FFRPL is the 501(c)(3) charity that raises funds, presents programs, supports special projects, helps create specialized spaces, and purchases supplemental materials & equipment for the Rochester Public Library.

Special Projects

StbS 2023 highlights: Wheatley mother/mother-figure crafts (left); Sully 3D robot DIY and VR career exploration (center panels); Wheatley craft from Tik-Tok video (right)

Safe to be Smart

One of FFRPL’s long-term special projects is support of the Library’s flagship after school program Safe to be Smart, housed at Central Library downtown and five City branches: Wheatley, Lincoln, Sully, Maplewood, and Arnett. FFRPL is a founding sponsor of StbS, along with Central Library and the City of Rochester. Learn more.

Raising a Reader

FFRPL also supports the Raising a Reader program at Central Library; RPL is a Raising a Reader affiliate. Learn more.

Summer Reading Programs

FFRPL supports Summer Reading Programs at Central and branches. The theme for 2024 is Adventure Begins At Your Library.

View/download Central’s 2024 Summer Reading Guide with programming including story times, special events, and activities.

Registration for Summer Reading programs begins Monday, June 24. Come to Central Library (115 South Avenue) anytime from 9am – 7pm to register children up to 12 years of age.

FFRPL is happy to support these programs for young readers.

Understanding Black Experiences

In 2020, when challenging events gripped the nation and ushered in a new era of reckoning, a diverse team of librarians and staff collaborated to curate this collection of print and digital materials to serve as an educational resource for the community. FFRPL helped create and promote the online resource guide, Understanding Black Experiences.
Monroe County Library System’s Racial Equity & Justice Initiative Team compiled the Black Lives Matter: An Anti-Racism Resource Page.

Central Library & FFRPL Celebrate Black History Month

Archived Black History Month programs, events, and resources

Enjoy books, music, movies, and more from our Hoopla and Overdrive collections.
Check Library availability for the book “I Have A Dream: Writings and Speeches that Changed the World” by Martin Luther King, Jr. here:
Check availability throughout the Monroe County Library System for books and other resources related to MLK, Jr. here
List of highlighted resources from Central Library’s Reynolds Media Center: Music, Documentaries and Theatrical Films, Audiobooks