has been very successful in part due to the Friends’ continued support. We cannot say enough about how appreciative this branch is for its Friends!