Friends of Washoe County Library

What Friends of Washoe County Library does

Friends of Washoe County Library is a 501(c)(3) Nevada nonprofit founded in 1980 and headquartered in Reno, Nevada, whose sole function is to raise and disburse supplementary funding for the Washoe County Library System (WCLS). It is an all-volunteer organization with no paid employees, governed by a Board of Directors currently led by President Mary Jones, Vice President Sheryl Stopper, Treasurer Sheree Garcia, and Secretary Jenny MacKay, with a WCLS Liaison (Jamie Hemingway) seated on the board. Since 1980 the organization reports raising over $2.6 million for the library system, with a separate source citing over $2.879 million since 1991; funds have been used for free programs at all branches, books and materials not funded by Washoe County, staff development, technology, marketing, and an endowment fund.

The organization's core product is the five annual book sales held at the Reno Town Mall (January, March, May/June, August, October), each running nine days with member-only early access on the Friday preceding the public opening and a $5-per-bag Bag Day on the final Sunday. Surrounding this anchor are four additional revenue streams: annual memberships priced at $15-$40 across senior/student, individual, two-person, and family tiers; tax-deductible monetary donations (including employer matching and bequests); book and media donations processed for resale; and two newer channels - an Amazon Book Store and a Printful-based merchandise store selling branded goods such as mugs. There is no underlying technology platform; the operating stack is a WordPress website plus standard marketplace and social channels.

Distribution is primarily regional (Washoe County) for in-person sales and global via Amazon for online resale. GTM is event-driven, with book sales as the dominant revenue mechanism supplemented by direct mail postcards, a monthly member newsletter, Facebook/Instagram outreach, community events (Senior month, Summer Reading Program parties), and partner referrals. Cross-promotional partnerships with Fleischmann Planetarium at UNR and Sparks Heritage Museum add member value, while outreach partnerships with local hospitals (Baby Library Card Program), elementary schools, the Boys and Girls Club, and education programming providers extend the donor pipeline into early-literacy and youth segments.

Name

Friends of Washoe County Library

Legal name

Friends of Washoe County Library

Website

https://washoelibraryfriends.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Friends of Washoe County Library is a 501(c)(3) all-volunteer nonprofit in Reno, Nevada, founded in 1980, that raises money for the Washoe County Library System through five annual book sales, memberships, donations, and online resale.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Library Support Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA)

Keywords

• Library fundraising
• Used book sales
• Nonprofit memberships
• Community literacy programs
• Volunteer organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Reno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Book Sales: The Friends operate five annual book sales featuring used books, DVDs, CDs, and vinyl records at the Reno Town Mall. They also maintain an Amazon Book Store for ongoing sales. Revenue from book sales is the primary funding source for library programs and materials.
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $15 to $40 depending on membership type (senior, individual, couple, or family). Members receive benefits including early access to book sales, newsletters, and discounts at partner institutions.
3. Monetary Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and corporate matching programs. The organization runs specific campaigns such as the Spring for a Book campaign to raise money for Children's and Young Adult Collections.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Friends of the Library merchandise through their Printful online store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Friends of Washoe County Library is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds for the Washoe County Library System through annual used book sales, memberships, monetary donations, and merchandise sales. Founded in 1980, the organization operates book sale events, a membership program priced at $15-$40 per year, and online retail channels to channel proceeds directly to library programs and collections.

Product overview

Friends of Washoe County Library is a nonprofit organization that operates as a unified fundraising entity rather than a technology platform. Its core offerings consist of five annual book sales (the primary fundraising mechanism), a membership program providing early access and discounts, book/media donation processing, and volunteer coordination across multiple subcommittees. Supplementary services include an Amazon online bookstore, a Printful merchandise store, and monetary donation processing. The organization has no software products, modules, or technology platform—the 'product' is essentially the book sale and membership service. Since 1991, the organization has raised over $2.879 million to support the Washoe County Library System.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Used Book Sales Five annual in-person events at which donated used books and media are sold to community members to generate proceeds for the Washoe County Library System.
• Membership Program Annual membership program offered at $15-$40 per year, providing supporters with a way to contribute recurring revenue to library programs.
• Monetary Donations Direct cash contribution program through which individuals and community members donate funds to support Washoe County Library System programs and collections.
• Book and Media Donation Program Program through which community members donate used books and media items that the organization resells to generate library-supporting revenue.
• Amazon Affiliate Book Store An online book store operated via Amazon that allows supporters to purchase books while a portion of proceeds supports the Washoe County Library System.
• Printful Merchandise Store Online merchandise store operated through Printful, selling branded apparel and goods with proceeds supporting Washoe County Library System programs.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Washoe County Library SystemcoreOthersThe primary beneficiary of the Friends' fundraising efforts. The Friends provides supplementary funding for library programs, materials, technology, staff development, and maintains an endowment fund for the library system. The WCLS Liaison (Jamie Hemingway) serves on the Friends' board.
• Fleischmann Planetarium at UNRminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMembers receive a $5 discount on annual membership and 10% discount in The Space Store upon showing their Friends membership card.
• Sparks Heritage MuseumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMembers receive a $5 discount off annual membership upon showing their Friends membership card.
• Local Hospitals (Baby Library Card Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutreach partnership to provide newborn library cards to families at local hospitals, promoting early literacy and library engagement from birth.
• Local Elementary SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBook donations to elementary schools to support literacy and educational outcomes for students.
• Boys and Girls ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBook donations to the Boys and Girls Club to support reading programs and access to literature for youth.
• D.G. Menchetti Education ProgramsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides programming such as Young Shakespeare: As You Like It to library branches, funded by the Friends.
• Conservation AmbassadorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Wild Things programming to library branches, funded by the Friends.
• Phil AckerlyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerformer providing A Magical Journey Awaits You programming to library branches, funded by the Friends.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Friends of the Seattle Public Library: Washington-state nonprofit that supports the Seattle Public Library through book sales, memberships, and grants. Operates an annual book sale and membership program very similar to Washoe County's model.
• Friends of the Boston Public Library: Massachusetts nonprofit that raises money for the Boston Public Library through memberships, donations, and book sales. Comparable in mission, scale, and fundraising channels.
• Friends of the Chicago Public Library: Illinois nonprofit that fundraises for the Chicago Public Library Foundation through book sales, memberships, and donor programs. Comparable peer in operations, though attached to a foundation model.
• Friends of the San Francisco Public Library: California nonprofit supporting the San Francisco Public Library via book sales, an online store, memberships, and grant funding. Directly comparable fundraising structure with a larger geographic footprint.
• Friends of the Hennepin County Library: Minnesota-based Friends of the Library nonprofit that raises funds for the Hennepin County Library System through book sales, memberships, and donations. Most directly comparable in mission, structure, and revenue model.
• Friends of Multnomah County Library: Oregon-based nonprofit supporting the Multnomah County Library via book sales, memberships, and donations. Operates one of the largest used book sales in the country, making it a structural peer.
• Friends of the Dallas Public Library: Texas nonprofit that raises funds for the Dallas Public Library through memberships, donations, and book sales. Closely comparable in regional scope and operational mechanics.

Regional players

• Library Foundation of Los Angeles: California nonprofit foundation supporting Los Angeles Public Library through major gifts, grants, and programs. Comparable mission but operates at significantly larger scale and as a foundation rather than volunteer-driven Friends organization.

Broad incumbents

• Friends of the New York Public Library: Large-scale nonprofit supporting NYPL with used book sales, memberships, and major donor programs. Same Friends-of-the-Library structure but materially larger scale and scope.

Others

• Washoe County Library System: The primary beneficiary of the Friends' fundraising. While not a competitor, it is the institutional counterparty whose funding gaps and program priorities directly determine demand for the Friends' services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/washoelibraryfriends
• Instagraminstagram.com/friendsofwashoecountylibrary
• Xx.com/friendswashoe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Friends of Washoe County Library