The Random House of Canada Friend of the Year Award 2003 is awarded to Friends of the Oshawa Public Library. Friends of Canadian Libraries President Jami van Haaften made the announcement at FOCAL’s annual meeting in June.

The work of dedicated Friends Board members and committed support of volunteers was praised in the submission made by Jim Osborne, President of the Friends of the Oshawa Public Library. "We are proud of our accomplishments, our mission of enhancing literacy in our community and our volunteers who support our projects and cause."

The award is judged on criteria of community and membership involvement, creative involvement of people, impact on membership and services and innovation. The Calendar of Events scheduled by the Friends in Oshawa contains regular meetings, lectures, workshops, book sales, newsletters, book sale and Christmas parties and cinefest productions.

Annual contributions to the library in 2003 totaled $16,945. Funds enhanced a children’s collection at one branch and introduced a DVD collection at another, purchased a Kurzweil reader and a collection of closed caption videos, and funded a series of author visits. Library CEO Ian Heckford praised the hard work and generous support of the Friends. He also congratulated the Friends who contributed to the overwhelming success of the Laura Ellis Memorial concert.

The Friends set a new goal to raise $20,000 by the end of 2004 to equip the "Laura Ellis Children’s Island", a special area for children in a library under construction in a new community recreation centre. The fund had grown to over $17,000 by the end of 2003, as a result of a special memorial concert and other donations. Other projects, Books for Babies, a gardening workshop and the Giant Book Sale, also involved community agencies and enjoyed financial support from sponsors.

The annual Giant Book Sale had proceeds in excess of $12,700. A raffle scheduled at the same time had profits of $1,300. Over 100 volunteers are involved year-round in sorting, set-up, selling and cleanup. Selling concert tickets involved an army consisting of ten captains, each with a division of seven volunteers, recruiting leaders from the Library Board, the library staff, Friends and the community.

"Friends had a direct, positive impact on Council's decision to include a library in the new Recreation Centre that will also house four ice pads," noted Osborne. The Friends organized a lobbying campaign, distributing 2100 letters and library newsletters to the community to be served by the recreation centre. City Council heard their message "Exercising the mind is as important as exercising the body".

Membership in the Friends has increased 20%, numbering over 200. The annual meeting was attended by 70 members. Five committees cover the functions of advocacy/marketing, booksale, cinefest, fundraising and volunteer/membership. Volunteers are thanked during an annual party, and awards are given for distinctive service in four categories.