BURKE, VA – The Fairfax County Public Library Board of Trustees and community members gathered on Wednesday, Oct. 12 to celebrate the library’s Friends groups and recognize members nominated by their peers for their service. This year’s Friends’ Choice Awards took place at Kings Park Library and featured a program honoring 25 individuals and one community group for their support of the library and its mission.
During the event, Board of Trustees Chair Brian Engler praised the Friends groups for their contributions to the library over the last year. “Together, the groups donated more than $430,000 from July 2021 to June 2022,” he said. These funds have been and continue to be used to support library programming, enhance the digital materials collection and provide opportunities for staff and volunteers such as scholarships and registration for professional organizations.
Engler also spent time honoring each recipient for their contributions. Reading a summary of their nominations, he welcomed each honoree, presenting them with a certificate, gift card and pin as a token of the library’s appreciation.
This year’s list of honorees include:
- Stan Gowin, Access Services Advisory Group
- Sandy Neuzil, Access Services Advisory Group
- Mary Ellen Hurley, Friends of Burke Center Library
- Sharon Gottovi, Friends of Centreville Regional Library
- Cathy Pluchinsky, Friends of Centreville Regional Library
- Virginia Uliana, Friends of City of Fairfax Regional Library
- Lynn Peterson Mobley, Friends of Great Falls Library
- Bonnie Ketch, Friends of Kings Park Library
- Makayla Adams, Friends of Kingstowne Library
- Katherine Varela, Friends of Kingstowne Library
- Willow Martin, Friends of Oakton Library
- Cindy Richards, Friends of Pohick Regional Library
- Laura Stokowski, Friends of Pohick Regional Library
- Eileen Evon, Friends of Reston Regional Library
- Terrill Evon, Friends of Reston Regional Library
- John France, Friends of Reston Regional Library
- Karen France, Friends of Reston Regional Library
- Beverly Greenblatt, Friends of Reston Regional Library
- Kerry Hum, Friends of Reston Regional Library
- Michael Hum, Friends of Reston Regional Library
- Charly Karlsson, Friends of Reston Regional Library
- Sujung Kim, Friends of Reston Regional Library
- Dianne Pretanik, Friends of Reston Regional Library
- Woman’s Club of Springfield, Friends of Richard Byrd Library
- Miki Wellck, Friends of Thomas Jefferson Library
- Vera Finberg, Friends of Virginia Room
Community members wishing to become part of a Friends groups can find out more information on the library’s website. This page includes a list of the different Friends groups throughout Fairfax County as well as details on membership and how to join.