Since 1949, the Friends has been key to the Bonita Springs Library. Its volunteers operated the first library, housed in a tiny building and later in the Women's Club downtown. The Friends organized the town's first bookmobile and donated countless hours of time, elbow grease and more than $80,000 to help open the Pine Avenue library in 1991.
In 2019, the Friends made a major contribution to the opening of a new, state-of-the-art library on Reynolds Street behind the town's iconic banyan tree. We do not operate the library; instead, we provide funding for library programs, collections, and equipment. As the library grows and changes with the times, the Friends will be there to help.
For more than 50 years, the Friends has worked as a nonprofit, volunteer group to support the Bonita Springs Library. In fact, it has grown to be the largest supporter of an individual library in Lee County. Each year, the Friends sponsors hundreds of in-library activities, funds the summer reading program, contributes to the Southwest Florida Reading Festival, and much more.
