FriendsTPL.org is New and Improved

The Friends of the Troy Public Library launched their new website on October 1, 2013. The new and improved site at www.friendstpl.org will enable the Friends to more easily keep connected with the Troy community, Friends members and volunteers.

The Friends partnered with Media Genesis, a Troy-based web development company, which not only designed and developed the site, but generously donated $4,600 worth of design time to the project.

“We are very fortunate to have such a high level of talent and expertise – and, such a generous business community member – right here in Troy. It makes our objective of partnering with and supporting local businesses and organizations a very easy one,” said Doral Abrahim, the Friends Web Committee Chair.

Previously, web updates took many days, if not weeks, to happen and now they will be instantaneous. Supporting the Friends will be easier than ever before with the new features of the redesigned site. The new site will enable visitors to submit volunteer applications, membership dues and donations directly on line.

In addition, the Friends will expand their use of social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. A new blog will replace the traditional quarterly newsletter. According to Venus Abrahim, Marketing Committee member, “Like most organizations today, we want to be as efficient and cost conscious as possible. The paper-based newsletters were expensive to produce and mail, and did not serve our members well as they were very out of date by the time they reached mailboxes.”

The web site is a one-stop-shop for anyone interested in supporting the Troy Public Library. It will provide information about the Friends-funded library enhancements and activities, announce happenings in the Friends Shop and Book Shop and showcase a wide variety of ways in which those interested in keeping the Troy Public Library vibrant and relevant can help – from becoming a member to volunteering, donating and advocating.

“We’ve come a long way since 1962, the year the Friends were incorporated and acquired a mimeograph machine for producing newsletters,” said Eve Parsons, Friends President.