Amelia Granger

The Greenpoint Library Gets a Little Help from its Friends

On Saturday October 4th, Greenpointers gathered in their local public library branch to attend the Friends of the Greenpoint Library’s second annual bake sale and art show. The Friends group obtained more than 70 works of art from local artists, and sold them for $25 each as a benefit for the library. The artworks were also judged and awarded first, second, and third prizes by the head librarian of the Metropolitan Museum’s library.

“It’s all going to support the Greenpoint branch,” said Jen Cohlman, a co-president of the Friends of the Greenpoint Library. “The Friends is one of the only ways the library can raise money that goes just to our branch.” She explained that the Friends raise funds, and then librarians submit proposals for different projects that would improve the library.

Co-president Sarah Gentile wants people to know they can be involved in that decision-making process. “If people make suggestions about how to spend the money, we will consider them,” she said. “It’s a great way to get involved in the neighborhood.” Gentile, who works as an archivist, has been involved in the Friends of the Greenpoint Library for two years, and has lived in the neighborhood for eight years.

Liz Clayman, a photographer whose work was exhibited in the show, said she found out about it through a flyer in an art store on Graham Avenue. “It’s a good idea,” she said. “It’s a good cause, and a good way to get your work out there.” Clayman, a Williamsburg resident, described her work as “mostly found moments.” The piece that was included in the show was an image of two men struggling over a snowbound broken-down car in Clayman’s hometown of Portland, Maine.

At a table in the entryway, the Friends of the Library were also peddling baked goods and homemade apple juice for a $1 donation. Jessica Shapiro, a librarian at NYU, was manning the table. She said they had been very successful so far. “What’s great is that people are just throwing in 20 or 40 bucks,” Shapiro said. She added that she had volunteered for the event because: “I’m a librarian. I answered the call.”