Events

2025 Annual Meeting, April 29th at 7pm - 9pm at the Ford House     1100 Lakeshore Drive, Grosse Pointe Shores, 48236

The Friends of the GPPL annual meeting is on Tuesday, April 29th at 7pm at the Ford House.  Friends members are invited to enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres, drinks, speakers and fellowship with other Friends members. 

Friends membership and RSVP are required to attend.  RSVPs closed on April 10th.

Our keynote speaker is Bruce Kopytek.   In his forty-five-year career as an architect, Bruce designed many significant buildings throughout the United States and abroad. His designs include various commercial and residential projects and the Master Plan of Northland City Center, a project that sought to preserve and enhance the 1954 shopping center built by The J. L. Hudson Company. Bruce previously wrote four titles for The History Press, and in 2020 he launched his own publishing venture, Edi­tions BK LLC. His first self-published book, Hudson’s: Detroit’s World-Famous Department Store, sold out in eight days and is now in its third printing. A music enthusiast, book collector, history buff and avid ballroom dancer, his website The Department Store Museum has been enjoyed by over a million people. When not home, he is most likely poking around some very old (and beautiful) place in Europe. At home, he is often to be found laughing at the antics of two crazy cats named Gigi and Mimi while he writes his next book.

Monthly $5 Bag Sale - Last Saturday of the Month at  10am - 1pm 

On the last Saturday of each month the Friends opens up our storage area to shoppers!  Shoppers fill a grocery bag from our large selection of books, CDs, DVDs and Puzzles for only $5.   The sales are held on the lower level of the Woods Branch from 10am - 1pm.  Friends Members can shop starting at 9:30am.  Hope to see you there.

All proceeds go to the library.

Quarterly Silent Book Club - First Thursdays of the Quarter at 7:00pm - 8:00pm at Ewald Branch 

Join the library and Friends of the GPPL for our Silent Book Club! There is no assigned reading or pressure to say something smart. Bring a book you are currently reading (or pick one from the library) and settle in for an hour of silent reading.   All readers are welcome—ebooks, audiobooks, textbooks, comic books, etc.   Come alone, with a friend or your own book group!   

Quarterly First Thursdays:  January 2, 2025- April 3, 2025 - July 3, 2025 - October 2, 2025 at 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.  At the Ewald Branch, outdoors weather permitting and indoors around the fireplace in winter months. Feel free to bring your own food and drinks to outdoor events and covered drinks only when indoors. 

Books and Bags Sale - Saturday, April 12, 2025  in the lower level of the Woods Branch

The Friends of the GPPL held our popular Books and Bags Sale on Saturday, April 12th from 10am - 3pm.  Many gently used purses, wallets, bags and totes along with used books were available for sale to support library programming.   Purses, wallets and tote prices ranged from $5 - $40.  For the used books, shoppers could fill a grocery bag that we provided for $5!

Authors to the Pointe Discounted Ticket Pre-Sale - Tuesday September 3 and Wednesday September 4, 2024

As a thank you to our members, the Friends sold a limited number of tickets to the Oct 5th Authors to the Pointe event for a $5 discount and before tickets are available online.   Ticket sales were in the Friends area of the Woods Branch.

Silent Book Club - June 11, 2024 at Neff Park, September 5, 2024, January 2, 2025  and April 3rd at Ewald

The library and Friends of the GPPL enjoyed hosting a Silent Book Club event.  There was no assigned reading - participants brought a book and silently reading together.  At the end there was time to share what we are reading and socialization in general.  

Join us for the next one - the first Thursday of each quarter at Ewald at 7pm

Friends Annual Meeting - April 30, 2024 

The Annual Meeting for the Friends of the GPPL was held on April 30th at 7:00pm at the Ford House.  Members enjoyed heavy hors d'oeuvres, drinks and presentations from the Friends, the Grosse Pointe Public Library and our keynote speaker, Colleen Cambridge, author of Mastering the Art of the French Murder.

Friends membership and RSVP were required.

Members Only Meet & Greet at Cabbage Patch Saloon - March 5, 2024

Friends Members gathered at Cabbage Patch Saloon to enjoy some food, drinks and good company.  Several also received the book Mastering the Art of the French Murder by Colleen Cambridge to read before our Annual Meeting in April.

Members Only Central Branch Sneak Peek - October 30, 2023

Friends Members were able to see the Central Branch renovations and check out materials before it was open to the general public.  The improvements at the Central Branch include: Fire suppression, Expanded and ADA compliant restrooms, Expanded Children's area, New Teen area, Drive-up window and  New Program Room.

Library Staff and Friends Board Members were there to greet members, give tours and help check out materials in the new space.

Friends One Year Anniversary Bag Sale - October 28, 2023

This month's bag sale was extra special as we celebrated our one year anniversary in our new space.  Attendees shopped our large selection of books, puzzles, DVD, CDs and games in the Friends sorting area on the lower level of the Woods Branch and the Used Bookstore on the first floor.  Just $5 to fill one of our bags.   There was candy and free mugs while supplies lasted.

Members Only Meet & Greet at Flyleaf Bookstore - October 10, 2023 

Many Friends Members joined us in the Reading Room at the Flyleaf Bookstore for our Meet & Greet event.  It was a great opportunity to check out the newest bookstore in Grosse Pointe while enjoying free snacks and interesting conversation.

Friends Book Sale at Pointes Art Festival on Saturday, August 5, 2023

The Friends sold books and distributed brochures, bookmarks and pens at the Pointes Art Festival in front of the Central Annex on the Hill.    We were happy to help people find a new summer read!  

All proceeds went to the library.

2023 Annual Meeting - May 2,  2023  

The Friends of the GPPL held our annual meeting on Tuesday, May 2nd from 7pm - 9pm at the Ford House in GP Shores.

We celebrated 75 years of supporting the Grosse Pointe Public Library.  The event included heavy hors d'oeuvres, drinks and speakers, including Karen Dybis, Grosse Pointe area reporter and author.

Current membership and RSVP were required.  

Purse & Book Sale - April 29, 2023  

The Friends of the GPPL brought back this popular event on Saturday, April 29th.  Many gently used purses, wallets, bags and totes along with used books were sold to support the library.  

Bookstore Grand Re-Opening - October 22, 2022

The much anticipated re-opening of the  Friends Bookstore took place on October 22nd.  Many joined us to purchase books and puzzles, enjoy snacks and win prizes.  

The Friends Bookstore is now located on the first floor of the Woods Branch near the entrance.  All materials are $1.00 and are available for purchase whenever the library is open. 

Book Exchange - Tuesday, June 28, 2022 

Many readers and puzzle enthusiasts joined the Friends of the GPPL at the Ewald Branch for our first 2022 Book Exchange.  

The weather was perfect and those that attended enjoyed making connections with fellow readers while restocking their bookshelves with summer reading materials!

2022 Annual Meeting - Tuesday, May 24, 2022 

The Friends of the GPPL hosted our 2022 Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 24th at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House.  Members connected with each other while enjoying hors d'oeuvres, drinks and guest speakers. 

Speakers included Mark Heppner, President and CEO of the Ford House and  Cynthia Tennent Sohn, Author and Director at Fair Lane.

Coffee & Donuts with Friends - November 26, 2021

The Friends of the GPPL provided coffee, hot chocolate and donuts on the Central Branch Plaza after the Santa Parade on Friday, November 26th.  Children received a free book and we gave away Friends ceramic mugs.  .

Book Exchange - October 6, 2021  

The Friends hosted a second book exchange where attendees were able to pick up some fresh reads or puzzles and chat with fellow readers on a lovely fall evening.

Hosted a Grosse Pointe Pedalers Community Ride - September 1, 2021 

The Grosse Pointe Pedalers is a group of local bicyclers that gather every Wednesday evening to ride throughout Grosse Pointe. On Wednesday, September 1st, the Friends of the GP Library hosted the ride.  

The ride started on the Central Branch Plaza and continued throughout the Grosse Pointe community.  Thank you to the many families and library patrons that joined the ride!

Book Exchange - August 24, 2021 

The Friends of the Grosse Pointe Public library hosted an outdoor book exchange on the Central Branch Plaza.  Participants brought bags/boxes of books to exchange.  It was a great opportunity to pick up a book or two while meeting other readers.  

Outdoor Purse Sale - June 5, 2021 

100’s of gently used purses, bags, wallets and more were on sale in the GPPL Woods branch parking lot.  Prices ranged from $2.00 - $30.00.  

All proceeds benefited the Grosse Pointe Public Library.

Outdoor Used Book Sale - May 22, 2021 

The sale was held in the GPPL Woods branch parking lot and included 1000’s of books, DVDs, recorded books, children’s books, etc. for $1.00 each.  

All proceeds benefit the Grosse Pointe Public Library. 

Pop Up Book Sale on October 3, 2020

The Friends sold books and more in the parking lot at the Woods Branch Library at Mack and Vernier in Grosse Pointe Woods. 

Zoomed with Michelle Boggess, local artist & author, on August 26, 2020

The Friends hosted a zoom discussion with local artist and author Michelle Boggess who set the Guinness Book Record for the World's Largest Maze. 

Video chat with Jeopardy Teacher Tournament Winner on July 21, 2020

Ben Henri, a GP North teacher, won the 2020 Jeopardy Teacher Tournament in early June.  Friends' members were able to discuss this accomplishment with Mr. Henri via Zoom.

Friends Attend the GPPL Ground Breaking on June 30, 2020

On June 30, 2020 most of our board members were able to attend the GPPL ground breaking ceremony at the Central Branch. Pictured from left to right are: Martina Burke, Ed Allotta, Pat Nicholl, Richard Larry, Vicki Granger, Tom Peck, Jill Campbell, Donna Abdoo, and Tracy Magee. 

Many wonderful changes are happening at all three branches of the Grosse Pointe Public Library. The Friends of the GPPL, are happy and proud to play a part.