Fall 2025 Newsletter

(A PDF version of this newsletter is attached to this post for download.)

It’s back to school season, and the Friends of the Augusta County Library Foundation (FACLF) are supporting students and learners of all ages with fun, creative and informative programs that engage and nurture. Read on for the latest news from the Friends.

Summer Reading Program

Thanks to all who turned out on a super hot Saturday to celebrate the finale of Augusta County Library’s Summer Reading program. Participants picked up their prizes for completing the activities in this year's challenge, Color Our World. In total, 650 readers took part in the program, the highest number for Augusta County since the pandemic! FACLF is a proud supporter of the summer reading program.

The celebration was held on the school grounds near Churchville Elementary School, and several local organizations set up tables where attendees could learn about services. Project Grows’ food truck offered fresh produce, eggs, frozen meats, and cheese for sale at the Grow Mobile market. Churchville firefighters were on hand to talk with kids and families about safety and give them a tour of their firetruck. Other tables were manned by representatives of the Shenandoah National Park Education Team, the Donation Station and the Talking Book Center, which provides free audio books and other library services and resources to persons who are blind, print disabled, or unable to use standard printed materials.

At its table, members of the FACLF chatted with some of the 200 finale attendees and gave away over 100 books.

New Partnership for FACLF

The FACLF provided two boxes of children’s and young adult books to the Verona Community Food Pantry, a 501(c)3 nonprofit providing food to those in need in Augusta County, Staunton, and Waynesboro. In 2024, the food pantry distributed over 1.2 million pounds of food to an average of 2,380 clients per month. With this partnership with FACLF, the Food Pantry will now have used books and DVDs available for clients.

The Food Pantry is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 am to 11:00 am and on Tuesday from 4:30 pm to 5:45 pm. For more information, visit their website or call (540) 430-2844.

Back to School

Augusta County libraries have a variety of resources to help students of all ages succeed.

• Databases allow access to news and information sources unavailable on the open internet, including academic journals, news sources and ebooks from reputable publishers, recognized by library professionals and selected for use in a school environment.

• The LearningExpress Library includes tutorials and interactive practice tests to help students improve math skills, reading comprehension, writing, grammar, social studies, vocabulary, spelling, social studies, science, and even trigonometry.

• Citation Machine is a great tool for students working on a research paper or assignment. This tool automatically generates citations for books, journals and websites. It can also check papers for unintentional plagiarism.

Don’t forget about the popular Wi-Fi hotspots circulation program that allows library patrons to borrow the mobile devices so they can get free and easy access to reliable internet service at home, ensuring kids can access online schoolwork. Thanks to FACLF, the library has 38 hotspots currently in circulation, giving users without home internet service a way to connect their laptop or tablet to the internet. Since their introduction in 2021, the hotspots have been checked out nearly 1,000 times.

The Augusta County Library system also hosts a variety of afterschool programs for kids of all ages. Students can read to a therapy dog, join the Otaku Anime and Manga Club, participate in Tween Legomania and sharpen their science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) skills. Check the Augusta County Library website program calendar for details.

Friends of the Library Week: October 19 - 25

Be sure to stop by the main library during National Friends of Libraries week, October 19-25 to learn more about the FACLF, a nonprofit that supplies funding to the Augusta County Library system so it can afford to offer community programs that expand access to reading and learning opportunities.

Money collected through donations and the used book sale goes toward library programs that support the changing interests of the community: from literacy programs and story times to maker spaces, gardening, crafts and financial planning. The Friends also supply funding for audio books for individuals with disabilities, financial and tax workshops for residents, 3D printing supplies, professional development for library staff addressing emerging needs of the Augusta County Library system.

FACLF funds hundreds of valuable learning activities that would not happen without that support. Thanks to financial contributions from the Friends, county libraries can hold over 1,000 programs each year for preschool and school-age children, teens and adults.

Consider becoming a financial supporter of FALCF and join our group of book-loving, community-minded folks as we work to support the essential mission of local libraries.

Puppets!

Research has shown that puppetry delivers a wide variety of benefits for young children because it allows them to explore different roles, scenarios, and stories, helping them gain confidence and build social skills.

In Augusta County, check out the Stuarts Draft Library Station for regular puppet shows. The Puppet Parade (for ages 2-11) happens on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. And on the evening of September 25, children and families with children from 6-11 can enjoy an Evening with Puppets. The program runs from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm.

NEW HOURS:

Middlebrook Now Open on Wednesdays!

The Middlebrook Library Station will begin having Wednesday hours on September 3. New Wednesday hours will be 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

____________________________________________________________________________

UPCOMING EVENTS

FACLF Board Meeting Thursday, September 4, 6:00 pm, Fishersville

Come sit in on our next board meeting where we’ll discuss our latest fundraising efforts, advocacy on behalf of the library with local government and other items of interest to the county's library community.

Augusta County Library Volunteer Fair Wednesday, September 10, 1:00 - 4:00 pm, Thursday, September 11, 3:00 - 6:00 pm, Fishersville

The second annual Volunteer Fair aims to connect local volunteer groups with community members who are eager to make a difference. Whether your organization is large or small, well-established or just getting started, this is your opportunity to showcase your needs and find the support you require. Tables and space are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and the deadline is September 10. More information can be found here.

Elections with Dr. Bobbi Gentry Tuesday, September 16, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Fishersville (registration required)

Join Dr. Bobbi Gentry, Associate Professor of Political Science at Bridgewater College, for an informational presentation on election laws, requirements and differences between states. Specializing in youth voting, Gentry can comment on recent trends in youth voting and predictions for future elections.

Detecting A. I. Scams with the Better Business Bureau Thursday, September 25, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm, Fishersville (registration encouraged)

In this presentation, the Better Business Bureau Serving Western Virginia will discuss how to better identify artificial intelligence in pictures, videos, and text, as well as teach consumers steps they can take to protect themselves from any scams that may use this technology.

Native American Tools in the Valley Thursday, September 25, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Deerfield Library Station

Come hear a presentation from the Frontier Culture Museum about Native American tools in the Shenandoah Valley, which is rich in Native American artifacts. The speaker will discuss agriculture, food, labor, and plants and will also have examples of Native American agricultural tools. There will be a Q&A after the presentation. Guests are invited to share their Native American artifacts, but the speaker is not qualified to analyze them.

Museum staff will also present an interactive program on the history and lives of Native Americans of Virginia on Tuesday, September 23 (4:00 pm - 5:00 pm) at the Fishersville main library and Thursday, November 13 (4:00 pm - 5:00 pm) at the Churchville Branch. A version of the program geared to children aged 6-12 with their caregivers will be presented at the Middlebrook Library Station Thursday, November 13 (4:00 pm - 5:00 pm).

National Friends of Libraries Week October 19 - 25, All library branches

Take advantage of National Friends of Libraries Week to learn more about the Friends and see how you can help us support the work of Augusta County Libraries. Stop by the circulation desk to pick up a brochure.

Trick-or-Treat at the Library in Churchville! Friday, October 31, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, Churchville Branch Library

Come Trick-or-Treat throughout the Churchville Branch Library for some safe fun this year! Treats include candy and non-candy items. Visit all the stops in the library to collect your goodies then enjoy our Halloween craft.

Be sure to check the Augusta County Library website’s program calendar for more details and the latest programs.

More about the Friends

The non-profit Friends of Augusta County Library Foundation was formed in January 2023 through a merger of the Friends of the ACL and ACL Foundation to provide additional financial support for library programming and resident services.

FACLF is also dedicated to keeping the community informed about library-related news and developments. This newsletter will keep you up to date with the Friends’ current and upcoming work to ensure Augusta County residents have easy and continued access to the vital services our libraries provide.

Join the Friends by signing up online, or pick up an FACLF brochure at your local library checkout counter.

Thank you for your support! Together we can make a difference in our community.

Connect with Us

We look forward to hearing from you!

Visit our website at friendsofalc.org

Email us at friends@augustacountylibrary.org