Friends of the Lake Wales Public Library

10/21/2025

The Lake Wales Library Association has provided full sponsorships for local Fourth Grades to experience the annual Cracker Storytelling Festival for almost two decades.

The 2025 Cracker Storytelling Festival saw nearly 200 Lake Wales area Fourth Graders, their teachers and chaperones enjoy a beautiful fall day at Homeland Heritage Park. They were entertained by professional storytellers and musicians, Florida historians and Florida's early culture.

This year the LW Library Association provided this opportunity to Babson Park Elementary School, Janie Howard Wilson Elementary School and Candlelight Christian Academy.

To become a member of the LW Library Association visit https://www.lwlibraryassoc.org/membership.

10/23/2024

This is National Friends of the Library Week, a celebration sponsored by the American Library Association. Thank you to the Lake Wales City Commission and Mayor Hillegoss for Proclaiming this week in honor of the Lake Wales Library Association and their tireless work for the Lake Wales Public Library. Pictured left to right - Library Director, Belle Reynoso, Mayor Hillegoss, Lake Wales Library Association President, Melissa Mayer, board members, Judi Corriveau, Gail Hewitt and Tammy James.

11/15/2023

11/15/2023

The Lake Wales Library Association supports the amazing Cracker Storytelling Festival held in Homeland Heritage Park. This annual festival celebrates storytelling, Florida History and a wonderful outdoor experience for thousands of Polk County Students. The Friends of the Lake Wales Public Library - Lake Wales Library Association sponsors the cost of two local 4th grades to attend this event, transportation and gate fee. The 2023 Cracker Storytelling Festival hosted fourth graders from Janie Howard Wilson Elementary School and Babson Park Elementary School. Even though it is a dreary, windy fall day, their smiling faces are great!

03/08/2023

Click here to view the Lake Friends of the Lake Wales Public Library's March and April newsletter.

02/14/2023

It's Love Your Library Week!

That means it's time for the Friends of the Library's annual membership drive. When you join this week with a minimum donation of $10, your name will be entered into a drawing for several fabulous prizes. We have huge gift baskets and a beautiful handmade afghan donated by our Friend Helen.

02/11/2023

The Friends of the Lake Wales Public Library was honored to receive a grant from the Florida Humanities Council to host an amazing Black History Month program. Dr. Martha Bireda was scheduled to present this program on Monday, February 13, at 6 p.m. Due to a family emergency, Dr. Bireda will be unable to present to our community. If the program is rescheduled at a later date, we'll alert our community.
Dr. Bireda recently recorded an episode of WUSF Radio's The Zest podcast. Here is that podcast. If we cannot have Dr. Bireda in person, listening to her deep knowledge of African American culture is second best.

NPR One is ready when you want to listen. Catch up on news, or discover a new podcast picked just for you. Share what you like and skip what you don't.

01/13/2023

Please click to read our winter eNewsletter.

The Lake Wales Library Association is the non-profit organization, founded in 1953, to support the efforts of the Lake Wales Public Library.

01/06/2023

The Friends of the Lake Wales Public Library, Lake Wales Library Association, was awarded two Florida Humanities Council Speaker's Program grants. A February program will celebrate Black History Month and a March presentation will celebrate Women's History Month. Both programs are suitable for teens through adults.

11/17/2022

Today the Friends of the Lake Wales Public Library sponsored two Lake Wales Charter Schools to attend the Cracker Storytelling Festival. The 4th grade classes of Babson Park and Janie Howard Elementary had a great time listening to the Storytellers and enjoying Homeland Heritage Park.