Our Mission
The mission of the Friends of Freedom Public Library is to raise supplemental funds that are used to develop and promote library resources, services and facilities for the community.
The mission of the Friends of Freedom Public Library is to raise supplemental funds that are used to develop and promote library resources, services and facilities for the community.
We are dedicated to preserving and strengthening the resources, services and facilities that the library gives freely to our community. The library brings enjoyment to our lives and helps us endow our children with an understanding of our heritage and culture.
Become a FriendWe are dedicated to preserving and strengthening the resources, services and facilities that the library gives freely to our community. The library brings enjoyment to our lives and helps us endow our children with an understanding of our heritage and culture.
Our Vision
We envision the Freedom Public Library as a mainstay in the life of our community. Our goal is to increase public awareness of the Freedom Public Library and to highlight the crucial role the Friends play in supporting its mission by actively engaging with residents, homeowner associations (HOAs), businesses, and other community organizations within the southwest corridor of Marion County.
Support the FriendsOur Core Values
These four core values serve as the guiding principles in our mission and in our partnership with the Freedom Public Library and the community it serves.
Friendship
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Friendship is the foundation of our work. It fosters a culture of collaboration, engagement, and connectivity, ensuring that all our efforts move forward in an atmosphere of care and encouragement.
Literacy
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As Friends of the Library and members of a broader educational community, we champion literacy as the foundation of lifelong learning. We support our public library as a welcoming space where people of all ages can explore, understand, create, and communicate in a world rich with diverse information and evolving technologies. From books and periodicals to e-resources, from cozy reading nooks to audio stations, tablets, and computers—we value every means of access to knowledge, today and in the future.
Community
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As Friends, we support the Freedom Public Library’s commitment to making the library a safe, nurturing and educational environment for children and adults, a place that is open and inclusive and in a very real sense, the heart of the Community.
Continuous Improvement
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As a nonprofit charity, we’re guided by a spirit of continuous improvement. By regularly looking at how we work and finding better ways to serve, we uncover opportunities to grow, simplify our processes, and build on our shared skills and knowledge. This ongoing effort nurtures teamwork, accountability, and creativity—leading to greater efficiency, better results, and a stronger sense of satisfaction for everyone involved.
How we make a difference
The Freedom Public Library is an essential and enduring part of our community. It serves as a center for learning, discovery, and connection for residents of all ages. The Friends of the Freedom Public Library are proud to support this important community resource and to help ensure it continues to grow and thrive for years to come.
As the southwest corridor of Marion County continues to experience significant population growth, the demand for library programs, services, technology, and materials continues to increase. Meeting these evolving needs requires ongoing community support.
The Friends are committed to providing that support by raising funds, promoting volunteer involvement, and building strong partnerships throughout our community. Through the Friends Corner Bookstore, memberships, donations, and community outreach, we provide financial assistance for programs, services, and resources that enhance the library beyond its regular operating budget.
By working together with residents, businesses, homeowner associations, and community organizations, we help ensure that the Freedom Public Library remains a vibrant, welcoming, and valuable resource for everyone who calls our community home.
As the southwest corridor of Marion County continues to experience significant population growth, the demand for library programs, services, technology, and materials continues to increase. Meeting these evolving needs requires ongoing community support.
The Friends are committed to providing that support by raising funds, promoting volunteer involvement, and building strong partnerships throughout our community. Through the Friends Corner Bookstore, memberships, donations, and community outreach, we provide financial assistance for programs, services, and resources that enhance the library beyond its regular operating budget.
By working together with residents, businesses, homeowner associations, and community organizations, we help ensure that the Freedom Public Library remains a vibrant, welcoming, and valuable resource for everyone who calls our community home.
New Happenings!
Our Approach
The Friends of the Freedom Public Library are committed to preserving and enhancing the resources and services that the library freely offers to our community. We believe that with the support of the community, we can successfully address the challenges brought by the area’s rapid population growth.
The southwest corridor of Marion County has experienced remarkable growth over the past few years, and this trend is expected to continue. There will be a growing demand for expanded children’s and adult programming, additional library services, and the purchase of needed materials.
To help the Freedom Public Library meet this increased demand for additional programming and services, the Friends of Freedom Public Library are seeking fundraising support from residents, businesses, and community groups in southwest Marion County. Together, we can provide the critical financial resources needed to support this vital expansion.
The southwest corridor of Marion County has experienced remarkable growth over the past few years, and this trend is expected to continue. There will be a growing demand for expanded children’s and adult programming, additional library services, and the purchase of needed materials.
To help the Freedom Public Library meet this increased demand for additional programming and services, the Friends of Freedom Public Library are seeking fundraising support from residents, businesses, and community groups in southwest Marion County. Together, we can provide the critical financial resources needed to support this vital expansion.
History
The Freedom Public Library exists today because residents of the State Road 200 corridor and surrounding communities desired a local, full-service library. When local businessman and real estate developer John Rudnianyn became aware of this, he generously donated a three-acre parcel of land, which is now the site of the library.
The Friends of Freedom Public Library were formed in May 2000. According to William R. Haussmann, the group’s founder and first president, the original group of eight began meeting in a garage to plan for the library’s opening.
By the time the library opened its doors in the fall of 2000, the Friends’ membership had grown to 23. The first Friends book sale took place at the library lobby in December 2000. Just days later, the Friends were officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity.
The Friends held their first annual meeting in January 2001. Since then, all annual meetings have been held on a Saturday in January and have taken place in the Freedom Public Library’s meeting room.
The Friends have a long history of providing supplemental financial support to the Freedom Public Library, with the majority of funding coming from the sale of donated used books from the community.
The Friends of Freedom Public Library were formed in May 2000. According to William R. Haussmann, the group’s founder and first president, the original group of eight began meeting in a garage to plan for the library’s opening.
By the time the library opened its doors in the fall of 2000, the Friends’ membership had grown to 23. The first Friends book sale took place at the library lobby in December 2000. Just days later, the Friends were officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity.
The Friends held their first annual meeting in January 2001. Since then, all annual meetings have been held on a Saturday in January and have taken place in the Freedom Public Library’s meeting room.
The Friends have a long history of providing supplemental financial support to the Freedom Public Library, with the majority of funding coming from the sale of donated used books from the community.
Our Core Values
These four core values serve as the guiding principles in our mission and in our partnership with the Freedom Public Library and the community it serves.
Friendship
Hover to learn more
Friendship is the foundation of our work. It fosters a culture of collaboration, engagement, and connectivity, ensuring that all our efforts move forward in an atmosphere of care and encouragement.
Literacy
Hover to learn more
As Friends of the Library and members of a broader educational community, we champion literacy as the foundation of lifelong learning. We support our public library as a welcoming space where people of all ages can explore, understand, create, and communicate in a world rich with diverse information and evolving technologies. From books and periodicals to e-resources, from cozy reading nooks to audio stations, tablets, and computers—we value every means of access to knowledge, today and in the future.
Community
Hover to learn more
As Friends, we support the Freedom Public Library’s commitment to making the library a safe, nurturing and educational environment for children and adults, a place that is open and inclusive and in a very real sense, the heart of the Community.
Continuous Improvement
Hover to learn more
As a nonprofit charity, we’re guided by a spirit of continuous improvement. By regularly looking at how we work and finding better ways to serve, we uncover opportunities to grow, simplify our processes, and build on our shared skills and knowledge. This ongoing effort nurtures teamwork, accountability, and creativity—leading to greater efficiency, better results, and a stronger sense of satisfaction for everyone involved.
Have a question, a suggestion, or a comment?
Feel Free to Contact Us.
We’re located at 5870 SW 95th St, Ocala, FL 34476
Friends@FOFLibrary.orgWe’re located at 5870 SW 95th St, Ocala, FL 34476
