SARATOGA SPRINGS — Since 1976, the Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library has promoted and advanced the goals of the library. The funds provided by the Friends are aimed toward enhancing to the library’s facilities, programs and collection through a strong history of volunteerism and fundraising. Community support is primarily generated through memberships and the Friends Book Shop, which was founded in 1994 to generate income while providing the community with affordable reading material and a convenient, meaningful way to upcycle used books.
On July 11, The Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library has announced a new hire, Jennifer Allen, who will become the first executive director. In this role, Allen will oversee all activities, including its successful used book shop and will work to expand community engagement and support for the library’s facilities, programs and collection. Jeff Budge will continue his decade-long tenure managing book shop operations. After working with the Friends part-time since the start of the year, Jennifer Allen has been onboarded full-time. She brings two decades of experience from leadership roles in fundraising, marketing, community engagement and education—not to mention deep Saratoga roots.
“The Friends saw an opportunity over the past two years to reflect and rebuild,” explains Klare Ingram, president of the board of directors. “Hiring a full-time executive director was long overdue and aligns with how much the organization has grown during its nearly 50-year history.” Ingram continued, “the result of our pandemic experience is a stronger, more focused organization, Jen is the perfect person to help us reach our potential to support the library and our community.”
