Friends of the Brown County Library Blog

A Nod to Our Sponsors

Donald Kraft - FBCL Secretary — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:00:00 GMT

“And now a word from our sponsors...”

Back in the day, this was the way that TV shows transitioned to
advertisements, as the show spokesperson introduced ads from
Folgers, Betty Crocker, Pledge, Ivory Snow, or Marlboro. Today, as
back then, it may also be a signal that you have a minute or three to
run to the kitchen for a snack.

I’d like to take this opportunity to talk about our Friends of the Brown
County Library sponsors, and I hope you’ll stick around to hear
(read) the pitch. That’s because, along with you, our donors and dues-
paying members, the support of our sponsors goes a long way toward
making our activities a success. You may not be aware of them all, so
let me take this opportunity to recognize them.

Our supporters of the Give-A-Kid-A-Book (GAKAB) campaign
include both monetary sponsors and helping partners:

GAKAB Sponsors
Nicolet National Bank
St. Augustine Stewardship Fund
Green Bay Packers Give Back
Green Bay Area Retired Men’s Club
Rotary Foundation of Green Bay
Allouez Optimist Club
Brown County Community Women’s Club
De Pere Christian Outreach
Festival Foods
WPS Foundation
Altrusa International of Green Bay
Schreiber Foods

GAKAB Partners
WBAY-TV2
Lion’s Mouth Bookstore
Barnes & Noble

In addition, we also have general sponsors that offer shopping discounts for Friends members:

Membership Support
The Attic coffee shop
Powers Comics and Collectibles
Lion’s Mouth Bookstore

Nicolet Bank stands out in their support. In addition to their funding
contributions and the placement of our donation boxes in their
branch locations, it’s the volunteer efforts of their employees that set
them apart. It’s always encouraging to see the army of Nicolet Bank
employee volunteers in their green shirts (see photo below) setting up
the GAKAB displays and helping to run the semi-annual book sales.

WBAY-TV has provided longtime support to the Friends,
donating production and airtime for our GAKAB public service
announcements, and broadcasting live promotional Noon Show
interviews with our GAKAB and Book Sale organizers.

Altrusa International is an example of a newer GAKAB sponsor. Last
year, they were looking for a way to support a local literacy cause (one
of their organization’s main missions), and they decided that GAKAB
fit right in with that objective.

Powers Comics and Lion’s Mouth also serve as partners for the yearly
Brown County Library Pop ConTM convention, a Library event that the
Friends sponsor. In addition, Lion’s Mouth also helps with GAKAB
by maintaining an in-store donation box, helping shoppers with a
GAKAB Wish List and personal assistance, and providing an online
shopping page on their website.

Each of our sponsors has a special story, and I could go down the list
and thank every one of them. Their invaluable contributions make
GAKAB and our entire mission possible. We encourage readers and
members to support them any way they can.

That being said, there are always more Friends sponsorship
opportunities to help GAKAB as well as our other early literacy
programs, including Born to Read and Stages and Pages. We invite
firms and organizations who have an interest in helping us fulfill our
mission, to consider supporting the Library’s mission for local literacy.

If you are interested in joining the cause, please contact us at
info@browncountylibraryfriends.org for more information.

The Friends Make a Difference

Donald Kraft - FBCL Secretary — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 18:00:00 GMT

It’s back-to-school time! These could be either exciting or dreaded
words, depending on the outlook of both students and parents.
Regardless, one of the first signs that summer vacation is coming to
an end is the need to stock up on this year’s school supplies.

For many families, this time only marks a transition from fun and
play to school time regimen. For some families, however, it is a
challenge to provide their children with the new clothes, shoes,
backpacks, and school supplies they will need to help ensure a good
start to a successful school year. Thankfully, there is help.

For the past two years, the Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay
has joined forces with the Service League of Green Bay, Howe
Community Resource Center, and Newcap to present the One Stop
School Shop, where families shop for backpacks and age-appropriate
school supplies. At the One Stop School Shop’s Resource Fair,
representatives from local social service agencies and nonprofits
provided community resources and assistance. The Library,
represented by volunteers from the Friends of the Brown County
Library, offered free dictionaries, flyers with Library locations and
hours of operation, and free pencils and stickers for families. In
addition, the Bookmobile was stationed just outside the doors so
families could check out books and sign up for Library cards for
their children.

As we talked to families at our table, we made a point of asking them
if they already had Library cards, with the intention of directing them
to the Bookmobile to sign up. We were quite delighted when many
parents shared with us that their families already had Library cards,
which branch they used the most, and which Library programs they
looked forward to at those branches. Several remarked how much
they were looking forward to the new Library locations soon to open
in Ashwaubenon and Denmark.

It was both gratifying and heartening to see how many families had
already steered their children to the Library. A simple Library card
opens so many doors to Library materials, programs, and services for
these students.

It’s a good reminder to all Friends members how important a role our
donations and volunteer hours play in our community. Thanks again
for your continued support for both the Friends and for your Brown
County Library. We saw firsthand that your help truly does
make a difference.

Volunteers Drive the Friends

Donald Kraft - FBCL Secretary — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 18:00:00 GMT

It’s hard to believe that the NFL Draft is over. What took nine years of
proposing and planning was over in just a few days. Congratulations
to everyone who helped make it happen, from the NFL, to the Green
Bay Packers, to the local governments that planned and coordinated
the logistics of accommodating 220,000 fans (and that was just in the
venue itself, not counting the thousands more who came to Green Bay
to watch the Draft in nearby establishments!), to the temporary workers
and volunteers who directed fans, helped with activities, planted flowers,
and so much more.

While much occurred at the Draft venue itself, it doesn’t take into
consideration all the other Draft-related activities in Downtown Green
Bay and surrounding areas. Most of these were planned and run by
volunteers who wanted to enhance and expand the visitor experience.
It’s safe to say that Green Bay planners, attendees, and volunteers
stepped up in a big way! But really, that shouldn’t be surprising. Green
Bay locals have a way of coming forward and stepping up when it comes
to matters and causes important to our community.

Whether or not you helped with the Draft, if you’re inspired by what
volunteers can accomplish and want to throw your weight behind a
cause, the Friends of the Brown County Library has opportunities for
you. We are on the forefront with helping the Library promote literacy
in our families, schools, and community. We raise funds to finance
our own literacy projects (Give-A-Kid-A-Book, Born to Read, Pages &
Stages) and to help to fund Library programs and activities that reach
out and engage kids’ thirst for knowledge and the reading that will
get them there. We have opportunities for all levels of interest, from
working a few hours for our BIG Book Sale right up to a seat on our
board to help determine and facilitate the course of the organization.

Literacy may not appear to be as grand an undertaking as accommodating
more than a half million people for a few-day event, but in the long run,
it has its own importance and sense of accomplishment. The impact of
literacy is something we can see in the children and parents who directly
benefit, as well as in the quality of life in greater Green Bay communities.
We invite you to consider joining the movement. For more information,
please send an email or leave us a phone message and we will get right
back to you.

Email - info@browncountylibraryfriends.org
Call to leave a message - 920-448-5811

Give-A-Kid-A-Book Campaign

Donald Kraft - FBCL Secretary — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 18:00:00 GMT

Annual Give-A-Kid-A-Book Campaign Celebrates 35 Years

Green Bay, WI – The Friends of the Brown County Library and honorary chair, Bre LaFleur, wife of Green Bay Packers Head Coach, Matt LaFleur, announce the launch of the 35th annual Give-A-Kid-A-Book campaign.

The annual book collection invites individuals, families, businesses, churches, schools, clubs and organizations to donate new, unwrapped books that will be given as gifts to local children, babies through age 18, in low-income families. Book distribution takes place in partnership with the Green Bay Salvation Army Holiday Assistance program in December.

Give-A-Kid-A-Book kicks off in the Youth Services Department of the Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine Street, downtown Green Bay on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. Featured guests include students from Tank Elementary School, Bre LaFleur, Friends representatives, and others. Give-A-Kid-A-Book is partially funded by Nicolet National Bank, Augustine Stewardship Fund, Green Bay Area Retired Men’s Club, Allouez Optimist Club, Green Bay Packers Give Back, Brown County Community Women’s Club, and Festival Foods.

The Friends are making it easy to donate - shop online and in-person!

Purchase books from the Friends’ Amazon Wish List (tinyurl.com/GiveAKidABookWishlist), or from Lion’s Mouth Bookstore, 211 N. Washington Street in downtown Green Bay.
Donate your Barnes & Noble purchases in-store during the Holiday Book Drive, November 1 – December 8. Use code 12652103 at the in-store Book Fair on Saturday, November 18, 2023, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, or online November 18-22, and a percentage of sales will benefit Give-A-Kid-A-Book. Online shoppers can ship books purchased directly to the library.
Drop book donations in collection boxes located at Nicolet National Banks in the greater Green Bay area, all Brown County Libraries, and various other locations throughout the community through December 10.
Financial donations will purchase additional books. Checks should be made payable to “Friends of the Brown County Library: GAKAB,” and mailed to 515 Pine Street, Green Bay, WI 54301-5194.

Membership Perks

Donald Kraft - FBCL Secretary — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:00:00 GMT

Perk (purk) Short for perquisite.
1.n. A reward or added benefit received in addition to a regular satisfaction.
2. v. To become more cheerful and lively.

Why do people join and remain members of the Friends of the Brown County Library? In its most basic sense, we hope that they believe in and want to support our mission, which is to help the Brown County Library in its broad efforts to improve childhood, teen, and adult literacy in the county.

But let’s be honest, the perks sure do make a membership that much more valuable and worthwhile.

Book Sale perks - Your membership gives you exclusive admittance to the members-only opening day of our bi-annual BIG Book Sale. New this year, members will have more hours to shop on opening day, as doors will now open at 1 p.m. instead of 3 p.m. as in years past. And in addition, an informal Member Appreciation reception is held during this opening day, offering snacks and refreshments to tide you over during your shopping spree.
Newsletter perk - While our newsletter is available free of charge at any Library location, your membership entitles you to be first in line to receive a paper copy mailed directly to your home.
Exclusive Discount perks - Members who show their membership card receive a 10% savings at these participating booksellers: The Attic (730 Bodart St. in Green Bay), Lion’s Mouth Bookstore (401 N. Washington St. in Green Bay), and Powers Comics & Collectibles (two locations, Powers Comics at 2180 S. Ridge Rd in Ashwaubenon and Powers East at 1230 Main St. in Green Bay). Thank you to these retailers for supporting the Friends!
Exclusive Book Club perk - The Reading Between the Spines book club was established by the Friends as a local book discussion club open to members only. For each limited-attendance event, the club purchases the books of that title for members to read. After the in-person discussion, the books are then donated to the Library for their collections.
Exclusive Event perks - The Friends have begun scheduling events that are only open to Friends members.

As a member, you will receive an email notice of upcoming members-only Events and Book Club discussions as they are scheduled.

The above are the more tangible “Definition #1” benefits of being a Friend, but “Definition #2” also has its satisfaction. The pleasure of finding that special book at the Book Sale…Seeing a parent’s gratitude at receiving books for their kids’ Holiday gifts from the Friends Give-A-Kid-A-Book program…Knowing that newborns and their parents will start their journey to literacy with baby books provided by the Friends Born-to-Read program. …the satisfaction of helping children, tweens, teens, and even adults maintain their reading enjoyment over the Summer by helping the Library’s Summer Reading Program.

Those are the real perks of our Friends memberships. Perhaps not to the level of becoming “lively and cheerful,” but certainly “warm and satisfied.” I’ll take that as a perk.

Farewell to Long-Time Friends Volunteers

Donald Kraft - FBCL Secretary — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 19:00:00 GMT

The Friends of the Brown County Library is more than just an organization. It is exactly what the name implies; volunteer Friends who care enough about the success of the Library that they choose to contribute their time to make our programs and activities possible. Some, like our Board of Directors and our program leaders, may be more visible to our members, while others work behind the scenes for many years with little fanfare but are no less vital to our success. We regret to report the passing recently of two of those notable long-time Friends volunteers, Anita Powers (age 99) and Ginney Amen (age 103).

For Anita, the Library had always been a home away from home. She worked at the Kellogg Public Library in her 20s, and while she left for a stint in the U.S. Naval Reserve and then to raise a family, the Library, and its opportunities for lifelong learning, was always a part of her life. She volunteered for the Friends Book Sale for more than 20 years, as a cashier at the sale and as a book sorter between the sales. One of her legacies is that at a recent sale, four generations of her family worked the sale as cashiers, organizers, and runners. In her later years, she expressed a wish to be buried with her library card!

Ginney never had time to sit still. In addition to her regular work for the Library and our Book Sales, she also volunteered for many local organizations, including Unity Hospice, Ashwaubenon Historical Society, Unity Hospice, Hazelwood Historic House Museum, the Green Bay Botanical Garden, the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, and as a Reading Buddy at Tank School.

"In 2018, the Friends recognized both Anita and Ginney (along with Millie Kappel and Rosmary Michalec), all in their 90s at the time, as our 2017 Volunteers of the Year. Everyone who worked with them was motivated by their hard work, embarrassed by their energy, and inspired by their years of commitment to the Friends. Our Book Sales will not be the same without Anita and Ginney - they will certainly be missed.

UntitedTown Turns a New Page

Donald Kraft - FBCL Secretary — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 15:51:41 GMT

The March 17-24, 2022 edition of City Pages has an article about the new UntitledTown.

UntitledTown Turns a New Page

Packers Wives Chair 33rd Annual Give-A-Kid-A-Book Campaign

Donald Kraft - FBCL Secretary — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 22:56:33 GMT

The Friends of the Brown County Library and the GAKAB 2021 honorary chairs, Green Bay Packers wives Molly (Mason) Crosby, and Aiyda (Randall) Cobb, announce the launch of the 33rd annual Give-A-Kid-A-Book Campaign. View the press release here.

Book Sorters Needed!

Donald Kraft - FBCL Secretary — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 17:07:09 GMT

The Friends of the Brown County Library needs help sorting donated books for its Big Book Sale!

This is an ongoing, year-around volunteer opportunity that entails sorting donated and withdrawn books into 40+ categories in preparation for the Friends semi-annual book sale. Once sorted, the books are boxed and moved into stacks. Boxes weigh 25-40 lbs.

Volunteers will need to complete 3 hours (two 90 minute sessions) of orientation and training. After that, you will be asked to commit to volunteering several hours per week at the BCL Central Library in the Friends sorting room. Once trained, volunteers set their own hours, during the library's open hours.

Volunteers must be members of the Friends of Brown County Library. To volunteer or for more information about this opportunity, contact Curt Heuer at booksort@browncountylibraryfriends.org

UntitledTown: The Comeback Event

Donald Kraft - FBCL Secretary — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 13:59:14 GMT

After last year's cancellation, UntitledTown makes its return under a new community partnership with the Friends of the Brown County Library.

"UntitledTown: The Comeback Event" will be held on Saturday, August 21, 2021 at the Brown County Library's Central Library.

A one day celebration of reading, writing, and stories, the event will feature almost twenty authors, including Miranda and Baptiste Paul, Nickolas Butler, Patricia Skalka, Amanda Skenandore, Pao Lor, and Rebecca Makkai, author of The Great Believers, nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award.

Detailed event information, including times, can be found at lionsmouthbookstore.com

The Friends Big Book Sale is Returning!

Donald Kraft - FBCL Secretary — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 17:02:33 GMT

After a year of book sale cancellations, the Friends have finally been given the go ahead to sort donated books and once again conduct the popular Big Book Sale, scheduled for June15-17, 2021.

The library recently moved to “Chapter 4” in their reopening plan. While still in a phase of limited public service, this change does allow our volunteers to return into the Central Library building to sort books, and also allows us to hold a modified book sale.

Since our sorters can get back to work, the Friends can now start accepting book donations as of May 1, 2021. Please check out our Book Donation Page for information regarding the books we accept.

Due to the lingering effects of the pandemic, our upcoming Book Sale will have some restrictions. It will be shorter, lasting only three days instead of the usual six. To better control attendance, it will be held in an area of the Central Library’s main floor, instead of throughout the entire lower level. And since we haven’t been sorting books for the past year, the sale will be limited to books on hand, including a great selection of children and teen books, hardcover and paperback fiction, coffee table books, and some large print books. Check out our Book Sale Page for details on hours and pricing. The Library’s safety protocols will be in effect for the sale, including policies regarding masks and limited patrons to maintain distancing.

Please plan on coming to our June Big Book Sale - we so look forward to seeing you again!

Welcome to the New FBCL Website!

Donald Kraft - FBCL Secretary — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 20:39:21 GMT

Welcome!

You are viewing the new website of the Friends of the Brown County Library. We hope you will enjoy the news and new content that we can now provide for you.

This website has features specifically geared for our members. In addition to accessing a personalized membership card, members can now manage their account and make payments online, all without having to leave the comforts of home.

If you are not yet a member, please consider joining us, we’d very much appreciate your support.

If you are already a member and you provided us with an email address at some point, you should have received an emailed letter in the last week introducing you to the new website. If you did not see the email in your Inbox, either check to see if it might have been diverted to your Spam folder, or contact us to make sure we have your correct address.

If you are a member but haven’t provided us with your email address, please consider doing so. Your email address serves as your username for logging in to your account and taking advantage of the website’s online features. But if you don’t care to use email, that’s fine, we can continue to communicate with you by postal mail.

We hope you will all take advantage of all the website’s new features. Once the pandemic eases and the Friends can start assembling again, we hope to fill the “Events” and “Blog” portions of the site with our latest plans and activities.

Thank you.

Don Kraft

Secretary, Friends of the Brown County Library

For website comments/questions, contact webmaster@browncountylibraryfriends.org

For general FBCL comments/questions, contact info@browncountylibraryfriends.org

2020 Fall Book Sale

Donald Kraft - FBCL Secretary — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 16:29:39 GMT

Due to continued limitations regarding access to the Central Library building, the 2020 Fall Big Book Sale normally scheduled for late October has been cancelled.

2020 Spring Book Sale

Donald Kraft - FBCL Secretary — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 18:04:38 GMT

Due to the library closure, the Friends 2020 Spring Big Book Sale normally scheduled for May has been cancelled.

2019 Untitledtown - Susan Orlean at the Brown County Library

Donald Kraft - FBCL Secretary — Thu, 09 May 2019 17:03:59 GMT

Journalist and bestselling author Susan Orlean recently graced the Brown County Library with her presentation of her recently published work, "The Library Book." She wittily recounted its origins and the process of writing it.