Friends of the Ashby Public Library

Next Meeting

The next meeting is October 15th, 5:30 pm.
Meet us at the library. We are always looking for new members!
We will be discussing what to purchase for the library based on the director requests, upcoming fund raising efforts and more! When attending the meeting, we would love it if you would bring a food item to donate to our Library Food Pantry (but it is not a requirement).

Upcoming Friends Events

Halloween at the Library

The Ashby Free Public Library is keeping a beloved Halloween tradition alive! Trick-or-treaters are invited to stop by the library for complimentary donuts and cider while they enjoy the festivities.

And back by popular demand, the Haunted Library returns! Bring the family for a fun, child-friendly haunted experience that is sure to add a little extra excitement to Halloween.

Want to help make this community tradition possible? We welcome sponsorship support, as well as volunteers to help with setup and breakdown. Your support helps us create a memorable Halloween experience for Ashby families.

Book Sale

  • 💙 Thank You, Ashby! 💙
  • Thank you to everyone who came out to the library to support the book sale, the community food pantry, the Grange, and our wonderful young entrepreneurs. Whether you bought a book, donated money for food, or simply stopped by to show your support—you made a real difference.
  • Every purchase and contribution helps strengthen the programs, people, and local organizations that keep our community connected. Thank you for showing up and helping make yesterday such a meaningful success!

Community Food Pantry

The food pantry is located in the foyer at the side entrance of the library.
It is self-service and available any time the library is open.
No proof of residency or eligibility is required—everyone is welcome to take what they need.

There are 3 easy ways to support the Community Food Pantry at the library 💙

1️⃣ Grocery Store Gift Card Donations.
We accept gift cards from Market Basket or Hannaford in any denomination. Just drop them in the black lock box located to the left of the main circulation desk upstairs in the library. 100% goes towards food for the pantry. 

2️⃣ Make a monetary donation
To donate cash, please put cash in an envelope, write “food pantry” on the outside, and drop envelope in the lock box. To donate by check, make check payable to Friends of the Ashby Library  (be sure to write “food pantry” in the memo line), and place check in the lock box. To donate using PayPal, Venmo or Cash App, scroll down to the bottom of this page for links (be sure to note that your donation is intended for the food pantry). Every dollar buys food. 

3️⃣ Drop off food donations
We accept donations of all non-perishable food. Place items in the big blue bin located in the pantry area (foyer, side entrance) anytime the library is open. Click on Community Food Pantry in the drop-down menu to see a list of our most needed items: https://www.ashbylibrary.org/support-your-community/

Please no expired food, dented/rusted cans, or open packages. Thank you for your generosity!

About Us

Friends of the Ashby Library is a local 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, whose goals are to encourage the use of library services and spotlight the value of the Library in the life of our community. Through fundraising, events, donations, and community partnerships, we help provide programs, resources, and special projects that enrich the library experience for everyone. From book sales and community events to supporting the Community Food Pantry, the Friends are proud to help make our library a vibrant place to learn, connect, and belong. Become a Friend of the Library. No experience is required.

You pick your level of involvement:

  • Attend meetings or not
  • Donate money
  • Volunteer time

If you are interested in becoming a Friend, please email us at: friendsofashbylibrary@gmail.com

Board Members

  • Michelle Thomas, President
  • Victoria Maloney, Secretary
  • Barry Buck, Treasurer

If you want to give a $ donation, membership options include:

  • Friend $10
  • Family $25
  • Supporter $50
  • Partner $100
  • Business $250
  • Other – $

Payments

We accept donations via cash, check, Venmo, PayPal or Cash App