​Mission Statement:

The Friends of  Shannon Staub Public Library, Inc. is a group of dedicated individuals whose mission is to ensure an exciting, worthwhile, and sustainable library that engages the community.

Purpose: This corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, scientific, and educational purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

The specific purposes and goals of the Friends of Shannon Staub Public Library, Inc. include, but are not limited to, the following:

A. To promote the Shannon Staub Public Library, its goals, services and programs; to serve as liaison between the Library and the Community and its businesses, organizations and government agencies;​

B. To advocate for the expansion of quality library services for the Public in Sarasota County, Florida and the USA;

C. To advocate for increased funding for libraries in Sarasota County, Florida and the USA;

D. To advocate for long-range planning and the attainment of library goals for the North Port Area Library and Sarasota County;

E. To increase public awareness of library services, programs and materials;

F. To encourage community involvement in the library through such activities as programs, volunteers, memorials and gifts, surveys and participation in developing new services.

​Our Philosophy

Every library needs a Friends group as a strong advocate for its programs, services and funding.  The Friends of Shannon Staub Public Library will support Shannon Staub Public Library at STC-North Port in the County of Sarasota and the State of Florida.  We are committed to supporting underfunded programs and gaps in the technology realm for the public library. This library will be an additional resource for the City of North Port and surrounding communities.

History

In the spring of 2015, the Sarasota County Library System, the State of Florida and the City of North Port announced the building of a new public library on the same campus as a new Suncoast Technical College.  

In April, 2015, Carolann Palm-Abramoff, Library Manager for the North Port Library, organized a group of people to start a new Friends of the Library Group.  This group has grown to 35+ volunteers.

In May, 2015, the organization was  named "Friends of the Suncoast Library at Toledo Blade." The official name of the library was announced at the ground-breaking ceremony in September 2016. We are now "Friends of Shannon Staub Public Library."

This organization has met the requirements for incorporation in the State of Florida and has received the 501(C)(3) designation from the IRS.  It has also obtained the approval for solicitation from Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

 Now the group is ready to begin its real role as advocate for the new library which is scheduled for completion in the Fall of 2017. 

​Official New Library Name and New Name for our Friends Group

On September 29, 2016, there was an official ground-breaking ceremony.  

At this time the new Library was officially name Shannon Staub Public Library at STC-North Port. ​

The Friends of Suncoast Library at Toledo Blade have also changed our name to :
Friends of Shannon Staub Public Library, Inc.