The Friends raise money through memberships, book sales, and other events and activities to help provide funding for a variety of materials, equipment and programs for patrons of all ages. We also support development activities for Library staff. These funds supplement the Irmo Branch Library’s operating budget. Funds have been provided for fun stuff like the wagon and pumpkins for painting with the youth librarians and other items listed :
MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT
Green Screen, iPad, Printer and Software for Library programs
Children’s Multi-Sensory Activity Board
Library Marquee
Drive-Up Book Drop
Computer Desks
Chairs
Book Carts
Community Room Tables
Craft Materials, Board Games and Legos
Staff Copier
Mobile Display
Cameras
Library Kiosk
Kindle
Children’s Rug
Seasonal Decorations
Projector Speakers
Display Easels
And much more!
LIBRARY STAFF DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING
The Friends also contribute to the Annual Staff Education Day for LCPL System employees.
EVENTS & PROGRAMS
The Friends support the Library’s programs in a number of ways, including providing program supplies, refreshments, and presenters. For these and other Friend’s sponsored programs, contact the Irmo Branch Library at 6251 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, South Carolina 29212 or call: 803-798-7880 for further information.
Short Story Winner
Lauren Chen, a 12th grade student at Dutch Fork High School shown with her parents Jane Huo and Hexin Chen, is the winner of this year’s Palmetto Scribe Short Story Writing Competition at the Irmo Branch Library. Authors Tom Poland, Gail Oust, Clair DeLune and Richard Wright chose Lauren’s story “Sonder” to receive the $500 award. This was the third year for the competition open to 11th and 12th grade students in School District Five of Lexington and Richland counties and sponsored by the Friends of the Irmo Branch Library.
Honorable Mention
Prisca Arendash, an 11th grade student at Spring Hill High School received an Honorable Mention from judges Tom Poland, Gail Oust, Clair DeLune and Richard Wright for her submission titled, “The Sorrow in Her Smile” in this year’s Palmetto Scribe Short Story Writing Competition at the Irmo Branch Library She is pictured with her Mom, Janmarie Ritter.
Scholarship Awarded
Veronica Matlosz, a homeschooled student from Lexington County, is the recipient of the 2020 Friends of the Irmo Branch Library Scholarship. The one-time $2,000 annual scholarship recognizes an Outstanding Junior Volunteer at the Irmo Branch Library.
Veronica started as a volunteer at the library in the summer of 2017. “Little did I know, I would later stay to volunteer for the rest of the year, and even later, the rest of my high school career,” Veronica wrote in her application for the scholarship. Alisha Polkowsky, Youth Services Librarian, said Veronica, “has gone above and beyond what is expected of a junior volunteer.”
“We are delighted to award this year’s junior volunteer scholarship to such a well deserving student,” said C. Grant Jackson, president of the Friends of the Irmo Branch Library. “The junior volunteers provide invaluable service to the library.”
In addition to volunteering at the library, Veronica has also been active in THRILL – Teenage Homeschoolers Radically Improving Lexington Lives – an organization that offers a variety of service opportunities throughout the year to homeschooled students. She earned Presidential Service Awards each year of high school through the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools and was a member of the Capital City Eagles Archery Team and active in Yearbook Club. She has also been employed part time at Target as a Guest Advocate since October of 2018.
The daughter of Stephen and Angela Matlosz of Irmo, Veronica was accepted for early admission to the University of South Carolina, where she plans to major in photography.
Friends of the Irmo Branch Library 