Who's Who

As an organization with a small budget and a large mission, we are proud to have a committed and talented staff and board. Their strength is derived from a belief that what we do every day makes a difference to an individual's ability to achieve their best potential through the life-long learning derived from the free access to education and cultural enrichment available only at the public library.

Amy Dougherty

Executive Director
215-686-5361
email Amy

Amy Dougherty has been with the Friends since September of 2001 and during that time implemented the Neighborhood Volunteer for Better Libraries program that has increased the number of active Friends Groups from 21 to 42 and designed the Volunteers are Vital project, a series of best practices training seminars for Friends Groups and Library advocates. With the assistance of the Book Corner staff she created the Books for Friends and the Emerging Writers Series (formerly called Philadelphia Reading Series) programs and instituted this WEB site. Working with the Board of Directors and Friends Group members she spearheaded the 2005-2010 Strategic plan, increased the number of staff, doubled the agencies budget and the visibility of the Friends Groups and the overall organization throughout the city and state. Under her leadership and guidance the Branch Friends Groups succeeded in gaining a $3.5 million restoration in the 2005 City allocation to the Free Library budget, breaking a hiring freeze that had decimated library service in many neighborhoods for years.

She comes with a varied background including: owning and operating a successful retail floral design business, Gilded Lily; Hotline Manager at the Women's Law Project and the National Program Director for the Gray Panthers. Amy also has a wide variety of past volunteer experience including working with street children in Bristol, England and building houses in a cooperative project with a Hispanic community of filed supervisors in the San Joaquin Valley in California. Currently she is the Treasurer of Friends of Libraries USA (FOLUSA), a national organization that serves Friends Groups across the country, past Vice-president and continuing member of the Allens Lane Art Center.

At the Friends, Amy's responsibilities include overseeing all programs and operations of the organization. She heads efforts to educate policy makers about the importance of open libraries in all neighborhoods in the city and communicates with the Free Library administration on behalf of library patrons and Friends Groups.

Presentations

• Leadership Training, panel speaker, Business Volunteers for the Arts, Arts and Business Council. April 2005
• Advocacy Institute workshop, American Library Association Annual Conference. June 2005
• Presidents Forum Keynote speaker, Brooklyn Public Library. February 2004

Annette Griffin

Executive Assistant/Bookkeeper
email Annette

In her position as Executive Assistant/Bookkeeper, Annette is responsible for helping to maintain the fiscal health and integrity of Friends, while providing support to the Executive Director and the program staff. In her past role as an Accounting and Resource Technician for Onslow County Partnership for Children located in North Carolina, Annette was persistent in her quest to safeguard funds that were appropriated by the state for children 0 - 5 years to enter school healthy and ready to learn. These endeavors earned Annette the North Carolina Family Support Credential from Duke University.

Annette is involved in the community as a volunteer for CASA of Philadelphia County. As a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA Volunteer), Annette is the voice of abused and neglected children in the Family Court System. Volunteering and working for the non-profit sector has allowed Annette to pursue her vision of empowering families to develop coping skills and believe in their dreams. Annette has served as the Treasurer of the Guardian ad Litem Volunteer Association (GAL), in Jacksonville NC. GAL is a group that advocates for services that will help promote the safety, welfare and best interest of children that are found to be dependents of the court system.

Of her new position with the Friends, Annette says, "As a child I can recall that the Free Library of Philadelphia was one of the places that my parents always allowed me to go. My friends and I would have so much fun choosing from a wide selection of books or meeting to study and do research for a school project. I am elated to see that this vital institution is as vibrant as ever in a city that I am deeply rooted too. Most of all I am honored to join an organization that shares my passion to promote community awareness and involvement."

Karen D. Lash

Community Organizer
267-303-3018
email Karen

In February, 2005 Karen joined the Friends of the Free Library's advocacy core and galvanized support from her northeast community, library patrons, local media and elected officials to organize a Save Our Library Rally at her Holmesburg Library branch. Due to her experience as the president of the Forest Home and School Association where she raised money for a library, Karen became FFL's expert on (the lack of) libraries in the public schools and testified at City Council's library hearings in March of 2005. Karen started the Friends of Holmesburg Library where she still serves as president and organized an Open House Celebration attended by more than 350 people to welcome the return of its librarians and full service. Her current project in this capacity is the creation of a Children's Reading Garden. Karen's professional background includes 15+ years in fundraising, community outreach, volunteer management, and public relations in the non-profit sector including the American Red Cross. She will be focusing her efforts in the northeast and river ward library communities.

Steven Duckworth

Administrative Assistant
email Steven

Steve's position is a flexible one: serving to continually update the website with the various Friends Groups' activities and other information, helping to spread the word about the Friends, keeping the office organized and on track, and many other duties as they arise. He is happy to be a part of this beneficial organization.

Steve comes to us with a varied background deeply rooted in the arts. A graduate of Ithaca College and Wichita State University, he is a professional cellist and cello teacher. As a freelance cellist he plays in various groups in the Delaware and Lehigh Valleys and also serves as the cellist and manager of the Loudermilk String Quartet. Steve also greatly enjoys teaching cello to others and teaches Suzuki cello to kids as young as four finding great inspiration in these little cellists. Previously, Steven served as the Assistant Librarian of the Allentown Symphony. He is currently taking a two-year long Suzuki Teacher-Training course in New York City.

Book Corner Staff

Miranda Resnick, Manager
Kristin Campbell
John Snowden
Marc Washington

215-567-0527

The Book Corner staff works together to appraise, price and sort a constant influx of used books donated by the public. They aim to support the Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia whose mission is to champion Philadelphia's library system and to provide an accessible venue for the area's literary community through the sale of inexpensive, quality used books, poetry and prose readings and other events.

Board of Directors

Michael Schaedle, President
Edward Bonett, Jr., Vice-president
Richard Brown, Treasurer
Deborah Hoxter, Secretary

Sharon Askew, Josh Baer, Yvonne Cook, Linda Colwell-Smith, Joseph DiGiuseppe, Ruth Gales, Alfonso Gambone, Daniel Garofalo, Roseann Gill, Kathryn Griffo, Fred Holzerman, Angela Kweon, Kate McNamara, Lillian Paulmier, Kim Pride, Honorable Lillian Ransom, Leslie Safran, Gretchen Santamour, Sally Steffan, and Joel Trotter.