History of the Friends
Compiled by Marilyn Majalca from minutes of the FoPL meetings.
1957 – The library opened its doors in what was the Patagonia Hotel constructed by John Cady in 1901. Nadia Banta was the first librarian. The shelves were filled with borrowed and donated books and the library was staffed by volunteers. The public perception was that the library belonged to the group that founded it, the Patagonia Women’s Club, but in reality, Santa Cruz County and the Town of Patagonia subsidized the operating budget of the library.
1960s – The library became a member of the Santa Cruz County Library system. The doors were open for 6 hours a week. The first book sale was held by the Board of Trustees with books priced at 5-10¢ each.
1974 – 21 members were recruited to form the first Friends of the Library group.
1976 – The donated books were culled and the first catalog was created. The need for effective grant-writing skills was identified. The library collection now encompassed 3 rooms.
1974 – 21 members were recruited to form the first Friends of the Library group.
1976 – The donated books were culled and the first catalog was created. The need for effective grant-writing skills was identified. The library collection now encompassed 3 rooms.
1980 – A book award of $200 was presented to graduating PUHS seniors.
1981 – A 4th of July book sale was held with hardbacks priced at $1 each and soft covers at 50¢.
1985 – A Friend board member urged school essay titled, “First Amendment and the Right to Read.”
1986 – The Friends of Patagonia Library (FoPL) was incorporated for non-profit status. Minutes of the meeting revealed that a board member says the Friends’ board should educate themselves in order to know whether or how to raise money for a new library. A mailing of 1200 newsletters was readied and mailed.
1989 – The Patagonia Women’s Club deeded Cady Hall to the Town to garner grants to help with restoration with hopes of “an enlarged public library.”
1990 – Planning began for the addition of a library reading room and to enclose the porch. The Cady Hall restoration committee raised $250K in donations and grants.
1994 – The kitchen and bathroom were relocated with FoPL support.
1996 – The library moved into the new building.
1997 – A serious financial crisis occurred in the Town during which Mayor Shirley Treat was quoted as saying the library was “a Cadillac we can no longer afford to pay gas for.” Because of the crisis, the Friends volunteered to pay the entire operating budget rather than allow the library to be closed. Their fundraising efforts included golf tournaments, sales of Doris’ chocolate chip cookies, an appeal dance, and poetry readings.
1998 – Mayor Chipman hoped to keep the library in their bare-bones budget, but not all town council agreed. The Friends volunteered to continue to pay the librarian’s salary. Chipman’s influence led to the Friends’ engagement with the AZ Community Foundation (ACF).
1998 – A grant for $25K for children, youth and adult programming was received from ACF.
1999 – The FoPL paid for a musical group to entertain during Cultural Heritage Week. A member presented Class Act Service Management to volunteers and staff, and later to board members. In November at the AZ State Library Association Concern, FoPL won the state’s award for their efforts to keep the library funded and open during the Town’s financial crisis. The Board of Trustees and Friends meet to review the mission statement and consider how much time needed to be devoted to fundraising.
2002 – Funding of a garden and committee work continues.
2002- The Board of Trustees began the creation of a Strategic Plan. It was decided that FoPL should fund expenses that bring information and resources to the community including collection expansion and maintenance, advocacy efforts, technology services and the enhancement of the Library Director’s professional skills.
2005 – Work on the Legacy Garden began and finished a year later. The AZ Historical Commission designated the garden as the official AZ Centennial Legacy Project in 2007.
2006 – The FoPL projected spending just under $20K for library expenses; Town ~43K; County ~16K. Matching funds from a Middle School student entrepreneur project on “People and Their Pets” to raise money for children’s area. Friends paid $200 to sponsor librarian attendance at the ALA conference and membership in professional organizations. The Library expands in-house Friends’ books for sale. The Library Board of Trustees changed to the Library Advisory Board. FoPL worked with the Patagonia Community Association on the annual Writer’s Roundup event in exchange for a portion of the proceeds. Thirty local writers were in attendance. Lodging was paid for by local businesses and FoPL. A Chuckwagon dinner with the authors in the backyard of the Library at a cost of $40. The Patagonia Regional Foundation bought “Birds of North America” online for 2 years. $2475 earned from the Ella theater trip to Tucson. Santa Cruz County was considering forming a library district.
2009 – A FoPL Board retreat was held. The new east wing of the library opened. Santa Cruz County was looking at a library district for funding once again.
2013 – A new FoPL logo was created by Erika Rier, former Patagonia resident.
2014 – FoPL supported the AZ Humanities / Smithsonian traveling “Woven Journey’s” exhibit and events.
2018 – The Patagonia Public Library finished in second place in the race for the “Best Small Library in America” award.
Over the years, FoPL has purchased a wide assortment of library physical needs. Copy machine(1986), electrical repairs, screen door, plaster and paint (1987), furniture for the new building, shelving (1996), water cooler, automated circulation system (2006), assisted with fencing costs in front of Cady Hall (2007), new storage shed (2010).