Friends of the Washington Street Library

03/25/2025

American public libraries have been a haven for information, inspiration, and imagination for hundreds of years. But as book bans and censorship increase, an...

03/25/2025

01/09/2025

We want to address recent concerns circulating about the future of the Allegany County Library System.

A public Advisory Committee was formed in August 2024 and has spent five months exploring potential strategies for sustainable and cost-effective library operations in FY2026 and beyond. The Advisory Committee was made up of members of the public, Friends Group representatives, library staff and Library Board members. The Advisory Committee's recommendations will be presented to the Library Board at its regular meeting on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 4 PM at the LaVale Library.

While the committee’s recommendations will include a range of possibilities, no decisions have been made. Over the next 5 months, the Library Board will carefully consider the recommendations as well as additional information and suggestions prior to making any decision.

The Advisory Committee, Library Board and Library staff are well aware of the vital role libraries play in serving the residents of Allegany County. We are deeply committed to providing excellent library services across the county and making the best use of the funding we are allocated. Please visit our website for a list of upcoming Library Board meetings: https://bit.ly/ACLSBoard

For those unable to attend the meeting, you can share your thoughts via email at [email protected].

Thank you for your continued support.

10/16/2024

Well, the needle has moved a bit since last time, but we still have a long way to go toward our fundraising goals for our production of Seussical. Part of our philosophy is to welcome all who want to participate as cast members without worrying about affording a materials fee or meeting a minimum in sales. The more we raise now for costumes, props, and other expenses, the more we can donate after the show closes to Friends of the Washington Street Library to bring much needed programs to patrons.

Visit https://actingoutforgood.com/sponsorship for information about perks you can receive at different donation levels for businesses, families, and individuals. Thank you for helping us do good in our community one performance at a time. We'll see you November 22-24 for four shows at Mountain Ridge High School!

10/01/2024

We're off to a great start for our Seussical fundraiser, with $2,100 raised since our initial post! Thank you to those who have contributed so far. We have a cast of over 70 performers, with all the costumes, props, sets, and special effects that large of a group requires. Any money raised in the run-up to our November 22-24 performances goes straight to bringing this production up to the high standards you expect from Acting Out for Good, with box office proceeds and any surplus from this fundraiser going straight to our chosen cause, Friends of the Washington Street Library.

Visit https://actingoutforgood.com/sponsorship for information about the perks you can receive with your donation as an individual, family, or business, including free tickets, apparel, and program ad space. You can claim the rest as a charitable deduction on your 2024 taxes! Online donations can be made at www.PayPal.me/ActingOutForALS, or you can mail a check to PO Box 314, Springfield, WV 26763. Thank you for supporting performers doing good in our community one performance at a time!

08/27/2024

We've been thinking a lot, and we have our suspicions
That in less than two weeks, we're holding auditions!

Don't miss out on the wonder of bringing Dr. Seuss to life on stage with Acting Out for Good's production of Seussical! This musical is open to ages kindergarten to adult, and everyone who wants to be in the show will be cast. It's a great way to have fun together in a high-fun, low-stress creative environment. Even whole families are getting involved!

Auditions are September 7 and 8 in Cumberland, with four shows on November 22-24 in Frostburg. Proceeds from this production will benefit Friends of the Washington Street Library. Visit https://actingoutforgood.com/auditions for details and email [email protected] for an appointment time.

05/23/2024

05/14/2024

The Board of Trustees of the Allegany County Library System is meeting tomorrow, May 14, 2024 at 4:00 PM at the LaVale Library to discuss budget cuts to programs. They are looking to cut 10% of expenses out of the library budget this year. The Washington Street Library has already taken hits from previous budget cuts resulting in minimal staffing and reduced library hours (4 per week as compared to other branches with five and six days and full staff.)
The public is allowed to attend the meeting in person or via Zoom. If attending by zoom non board members can’t actually participate but can wait until they start to discuss budget cuts and can send comments in the chat section in support of our library.
If you are free tomorrow I’m asking you to attend this meeting and provide support.

Please request the zoom link by emailing [email protected] to ensure a secure meeting.

We can’t afford more cuts to our neighborhood library!

11/28/2023

Making a difference in the lives of many by giving where you live.

What to Give:
-Required minimum distribution (RMD) from your invested retirement account (IRA) *
-Stock
-Cash or check
-Planned gift in estate plan

Ways to Give:
-Establish your own fund to support a nonprofit you love.
-Give to an existing fund.
-Support CTF’s operations and grantmaking.

Consult your financial advisor and visit ctfinc.org to learn more.

11/28/2023

🚨Winter Raffle tickets available now!🚨

One lucky Grand Prize winner will receive a year of FREE shows at the Cumberland Theatre !! 🌟🎟️

Enter your free raffle ticket now through December 20th at the Washington Street Library. Participants must be 13 or older to enter, and may enter once per day. Smaller prizes will also be awarded weekly leading up to the Grand Prize drawing!

A huge thank you to the Friends of the Washington Street Library for sponsoring this event and providing funding for our Grand Prize! 🎭✨

05/15/2023

Happy May! We hope you enjoy this month's episode of "A Slice of Literary Pie". This month Andy Duncan shares en excerpt from his selection, "Close Encounters".

Andy Duncan’s honors for fiction include a Nebula Award, a Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award, three World Fantasy Awards, and an Individual Artist Award from the Maryland State Arts Council, and his criticism has received a Mary Kay Bray Award from the Science Fiction Research Association.

His latest books are Charlie Tells Another One from Wildside Press and An Agent of Utopia: New and Selected Stories from Small Beer Press and Recorded Books. He performs nine of the 12 stories on the audiobook.

Duncan tweets and teaches writing as a professor in the Department of English & Foreign Languages at Frostburg State University.