For Immediate Release
July 7, 2005
Contacts:
703-324-8313
703-324-8300
Friends Honor Former President with Friends Scholarship Fund Gift
Fairfax, VA - On Tuesday, July 5th, the Friends of the Chantilly Regional Library presented a $5,000 donation to the Fairfax Library Foundation for the Friends Scholarship Fund in honor of their past president, Barbara Hoge. The check presentation was made by the current president, John Finneman, to the Library Foundation Executive Director, Roberta Longworth.
“The source of the gift to benefit the Friends Scholarship Fund is remarkable, as funds are raised by volunteers who work year round to organize successful book sales”, says Longworth. “It is a fitting donation to honor Barbara, who has done so much for our library through the Chantilly Friends; it will result in maximizing the service provided by current staff and volunteers while assisting our librarians of the future.”
“I don’t do this for the fanfare and many individuals worked together to enhance our library in many ways,” Hoge explains. “This gift will enable staff and volunteers to better serve Fairfax County.”
Ms. Hoge served the Chantilly branch since the initial organizational meeting in April of 1996. Under the leadership of Carole Richard, the first Friends’ president, Barbara organized author visits and was elected president in 1997. Ms. Hoge’s three terms were filled with successful initiatives. Authors of the book, Voices of Chantilly, published with Mrs. Hoge serving as agent donated funds for a flagpole. Five gardens were created by scouts with supervision of master gardener, Teri O’Brien. A storage shed was erected to store books in preparation for the semi annual used book sales.
This support of the Friends Scholarship Fund will benefit meritorious library staff, volunteers and individuals in pursuit of a Masters in Library Science degree. Awards are made to staff and volunteers to better serve the patrons of the library system. Four $2,000 academic scholarships, including the Edwin S. Clay, III academic award named in honor of the Fairfax County Public Library Director, are granted to Masters of Library Science students to address the impending shortage of qualified applicants to fill vacancies left as many experienced librarians retire.