FOPLA had another successful year in 2017, achieving overall sales only negligibly lower than in 2016. At the nominal prices charged for most books, it is a significant achievement. Our gift to the Ottawa Public Library was $360,000, a full $10,000 greater than in 2016 and the largest single donation in our history.

Operating revenues were $440,895, which was comparable to 2016 and 4.6% greater than budget. At $329,132, net income after operating expenses and before distributions was 8.3% lower than 2016 but 23.5% greater than budget, partly because FOPLA’s forecast had included an expectation of costs now postponed for several years because of the revised completion date of the new Ottawa Central Library.

The FOPLA Investment Fund Committee had another productive year, and oversaw with the expertise of its volunteers the procurement of a new investment management firm for the Investment Fund, Doherty & Associates Investment Council.

In 2017, the Fund produced approximately $18,239 in income from interest, dividends and other sources. The market value of the Fund increased by some $45,869 to end the year above $568,740, an increase of 4.4%.

FOPLA was a key supporter of OPL’s Canada150 celebrations, including the Dominion Day Strawberry Social held at Nepean Centerpointe. The event featured family-friendly activities and entertainment sponsored by FOPLA, and welcomed over 2000 community members.

FOPLA also sponsored several fall OPL events including storytelling with Douglas Gibson, Our Soldiers’ Stories, and the Alaska Highway Roadshow & Detour.

FOPLA sponsored OPL’s Book Bag Blitz Customer Appreciation event in October, which saw OPL staff and FOPLA volunteers distributing handmade bags to customers at OPL branches and transit stations throughout the city.

Work on OPL’s Ottawa Central Library project continued, and FOPLA remained a stalwart supporter of OPL’s efforts to secure a funding commitment for a joint Ottawa Public Library/Libraries and Archives Canada facility.

FOPLA could not be successful without the hard work and dedication of its volunteers, and we are grateful for their efforts. We would like to acknowledge the following volunteers for their milestone years of service: