About the Friends

Friends of the Alameda Free Library was founded in 1974 to raise funds and advocate for a new library. FAL helps support the library and its programs through volunteer activities and fundraising.

Milestones in the group’s history:

• The opening of a new Main Library in 2006, something the Friends worked toward for many years
• Merger with the Alameda Free Library Foundation in 2016. The Foundation was created in 1998 to raise money for long-term support of Alameda’s libraries.

The Friends is a non-profit organization with a volunteer board.

An early newspaper photo from August 1974 shows Donna Vaughn, Robert Hudkins, Margery Fredericks and Ann Muir as the first officers of the Friends. Jack Vaughn wrote the first articles of incorporation.

The first book sale was held in May 1975 in the gymnasium of Woods School to raise funds for the new library, guided for more than 40 years by Adair Jorgensen and Gert Woods.

The Brown Baggers and Friends of the Alameda Free Library joined together in an informal but dedicated, political group that lobbied for the library and school issues. The group included: Honora Murphy, Kate Quick, Lois Hanna, Donna Vaughn, Ann Muir, Alice Huie, Esther Stallman, among others, who worked to pass the measure and secure the funding for a new library, replacing the Carnegie building on Oak and Santa Clara.

It took years of effort, the work and support of many more library lovers, a library bond approved by Alameda voters, and finally, a State grant to see the new main library completed in 2006.

The Friends has grown and changed over the last 50 years. We still hold our very popular used book sales, our original fundraiser. We provide annual funding to the Library to support programs and services provided to the public. Our volunteers have managed the Books & Bites Cafe in the main library since the library opened in 2006. A recent group of dedicated volunteers have done a wonderful job of updating and expanding our cafe offerings. Our book sale team has added a book shop, Books for Friends, in the main library near the Books & Bites Cafe with high quality used books for very reasonable prices.

Our vision is to have a vibrant and relevant library that is the heart of our diverse Alameda Community, and to that end, FAL raises funds and advocates for the success of the Alameda Free Library.

The Board meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30pm (no meeting in December). The public is welcome to attend. If you are interested in attending, email us at info@alamedafriends.com and a Zoom link will be shared with you.

2026 FAL Officers

Joshua Dapkus

President

Kyle McBard

Vice President

Kris Venturini

Treasurer

Andre Fairley

Secretary

2026 FAL Directors

Kayla Belich

Director

Neerja Dave

Director

Serena Hom

Director

Damini Mathur

Director

Mary Ann Munro

Director

Bharat Parikh

Director

Billy Reinschmiedt

Director

Joanne Schneider

Director

Jennifer Tell

Director

2026 FAL Advisory Council

Nafisah Ali

Advisory Council Member

Karen Butter

Advisory Council Member

Luzanne Engh

Advisory Council Member

Kumar Fanse

Advisory Council Member

Stephanie Lipow

Advisory Council Member

Karen Manuel

Advisory Council Member

Carole Robie

Advisory Council Member

Karen Roemer

Advisory Council Member

Beth Sibley

Advisory Council Member

Call for FAL Board Members

FAL is accepting applications from members of the Alameda community who would like to serve on our Board of Directors. We are looking for applicants who reflect the diversity of the Alameda community and would like to enhance their leadership skills while advocating for a strong, vibrant library.

To apply, please send a letter of interest to volunteer@alamedafriends.com. Please indicate why you are interested in serving on the Board and how your background and expertise could support the Board.

FAL Board Member Responsibilities

• Take an active role in steering the direction of FAL and ensuring it is fulfilling its mission.
• Dedicate time to advocacy and fundraising activities.
• Regularly attend board meetings.
• Participate actively in committee work.
• Engage in fundraising activities.
• Help to recruit exceptional new board members.

The FAL Bylaws are available in PDF form by clicking here.