Our Mission.
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In Recent Years the Foundation Has:
- Purchased additional materials including books, audiobooks, eBooks, and DVDs
- Paid for the prizes given to teens and adults for summer reading
- Paid for additional children's and adult programs
- Funded a new self-checkout station
- Helped start the new downloadable Freegal collection that allows patrons 5 free downloadable songs a week which they then own.
- Funded a new local history database
- Continued to grow our Foundation Endowment
- Celebrated and recognized library staff during National Library Week (generally held in the second week of April)
- Mobilized library patrons to advocate for full funding of the 2020/21 library renovation and expansion project.
- Thrown a party in March 2020 to say goodbye to the Library before it closed for renovations. (See the article in the Falls Church News Press)
- Created the annual Chet De Long Award for Outstanding Service to the Library, to recognize a staff person or volunteer who has exemplified Mr. De Long's dedication and generosity.
Foundation volunteers promote Library Giving Day at the Falls Church Farmer's Market
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Attendees at the "Lovin' Our Library" party to celebrate the renovation decorated the bay window by the circulation desk, which will be demolished during renovation.
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Librarian Steve Ingeman created mini-golf holes out of books for the "Lovin' Our Library" party.
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Chet De Long Award for Outstanding Service
Mr. De Long shelving books
(as we estimate he has done for at least 7,800 hours over the years!)
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The Chet De Long Award for Outstanding Service was created by the Mary Riley Styles Library Foundation to recognize a library staff member or volunteer who has shown the qualities of dedication and public service that exemplify the civic life of Chet De Long. The award, in the amount of $1,000, will be presented to one volunteer or staff member each fall.
Mr. De Long has supported the Mary Riley Styles Public Library in many vital ways over more than 25 years. He served for over 25 years on the Library Board of Trustees. As board member and vice-chairman, he helped to guide library policy, supporting three different library directors. Over the past decade, he was crucial to planning the renovation of the library, including advocacy with the City Council. Mr. De Long also worked as a volunteer at the library for 26 years. For up to 300 hours per year, he has worked behind the scenes at the library, mostly assisting the intake of new material and the deletion of old items, shelving items, and supporting the library's ongoing book sale. Mr. De Long was also a founding member of the MRSPL Foundation. After the organization was established in 2004, he served as Financial Officer and fundraiser for many years. We honor Chet De Long for his incredible service to our library, and we look forward to celebrating future staff and volunteers in his name! |
2020 Awardee for the Chet De Long Award for Outstanding Service
Caption: (left to right), Jenny Carroll, Library Director; Eric Albrecht, 2020 De Long Awardee; Chet De Long, long-time library volunteer;
Edward Rose, MRSPL Foundation Board Member
The Mary Riley Styles Library Foundation chose Eric Albrecht as the first recipient of its newly-established Chet De Long Award for Outstanding Service to the Library.
Our library is fortunate to have a staff deeply committed to the library and its patrons. The Foundation selected Eric from among many worthy and deserving individuals because he reflects so well the qualities that Chet has brought to library service over the past 25 years. The award comes with a cash prize of $1,000.
Eric Albrecht was born in Falls Church and has called the city home for over 37 years. He has worked at the library’s circulation desk for 16 years. At the desk he is friendly and thoughtful in his approach to patrons. If someone expresses an interest or need related to any library program or service, Eric takes the time to inform the patron how to access it. This is the kind of professionalism that enhances the welcoming, community feel of our library.
Eric's coworkers know him as patient, supportive, and knowledgeable -- always willing to lend a helping hand. Since coronavirus disrupted our lives this spring, Eric has shown outstanding flexibility, positivity, and supportiveness to other staff members as they worked together to reimagine library services and to improve outreach to patrons. The library values and appreciates this adaptable and service-oriented attitude.
The Foundation is pleased to honor Eric with the 2020 Chet De Long Award for Outstanding Service.
Our library is fortunate to have a staff deeply committed to the library and its patrons. The Foundation selected Eric from among many worthy and deserving individuals because he reflects so well the qualities that Chet has brought to library service over the past 25 years. The award comes with a cash prize of $1,000.
Eric Albrecht was born in Falls Church and has called the city home for over 37 years. He has worked at the library’s circulation desk for 16 years. At the desk he is friendly and thoughtful in his approach to patrons. If someone expresses an interest or need related to any library program or service, Eric takes the time to inform the patron how to access it. This is the kind of professionalism that enhances the welcoming, community feel of our library.
Eric's coworkers know him as patient, supportive, and knowledgeable -- always willing to lend a helping hand. Since coronavirus disrupted our lives this spring, Eric has shown outstanding flexibility, positivity, and supportiveness to other staff members as they worked together to reimagine library services and to improve outreach to patrons. The library values and appreciates this adaptable and service-oriented attitude.
The Foundation is pleased to honor Eric with the 2020 Chet De Long Award for Outstanding Service.