FAQs
Who are we?
The Friends organization is staffed entirely by volunteers.
Our board of directors is composed entirely of volunteers from the Newton community.
Other volunteers work on projects like the book sale and other Friends events.
Because the Friends are an independent 501(c)3 non-profit group, whose sole beneficiary is the Newton Free Library, all donations to the Friends are tax-deductible.
What do we do?
The Friends support our Library through fundraising, volunteering and advocating for the library. We volunteer on projects like improving the children’s room and caring for the plantings around the library. We raise funds to support Library programs through our book sale and other events.
What kind of programs do we help fund?
In 2023-24, Friends donations helped to sponsor more than 870 Youth Services programs attended by over 50,000 people, like Family Sing-a-long, Spanish Fun, and The Joys of Nature programs. With the donation the Friends made in April 2025 ($16,500), a portion of the gift will be used to sponsor the Library’s Speed Read program, freeing up funds from the Library’s budget for other programs.
Where does the Library get the rest of its budget?
The City provides the funds that support the core operating budget of the Library. The Trustees of the Library, a separate nonprofit organization, also raise funds to supplement this budget. The combined support of the City and community mean that we have one of the best libraries in the state and nation.
