‍The story so far

FoSL was established in January 2013 as a small charity to fundraise in support of Southwold Library. Members wanted to keep their library open, raise money to support the running of Southwold Library and, where possible, provide a few enhancements which the library’s budget might not otherwise stretch to.

In the ten years since then, we have:

• Provided funds to buy furniture, new movable book shelves, blinds and a new projection system
• Paid for Wi-Fi, a laminator and a scanner, making new services available for local people
• Sponsored community events run by Southwold Library staff, such as the Harry Potter night for children held in October, the very popular annual crime writers’ festival, Slaughter in Southwold, which takes place in June each year and the newer Southwold Literary Festival in November each year.
• Sponsored children's events throughout the summer holidays. In 2023, these included visits from the Mini Monsters, Mr Bean Entertainments, Beach Bonkers, Suffolk Trainmasters and My Little Village. We also funded visits from organisations such as Red Wings Horse Sanctuary and paid for materials for children's craft activities run by library staff.

We raise funds through events such as book sales, quiz nights, an annual plant sale & fete, coffee mornings and stalls at the Christmas Lights Switch-on, the Reydon School Fete, the Lions’ Club fete and more. All of these events are run by Friends. There are lots of opportunities to get involved, help the Library and meet other people who care about the Library. If you are not already a Friend, why not join us? You’ll find a form further down this page.

We also sell a variety of items through the library, including Southwold Library branded bags, pens, thermal cups and water bottles as well as Treasure Trails treasure hunts, USB sticks, craft items and local books.

We have been so successful in its fundraising that we soon exceeded the £5,000 limit on a small charity’s income. In 2015, we registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. We became a member of Suffolk Libraries IPS in March 2013; we are very proud to be part of an organisation identified as the gold standard of public libraries by William Sieghart, author of a government report on libraries in England.

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‍Why not join us?

• Membership of FoSL is free and is open to anyone holding a Suffolk Libraries card and who is interested in furthering its purposes
• Membership is valid for three years and is renewable
• Members will be invited to regular meetings and to take part in fundraising events.
• Membership entitles you to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting and to stand for election as a trustee or vote to elect the trustees
• You can join by filling in our FoSL membership form (available as a PDF or Word doc) which is also available from Southwold Library.

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Annual Patron Scheme

• Our Annual Patron Scheme is an initiative for our supporters who want to make a financial contribution towards the running costs of Southwold Library
• You’ll be listed in the FoSL Annual Report (though you may remain anonymous if you prefer) and receive a copy of the Annual Report
• You’ll also be invited to an annual Patrons’ Reception to discuss our work with the trustees and the library manager
• You will have the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting a much-valued service open to the whole of the local community
• You can donate by using the FoSL Patrons' form (PDF), or drop into the library to find out more.

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Our objectives

• To advance the education of the general public in Southwold, Suffolk and the surrounding area, in particular but not exclusively by the provision of a lending library
• To further or benefit the residents of Southwold, Suffolk and the neighbourhood, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation, leisure time, occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents.

Read our full FoSL constitution (PDF) and Data Protection Policy (PDF).

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Our trustees

• Mary Allerton
• Yvonne Blair
• Library manager: Charlotte Clark
• Secretary: Sara Farrands
• Honor Manson
• Treasurer: Kathy Oliver
• Kate Stevenson
• Chair and Representative of FoSL at Suffolk’s Libraries IPS: Mark Eagles

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Contact us

• Email: fosl@suffolklibraries.co.uk
• Address: The Secretary, Friends of Southwold Library, North Green, Southwold IP18 6AT