Friends of the Doylestown Library host Second Annual Arts and Crafts Fair

On April 5, the Friends of the Doylestown Library brought together creativity, community, and cause for their 2nd Annual Arts and Crafts Fair, held at the Lenape Valley Church in New Britain. With 27 juried artisans and craftspeople, along with over 300 attendees, all under one roof, the event served as both a celebration of local talent and a critical fundraiser for the Doylestown Library.

The fair offered free admission, ample parking, and a wide array of artisan goods, while also featuring raffle baskets, a spring craft fair passport activity, and homemade refreshments for sale, all made possible by the efforts of the Friends, a dedicated volunteer group supporting the library's programs and services.

“Our main goal of today’s event is fundraising for library extras,” explained Lorrie Richardson, co-chair of the fair and member of the Friends of the Doylestown Library. “The Friends provide programming at the library, sponsor “BookPage”, a monthly publication, pay for speakers, chair yoga, and support immediate library needs; things that aren’t in the library’s budget.”

The organization, which currently consists of 218 members, is the largest and most active Friends group in the Bucks County Library System. Their mission centers on supporting the Doylestown Library, the central branch of the system, through volunteer-run fundraisers like the craft fair and two annual book sales. The next book sale is scheduled for April 26 and 27 at the library.

This year’s craft fair drew vendors who not only matched the Friends' mission of supporting literacy and public access to resources, but also actively contributed to its success. “Each vendor donated items to our raffle baskets,” Richardson said. “We have a table where you buy raffle tickets and drop them into jars next to the items you hope to win. It’s a great way to raise money, and all of that goes straight to the library.”

The spring craft fair passport was a standout feature, encouraging guests to visit every booth. Attendees received a passport upon entry and collected unique stamps from each vendor. “Once they get all the stamps, they can turn it in for three extra raffle tickets,” said Richardson. “It’s a fun way to engage visitors while helping the vendors make connections and sales.”

Donna Tobin, also a co-chair of the event, emphasized the group’s commitment to making the library a welcoming and enriching place for the whole community. “Chair yoga is very popular, so much so that we’ve added a second Friday morning session,” she noted. “It’s free for everyone, members or not. All of our programs are free to the community.”

The fair itself was fully volunteer-powered. From the baked goods, made by members, to raffle coordination and vendor support, no one received payment. “Everyone in Friends of the Library is here because they are interested in keeping the library alive and helping the community,” Richardson added.

The church venue proved to be a good fit, with accessible parking and a supportive staff. “The church staff has been really great,” said Richardson. “They are forward-thinking in promoting nonprofits.”

With a strong turnout two consecutive years, this event appears to be growing into a community tradition. “We are hoping this will be an annual event,” Richardson said. “We’re getting good vibes back from the vendors, and I think this is a win for next year.”

For those looking to get involved or learn more, the Friends of the Doylestown Library continue to welcome new members, volunteers, and supporters. Their impact may be quiet, but it’s powerful, as seen in every program, every soundproof booth, and every story read at the library.

Learn more about the Friends of the Doylestown Library at www.friendsofdtownlibrary.org/.