FRIENDS OF CLYMER LIBRARY

The Friends of Clymer Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to support and enhance the library services to the community. Please join us and become a Friends member for as little as $25. Download the form, fill it out and send it with your membership payment to Friends of Clymer Library, 115 Fireside Road, Pocono Pines, PA 18350.

Friends Membership Form

Friends of Clymer Announces 2nd Annual Poster Contest Winners

Friends of Clymer is thrilled to announce the winners of its 2nd Annual Poster Contest. The contest was established in honor of National Friends of Libraries Week, and this year’s theme was “Oh, the Places a Book Can Take YOU.”

Tobyhanna Elementary Center’s (TEC) third through sixth-grade art students were challenged to create posters based on a place that a fictional or non-fictional book has taken them.

Judging was conducted based on rubric with 5 key factors. Friends thanks our judges: Ellen Kagan, Liz Green, and Steve Kager, who selected a first and second prize winner from each grade. The posters were displayed at Clymer library where patrons were encouraged to vote for one fan favorite in addition to the judges winning selections.

The winning artists were recognized with Amazon gift cards presented by Friends of Clymer Library President Phyllis Miller at a special awards ceremony on October 17th. Jim Eschback, TEC’s Art teacher was also recognized for his support of Friends of Clymer library. After the ceremony, Mrs. Miller said, “This year’s entries were amazing! The judges certainly had their work cut out for them!”

The Friends board also held a separate vote from the selection of eligible posters for its annual bookmark they provide the library. Those posters had to meet the contest criteria and be drawn in vertical format to fit the bookmark layout.

Our 2025 Winners are:

3rd Grade •1st Prize Winner: Clara Gibbons•2nd Prize Winner: Logan Eilber

4th Grade •1st Prize Winner: Meyah Masterpol•2nd Prize Winner: Elijah Lacayo

5th Grade •1st Prize Winner: Isabella Cisneros•2nd Prize Winner: Sophia Sargent

6th Grade •1st Prize Winner: Aviana Moses •2nd Prize Winner: Catherine Bischof

Fan Favorite: Sophie Macias

Annual Bookmark Feature Winner: Clara Gibbons, 3rd grade for “The Cave from the Bears in the Bed and the Great Big Storm”

Joan Lippi, Friends of Clymer Library 2025 Poster Contest Chairperson summarized, “The success of this contest would not be possible without the amazing collaboration and support of Clymer Library and TEC. Our common goal is to foster the love of reading! To quote Dr Seuss: "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go!" Friends plans to continue the annual poster contest and is looking at expanding the number of schools participating in the coming years.

3rd Grade - 1st Prize Winner: Clara Gibbons & Annual Bookmark Feature Winner

3rd Grade - 2nd Prize Winner - Logan Eilber

4th Grade - 1st Prize Winner: Meyah Masterpol

4th Grade - 2nd Prize Winner: Elijah Lacayo

5th Grade - 1st Prize Winner: Isabella Cisneros

5th Grade - 2nd Prize Winner: Sophia Sargent

6th Grade - 1st Prize Winner: Aviana Moses

6th Grade - 2nd Prize Winner: Catherine Bischof

Fan Favorite: Sophie Macias

Judge Liz Green

Judge Ellen Kagan

Judge Steve Kager

Winners with Art Teacher Jim Eschbach

THANK YOU FRIENDS OF CLYMER MEMBERS

To thank members for their support, Friends of Clymer Library hosted its Annual Celebration on Tuesday, June 17 with an evening of fun, food, camaraderie and door prizes! In the spacious and bright recreation room at Clymer library, the members were treated to a lovely meal catered by the local Jubilee restaurant. A raffle drawing gave 8 attendees the chance to win the centerpieces of beautiful potted geraniums. In addition to Friends Board members, Melissa Lopez, Clymer Library Director and the Clymer Library Board of Trustees President, Suzanne Penavic and Treasurer, Phil Whitehurst were in attendance.

While greeting and thanking the members, President Phyllis Miller spoke about Friends’ goal to support and to enhance library services to the community. "In addition to financial support to Clymer, our members also volunteer their time to assist with library programs. Miss Love will host a Fun Fest on July 26 and Friends members have volunteered to assist her with this event” Phyllis became President in January 2025. "As a Librarian my whole life, this seemed like a natural progression", she shared enthusiastically.

Friends also took the opportunity to honor Johanna Beedenbender with a plaque recognizing her commitment to Friends and Clymer Library. As a founding member of the group, Johanna served as the first President and worked tirelessly to pave the way for the group's success. Upon accepting, Johanna shared about Friends’ contributions: "The biggest thing I am proud of is the StoryWalk. I am sorry that it is so rainy today but if you have not seen it, please come back and walk it- it's just great" She went on to share: "I've had 8 great years and I am not going anywhere!"