Awards

Drum roll please! Friends of Kentucky Libraries are Proud to present the 2026 Outstanding Awards to:

Outstanding Friend of the Library (Small Chapter) Congratulations to Kim Barbee of the Friends of Taylor County — our 2026 award recipient. Kim was honored with a framed certificate and a $50 check in recognition of her dedication and service. Well done, Kim!

Outstanding Friend of the Library (Large Chapter) Congratulations to Brenda Bush of the Friends of the Mary Wood Weldon Memorial Library, Barren County, our 2026 award recipient. Brenda was honored with a framed certificate and a $50 check in recognition of her dedication and service.
Well done, Brenda!

Outstanding Friends Chapter (Small Group)
Congratulations to the Friends of Todd County — Sue Rose, Anne Stahl, Linda Penick, Carol Gray, and Dawn Strader — recognized as this year’s Outstanding Friends Chapter (Small Group). The group received a framed certificate and a $100 award for their exceptional service and dedication.

Outstanding Friends Chapter (Large Group)
Congratulations to the Friends of Casey County Public Library! Accepting the Outstanding Friends Chapter (Large Group) award on behalf of the chapter was Jocelyn Embert. The Friends received a framed certificate and $100 in recognition of their exceptional dedication and service to the Casey County community.

The Friends of Kentucky Libraries are pleased to continue offering $500 Grants to support the vital work of Friends groups across the Commonwealth. This year brought another record number of applications, reflecting the commitment and creativity of Friends organizations statewide. We extend our sincere appreciation to every Friends group for your ongoing service to your libraries and communities.

Make a plan now if your Friends group is interested in applying—or re‑applying—for the 2027 $500 Grant. Preparing early gives your chapter the best chance for success. Here are some of the key points our Awards Committee looks for when reviewing applications:
Current membership: An active Friends of Kentucky Libraries membership at the time of application
Demonstrated impact: Projects that clearly strengthened the local Friends chapter, increased community visibility, and expanded the chapter’s capacity to support the library
Strong planning: Detailed, specific budgets paired with realistic timelines
Thorough responses: Every application question answered completely and thoughtfully
Good standing with FOKL: Required reports submitted for any previous FOKL grants received