Each year, the Friends of the Library coordinate and assist with the following events.

Speaking with Friends

Fundraiser for Friends of the London Public Library

7:00 pm, Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Wolf Performance Hall, Central Library

Author Maureen Jennings will be reading from her newest novel, Beware This Boy, set in Birmingham, UK during the Blitz, the inspiration for the TV series Bomb Girls. Maureen Jennings is the author of the Detective Murdoch novels also currently dramatized in the popular TV series.

Speaking With Friends is a fundraiser for Child and Youth literacy programs sponsored by London Public Library. Donations at the door.

For more information call 519-661-4600

Book Sale

Every October, the Friends conduct the giant book sale at the Western Fair Special Events Building. This is the sale of the year for many people in London and beyond. A combination of surplus materials from the London Public Library and donations from the public mean that we have lots of books, VHS, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, magazines, specialty books and collectibles at bargain prices.

If you have materials to donate, please take them to your local branch library and indicate that they are for the Friends' book sale or, if you have several boxes, contact the Friends using our voice mail at 519-661-2448 or by email at friends@lpl.london.on.ca to arrange for pickup. Please review the materials donation guidelines .

A Book For Every Child ® 
The 2012 campagin will run from November 10th to December 21st

Every November and December, the Friends of the Library, along with Library staff, run A Book for Every Child® campaign. The 2011 A Book For Every Child® campaign was a great success with over 6,300 London girls and boys receiving new books. London agencies were able to fill all their requests.

Many people worked behind the scenes to ensure success. Generous London donors, bookstore staff, London Public Library staff and Friends of the London Public Library all contributed and deserve a huge thank you.  Friends volunteers delivered campaign information to participating bookstores, collected donated books and delivered them to library branches.

Thanks, in particular, to Hilary Bates-Neary, Ken Keiffer, Karen and Ron Payne, Connie Sullivan, Gail Turpin, Linda and Bob Wakefield and Madelon West for their work. Library staff sorted books into age groups, purchased books as necessary and filled requests from London agencies. Chapters North and South, Coles Books, Mastermind Toys and Books, Oxford Book Shop, Scholar’s Choice and The Bookstore at Western offered a 20% discount off the price of books purchased for A Book For Every Child®. The Londoner provided media support. The Library Store donated the proceeds from two days sales.

Find out more about Book for Every Child®.

Jazz for the People

One of the programs co-sponsored by Friends and the Library is Jazz for the People. As part of our Speaking with Friends series, the Sandy MacKay Trio performed in the Wolf Performance Hall following the AGM, Sept 18.

The free concert was well attended by Friends and other jazz lovers of all ages; it featured John Noubarian on piano, Sandy MacKay on drums and Darryl Stacey on bass. They treated us to a variety of jazz pieces, including The Nearness of You, Ode to Billy Joe, and, as the finale, and appropriate to the season, Autumn Leaves.