Friends of the Carnegie Public Library East Liverpool board members Mary Deem, director, East Liverpool Carnegie Public Library; Karen Walker, chairman; Judy Smit; and Linda Henderson show the Underground Railroad quilt made by board member Amy Mabbott (not present) to raffle for the library. Also not present in photo is board member Susan Weaver. (Submitted Photo)

EAST LIVERPOOL – The Friends of the Carnegie Public Library, East Liverpool, a recently founded non-profit board created to support the library, is currently seeking additional members while working on multiple fundraising projects and community engagement events.

The current friends board of directors roster includes Amy Mabbott, Library Director Mary Deem, Linda Henderson, Susan Weaver, Judy Smit, Sue Densmore and Chair Karen Walker.

The friends group was established in September 2025. Walker noted that a previous group did exist at the library, but has not been active for years.

Walker said the board’s purpose is “to advance and encourage the appreciation, enjoyment and public use of the educational and cultural facilities at the Carnegie Library.”

Some of the group’s recent projects include the Muse, a monthly reading group; a free lecture series; and the recently held Cozy Mystery Author event. Upcoming projects include a master gardener presentation, a portrayal of Harriet Tubman, book sales, Library Jam and fall lectures.

The master gardener presentation is scheduled for spring, with the date and speaker pending.

Wellsville resident and historian Eddie Murphy will present her portrayal of abolitionist Harriet Tubman, focusing on her life as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, her escape from slavery and how she led others to find freedom. A date has not been set for this event, but it is expected to take place in May or June.

The library cannot hold book sales, but the Friends of the Library can and will be hosting one June 18 and 19 to raise money for the library. The sale will include discarded books, new coffee table books and possibly DVDs. They will be holding a second book sale during the Rotary’s Oktoberfest in September.

The Library Jam is a collaboration with the East Liverpool High School Alumni Association and Crockery City Creamery. The free musical event will take place at the library on Aug. 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. and feature musicians Doug and Dave Smith, Rick Gilbert, and Buddy Schneider performing on the lawn of the library. The ELHSAA will have food such as grilled hot dogs available for purchase, and Crockery City Creamery will have ice cream for purchase.

The fall lectures are possible through a grant obtained by Weaver and includes four of them with portable interpretive panels on the Northwest Ordinance, The Point of Beginning and other related topics. The first lecture is tentatively set for September. The dates and speakers are currently being planned for the series.

All events will be held at the library to help promote it.

Since the library does not charge for any of the events they hold and desire to continue providing events free of charge for the community, which is a part of their mission statement, the friends group has organized several other fundraising projects in addition to the book sales to help them continue providing free events and community engagement activities.

Mabbot has made and donated a quilt on which the squares are sampler blocks depicting the Underground Railroad.

According to Mabbott, it is believed that each block “was a way to communicate the passage to freedom for slaves traveling from the south to the north via the Underground Railroad.” Each block on the quilt represents various signs and symbols.

The quilt has been donated to the friends group to raffle off as a fundraiser for the library. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the library or any library event for $5 each or three for $10.

The friends group has partnered with local jam maker Brittany Ingledue to sell Library Jam. The jams will be available in blueberry, strawberry, blackberry and red raspberry and will be sold at the library and library events for $8 for a jar, with proceeds going to the library.

The Needles and Hearts knitting group, which meets at the library, has donated a red, white and blue afghan and a lap throw to be raffled off together as fundraiser. Tickets can be purchased at the library or any library event for $1 each.

The friends group directors have noted that they cannot sustain the group with just seven people and are looking for more individuals who are willing to become a part of the group and help organize, plan and volunteer at events.

Friends can be students or anyone with a little extra free time and a desire to help the library.

Students can become a member of the Friends of the Carnegie Public Library East Liverpool for $2 a year; adults for $5 a year. There are also corporate and lifetime friends memberships available as well.

Walker said Friends of the Carnegie Public Library East Liverpool is looking for friends to help support the library with various projects and feels the organization needs more workers and ideas to help it grow.

The Friends of the Carnegie Public Library East Liverpool Board of Directors meets the first Monday of each at the library at 1 p.m. and holds an All-Friends Board meeting in March, June, September and December.

The May Board of Directors meeting has been moved from the first Monday to May 14.

“In the day and age of digital books, libraries have had to reinvent themselves. We see our ‘Friends’ group as an extension between the library and the community,” Walker said. “Our hope is that the Friends of the Carnegie Public Library will bring increased awareness of what our beautiful library has to offer and encourage community involvement and participation.”

Kgarabrandt@mojonews.com